NOTES
PREFACE
1. New York Times, “Must Stop Outrages by the Black Hand,” January 26, 1908.
2. Tri City Herald [Richland, WA], “Valachi Testimony Rated Best Show on TV Network,” October 2, 1963.
I. PROFILES
3. Some sources list Attardi’s birth as September 12, 1900, or April 1, 1892, and death as July 17, 1970.
4. FBN memo dated December 13, 1938, NARA Record Number 124-90093-10099.
5. According to the FBN, Attardi frequented “159 Christie Street near Delancey.” This could be the address to his shop.
6. Feder and Joesten, Luciano Story.
7. Messick, John Edgar Hoover.
8. United States of America, Respondent-Appellee v. Angelo Buia, Defendant-Appellant., 236 F.2d 548 (2nd Cir. 1956).
9. New York Times, “11 Seized in Raid on Narcotics Ring,” August 10, 1962.
10. United States Congress, Organized Crime.
11. New York Times, “4 Get Prison Terms in Narcotics Cases,” October 5, 1955.
12. Phil Sanford, “The Inside Story,” Miami News, April 11, 1980.
13. Dannen, Hit Men.
14. Cole and Hinckley, Sh-Boom!.
15. Rose, The Agency.
16. New York Times, “Six Indicted in Conspiracy To Sell Stolen Securities,” April 12, 1968.
17. United States Federal Narcotics Control Board, Traffic in Opium.
18. Lawrence O’Kane, “11 Seized in Raid on Narcotics Ring,” New York Times, August 10, 1962.
19. West’s Federal Supplement. Vol. 842. West Publishing Company, 1994.
20. Jacobs and Daniels, Friend of the Family.
21. Toledo [Ohio] Blade, “Alleged Crime Bosses Seized in New York Police Raid,” September 23, 1966.
22. New York Times, “Hentel Accused on Arrest of 13,” December 20, 1966.
23. Though spelled with a “t” in the following article, this could be Genovese family soldier Joseph Tortorici.
24. New York Evening Post, “Schultz Gang Aid Held in Club Raid,” January 7, 1936.
25. United States of America, Appellee v. Joseph D’Ercole and Marty Russo, Defendant-Appellants, 225 F.2d 611 (2nd Cir. 1955).
26. Joseph D’Ercole, Appellant v. United States of America, Appellee, 361 F.2d 211 (2nd Cir. 1966).
27. Nash, A., New York City Gangland.
28. New York Times, “Cosa Nostra Aides Cleared by Court In Consorting Case,” November 4, 1965.
29. United States Congress House Subcommittee, Departments of State.
30. Los Angeles Times, “Top Mafia Leadership Listed by Justice Dept.,” August 22, 1969.
31. Nicholas Pileggi, “Gangbusters,” New York Magazine, July 25, 1983.
32. New York Times, “Murder in Brooklyn Is Laid to Gangsters,” August 5, 1930.
33. Dr. Anthony Baltakis, Kennedy Assassination Chronicles, Vol. 5, Issue 1, Politics and Policies of JFK and RFK: The McClellan Committee Investigation of Organized Labor, 1998.
34. Sam Baron, “A Top Teamster Fights Back,” Life, July 20, 1962.
35. United States of America, Appellee v. Domenico Bando, A/K/a ‘Nick Bando,’ Leo Telvi and Gondolfo Miranti, A/K/A ‘Shiekie,’ Appellants, 244 F.2d 833 (2nd Cir. 1957).
36. Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 94,534 United States of America, Appellee v. John Dioguardi and Louis Ostrer, Defendants-Appellants., 492 F.2d 70 (2nd Cir. 1974).
37. John Dioguardi, Petitioner-Appellant v. United States of America, Respondent- Appellee, 587 F.2d 572 (2nd Cir. 1978).
38. United States of America, Appellee v. Harry Stromberg, Henry Teitelbaum, Jean Aron, Nathan Behrman, Martin de Saverio, George Brisbois, Herman Samnick, Benjamin Danis, Saul Snyder, Salvatore Maimone, Anthony Mirra, Steve Puco, Daniel Lessa, Nicholas Lessa and Leo Seto, Defendants-Appellants, 268 F.2d 256 (2nd Cir. 1959).
39. United States of America, Appellee v. Alfredo Aviles, Charles Barcellona, Jean Capece, Charles Di Palermo, Joseph Di Palermo, Natale Evola, Vito Genovese, Vincent Gigante, Daniel Lessa, Nicholas Lessa, Rocco Mazzie, Carmine Polizzano, Ralph Polizzano, Benjamin Rodriquez, and Salvatore Santora, Appellants, 274 F.2d 179 (2nd Cir. 1960).
40. United States of America, Appellee v. Peter Di Palermo, Appellant, 228 F.2d 901 (2nd Cir. 1956).
41. The FBN lists Di Pietro’s death as 1978, though reliable sources claim he was killed in the 1980s, possibly at the hands of a Gambino gunman.
42. Nicholas Pileggi, “The Story of T,” New York Times Magazine, March 29, 1970.
43. United States of America, Appellee v. William Bentvena Et Al., Defendants-Appellants, 319 F.2d 916 (2nd Cir. 1963).
44. Many sources claim Embarrato was born in New York City on November 1, 1909, as “Alfred James Embarrato”; however, several original source documents such as census records, a ship manifest and petition for U.S. citizenship under the name “Alfred Joseph Embarrato” contradict this. Embarrato himself claimed he was born in Italy on November 12 in these documents.
45. United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Alfred Embarrato, Defendant-Appellant, 253 F.2d 947 (2nd Cir. 1958).
46. United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellant v. the Bonanno Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, 879 F.2d 20 (2nd Cir. 1989).
47. Kevin McCoy, “Tapes Bare Mob Hold on Post,” New York Newsday, July 23, 1992.
48. John Marzulli, “Former Post Exec Marries Paper to Mob,” New York Post, June 11, 2004.
49. United States of America, Appellee v. Russell A. Bufalino, Ignatius Cannone, Paul C. Castellano, Joseph F. Civello, Frank A. Desimone, Natale Evola, Louis A. Larasso, Carmine Lombardozzi, Joseph Magliocco, Frank T. Majuri, Michele Miranda, John C. Montana, John Ormento, James Osticco, Joseph Profaci, Anthony P. Riela, John T. Scalish, Angelo J. Sciandra, Simone Scozzari and Pasquale Turrigiano, Defendants-Appellants, 285 F.2d 408 (2nd Cir. 1960).
50. United States of America, Appellee v. Alfredo Aviles, Charles Barcellona, Jean Capece, Charles Di Palermo, Joseph Di Palermo, Natale Evola, Vito Genovese, Vincent Gigante, Daniel Lessa, Nicholas Lessa, Rocco Mazzie, Carmine Polizzano, Ralph Polizzano, Benjamin Rodriquez, and Salvatore Santora, Appellants, 274 F.2d 179 (2nd Cir. 1960).
51. United States of America, Appellee v. Joseph Morello and Rosario Farulla, Defendants-Appellants, 250 F.2d 631 (2nd Cir. 1957).
52. Unites States Congress, Hearings, Vol. 18, 201.
53. Harvey Klehr, “All the Right Enemies: The Life and Murder of Carlo Tresca,” Washington Monthly 20 (November 10, 1888).
54. Some historians and insiders believe this summit never took place. According to Mafioso turned informer Tommaso Buscetta, Charlie Luciano simply hosted a dinner in honor of Joseph Bonanno at the hotel, which was attended by a handful of close associates. Authorities tracking Luciano’s movements at the time reported on the meetings, but those reports were buried until the 1965 investigation.
55. Deseret News [Utah], “Italy Police Round Up 14 Leaders in Mafia,” August 2, 1965.
56. New York Times, “8 Indicted in Brooklyn as Counterfeiters,” June 20, 1930.
57. Herald-Journal [Spartanburg, SC], “Today,” September 21, 1934.
58. New York Times, “Poisoning Threat in Jail Revealed,” November 20, 1945.
59. James Miller, “The People Vs.,” Life, August 30, 1968.
60. United States of America, Appellee v. Joseph Gernie and Edward Ogull, Defendants-Appellants, 252 F.2d 664 (2nd Cir. 1958).
61. Gadsden Times [Alabama], “Vincent Gigante Back to Truck,” May 28, 1958.
62. New York Times, “Genovese is Given 15 Years in Prison in Narcotics Ring,” April 18, 1959.
63. Selwyn Raab, “Vincent Gigante, Mafia Leader Who Feigned Insanity, Dies at 77,” New York Times, December 19, 2005.
64. Collins, Newswalker.
65. Chris Wall, “Bright Lights,” Sunday Herald, February 17, 1952.
66. New York Times, “Ianniello Is Sentenced In Racketeering Trial,” February 16, 1986.
67. New York Times, “U.S. Attorney Reports Indictment of Ianniello,” May 16, 1986.
68. Sports Section, Bridgeport [CT] Sunday Herald, October 3, 1897.
69. Alfred Emanuel Smith and Francis Walton, “The Street Gang as a Factor in Politics,” New Outlook 74 (May 2, 1903).
70. St. John Daily Sun [New Brunswick, Canada], “Wickedest Child in New York a Girl. Depravity Unbelievable,” September 26, 1903.
71. New York Times, “Two Policemen Beaten,” July 24, 1901
72. World [New York], “City Officialy Warned Jerome of the Plot,” October 30, 1901.
73. New York Times, “Seth Low’s Busy Evening,” November 2, 1901.
74. New York Times, “Peace Marks Devery’s Association Outing,” September 11, 1902.
75. New York Times, “Rival Bands Battle in Chinatown Streets,” September 30, 1902.
76. New York Times, “Battle in a Poolroom,” October 5, 1902.
77. New York Times, “Leader Foley Settles Feud,” October 12, 1902.
78. New York Times, “Picnickers Fight Police,” July 6, 1903.
79. New York Times, “Policemen Fight a Mob,” July 9, 1903.
80. World [New York], “They Spoil Faces,” October 24, 1903.
81. New York Times, “Shields Man Who Shot Him,” March 14, 1904.
82. New York Times, “Fought Detectives on Roof,” November 14, 1904.
83. New York Times, “Eat ’Em Up Jack McManus Killed in Feud,” May 27, 1905.
84. St. John Daily Sun [New Brunswick, Canada], “Former St. John Bartender Murdered in Bowery Row,” June 3, 1905
85. Sun [Baltimore, MD], “Complete Paralysis of New York Harbor Threatened,” April 19, 1919.
86. New York Times, “Vaccarelli to Play Drum to Join Union,” January 25, 1923.
87. New York Times, “2 DROWN OFF PIER, HAD DRUNK ALCOHOL; Two Others, Who Had Also Fallen In after Swallowing Mixture, Are Saved,” August 10, 1924.
88. Lanza was not president of the USW, as is often cited.
89. New York Times, “DEFIANCE OF GANGS TOLD,” April 11, 1931.
90. Day [New London, CT], “Fulton Fish Market Confusion Is Invitation to Racketeer Methods,” December 12, 1931.
91. Report of Violation of Parole, New York State Division of Parole, April 11, 1957.
92. Lisi is often misidentified as a member of the Lucchese family.
93. Several sources cite Lisi’s mother’s name as “Nellie,” which is semicorrect. Though she arrived in America under the name “Sebartiana Grno,” her first name appears as “Neli” on several documents, including a 1927 naturalization petition. However, by 1942, records show that she was using the spelling “Nellie.”
94. In the 1950s, veteran mobster Joe Profaci admitted during an INS examination that when first arriving in America, he had visited Antonio Lucania (when Luciano was still a young boy), though he did not elaborate on the nature of the visit and denied any relationship, business or otherwise, with the Mafia icon.
95. Bernstein, Greatest Menace.
96. New York Times, “LUCANIA IS CALLED SHALLOW PARASITE,” June 19, 1936
97. Calgary Herald, “Luciano Role Brings Actor Death Threats,” February 26, 1962
98. The FBN cites Mari’s birth as September 3, 1926; however, other documents, including his death index, state he was born on July 27.
99. New York Times, “Club Pleads Guilty,” May 22, 1957.
100. Anthony Mirra, Petitioner-Appellant v. United States of America, Respondent-Appellee, 379 F.2d 782 (2nd Cir. 1967).
101. New York Times, “13 Are Sentenced in Narcotics Case,” July 11, 1962.
102. New York Times, “A Nightclub Owner Says He Has Woes—The Mafia,” October 10, 1974.
103. According to Dash, First Family, Bernardo Terranova lived at 123 East Fourth Street as late as 1900.
104. His last name was actually Lupo; it was not a nickname as is regularly reported. His father’s last name was Lupo, and his mother’s maiden name was Saietta.
105. New York Times, “Black Hand Block Raided by Flynn,” January 8, 1911.
106. Several sources, including the FBN, cite Petillo’s mother as “Mary Lomberdi”; however, original source documents, like census records and passport applications, contradict this.
107. Federal Bureau of Investigation FOIA report on David Petillo.
108. Asbury [NJ] Park Press, “Mobster Living in Home Owned by a Police Chief,” January 9, 1975.
109. United States of America, Appellee v. Alfredo Aviles, Charles Barcellona, Jean Capece, Charles Di Palermo, Joseph Di Palermo, Natale Evola, Vito Genovese, Vincent Gigante, Daniel Lessa, Nicholas Lessa, Rocco Mazzie, Carmine Polizzano, Ralph Polizzano, Benjamin Rodriquez, and Salvatore Santora, Appellants, 274 F.2d 179 (2nd Cir. 1960).
110. United States of America, Appellee v. Giacomo Reina, Joseph Valachi, Pasquale Moccio, Pasquale Pagano and Larry Quartiero, Appellants, 242 F.2d 302 (2nd Cir. 1957).
111. Syracuse [NY] Herald Journal, “Harness Race Fixing Charges Dismissed,” October 28, 1983.
112. Time, “Crime: Most Damnably Outrageous,” August 10, 1931.
113. New York Times, “COSTELLO ON LIST OF 150 RACKETEERS IN U.S. CRIME QUEST,” May 9, 1950.
114. New York Times, “Five Get Long Terms in Narcotics Cases,” November 30, 1954.
115. Idaho State Journal, “Luciano Linked to Crime Play,” July 1, 1968.
116. Corpus Christi [TX] Times, “17 Top Mafia-Cosa Nostra Bosses on Trial in Sicily,” March 14, 1968.
117. New York Times, “Two Men Held As Robbers,” March 22, 1926.
118. Telegraph-Herald [IA], “Blonde Dancer Plunges to Death,” April 19, 1938.
119. Portsmouth [OH] Times, “Holdup Heroin Leaps to Death; Blow Blamed,” April 15, 1938.
120. Youngstown [OH] Vindicator, “Crime City Racketeer Found Beaten on the Docks,” July 6, 1952.
121. Reading [PA] Eagle, “Valachi Puts Finger on Vito Genovese as Crime Overlord,” September 27, 1963.
122. Chicago Daily Tribune, “Names Chicago Gangsters Who Face Tax Quiz,” March 21, 1951.
123. Tuminaro may have been born on February 22, 1909.
124. Valentine, Strength of the Wolf.
125. Ibid.
126. Internal FBI files on the JFK assassination, written August 23, 1968, released October 3, 1996 (NARA Record Number: 124-10288-10422).
II. SOCIAL CLUBS AND HANGOUTS
127. Cole and Hinckley, Sh-Boom!.
128. Indiana [PA] Gazette, “New Yorkers’ $12 Billion Gambling Tab Tops in Nation,” February 14, 1993.
129. Breslin, Good Rat.
130. Bonanno, Pistone and Fisher, Good Guys.
III. GANGLAND HITS
131. Bulletin [Bend, OR], “Gunman’s Poor Aim Saves Defendant,” February 15, 1987.
132. Chicago Tribune, “Mafia Case Witness to Tell More,” December 24, 1987.
133. New York Times, “Shot by Shot, an Ex-Aide to Gotti Describes the Killing of Castellano,” March 4, 1992.
134. Times Daily [Florence, AL], “Vincent Coll Gets His Lead From Gangdom,” February 8, 1932.
135. New York Times, “Three Slay Man in Street and Flee,” October 11, 1928.
136. New York Post, “Mafia’s Whacks & Pacts,” February 8, 2008.
137. New York Times, “Ex-Assistant Prosecutor for Hogan Shot to Death in ‘Village’ Ambush,” November 5, 1977.
138. New York Times, “Eight Sicilians Held For Barrel Murder,” April 16, 1903.
139. Meriden [CT] Daily Journal, “Mafia Leader Iron-Nerved,” April 23, 1903.
140. Nashua [NH] Daily Telegraph, “From Buffalo,” April 21, 1903.
141. Boston Evening Transcript, “Suspected Italian Discharged,” April 22, 1903.
142. Pittsburgh Press, “Slaying Opens Mystery of Man’s True Identity,” August 16, 1987.
143. New York Times, “Tapes Tell How Schiff Was Murdered,” April 16, 1989.
144. New York Times, “TAPED MEETINGS DETAIL MOB PLOT TO KILL 2 GOTTIS,” July 2, 1988.
145. New York Newsday, “Schiff, Victim of `Crime Hit,’ Described as FBI Informant,” August 12, 1987.