The most well organized and complex Cosa Nostra group. Today's modern Genovese Crime Family, has always gathered the most savvy, cunning and treacherous Mafioso in the country. This conglomerate of crime boast ranks of Multi-Millionaire legitimate businessmen, the lowest Black Market Rackateer and everything in between.

THIS NOT A COMPLETE AND COMPREHENSIVE CHART! (That would be almost impossible to gather the info on upwards of 500 members during this time. These for intents and purposes are the most important of that time)

Upper Echelon Members of Various Leadership Roles
1.) SALVATORE LUCIANO (known as "Lucky". The preeminent and most intregal force in the American Underworld. Based in Italy. Head Leader and Advisory of the Organization. The successor in prominence to Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. Closely associated to Meyer Lansky of Florida. Santo Sorge and Toto Baldamenti of Sicily. Carlo Gambino and Joe Bonanno of New York)
2.) FRANCESCO CASTIGLIA (known as "Frank Costello". Official Head of the Family. Overseer of large gambling empire. Wealthy legitimate businessman. Associated with Albert Anastasia of NewYork, Carlos Marcello of New Orleans.)
3.) VITO GENOVESE (known as "Don Vitone". De Facto Street Boss/Leader of Neapolitan Faction. International Black market Rackateer. The most dominant figure in this Family.)
4.) GUARINO MORETTI (known as "Willie Moretti". Costello's official Underboss. Leader of the New Jersey Faction. )
5.) GUISEPPE DOTO (known as "Joe Adonis". Powerful Caporegime. Has a large gambling empire. Political Corrupter. Advisor to Frank Costello.)
6.) MICHELE MIRANDA (known as "Big Mike". Powerful Caporegime. Highly influential member of the Neapolitan faction. Advisor to Vito Genovese)

CAPOREGIME
The Criminal Expertise: Labor/Union Rackateering, Political Corruption, Gambling, Black Market Rackets, Legitimate Business Infiltration, Extortion, Music/Movie Industry Infiltration, Shylocking.

new york regimes:
MICHAEL "TRIGGER MIKE" COPPOLA
ANTHONY "TONY BENDER" STROLLO
ROCCO "THE OLD MAN" PELLEGRINO
JOSEPH "SOCKS" LANZA
THOMAS "MR. PALMER" GRECO
FRANK IACONE
GENEROSO DELDUCA
ANTONIO "TONY THE SHEIK" CARILLO
SALVATORE "LITTLE SALLY" CELAMBRINO
DOMINICK "DOM THE SAILOR" DIQUARTO
GAETANO "TODDO MARINO" MAIORANA

new jersey regimes:
RUGGIERO "RICHIE THE BOOT" BOIARDO
SALVATORE "CHARLES" CHIRI
FRANCESCO "FRANK CASINO" CUCOLA
GERARDO "JERRY" CATENA

satellite regimes:
ANTHONY "LITTLE AUGIE PISANO" CARFANO (fl.)
VINCENT "JIMMY BLUE EYES" ALO (fl.)
SALVATORE "BIG NOSE SAM" CUFARI (conn.)

SOLDATO/SOLDIERS (Membership spread across all five boroughs of New York. North Jersey. Springfield, Massachusetts. Connecticut. Florida. Cuba and Sicily.

new york members:
JAMES ANGELINA
ANIELLO "MR.T" ERCOLE
MATTEO "MATTY BROWN" FORTUNATO
CHARLES "CHARLIE CHALUTZ" GAGLIODOTTO
DANIEL "DANNY HOGAN" SCARGLATO
ANTONIO "TONY ANDREWS" FLORIO
JOSEPH "JOE THE WOP" CATALDO
PETER MIONE
MICHAEL GENOVESE
FRANK "CHEECH" LIVORSI
DOMINICK "SWATS MULLIGAN" CIAFFONE
MORRIS "MICKEY MORRIS" BARRA
JOHN PAGANO
RALPH BELVEDERE
JOSEPH BRUNO
FRANCESCO CELANO
ANTHONY "TONY" GENTILE
NICHOLAS "COCK-EYED NICK" RATENNI
INNOCENZIO "JOHN THE BUG" STOPPELLI
JOSEPH "JOE TOBIN" SCARPINITO
ANGELO "SHELLEY" PERO
VINCENT RAO
FRANK "FARBY" SERPICO
PAUL MARCHIONE
THOMAS "CRAZY TOMMY" CONTALDO
DAVIDE "LITTLE DAVEY" PETILLO
GEORGE "POKER FACE" SCALISE
NUNZIO "HARRY" LANZA
GAETANO "TOM LONG" MARTINO
AUGUST "JERRY RYAN" LAIETTA
JOSEPH "JOE CARGO" VALACHI
VINCENZO " JIMMY ALTO" ALTOMARI
PHILLIP "BENNY SQUINT" LOMBARDO
MATTEO "MARTY" DI LORENZO
THOMAS MILO
JOHN MANFREDONIA
ALPHONSE "FUNZI" TIERI
PETER "BIG PETE" STANCANELLI
JOHN "THE GENTLEMAN" MASIELLO
CHARLES "CHARLEY BULLETS" ALBERO
ALEXANDER "SANDINO" PANDOLFO
FRANCESCO "FRANK GALUCHE" GALLUCCIO
JOSEPH FRASCA
GEORGE SMURRA
CARMINE "TONY RUSSO" BOVE
JOSEPH "JOE SWEDE" PATERRA
SALVATORE "SALVIE" GENCARELLI
EDUARDO "EDDIE COSTELLO" CASTIGLIA
THEODORE "TEDDY THE BUM" DEMARTINO
ALFRED "SHARKEY" CUPOLA
ROSARIO "DON ZAZA" DIMAGGIO
JOSEPH "JOE SHIP" SCHIPANI
THOMAS "TOMMY RYAN" EBOLI
VINCENT "VINNY" MAURO
DOMINIC "FAT DOM" ALONGI
LORENZO "CHAPPIE" BRESCIA
JAMES "JIMMY ANDREWS" FREDERICO
BATTISTO "BART" SALVO
VINCENZO "JAMES DEMINO" GENEROSO
NICHOLAS "JOE BONES" BUFFANIA
OTTILIO "FRANKIE THE BUG" CARUSO
VINCENT "JIMMY BLINK" BIVONA
ROSARIO "SARO" MOGAVERO
EDWARD "EDDIE STARR "CAPOBIANCO
ALFONSO "DON ALPHONSE" MARZANO
JOSEPH " JOE ROSS" DENEGRIS
PASQUALE "PATSY MURRAY" NORMANDO
ALFRED "AL BUTCH" FAICCO
COSMO "GUS" FRASCA
JOHN "ZACKIE" SAVINO
MARIO GIGANTE
JOSEPH AGONE
CARMINE RUSSO
FRANK "FRANKIE HEART" CAGGIANO
ALFRED "SHARKEY" CUPOLA
JAMES "JIMMY RUSH" PICCARELLI
RAYMOND MUSCARELLA
JOSEPH "JOE CANAGRO" RAO
GAETANO "TONY GOEBBELS" RICCI
PHILLIP "PHIILY KATZ" ALBANESE
ANTHONY "FAT TONY" SALERNO
VINCENT "VINNY CHIN" GIGANTE
BENJAMIN "BENNY THE BUM" DEMARTINO
VINCENT "JIMMY BLINK" BIVONA
MICHELINO "BIG MIKE" CLEMENTE
CARMINE "FAT TODD" TOTO
JOSEPH "JOE BECK" LAPI
LAWRENCE "LARRY BLACK" CENTORE
SALVATORE "SALLY BURNS" GRANELLO
CALOGERO "JIMMY THE BAKER" CATANIA
MARIO "FRANKIE" BONFIGLIO
CARMINE "LITTLE Z" ZECCARDI
GUISEPPE "JOE BENDELLI" BERNAVA
CARMELO "CHARLIE BANANAS" COPPOLINO
PAOLO "CHARLIE THE WOP" FRACCARETA

new jersey regime:
JOSEPH "JOE STRETCH" STASSI
ARTHUR LONGANO
PIETRO "PHILLIP AQUALINA" DEFEO
DOMINICK "FATS" FERRARO
ANTHONY "TONY GREEN" GUARINI
PETER "LODI PETE " LA PLANCA
ANGELO "CHARLEY FOUR CENTS" SALERNO
JOHN "BIG PUSSY" RUSSO
PAUL LOMBARDINO
ANGELO LAPADULA
CARMINE "BIG YOK" SAN GIACOMO
JOSEPH "JOE STUTZ" TORTORICI
JOHN "JOHNNY COCA COLA" LARDIERI
THOMAS "PEE-WEE" DE PHILLIPS
PIETRO CAMPISI
ANIELLO SANTAGATA
EMELIO "THE COUNT" DELIO
FRANCESCO "PAUL" BONADIO
THOMAS ANDRETTA
PELLEGRINO "WILLIAM" REGA
MICHAEL "MIKE LASKEY" LASCARI
ANTHONY "TONY PRO" PROVENZANO
RAFFAELE "WHITEY" FERRARO
CARMINE "LITTLE C" BATTAGLIA
ANTHONY DEVINGO
LOUIS "STREAKY" GATTO
ANTHONY "LITTLE PUSSY" RUSSO
EUGENE CATENA
ANTHONY "TONY BOY" BOIARDO
JOSEPH FORGIONE
PETER "BLIND PETE" MARINO
GASPARO CAMPISI
ANTONIO "TONY GROAN" RENNI
WILLIAM "BILLY JENKINS" CARDINALE
SALVATORE "SOLLY MOORE" MORETTI
ANGELO "RAY" DECARLO

satellite members:
FRANCESCO "FRANKIE SKYBALL" SCIBELLI (conn.)
ALBERT "ch*nk" FACCHIANO (conn.)
SALVATORE "SABBY" BASSO (conn.)
GIRALOMO "BOBBY DOYLE" SANTUCCIO (conn.)
MICHAEL "BIG MIKE" PANNETTI (conn.)
JOHN "BUSTER" ARDITO (conn.)
SALVATORE DIPIETRO (conn.)
ORLANDO GRIECO (conn.)
PASQUALE ERRA (fl.)
ALFRED "POGGI" TORIELLO (fl.)
GIOVANNI "JOHN BIELE" BIELLO (fl.)
SALVATORE "SOLLY" ZAPPOLA (fl.)
LOUIS "BLACKIE" SACCAROMA (fl.)
NICHOLAS CAMEROTA (fl.)
MICHAEL "MARTIN STEELE" SPINELLI (fl.)
JOSEPH "JOE BARI" DENTICO (ca.)
JOSEPH PISCOPO (ca.)
GIUSEPPE "JOE THE WOP" CASTALDO (cuba.)
NICHOLAS DI CONSTANZO (cuba.)
CHARLES "CHARLIE THE BLADE" TOURINE (cuba.)
GIOVANNI "AL BROWN" SCHILLACI (italy.)

Good list Don Pep.... Good work my friend!

wow the luciano crime family had 500 soldiers then ! wow !

There is varying reports. I do believe particularly during this time the Genovese and Gambino Families were in between 300-500 members.

One thing this research has taught me : something we all already know but when its laid out in front of you, it gives a different perspective. The Luciano/Genovese organization's manpower, capabilities and shear wealth, was unfathomable. I have read that several members (not including the Hierarchy or Caporegime) were millionaire status. Thats a whole different level of success IMO. no wonder they still stand today

what's even more unbelievable is the hugh power they had in the US, in the big US cities in the east, you could not buy a hairpin with out them getting a cut.

It's a no-brainer that the Genoveses are still the Ivy League of the mob. Would love to see similar things on Lucchese, Profaci and Chicago Outfit.

I plan on doing a thread for some other Families. Although I am more familiar with the Organizations I've already done

If you could Don Pep, I'd love to see you do a 1960s-1980s era Colombo Family layout.

For that matter the Lucchese Family for that same 1960s-1980s era as well

At your request I will focus on that era. It may go something like the Colombos circa 1959-1972 and the Lucchesses circa 1963-1975, strictly because i want to include Profaci and Tommy Three-fingers, as well as, the many old-timers who get forgotten.

@NYMAFIA
Something was brought up in another thread that I thought would be more appropriate on this one. So is their any truth to the Lucky Luciano was a pimp narrative. And the streets say Little Davey Petillo ran or strong armed brothels in Luciano's name?

--
That was way before my time and in-depth knowledge. But if I were to place a bet, I'd bet both Lucky and Little Davy were knee-deep in the prostitution rackets. NOT actually in the business which I strongly doubt they were (although they could well have been partners in a few cathouses). But knee-deep in the sense that I'd bet my bottom dollar that the ran a highly organized "shakedown" racket of as many whore houses, madams, pimps, and guys who ran those type businesses as they could.

At its core the Mafia is an "extortionist" gang. THATS what they do!

Generally speaking many mafiosi may not be bookmakers, shylocks, narcotics guys, porno dealers, bar owners, card game operators, etc., themselves, but they extort those who operate these rackets. Understand what I'm trying to say?

They are master "Extortionists"...... they take a "piece", they "wet their beaks". Thats what they do!

Now if they slap a drug dealer in the mouth and tell him to cough up $2,000 a week for the "privilege" of operating in the area or else, is that mafioso a drug dealer? Or is he an extortionist? I think thats a matter of semantics.

We often hear about VITO GENOVESE having a loyal following in the Family and his enemies usually being other Bosses but was there a contingent of guys in the GENOVESE'S who didn't like/respect Vito?

Little Augie Pisano despised Genovese. In retaliation for supporting Costello, Genovese ordered Tony Bender to have Tony Carfano clipped.

Peppino, a famous poster a while back was adamant about how not Willie Moretti and Anthony Carfano, there was another heavyweight loyal to Costello too. Nicholas Ratteni. I have also seen it written that Joe Adonis was in Costello's camp. However, I have also read he was criticized for sitting on the sidelines.

Can anyone clear this up?

Nick Ratenni was in Costello camp, even when the order came down not to speak or say hello to Frank, Ratenni refused that order and picked up a few tabs of Costello. The reason Vito never made a move on Ratenni was because he was well respected in New York, RI, Connecticut, Boston, Ohio, New Jersey and a few other places, to where it would really rock the boat. Nick is supposedly the one who asked both Costello and Genovese to talk to one another and try to work it out. They did not, until they were locked up together and compared notes that Tony Bender was pitting them against one another. Once Bender disappeared, Costello was welcomed back into the family as an elder statesman, and never involved with the action, except to give advice and supposedly went to sitdowns for some of the members in the family.

Joe Adonis was like Catena in counting his money, not being greedy, but for busts and dreading deportation. He was more concerned for the cash flow and his end of the money, then take a side and remained on the sidelines. He was smart enough to safe up at least a small fortune, they say millions, but I think the huge money he was making after deportation was from his new activities in Italy. He did hook back up with Luciano, and the FBN knew he had financed a couple of shipments of narcotics to North America while he was in Italy, they just could not prove it, but were successful in seizing some of the shipments. Costello and Pisano were said to be greatly angry at Adonis for staying on the sidelines. In the end, I believe that it was the smart move, otherwise he would have been spending a lot of cash to help Costello, kill or be killed is always part of that life, but the deportation would have happened anyway, so he was much better off staying on the sidelines.

----
I agreed with a lot of what you say except that be the time Costello had gotten shot in his hotel lobby (1957), Joe Adonis was already off the scene and had little to do with mob affairs back home in NYC, having been deported in 1956. He was no longer a power or being consulted on sensitive matters. Not that Vito gave a fuck for Doto's opinion anyway.

Adonis was also very smart in that during his entire lifetime in the mob. He made it his business to invest and involve himself in legit business (a car conveyance company, a Brooklyn restaurant, a LI restaurant, real estate, etc.). He also had a very lucrative numbers business in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, floating dice games in NY and NJ, etc.
One of the biggest things is that he didn't squander his money like many in his position. By the time he was deported he was a very wealthy man.

He brought his wealth with him which allowed for an extremely comfortable lifestyle once back in Italy. And although he did indeed invest in several legitimate business ventures in his new home, he never again involved himself in any rackets. He didn't need to! He was a very wealthy guy and didn't wanna risk problems with Italian authorities.

One other point we disagree on is Luciano. Although they were old friends (buddies in fact), supposedly Lucky grew disillusioned with Doto because Joe Adonis wouldn't help him out financially once retired back in Italy together. Lucky was looking to "put the touch" on Adonis and Joe wasn't going for it.

True or false, it seems that after "allegedly" initially meeting each other (surreptitiously of course because of LE), Doto largely did his own thing and didn't kiss Lucky's ass the way Luciano would have liked, or involved himself with his old partner. Supposedly that caused a little bad feelings, although when Lucky passed away Doto sent a huge floral wreath for old times with the words "So Long Pal"

one of the guys who gets lost in the shuffle is ROCCO "THE OLD MAN" PELLEGRINO. Any info on him?

Who was Vito Genovese's most dangerous allies?

Didn't know Peter DeFeo started off in Jersey. Interesting. I believe he was a captain in Little Italy and eventually forced into retirement by Chin or Bellomo.

There's a guy named Morelli in the Mean Streets documentary that's included in the DVD special features who talks about how Martin Scorsese was at his house all the time growing up, and that his father was in the mob. I'm thinking his father had to be Alex Morelli, who was in DeFeo's crew.

Any info on VINCENZO "JIMMY ALTO" ALTOMARI?

A story written about a member..... Thoughts???

A friend of Vito’s - Profile of Genovese crime family mobster Salvatore “Sally Burns” Granello
Posted by Gangsters Inc. on November 8, 2018 at 9:58am
By David Amoruso

It helps to have friends in high places. It enables one to have more opportunities, but also to get away with mistakes or grave crimes even. If one’s friend is powerful enough, one could get away with ranything. Until that friend is gone, of course. Like in the case of Genovese family mobster Salvatore Granello (photo above).

Granello made his bones working for Vito Genovese, a man who was feared as the embodiment of evil by men who feared little to nothing. Genovese and Granello built reputations as stone-cold killers in decades that were filled with such men. Their deadly capabilities enabled them to rise in the world of organized crime and La Cosa Nostra.

Known as “Sally Burns” or “Solly”, Granello had his finger in many pies. Union racketeering, hijackings, extortion, gambling, you name it. He even had the Oriente Park Race Track and the casino and restaurant and bar in Hotel Sevilla Biltmore in Havana, Cuba before Fidel Castro seized power and kicked the American gangsters out of the country.

In the United States, Granello ran a huge loansharking operation and owned tons of nightclubs, inheriting most of them from Genovese family capo Anthony “Tony Bender” Strollo, who disappeared without a trace in 1962. It is presumed he was whacked on orders of the family’s boss and namesake Vito Genovese.


Photo: Vito Genovese mugshot

Throughout Granello’s mob career, he and Genovese remained close. The Cosa Nostra chief’s office was nearby Granello’s apartment and he would frequently come by for a visit. Genovese wasn’t Granello’s only (in)famous friend. Boxing legend Rocky Graziano was godfather to his youngest daughter.

But with friends in high places comes a high profile. By the 1960s, Attorney General Robert Kennedy had Granello in his crosshairs and got him sent to prison on tax evasion charges. It was the beginning of his downfall.

While in prison in 1968, Granello got news no parent ever wants to hear: his son Michael had been murdered. It couldn’t have been a surprise. 19-year-old Michael was a drug addict who earned his money by playing Russian roulette: He robbed members of the Mafia. Taking after his father’s violent streak, Michael once beat a mobster half to death with a baseball bat during a robbery.

The mob wasn’t having it and shot-gunned young Michael to death while he was sitting in his car.

Granello vowed to avenge his son’s murder. A vow that no doubt made several men feel extremely uncomfortable.

By then rumors were circulating that Granello’s own time was up as well. Upon his release from prison in 1970, the FBI knocked on the mobster’s door to inform him that he was marked for death. Granello closed the door on them and went on with his life.

A life that was increasingly more difficult. He faced serious charges stemming from a federal sting operation set up by lawyer Herbert Itkin, who convinced Granello he could get him access to the Teamsters pension fund. An enthused Granello brought several high-ranking mob friends of his into the scheme only to see everyone end up in handcuffs when it turned out Itkin was cooperating with the FBI.

According to former Lucchese crime family acting boss Alphonse D’Arco, several mob leaders were very angry with Granello for introducing Itkin to them and bringing them in on this caper.

Normally, with this much heat on him, Granello would talk to his dear old friend. His blood brother. Vito Genovese. The big boss man. The Mafioso with all the right connections and the power of a god. But Vito had passed away in 1969 while doing time on federal narcotics charges and Sally Burns was without his protector.

He probably didn’t think it mattered. He was a killing machine and would continue to do what he did best. If he could just beat the charges, it would be business as usual and he’d get his revenge. On September 24, 1970, 47-year-old Granello met with associates of his in Manhattan’s Little Italy. He told them he had another meeting set up and left.

It was the last time he was seen alive.

On October 6, Granello was found in the trunk of an automobile on New York’s Lower East Side. He was shot to death and had four .22-caliber bullet wounds in his head.

After police found his dead body there were several theories as to why he was killed. It was because he threatened to avenge his son, went one theory. It was because he brought in an informant and caused the arrest of several other mobsters, said Al D’Arco. It was because they feared he would become a snitch himself, went another.

They whacked him because he was vying for the top spot in the Genovese family, several reports claimed. Then there were some anonymous sources who claimed Granello had taken advantage of several young girls, even raping some of them, and that the Mafia was fed up with his despicable behavior.

Whatever the motive, one thing is clear. Without his pal Vito’s powerful hand above Granello’s head, the Mafia wasted little time in shooting it off.

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Al D'Arco talks about him in his book. D'Arco was one of his young associates and he worked in a Gambling joint that belonged to Jimmy Alto and an old timer called "Don Zaza".

Jimmy Alto was very low key. He had a club in Little Italy. One day D'Arco showed up to the club all dressed up and Alto admonished him for looking like a movie gangster. He also told D'Arco not to sit outside the club during work hours because it looked bad and attract attention.

He was born in 1984 in Mangalone, Calabria.

If I remember well, in his book, D'Arco states that Jimmy Alto was more or less on his own and didn't belong to any family but I guess Alto was so low key that even his own associates didn't know he was a made guy with the Genoveses.

D'Arco also says that Alto was one of Luciano's gunmen who was sent thoughout the country to kill the Mustache Petes who wouldn't recognize the new regime.

I knew I've seen that name somewhere before. And the "Don Zaza" you were referring to is Rosario Dimaggio

A question about the Drug Pipeline

It seems that all the Families were involved in drugs during the 30s and 40s but seemingly from different channels (before it really got organized at the Havana Conference and furthermore during the 1957 summit held by Bonanno and Luciano.

Is it safe to say, it started under the control of the Lucianos in 30s/40s, then it shifted to the Bonannos in the 50s/60s ,eventually controlled by the Luccheses and ultimately the Gambinos 70s/80s?

How powerful is the Genovese family in the present-day? Are they getting stronger in the recent decade or weaker?

I don't think anyone knows anything about them...
They are always quiet under the rader

Yeah but I figure a big crime organization like that would have a noticeable presence in the neighborhoods they operate in, so maybe some people from NY might know something?

You know what's ironic about this Family? They are hailed and rightly so as the most cohesive, most scrective and well organized Family but, there is probably the most well documented and throughly researched of all the Families (possible exception of the old Gambinos). I mean most of these guys on the list have extensive records and easy to find public info.

There is NO Family that is getting stronger in recent times, in fact no borgata (Genovese included), is even as strong as they were or holding their own. Every family has been diminished to some degree.

The Genovese are stable for the present, despite having been repeatedly shellacked, how long they will remain that way is anyones guess. ALL 5 crews operate in NYC. But all are reduced.

I mean compared to the 2000s, they are even weaker? I thought they were at their bottom in the early 2000s after being cracked down on by law enforcement for decades, but maybe they had some chances to rebuild themselves over the last 10 years as they remained very low-key.