DeCavalcante - Blog 2.0 - Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org
2024-03-28T14:01:10Z
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The DeCavalcante Crime Family: "The Sopranos... Is that supposed to be us?"
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family
2020-09-21T15:30:48.000Z
2020-09-21T15:30:48.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9236976073,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9236976073,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9236976073?profile=original" width="600" /></a>First Boss</span>: Filippo "Phil" Amari<br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Primary activities</span>: Extortion, gambling, drugs, loansharking, union corruption, prostitution.<br /> <strong>Boss</strong>: ?</p>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">PROFILES</span></span>:<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">BOSSES</span>:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-mob-boss-francesco-guarraci-dies-at-age-61">Francesco Guarraci</a> (dead, natural causes)<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again">Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo</a> (flipped)<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies">John "The Eagle" Riggi</a> (dead, natural causes)<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-boss-john-damato">John D'Amato</a> (whacked)<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">CAPTAINS:</span><br /> <br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/profile-of-decavalcante-crime-family-capo-charles-stango">Charles Stango</a> (prison)<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-capo-francesco">Francesco Polizzi</a> (dead, natural causes)<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">SOLDIERS:</span><br /> <br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-sopranos-is-that-supposed-to-be-us-profile-of-decavalcante-ma">Joseph "Tin Ear" Sclafani</a> (freedom)<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/i-chopped-him-up-so-bad-profile-of-decavalcante-mafia-family-sol">Anthony Capo</a> (flipped, dead)<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">ARTICLES</span>:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/blog/what-happened-to-tony-soprano-series-creator-david-chase-reveals">What happened to Tony Soprano?</a> Series creator David Chase reveals New Jersey mob boss’ fate<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/alleged-new-jersey-mobster-admits-gun-and-coke-were-his">Alleged New Jersey mobster admits gun and coke were his</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-mafia-family-mobsters-hit-with-drug-charg">DeCavalcante Mafia family mobsters hit with drug charges</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mafia-author-shares-dark-stories-behind-garden-state-gangland-the">Mafia author shares dark stories behind Garden State Gangland:</a> The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey<br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-mafia-capo-gets-10-years-for-plans-to-whack-crime-fami">New Jersey Mafia capo gets 10 years for plans to whack rival</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-crime-family-capo-admits-planning-mob-rival-s-murder">DeCavalcante family capo admits planning mob rival’s murder</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/two-decavalcante-family-mobsters-admit-distributing-cocaine">Two Decavalcante family mobsters admit distributing cocaine</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/will-historic-mob-bust-really">Will Historic Mob Bust Really Go Down As Historic?</a><br /> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again">Turncoat Mobster Once Again Involved in Dirty Business</a></div>
<p> </p></div>
“I chopped him up so bad” - Profile of DeCavalcante Mafia family soldier Anthony Capo
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/i-chopped-him-up-so-bad-profile-of-decavalcante-mafia-family-sol
2020-06-08T16:30:00.000Z
2020-06-08T16:30:00.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/i-chopped-him-up-so-bad-profile-of-decavalcante-mafia-family-sol" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237151282,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237151282?profile=original" /></a>By David Amoruso for <a href="http://www.gangstersinc.org" target="_blank">Gangsters Inc.</a></p>
<p>Every Mafia family has its go-to guy when it comes to violent acts. For New Jersey’s DeCavalcante crime family one of those men was Anthony Capo, a soldier with a hair-trigger temper who relished hurting people and making bones.</p>
<p>Capo (photo above) began using his “muscle” for the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family" target="_blank">DeCavalcante family</a> as an associate under capo Vincent Rotondo and would later fall under Vincent’s son Anthony. He was involved in <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Gambling" target="_blank">gambling</a>, <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Extortion" target="_blank">extortion</a>, <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Loansharking" target="_blank">loansharking</a>, <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Drugs" target="_blank">narcotics</a>, <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Fraud" target="_blank">fraud</a>, armed <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Robbery" target="_blank">robbery</a>, and available whenever the bosses needed someone to “send a message”. He was convicted in 1985 for leaning on a debtor who had borrowed money from Vincent Rotondo.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Wild kid</strong></span></p>
<p>During his criminal career, Capo acquired a reputation for being a wild kid. He would not hesitate to beat you up or shoot you where you stood. To emphasize this, he would frequently share stories about his violent exploits.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>READ: <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mafia-author-shares-dark-stories-behind-garden-state-gangland-the" target="_blank">Mafia author shares dark stories behind Garden State Gangland</a>: The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Like the time someone came to Capo’s bar to demand money he was owed. “I handled myself pretty well,” Capo was recorded saying. “I pat myself on the back. I hit him good. He gets up and goes: ‘I got our number and I got your number.’ He didn’t die, he didn’t die. I beat him, I cut him, I chopped him up so bad, then I stick him in the car. I called his brother. I said: ‘Here he is.’ He said: ‘Where’s my brother?’ I said: ‘Your brother is under the car.’ He said: ‘Who did this to him?’ I said: ‘I did this to him. This is why… ba, ba, ba.’” </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GangstersInc" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237151861,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237151861?profile=original" /></a>A favor for John Gotti</strong></span></p>
<p>Many members of the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family" target="_blank">DeCavalcante crime family</a> were close to members of New York’s <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gambino-crime-family-overview" target="_blank">Gambino crime family</a>. Capo for instance worked with powerful Gambino family associate Joseph Watts and was involved in his multi-million-dollar loansharking racket. <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies" target="_blank">John Riggi</a> (right), the DeCavalcante family boss, was a good friend of <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Gotti" target="_blank">John Gotti</a>, boss of the Gambinos. It wasn’t so surprising then, that Gotti asked his friend in Jersey for a favor. He needed someone whacked.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>READ: Profile of</strong> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies" target="_blank"><strong>DeCavalcante crime family boss John "The Eagle" Riggi</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>That someone was Fred Weiss, a property developer from Staten Island who had earlier been an editor for the Staten Island Advance newspaper. Weiss had gotten involved in a mob-run illegal waste dump and after the whole racket was busted by authorities, the Mafia decided it did not trust Weiss with keeping his mouth shut.</p>
<p>The murder contract was handed to DeCavalcante family capo Anthony Rotondo, who, in turn, recruited <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again" target="_blank">Vincent Palermo</a>, Jimmy Gallo, and Anthony Capo. With Capo behind the steering wheel of the getaway car, which was owned by his wife (Capo was at least smart enough to switch license plates), he could see how Palermo shot Weiss in the face. Killing him gangland style.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GangstersInc" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237151496,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237151496?profile=original" /></a>“A gay homosexual boss”</strong></span></p>
<p>By 1991, the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family" target="_blank">DeCavalcante family</a> was run by John D’Amato (right), after Riggi was imprisoned on racketeering charges. D’Amato wasn’t a popular guy – he borrowed money and didn’t pay back. He wasn’t well liked by his underlings, but what were they gonna do?</p>
<p>The problem for D’Amato was that his girlfriend didn’t like him that much either. She began spreading a rumor that he was bisexual and had sex with men. This was an explosive accusation for the Mafiosi in his crime family. Being gay wasn’t something that was acceptable in the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Mafia" target="_blank">Mafia</a>. As Capo himself said: “Nobody's going to respect us if we have a gay homosexual boss sitting down discussing La Cosa Nostra business.”</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>INTERVIEW:</strong> <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/interview-john-gotti-jr-sits-down-with-gangsters-inc" target="_blank"><strong>John Gotti Jr. sits down with Gangsters Inc.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>D’Amato’s underlings decided they would kill their boss. Capo was designated as the triggerman. Capo and another mobster picked up D’Amato and drove him to a garage in <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Brooklyn" target="_blank">Brooklyn</a>, using some bullshit story wiseguys always tell the person they are lulling into safety. Once they arrived, Capo shot D’Amato in the head. His body was put in the trunk of the car and disposed of later.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Hitman turned rat</strong></span></p>
<p>Still, after all this work, Capo was just a soldier, no matter what his last name might be. He remained one until December 2, 1999, when he was arrested on various racketeering and murder charges. Despite being one of the most feared men of the streets, Capo took little time deciding on his future. Instead of taking his chances in court and prison, he flipped and agreed to testify against his Mafia colleagues.</p>
<p>He then vanished into the Witness Protection Program together with his family. On January 23, 2012, at 52 years old, Capo died of a heart attack.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Back to the <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante Crime Family section</a> on Gangsters Inc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out the latest news on organized crime and the Mafia at our <a href="https://gangstersinc.ning.com/blog/list/tag/news">news section</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out our <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/blog/gangsters-inc-on-social-media">social media channels</a></strong></li>
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</ul>
<p><strong>Copyright © Gangsters Inc.</strong></p>
<p> </p></div>
Alleged New Jersey mobster admits gun and coke were his
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/alleged-new-jersey-mobster-admits-gun-and-coke-were-his
2020-03-11T17:30:00.000Z
2020-03-11T17:30:00.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/alleged-new-jersey-mobster-admits-gun-and-coke-were-his" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237142066,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237142066?profile=original" /></a>By <a href="http://www.gangstersinc.org" target="_blank">Gangsters Inc.</a> Editors</p>
<p>That gun and the grams of coke? Yeah, those were his, an alleged associate of New Jersey’s <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family" target="_blank">DeCavalcante crime family</a> admitted in court on Monday. 28-year-old <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Galli" target="_blank">Mario Galli III</a> (photo above) of Toms River, NJ, pleaded guilty to possessing <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Cocaine" target="_blank">cocaine</a> with the intent to distribute and possession of a FEG 9mm Model PGK-9HP gun, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, by a convicted felon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.</p>
<p>On September 19, 2019, investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants on Galli’s residence and <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-mafia-family-mobsters-hit-with-drug-charg" target="_blank">recovered</a> around 400 grams of cocaine. The search also recovered an FEG 9mm Model PGK-9HP gun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Galli was on supervised release from a 2016 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine. He served 30 months in federal prison on that charge.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>READ: <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mafia-author-shares-dark-stories-behind-garden-state-gangland-the" target="_blank">Mafia author shares dark stories behind Garden State Gangland</a>: The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count of being a felon being in possession of a firearm during a drug crime carries a penalty of five years in prison which must be served consecutively to the penalty for the drug crime, and a $250,000 fine.</p>
<p>Galli will be sentenced on July 7, 2020.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Back to the <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante Crime Family section</a> on Gangsters Inc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out the latest news on organized crime and the Mafia at our <a href="https://gangstersinc.ning.com/blog/list/tag/news">news section</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out our <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/blog/gangsters-inc-on-social-media">social media channels</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/about-gangsters-inc">About Gangsters Inc.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Copyright © Gangsters Inc.</strong></p>
<p> </p></div>
New Jersey DeCavalcante Mafia family mobsters hit with drug charges
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-mafia-family-mobsters-hit-with-drug-charg
2019-12-13T23:30:00.000Z
2019-12-13T23:30:00.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-mafia-family-mobsters-hit-with-drug-charg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237137884,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237137884?profile=original" /></a>By <a href="http://www.gangstersinc.org" target="_blank">Gangsters Inc.</a> Editors</p>
<p>Two alleged associates of New Jersey’s <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family" target="_blank">DeCavalcante Mafia family</a> were hit with drug charges on Wednesday. 27-year-old Mario Galli III (photo above, left) and 37-year-old Jason Vella (right) are each charged with trafficking <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Cocaine" target="_blank">cocaine</a> and Galli is also charged with <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Guns" target="_blank">gun</a> crimes.</p>
<p>Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants on each of the defendants’ residences on September 19, 2019, and recovered in excess of 150 grams of cocaine and <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Drugs" target="_blank">drug</a> paraphernalia, including digital scales, glassine envelopes, a money counter, baking soda, grinders, and $2,295 in cash.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>FEG 9mm</strong></span></p>
<p>From Galli’s residence they also recovered a FEG 9mm Model PGK-9HP gun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Galli was on supervised release from a 2016 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>READ: <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mafia-author-shares-dark-stories-behind-garden-state-gangland-the" target="_blank">Mafia author shares dark stories behind Garden State Gangland</a>: The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The drug charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The gun charges carry sentences ranging from a maximum penalty of 5 to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Back to the <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante Crime Family section</a> on Gangsters Inc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out the latest news on organized crime and the Mafia at our <a href="https://gangstersinc.ning.com/blog/list/tag/news">news section</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out our <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/blog/gangsters-inc-on-social-media">social media channels</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/about-gangsters-inc">About Gangsters Inc.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Copyright © Gangsters Inc.</strong></p>
<p> </p></div>
DeCavalcante crime family capo admits planning mob rival’s murder
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-crime-family-capo-admits-planning-mob-rival-s-murder
2016-12-08T11:00:00.000Z
2016-12-08T11:00:00.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-crime-family-capo-admits-planning-mob-rival-s-murder"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237078468,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237078468?profile=original" width="400" /></a>By Gangsters Inc. Editors</p>
<p>DeCavalcante crime family captain <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Stango">Charles Stango</a> admitted on Wednesday using a telephone to plan the murder of a Mafia rival. He also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his supervised release, which he was serving following his imprisonment on racketeering charges in New York. Stango faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced on March 28, 2017.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Read: <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/profile-of-decavalcante-crime-family-capo-charles-stango">Profile of DeCavalcante family capo Charles Stango</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The 72-year-old Mafia capo was busted on April 14, 2015, as part of a sweep of <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante family</a> members that operated in New Jersey and elsewhere - Stango himself resides in <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Nevada">Nevada</a>. Despite the distance between him and the DeCavalcante family’s base of operations in New Jersey, Stango remained a serious threat to his enemies back home.</p>
<p>A beef with a rival wiseguy named <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Oliveri">Luigi Oliveri</a> got so heated that Stango offered up to $50,000 to two assassins to carry out his murder. The two hitmen were, in fact, undercover FBI agents. Upon catching Stango in a sting operation, agents closed the investigation and pulled the mob capo off the streets to ensure Oliveri’s safety – he is still alive today. </p>
<p>Stango’s son Anthony was also arrested and has since pleaded guilty to a variety of charges including distribution of significant amounts of <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=Cocaine">cocaine</a> and attempting to set up a prostitution business. Five other mobsters have also pleaded guilty to various charges.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Back to the <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante Crime Family section</a> on Gangsters Inc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out the latest news on organized crime and the Mafia at our <a href="https://gangstersinc.ning.com/blog/list/tag/news">news section</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Check out our <a href="https://gangstersinc.org/blog/gangsters-inc-on-social-media">social media channels</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/about-gangsters-inc">About Gangsters Inc.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Copyright © Gangsters Inc.</strong></p>
<p> </p></div>
Profile: New Jersey crime family boss Francesco Guarraci
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-mob-boss-francesco-guarraci-dies-at-age-61
2016-04-25T11:18:13.000Z
2016-04-25T11:18:13.000Z
Gangsters Inc.
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-mob-boss-francesco-guarraci-dies-at-age-61"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237062696,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237062696?profile=original" width="130" /></a>By David Amoruso</p>
<p>Reputed DeCavalcante crime family mob boss Francesco Guarraci passed away on April 14, 2016, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was 61. Guarraci became acting boss of the New Jersey mob around 2006.</p>
<p>Guarraci was born in Ribera, Sicily, and came to New Jersey in 1967, where he settled in Elizabeth. According to his <a href="http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=francesco-guarraci&pid=179639672&" target="_blank">obituary</a> in the Star-Ledger, Guarraci “enjoyed gardening, playing cards and watching soccer. Most of all, he loved to spend time with his family and friends, especially his granddaughter.”</p>
<p>Legitimately, Guarraci earned his income as a laborer with local No. 394 – He was a member for over 25 years and retired in 2006. But according to authorities, this was just a façade.</p>
<p>Around 1989, mob turncoat <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again">Vincent Palermo</a> claimed, Guarraci became a made member of the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">DeCavalcante crime family</a> led by boss <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies">John Riggi</a>. Due to prosecutions and turncoats, Guarraci became a capo by the mid-2000s and climbed all the way to the top around 2006.</p>
<p>Within four years, authorities hit him with an indictment. In 2010 he was charged with trying to extort money from the general manager of Lenny’s Brick Oven Pizzeria and Restaurant in Washington Township a year earlier.</p>
<p>In a scene straight from <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/james-tony-soprano-gandolfini-1961-2013">The Sopranos</a> – HBO’s hit television show which many on both sides of the law think was based on the DeCavalcantes – Guarraci and four other men entered the restaurant and told the general manager that Guarraci was now “the guy in charge,” the man who “runs the show.”</p>
<p>He then demanded that daily cash proceeds and receipts be passed on to one of his associates. When the manager refused, Guarraci allegedly began “yelling and cursing” at him.</p>
<p>While all of this went down, customers fearfully fled the restaurant without paying their bills. One of them called the cops.</p>
<p>It was truly like a scene from The Sopranos.</p>
<p>Guarraci pleaded guilty to all his cowboy antics and was sentenced to six months of house arrest in January 2012 to be followed by five years of probation.</p>
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Profile of New Jersey DeCavalcante family boss John Riggi
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies
2015-08-04T18:30:00.000Z
2015-08-04T18:30:00.000Z
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<div><p><a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-jersey-decavalcante-family-boss-john-riggi-dies"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237046278,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237046278?profile=original" width="540" /></a>By David Amoruso</p>
<p>Longtime New Jersey mob boss John Riggi passed away on Monday. He was 90 years old. He had been released from prison almost three years ago and peacefully died at home surrounded by his family.</p>
<p>His obituary reads, “John M. Riggi, Laborers Local 394 business agent, Army Air Corps veteran, dedicated his life to his family.” Though the obit refers to his blood relatives, it just as well could’ve referred to his other family, New Jersey’s DeCavalcante crime family.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/GangstersInc" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9237046899,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9237046899?profile=original" width="157" /></a>Riggi (right) was born in Elizabeth in 1925. He graduated from Linden High School in 1942 as class president and a three letter athlete after which he enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, where he was a staff sergeant in the Air Corps. He served as an airplane and engine mechanic for the campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.</p>
<p>After coming home, the war veteran became involved with the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-decavalcante-crime-family">New Jersey mob</a> run by Simone “Sam the Plumber” DeCavalcante. The two men became close and within two decades of joining Riggi was a man of power and influence. He became a business agent of the International Laborers Local 394 of Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1963. In this role he was able to manipulate and extort the construction industry in the region. A typical mob racket. He would remain a business agent for the union until he was charged with labor racketeering in 1988 and was forced to step down.</p>
<p>By the early 1970s, Riggi had become the crime family’s leader, taking over from DeCavalcante. Riggi was a popular boss, well-liked by his men. A former New Jersey mobster who knew Riggi said, “He was an old school gentleman.” Riggi formed a close friendship with New York mob boss <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gambino-boss-john-gotti-sr">John Gotti</a>, which he hoped would benefit his family as it was surrounded by the New York families and the <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-bruno-crime-family">Bruno family in Philadelphia</a>. With support from the powerful <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gambino-crime-family-overview">Gambinos</a> he hoped to keep the others in check.</p>
<p>That is why when Gotti asked Riggi to do him a favor, Riggi obliged. Like the time Gotti wanted Staten Island businessman Frederick Weiss dead. Riggi helped plan the hit, which took place on September 11, 1989. DeCavalcante soldier <a href="http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again">Vincent Palermo</a> was the triggerman and later testified, “I shot him twice in the head. Being I shot Weiss, they made me a captain.”</p>
<p>Testifying via televised broadcast from a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina, Riggi said the following about the hit on Weiss: “We agreed he should be murdered. Pursuant to the agreement, he was murdered.”</p>
<p>Just like that. Nothing personal, strictly business.</p>
<p>By the time of the above testimony, in 2003, many of Riggi’s underlings had turned government witness. Riggi had missed most of that after spending his days in a cell after having been convicted of labor racketeering in 1990. Authorities claimed he still ran the family from prison, but as his health deteriorated and more and more mobsters flipped it is doubtful he was able to exert any control over what happened on the streets of New Jersey.</p>
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Profile: DeCavalcante crime family boss John D'Amato
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-boss-john-damato
2010-11-10T20:07:56.000Z
2010-11-10T20:07:56.000Z
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<p><br /> By Luca <br /><br /> You could be easily forgiven for not mentioning John D’Amato in the same breath as Carlo Gambino or Carlos Marcello. Truth is he won’t go down as one of the most powerful nor successful mob bosses of all time. But the former DeCalvacante Godfather led an intriguing life, one that led to his death in 1992. Here’s the story.<br /> <br /> Sam ‘Sam the plumber’ DeCalvacante certainly didn’t have a name that reflected his profession. Don of the New Jersey crime family based in Newark and Elizabeth, he presided over the families activities such as loan sharking, money laundering, extortion, waste management, hijacking, drug trafficking and the other usual mob crimes. The Crime Family was eventually given his name. By 1989, the Feds busted then boss John ‘the eagle’ Riggi on racketeering charges. All of a sudden the position for family Godfather was vacant and underboss John ‘Johnny Boy’ D’Amato self-appointed himself as Riggi’s successor. Forget that he was unpopular amongst the family and that there was no formal gathering to discuss it, D’Amato threw himself into the seat which had that been done in NY or Chicago, a baseball bat to the head would have been the response. But ‘Johnny Boy’ had a trump card only few could match at the time. He had become close with Gambino boss John Gotti and with those sort of friends, no one in Elizabeth even dreamt of challenging D’Amato. Stefano Vitabile, the wise consiglieri remained advisor to D’Amato, Anthony Capo a childhood friend was the muscle that D’Amato would call upon, but the biggest of them all was later acting boss, Vincent ‘Vinny Ocean’ Palermo who was a big player in the seafood industry at the Fulton Fish Market where the mob has capitalised on for decades. He also ran the strip joint ‘Wiggles’ which was a big money earner as well as stock ‘pump and dump’ operations. Giacomo Amari was the underboss while the family also had Anthony Rotondo and Pino Schiffilliti as the main capos.<br /> <br /> John D’Amato was seen as a wild, womanising character so it was only normal for him to have one or two goomarahs by his side. One particular woman (Mrs X) was swept by D’Amato’s charisma and confidence that when he’d ask her to jump, her reply would be’ how high?’ He was beginning to spend less time on the streets and more in Mrs X’s pants. This was not going down well with his family. By 1990 he had picked up a gambling habit that was beginning to influence his lifestyle and decisions. His laidback lifestyle invited the feds to increase their surveillance. He was fast picking up comparisons with his mentor John Gotti in NY with his swashbuckling habits and personality. Eventually the pressure and heat from the FBI began to mount on D’Amato and he was beginning to show it with his paranoia. When Gotti got busted in the early 90s this only made things worse for Johnny Boy. By now he was visiting Mrs X regularly for assurance often asking her ‘if she would take a bullet for him’. In October 1992 he left Mrs X’s house only never to return. Weeks, months and then a year went by, word on the street was that he had become the big fish in the Feds investigation. In reality, he had become fish bait.<br /> <br /> In 1991, Mrs X confessed to Anthony Capo about D’Amato’s strange habits and experiences. She recounted several times when she’d caught Johnny Boy having oral sex with other men. Capo was furious. At first he didn’t want to believe it, but when it sunk in he knew something had to be done. Organising a meeting with capos Phil Abramo, Schifilitti, Rotondo and consiglieri Stefano Vitabile, with Riggi in prison it was left to Vitabile for the final decision. He approved to get D’Amato whacked, not even counselling their NY cousins such was the extremity of Johnny Boy’s actions. Homosexuality was uncalled for in the mob and to have a fairy Godfather was beyond embarrassing. Locating D’Amato was easy, when Capo picked him up in his car little did Johnny Boy know that it would be his last ride. 5 shots and there ended the life of DeCalvacante boss John D’Amato. In April 2003 the case was opened for the murder of D’Amato. Riggi was the main plotter according to law enforcement agents, but after Vinny Ocean, Capo and Rotondo turned government-informants and spilled the beans, Vitabile and Schifilliti were convicted and sentenced to life in jail.<br /> </p>
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Profile of DeCavalcante crime family capo Francesco Polizzi
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/decavalcante-capo-francesco
2010-11-10T20:00:00.000Z
2010-11-10T20:00:00.000Z
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<p><br /> By Maarten Anthonissen<br /><br /> Francesco Polizzi never was a very important figure in the world of American wiseguys. A typical soldier who climbed the ladder and became a capo. His income, and that of his whole crew, came from typical mob rackets; loansharking, gambling, extortion, and especially drugs. But eventhough he won't get a place in the fictitious wiseguy hall of fame, Frank Polizzi will have a lot of influence on the status of convicted criminals, in the entire US, both now and in the future. Strange, because Polizzi wasn't even a member of one of the five New York Families. He was a member of the DeCavalcante Crime Family from New Jersey, which for decades was seen as the little brother of the New York Families. It is the only La Cosa Nostra group operating in New Jersey which was founded and has its headquarters there. The DeCavalcante Family, named after their boss Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante, is an autonomous family. But they need authorization from New York for certain operations. They couldnt make any new members without an OK from all New York Families. From FBI wiretaps it became clear New York wiseguys even laughed at their New Jersey counterparts. One of the often used comments was: "You can't make an appointment with members of the DeCavalcante Family before 17:00h. Because that's the time they get home from work." It was a fact that many DeCavalcante wiseguys held a steady, front job. Many times they worked as a representative of a union or as a consultant at a construction or garbagehauling firm.<br /> <br /> It is no wonder there is so much competition in New Jersey. It may be a small state, but it is the most densely populated one in the US. And, as a figure of speech, within walking distance of New York. When construction in New York was drying up, the mob started eyeing New Jersey. Both the airport and Port Newark, where cargo ships came and went, grew enormously in the twentieth century. All mob families wanted a piece of the pie. The DeCavalcante Family was sandwiched between the New York Families and the violent Philadelphia Family. And that's only Italian organized crime, not to mention all the other groups. But this growth in business opportunities gave LCN and the DeCavalcantes in particular enormous possibilities.<br /> <br /> Frank Polizzi tried to get in on the action. Since the 1950s he had climbed the ranks of the DeCavalcante Family and by the 1980s he was a respected capo. A large percentage of his income came from trafficking heroin. Through the ports, large quantities of heroin were shipped into New Jersey from Sicily and Corsica. It took a while before the FBI could make a case, but eventually they succeeded, and brought the famous Pizza Connection trial in the 1980s.<br /> <br /> After a heated trial, which included hilarious testimony from Polizzi's wife, Francesco Polizzi was sentenced to twenty years in prison. He had just turned 52. Polizzi's crew and rackets were divided among other capos. These consisted mostly of front companies, a loansharking operation, and a sports betting operation. The biggest source of income (drugs) had been busted by the feds. The drugmoney was laundered through a string of pizza parlors. Such a business is ideal to launder money because it only deals in cash payments, and production costs are hard to trace. (In The Sopranos Tony Soprano also used a string of snackbars owned by a frontman to launder money - Season 2, episode 3.) During this time, mid 80s, the DeCavalcante Family made enough money to cover the losses caused by the Pizza Connection bust. In prison Polizzi had healthproblems. In the prison hospital they determined Polizzi had lung cancer. THe cancer was aggressive, and it didn't look like he would have long to live. According to several medical reports which were given to the presiding judge Frank Polizzi had a maximum of 6 months. His lawyers pressured the judge, and in 1995 Polizzi was released from prison. After serving less than 8 of his 20 year sentence.<br /> <br /> But back home Polizzi miraciously recovered. After several months he picked up his old life. His old crew was reassembled, and Polizzi got his share of the rackets again. The FBI noticed that the judge had made a big mistake. Because all of the convictions against Polizzi were dropped, the feds had to start a whole new investigation, to indict him again. The FBI unit which focussed on the DeCavalcantes in the 90s used all their powers (This was before 9/11, when terrorism wasn't a high priority.)<br /> <br /> The feds were never able to indict Polizzi again. He died on Christmas eve 2002, surrounded by his family. Six years after being released because had less than 6 months to live. One of the last conversations of Polizzi the feds taped made clear what a real gangster Polizzi was. During an informal conversation with other DeCavalcante wiseguys, Polizzi complained about rats. It was his opinion that not only should the rat pay for his treason, so should his family. "Just like in Sicily!" Polizzi said.<br /> <br /> Frank Polizzi got six years of freedom. Since then most courts are more cautious with releasing "dying" mobsters or gangleaders. John Gotti for instance didnt even get one day outside the prison walls, no matter how sick he was. Recently an exception was made when Genovese capo Buster Ardito got permission to live out the last weeks of his life at home. Ardito was 87, and was in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, and was awaiting trial.<br /> <br /> It's clear you really have to be dying to get released on medical reasons. All thanks to Frank Polizzi and his marvellous recovery.<br /> </p>
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Turncoat Mobster Once Again Involved in Dirty Business
https://gangstersinc.org/profiles/blogs/turncoat-mobster-once-again
2010-11-10T18:19:42.000Z
2010-11-10T18:19:42.000Z
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<div><p>By David Amoruso<br /><br /> <img style="float:right;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9236976881,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" />DeCavalcante mobster Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo (photo right) disappeared into the witness protection program at the turn of the millennium after giving testimony about mob rackets in New Jersey and New York. Like all criminals who decide to cooperate, he hoped to get a second chance at life. But it seems he is up to his old tricks again.<br /> <br /> As an Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante Crime Family Palermo knew where a lot of the mob’s bodies were buried. He quickly became a government witness after he was arrested in 1999. As part of his cooperation agreement, he admitted taking part in four murders and a long list of mob crimes such as loan sharking and extortion. His defection helped bring down the leadership of the New Jersey crime family.<br /> <br /> When Palermo and his family entered the witness protection program they did not come empty handed. During his life of crime he had made millions. He owned a $2 million dollar mansion in Long Island, and had a considerable amount of cash stashed away. After serving two years in prison for four murders, Palermo was released, given a new name, and relocated to Houston, Texas.<br /> <br /> <img style="float:left;" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9236976667,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" />Palermo (photo left) was able to keep his whereabouts hidden for seven years. But this past week NBC’s Houston affiliate Local 2 decided to turn on the spotlight and point it at Vincent Cabella, formerly known as Vincent Palermo. Local 2 talked to numerous sources and found out the former mob boss owned the Penthouse Club and All-Star Men's Club in Houston. Palermo knows all about strip clubs since he ran one in Queens during his days as a mobster.<br /> <br /> Strip clubs are never a squeaky clean business, but local authorities claim that prostitution and drug dealing took place at the two strip clubs owned by Palermo. Between January 2006 and August 2007, Houston police launched seven sting operation, which provided sufficient evidence of these crimes. The Penthouse Club was eventually forced to close for one year.<br /> <br /> Despite his dirty laundry being aired in both his new home town and old mob stomping grounds Palermo does not seem fazed. In a short interview outside his gated mansion he told reporters that everybody already knew who he really was because of an A&E special.<br /> <br /> With so many mobsters entering the witness protection program these stories will become more and more frequent. “Sammy the Bull” Gravano (photo right) was another former mobster who couldn’t lay low. His whole neighborhood also knew who he was when he moved in next door. And just like Palermo, Gravano, too, could not stay away from the fast and easy money that crime could provide. He and his son Gerard ran a very successful ecstasy ring. In May 2001 he pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and received a twenty year sentence.<br /> <br /> It is interesting to note that Palermo gave testimony about several talks he had with fellow mobsters when news of Gravano’s luxurious life in Arizona became known. According to Palermo, several mafiosi were thinking about changing the mob’s rule about not harming a turncoat mobster’s relatives. Instead, DeCavalcante mobsters Frank Polizzi and Jake Amari told him, “we should do what they do in Italy…kill the whole family.”<br /> <br /> With “Vinny Ocean” Palermo’s secret identity and hideaway blown, those old talks with mob hit men are sure to haunt him. Haunt him when he watches A&E, when he drives away from his Houston home, and when he goes to sleep at night. <br /> </p>
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