Lucchese crime family

Lucchese crime family

1992 mugshot of current Lucchese family boss Steven Crea.
In	New York City, New York
Founded by	Gaetano "Tommy" Reina and named after Tommy Lucchese
Years active	c. 1920s-present
Territory	Various neighborhoods in New York City and New Jersey
Ethnicity	Made men (full members) are Italian, Italian-American, Sicilian or Sicilian-American. Other ethnicities are employed as "associates."
Membership	115-140 made members, 1,100+ associates.
Criminal activities	Racketeering, assault, bookmaking, burglary, cargo theft, conspiracy, contract killing, counterfeiting, cigarette smuggling, credit card fraud, drug trafficking, extortion, fencing, fraud, illegal gambling, hotel robbery, hijacking, jewelry heist, labor racketeering, point shaving, loansharking, money laundering, murder, murder for hire, robbery and skimming
Allies	Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno and Colombo crime families
Rivals	Various gangs in New York City including their allies

The Lucchese crime family (pronounced Lou-kay-zee) is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder in 1930. It was taken over by Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano during the Castellammarese War, and led by him until his death in 1951. The family under Gagliano was peaceful and low key, concentrating their criminal actives to the Bronx, Manhattan and New Jersey. The next boss was Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese, who turned the family around to became one of the most powerful families to sit on the Commission. Lucchese teamed up with Gambino family boss Carlo Gambino to control organized crime in New York City. When Lucchese died of natural causes in 1967, Carmine Tramunti controlled the family for a brief time; he was arrested in 1973. Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo then gained control of the family. Corallo was very secretive and soon became one of the most powerful members of the Commission. He was arrested and tried in the famous Commission case of 1986.

Corallo decided to put Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony Casso in charge of the family. Casso was soon promoted to underboss, and the family barely survived his reign. In the early 1990s, Casso who was fearing arrest kept ordering those he felt unloyal to be murdered. The former street boss for Casso, Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco, feared for his own life and turned informant. This led to the arrest of the entire Lucchese family hierarchy, with Casso also becoming an informant. Today the family is controlled by Steven Crea who took over as boss in 2012.

History

The Reina Gang

The early history of the Reina crime family can be traced to members of the Morello gang based in East Harlem and the Bronx. Gaetano "Tommy" Reina would leave the Morello's around the time of World War I and created his own family based in East Harlem and the Bronx. As the family's leader, Reina avoided the Mafia-Cammora War for control over New York City. He instead focused on controlling the home ice distribution business throughout New York City. During the early 1920s, Reina became a powerful prohibition era boss and aligned himself with Joseph Masseria, the most powerful Italian-American crime boss in New York. Masseria soon became involved in the Castellammarese War, a vicious gang war with rival Sicilian boss Salvatore Maranzano. At this point, Masseria started demanding a share of Reina's criminal profits, prompting Reina to consider changing allegiance to Maranzano. When Masseria learned of Reina's possible betrayal, he plotted with Reina lieutenant Tommy Gagliano to kill him. On February 26, 1930, gunman Vito Genovese murdered Reina outside his aunt's apartment. With Reina dead, Masseria bypassed Gagliano, who expected to take control of the Reina gang, and installed his underling Joseph "Fat Joe" Pinzolo as boss. Furious with this betrayal, Gagliano and Tommy Lucchese secretly defected to Maranzano. In September 1930, Lucchese lured Pinzolo to a Manhattan office building, where Pinzolo was murdered.

The Two Tommies

With Masseria's murder in early 1931, Maranzano won the Castellammarese War. He then outlined a peace plan to all the Sicilian and Italian Mafia leaders in the United States. There would be 24 organizations (to be known as "families") throughout the country who would elect their own bosses. Maranzano also reorganized all the Italian-American gangs in New York City into five New York families to be headed by Maranzano, Lucky Luciano, Vincent Mangano, Tommy Gagliano and Joseph Profaci. Gagliano became the boss of the old Reina gang, to be later known as the Lucchese family, with Lucchese as his underboss and Stefano Rondelli as his consigliere. The final element of Maranzano's peace plan was that he would become the supreme leader of all the families, the Boss of all Bosses. However, Luciano and other mob members did not want another top leader. When Maranzano learned about Luciano's disaffection, he hired a gunman to kill him. However, in September 1931 Luciano struck first. Several Jewish assassins provided by Luciano associate Meyer Lansky murdered Maranzano in his office. Luciano now became the most powerful mobster in New York.

Luciano kept the family structure as created by Maranzano, but removed the Boss of Bosses in favor of a ruling body, The Commission. The Commission's responsibility was to regulate the families' affairs and resolve all differences between the families. The first Commission members included Luciano family boss Luciano as head of the Commission, Mangano family boss Vincent Mangano, Gagliano family boss Tommy Gagliano, Profaci family boss Joseph Profaci, Chicago Outfit boss Al "Scarface" Capone, and Maranzano family boss Joseph Bonanno. Although the Commission was technically a democratic institution, it was actually controlled by Luciano and his allies.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano and Lucchese led their family into profitable areas of the trucking and clothing industries. When Luciano was sent to prison for pandering in 1936, a rival alliance took control of the Commission. The alliance of Mangano, Bonanno, Buffalo crime family boss Stefano Magaddino, and Profaci used their power to control organized crime in America. Understanding his vulnerability, Gagliano was careful to avoid opposing this new alliance. Gagliano was a quiet man who avoided the media and stayed off the streets. He preferred to pass his orders to the family though Lucchese and a few other close allies. In contrast, Lucchese was the public face of the family who carried out Gagliano's orders. In 1946, Lucchese attended the Cosa Nostra Havana Conference in Cuba on behalf of Gagliano. Gagliano remained the hidden boss of the family until his death in 1951 or 1953.

The Lucchese era

After Gagliano's death in 1951 or 1953, Lucchese became family boss and appointed Vincenzo Rao as his Consigliere and Stefano LaSalle as his Underboss. Lucchese continued with Gagliano's policies, making the now Lucchese family one of the most profitable in New York. Lucchese established control over Teamsters union locals, workers' co-operatives and trade associations, and rackets at the new Idlewild Airport. Lucchese also expanded family rackets in Manhattan's Garment District and in related trucking industry around New York City. Lucchese built close relations with many powerful New York politicians, including Mayors William O'Dwyer and Vincent Impellitteri and members of the judiciary, who aided the family on numerous occasions. Throughout his regime, Lucchese kept a low profile for which he became lauded in Mafia circles. Remembering how the Mustache Petes treated their soldati like mere commodities, he saw to it that his men were well taken care of.

When Lucchese became boss, he helped Vito Genovese and Carlo Gambino in their fights to take control of their families. By 1962, Lucchese and Gambino controlled the Commission. Together they backed the Gallo crew from the rival Profaci family in its war with their boss Joe Profaci. Gambino and Lucchese saw the war as a way to take over rackets from the distracted Profaci's. After uncovering a plot by Joe Bonanno to assassinate them, Lucchese and Gambino used the Commission to strip Bonanno of his role as boss. This power play started a war within the Bonanno family and served to strengthen both the Lucchese and Gambino families.

Lucchese led a quiet, stable life until his death from a brain tumor on July 13, 1967. At the time of his death, he had not spent a day in jail in 44 years. Lucchese left his family in a very powerful position in New York City. The Lucchese family had a stronghold in East Harlem, the Bronx and consisted of about 200 made members. After Lucchese's death, the Commission made Carmine Tramunti acting boss until Lucchese's chosen successor, Anthony Corallo, was released from prison.

Tramunti and the French Connection

At the time of his appointment as temporary boss, Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti was almost 70 years old and in ill health. With boss-in-waiting Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo in prison, Tramunti was expected to hold power until Corallo's release. Tramunti faced a number of criminal charges during his time as acting boss and was eventually convicted of financing a large heroin smuggling operation, the infamous French Connection. This scheme was responsible for distributing millions of dollars in heroin along the East Coast during the early seventies.

Before the French Connection trail, the seized heroin was stored in the NYPD property/evidence storage room pending trial. In a brazen scheme, criminals stole hundreds of kilograms of heroin worth $70 million from the room and replaced them with bags of flour. Officers discovered the theft when they noticed insects eating the so-called heroin. The scope and depth of this scheme is still unknown, but officials suspect the thieves had assistance from corrupt NYPD officers Certain plotters received jail sentences, including Papa (he was later assassinated in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia). In 1974, after Tramunti's incarceration, Corallo finally took charge of the family.

Corallo and the Jaguar

FBI mugshot of Anthony Corallo

After Tramunti's incarceration in 1974, Anthony Corallo finally took control of the Lucchese family. Corallo came from the Queens faction of the family. Known as "Tony Ducks" from his ease at 'ducking' criminal convictions, Corallo was a Boss squarely in the Tommy Lucchese mold. Corallo had been heavily involved in labor racketeering and worked closely with Jimmy Hoffa, the Teamsters president, during the 1940s and 1950s. Corallo also enjoyed close ties to the Painters and Decorators Union', the Conduit Workers Union, and the United Textile Workers Union. Corrallo appointed Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro as the Underboss and supervisor of all labor and construction racketeering operations in New York, and Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari as the reputed Consigliere. The family prospered under Corallo's leadership, particularly in narcotics trafficking, labor racketeering, and major illegal gambling.

Corallo never discussed business during sit-downs, fearing that the FBI was monitoring the conversations. Instead, he used the car phone in the Jaguar owned by his bodyguard and chauffeur's. Corallo was driven around New York while on the phone discussing business. Salvatore "Sal" Avellino and Aniello "Neil" Migliore shifted as Corallo's chauffeurs during the 1970s and 1980s.

Corallo, a huge fan of the New Jersey faction of the family, reputedly inducted and promoted Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo and Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta into the organization and put them in charge of the Jersey Crew, which reportedly controlled most of the loansharking and illegal gambling operations in Newark, New Jersey at the time.

In the early 1980s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finally managed to plant a bug in the Jaguar. The FBI recorded Corallo speaking at great length about mob affairs, including illegal gambling, labor racketeering, drug trafficking, and murder. Corallo was arrested and put on trial along with all the heads of the Five Families at the time. This trial became legendary as the Mafia Commission Trial. Corallo was convicted on numerous charges and January 13, 1987 was sentenced to 100 years in prison, where he died in 2000.

To succeed him as boss, Corallo originally chose acting boss Anthony "Buddy" Luongo. However, Luongo disappeared in 1986. Corallo's ultimate choice was Vittorio "Vic" Amuso. Allegedly both Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso were candidates for the job. Evidence suggests that Corallo wanted Casso, but Casso convinced him to select Amuso instead. After becoming boss, Amuso made Casso his underboss, allowing him to exert great influence over family decisions.

The iron fists of Amuso and Casso

FBI surveillance photo of Casso (right) with Lucchese family boss, Vittorio Amuso.

During the late 1980s, the Lucchese family underwent a period of great turmoil. Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and his fierce underboss, Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, instituted one of the most violent reigns in American Mafia history. Both men were heavily involved in labor racketeering, extortion, drug trafficking and committed many murders. Amuso and Casso were strong rivals of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti and strong allies of Genovese crime family boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante. Angry over Gotti's unauthorized murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano, Amuso, Casso, and Gigante conspired to murder Gotti. On April 13, 1986 a car-bombing killed Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco, but missed Gotti. This assassination attempt sparked a long and confusing 'tension' between these three crime families with many deaths reported on all sides.

During the late 1980s, Amuso began demanding 50% of the profits generated by the Jersey Crew. New Jersey leaders Anthony Accetturo and Michael Taccetta refused Amuso's demand. In retaliation, Amuso ordered the entire Jersey Crew killed—the now-infamous "whack Jersey" order. He summoned them to a meeting in Brooklyn. Fearful for their lives, all the Jersey crew members skipped the meeting and went into hiding.

Taccetta and Accetturo were later put on trial in 1990, as both Amuso and Casso were implicated in a case involving the fitting of thousands of windows in New York at over-inflated prices, and the pair went into hiding of that same year, naming Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco as acting boss. For the next few years, Amuso and Casso ruled the family from afar and ordered the execution of anyone they deemed troublesome, either they were considered rivals or potential informants. All of this convinced many Lucchese wiseguys that Amuso and Casso were no longer acting or thinking rationally.

Alphonse D'Arco in a 1970s FBI surveillance photo

What followed next was a series of botched hits on family members suspected of being informants. Ironically, these hits caused several family members to actually turn informer. Amuso ordered the slaying of capo Peter "Fat Pete" Chiodo, who along with Casso was in charge of the Windows Case operation. He was shot 12 times, but still survived. After Amuso ordered hits on Chiodo's wife and sister in violation of longstanding rules against women being harmed, Chiodo turned state's evidence and provided the entire windows operation that eventually controlled $150 million in window replacements, sold in New York City. As Amuso also sanctioned the hit on Anthony Accetturo, who was on trial in 1990, he also cooperated with the government.

The planned executions went as high as acting boss D'Arco. Furious over the failed hit on Chiodo, Amuso set up D'Arco to be killed at a Manhattan hotel. However, this hit also came undone after D'Arco saw a man hide a gun in his shirt, then slip it into the bathroom. Recognizing this as a classic setup for a hit, D'Arco fled for his life and turned himself over to the authorities to spare him and his family from Amuso and Casso and their increasingly erratic demands. He was the first boss of a New York crime family, acting or otherwise, to become an informant.

Law enforcement eventually caught up with the two fugitives. On July 29, 1991, the FBI captured Amuso in Pennsylvania, and in 1993 Casso was caught in Greenwood, New York. Amuso steadfastly refused all offers from the government to make a deal and become a government witness. In contrast, Casso quickly agreed to a deal and started revealing family secrets. One of the biggest secrets was that Casso had been paying two New York Police Department detectives, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, to provide Casso with sensitive police information and even perform to contract murders. Casso related how Eppolito and Caracappa, on Christmas Day 1986, murdered an innocent Brooklyn man who had the same name as a suspected government informant. Casso told the government that in 1992 Lucchese hit men tried to kill the sister of another suspected informant, violating the alleged Mafia "rule" barring violence against family members. Unfortunately for Casso, his testimony proved so inconsistent that prosecutors accused him of breaking the terms of his deal with them. As a result, the court ordered no leniency for Casso at his sentencing.

In January 1993, Amuso received a life sentence. In 1994, Casso also received a life sentence. Casso had reportedly conspired with reputed consigliere Frank Lastorino and Brooklyn faction leaders George Zappola, George Conte, Frank "Bones" Papagni and Frank Gioia, Jr. into murdering Steven "Wonderboy" Crea, Amuso's acting underboss of the Bronx, as well as Gambino crime family acting boss John "Junior" Gotti, son of the imprisoned John Gotti, along with members of the Genovese crime family once again. But due to massive indictments, none of the plots were committed.

Acting bosses

Steven "Wonderboy" Crea in a FBI photo

When Amuso went to prison, he chose Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede to be his acting boss. Throughout the mid 1990s Amuso continued to control the family from prison. DeFede, who supervised the powerful Garment District racket, reportedly earned more than $40,000 to $60,000 a month. DeFede placed Steven Crea in charge of the family's labor and construction racketeering operations. Crea increased the Lucchese family earnings from these rackets between $300,000 and $500,000 every year. But as US law enforcement kept pressuring the organized crime activities in New York, DeFede was arrested and indicted on nine counts of racketeering in 1998. DeFede pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to five years in prison. Angry at DeFede's guilty plea, Amuso promoted Crea as the new acting boss.

Steven Crea success with the labor and construction rackets convinced Amuso that DeFede had been previously skimming off these profits. In late 1999, Amuso placed a contract on DeFede's life. On September 6, 2000, Crea and seven other Lucchese members were arrested and jailed on extortion charges, mostly to the supervising of the construction sites with various capos Dominic Truscello and Joseph Civitello.

After Crea's imprisonment, the consigliere Louis "Lou Bagels" Daidone, took control of the family. However, Daidone's tenure was short lived. After his release from the prison, the scared DeFede became a government witness and helped the government convict Daidone of murder and conspiracy. Daidone's conviction was also helped by the testimony from Alphonse D'Arco in September 2004.

Mafia cops

Main article: Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa

In April 2006, Casso revealed that two respected New York City police detectives worked as hitmen and informants for Casso during the 1980s and early 1990s before their retirement. They were Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who spent much of their combined 44 years with the NYPD committing murders and leaking confidential information to the Lucchese family. Between 1986 and 1990, Eppolito and Caracappa participated in eight murders and received $375,000 from Casso in bribes and payments for murder 'contracts'. Casso used Caracappa and Eppolito to pressure the Gambino crime family by murdering several of their members. This is because Casso, along with the imprisoned Amuso and Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante, wanted their rival John Gotti out of the way. Caracappa and Eppolito are now seen as the main source of 'tension' between these three families during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

For one contract, Eppolito and Caracappa kidnapped mobster James Hydell, forced him into their car trunk, and delivered him to Casso for torture and murder. Hydell's body was never found. The two detectives also shot Bruno Facciolo, who was found in Brooklyn in the trunk of a car with a canary in his mouth. After pulling Gambino crime family captain Edward "Eddie" Lino for a routine traffic check, the detectives murdered him on the expressway in his Mercedes-Benz. In 2006, Eppolito and Caracappa were convicted of murdering Hydell, Nicholas Guido, John "Otto" Heidel, John Doe, Anthony DiLapi, Facciolo, Lino, and Bartholomew Boriello on the orders of Casso and the Lucchese family. They were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Three-man ruling panel

With the arrest of acting boss Louis Daidone in 2003 imprisoned boss Vic Amuso created a three-man ruling panel to run the family. The panel consisting of three senior capos Aniello "Neil" Migliore, Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna brought the family power back into the Bronx. According to a February 2004, New York Post article, the Lucchese family consisted of about 9 capos and 82 soldiers making the family the fourth largest in New York City. In 2006, the former acting boss Steven Crea was released from prison after serving five years, under restrictive parole conditions that expired in 2009. The three man panel jointly continued to maintain the power over the family, acting as street bosses.

On December 18, 2007, two members of the ruling panel Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna were indicted along with top New Jersey faction capos Ralph V. Perna and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.. In the New Jersey indictment a total of thirty-two members and associates of the New Jersey faction were arrested. Information obtained from New Jersey law enforcement agencies investigation Operation Heat revealed that the New Jersey faction controlled a $2.2 billion dollar illegal gambling, money laundering and racketeering ring from New Jersey to Costa Rica.

On October 1, 2009, the Lucchese family was hit with two separate indictments charging 49 members and associates with bribery and racketeering. In the first indictment 29, members and associates of the Lucchese family were arrested. The indicted charged Joseph DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna and acting capo Anthony Croce with running operations that nearly grossed $400 million from illegal gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking, bribery and extortion. In the second indictment obtained from investigation "Operation Open House" 12 more Lucchese mobsters were charged with bribery. Acting capo Andrew Disimone and others mobsters were charged with bribing New York Police Department (NYPD) detective and sergeant posing as crooked cops to protect illegal poker parlors.

Current position and leadership

Although in prison for life, Victor Amuso remained the official boss of the Lucchese crime family until 2012. Amuso had been boss for almost a quarter-century but it is unclear how much influence he had over the crime family's day-to-day affairs in later years. From 2003-2012, a three-man ruling panel consisting of Aniello "Neil" Migliore, Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna had been running the family. All three men are long time capos in the family, but Migliore was believed to be the most powerful. Arguably, Migliore, DiNapoli and Madonna brought stability to the Lucchese family during the 2000s. The family's presence remains strong in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and New Jersey.

A March 2009 article in the New York Post stated that the Lucchese family consists of approximately 100 "made" members, possibly making it the smallest of the Five Families, although not the weakest. It is probably the third most powerful family (behind the Genovese and Gambino families).

In late 2009 the Lucchese family was handed three federal indictments showing that the family continues to be very active in organized crime, especially in labor racketeering, illegal gambling, and extortion. In one of the indicitments ruling panel members Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna were charged with controlling a ring that extorted and bribed businesses and construction sites in Manhattan and the Bronx. Also in 2009, underboss Steven Crea's parole expired and consigliere Joseph Caridi was released from prison after serving almost six years. In 2012 Crea was named boss of the family after Amuso stepped down.

Historical leadership

Boss (official and acting)

The boss is the head of the family and the top decision maker. Only the boss, underboss or consigliere can initiate an associate into the family, allowing them to become a made man. The boss can promote or demote family members at will. The Acting Boss is responsible for running the crime family while the boss is incarcerated or incapacitated. If the boss dies, the acting boss may become the new boss, or be stepped over and lose his position as Acting Boss.

• 1922–1930 — Gaetano "Tommy" Reina — murdered on February 26, 1930
• 1930 — Bonaventura "Joseph/Fat Joe" Pinzolo — murdered on September 5, 1930
• 1930–1951 — Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano — retired in 1951; died on February 16, 1953
• 1951–1967 — Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese — became sick in 1966, died on July 13, 1967 from a brain tumor.
  • Acting 1966–1967 — Carmine Tramunti — stepped down
  • Acting 1967 — Ettore "Eddie" Coco — stepped down
• 1967–1973 — Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti — imprisoned in October 1973
• 1973–1986 — Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo — on February 15, 1985, Corallo was indicted in the Mafia Commission case, he was convicted on November 19, 1986 and on January 13, 1987 was sentenced to 100 years in prison.
• 1986–2012 — Vittorio "Vic" Amuso — arrested in 1991, received a life sentence in January 1993
  • Acting 1990–1991 — Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco — demoted, became a member of a ruling panel
  • Acting 1994–1998 — Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede — imprisoned in 1998
  • Acting 1998–2001 — Steven "Wonderboy" Crea — indicted and imprisoned on September 6, 2000
  • Acting 2001–2003 — Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone — imprisoned March 2003, received life sentence in January 2004
• 2012–present — Steven Crea

Street Boss

The Street Boss is considered the go-to-guy for the boss and is responsible to pass on orders to lower ranking members. In some instances a Ruling panel (of capos) substituted the Street boss role.

• 1990–1991 — Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco – promoted to Acting Boss
• 1991 — Ruling panel — Anthony Baratta, Salvatore Avellino, Frank Lastorino and Alphonse D'Arco – on September 21, 1991, D'Arco became a government witness.
• 1991–1993 — Ruling panel — Anthony Baratta, Salvatore Avellino, Steven Crea and Domenico Cutaia
• 2003–2012 — Ruling panel — Aniello Migliore, Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna

Underboss (official and acting)

The underboss is the number two position in the family. Also known as the "capo bastone" in some criminal organizations, this individual is responsible for ensuring that profits from criminal enterprises flow up to the boss and generally oversees the selection of the caporegime(s) and soldier(s) to carry out murders and other criminal activities. The underboss takes control of the crime family after the boss's death. Keeping this position until a new boss is chosen, which in some cases was the Underboss.

• 1920–1930 — Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano – promoted to boss
• 1930–1951 — Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese – promoted to acting boss
• 1951–1972 — Stefano "Steve" LaSalle – retired
• 1973–1978 — Aniello "Neil" Migliore – resigned
• 1978–1986 — Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro Sr. – imprisoned in the Commission Case
• 1986–1989 — Mariano "Mac" Macaluso – retired in 1989
• 1989–1993 — Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso – imprisoned, became government witness in 1993
  • Acting 1990–1992 — Anthony "Bowat" Baratta – imprisoned in June 1992
• 1993–2012 — Steven "Wonderboy" Crea – promoted to acting boss in 1998
  • Acting 1998–2001 — Eugene "Boopsie" Castelle – imprisoned in November 2000
  • Acting 2001–2003 — Joseph "Joe C. Caridi – promoted to Consigliere

Consigliere (official and acting)

Consigliere is an advisor to the boss and usually the number three person in a crime family.

• 1931–1953 — Stefano "Steve" Rondelli – retired
• 1953–1973 — Vincenzo "Vinny" Rao – imprisoned from 1965 to 1970, retired
  • Acting 1965–1967 — Mariano "Mac" Macaluso
  • Acting 1967–1973 — Paul "Paulie" Vario – imprisoned 1974 to 1976
• 1973–1981 — Vincent "Vinnie Beans" Foceri – retired
• 1981–1986 — Christopher "Christie Trick" Furnari – imprisoned in 1986
• 1986–1987 — Ettore "Eddie" Coco – retired
• 1987–1989 — Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso – promoted to underboss
• 1989–1993 — Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino – imprisoned in April 1993
• 1993–1996 — Frank Papagni – imprisoned in September 1996
• 1996–2003 — Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone – promoted to Acting Boss in 2001
• 2003–present — Joseph "Joe C." Caridi – imprisoned 2003 to 2009

Current family members

Administration

• Boss Steven "Wonderboy" Crea – became Underboss in 1993 then acting boss in 1998. On September 6, 2000, Crea along with Lucchese members were indicted and charged with extortion and supervising various construction sites in New York City. In January 2004, Crea was sentenced to 34 months in prison. Crea was released from prison on August 24, 2006. In 2012 he was named boss of the family after the imprisoned Victor Amuso stepped down.
• Underboss Unknown
• Consigliere Joseph "Joe C." Caridi – operating from Long Island and Queens. Caridi was imprisoned on extortion and loansharking charges and was released on November 27, 2009.

Capos

Capo (Crew boss/captain/lieutenant/caporegime): a capo is appointed by the family boss to run his own borgata (regime, or crew) of sgarrista (soldiers). Each capo reports directly to the underboss, who gives the capo permission to perform criminal activities. If the family needs to murder someone, the underboss normally asks a capo to carry out the order. The capo runs the day-to-day operations of his crew. The capo's soldiers give part of their earnings to the capo, and the capo gives a share to the underboss. A capo can recommend to the underboss or boss that a recruit be allowed to join his crew as a mob associate.

New York

Bronx faction

• Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli – capo operating in the Bronx. DiNapoli was released from prison on September 17, 1999. He has two younger brothers in the Genovese crime family, Vincent and Louis. In 2003, DiNapoli along with Migliore and Madonna became members of a ruling panel that is running the family. On October 1, 2009 DiNapoli was indicted in a racketeering scheme that made approximately $400 million from gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking and extortion. He is free on bail.

• Matthew "Matt" Madonna – capo operating in the Bronx. Madonna served 20 years in prison for narcotics trafficking. He was released from prison on September 22, 2003. In 2003, Madonna along with Migliore and DiNapoli became members of a ruling panel that is running the family. As of September 2011, Madonna is on trial for two racketeering indictments. He is free on bail.

• John "Johnny Hooks" Capra – capo operating in the Bronx, Westchester and Manhattan. In 2005, Capra was indicted and charged with extortion along with members of the Gambino crime family. Capra received an eighteen-month sentence and was released from federal prison on September 10, 2008.

• Anthony "Blue Eyes" Santorelli – capo operating in the Bronx and Westchester. In the 1990s, Santorelli led The Tanglewood Boys, a recruitment gang for the Lucchese family.

Joseph Lubrano

• (In prison) Joseph "Big Joe" Lubrano – capo active on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. In 1994, Lubrano was wrongfully sent to prison for beating a police officer and was released four years later. In May 2010, Lubrano was listed on the FBI Most Wanted List for several armed robberies, he was arrested on September 11, 2010. In January 2012, Lubrano was sentenced to 57 months.

Manhattan & Long Island

• Aniello "Neil" Migliore – capo operating in Manhattan, Long Island and Florida. In 1992, Migliore was shot on orders from Amuso who saw him as a rival. He was released from prison on May 14, 1997. In 2003, Migliore along with Madonna and DiNapoli became members of a ruling panel that is running the family.

• Dominic "Crazy Dom" Truscello – capo of the Prince Street Crew, members are active in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. In the 1990s, Truscello along with Steven Crea and Joseph Tangorra formed the Lucchese Construction Group, supervising all the Lucchese family's construction related rackets. On September 6, 2000, Truscello, Crea and Tangorra were charged with bid rigging, corrupting construction labor officials among other crimes. In 2003, Truscello plead guilty to extortion, on January 9, 2006, he was released from federal prison.

• (Acting) Anthony Croce – an acting capo active in Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. Croce was arrested in November 2008 for running a sport gambling ring operating in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. He was charged in two separate indictments in 2009; the first was in October for bribery, loansharking, gun trafficking, extortion, gambling and racketeering and the second in November for running a sports betting ring from his bar "Night Gallery" in New Dorp, Staten Island.

Brooklyn faction

• Eugene "Bubsie" Castelle – capo operating from Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. In 1997, Castelle was charged with bribing guards to smuggle food and steroids into the Brookyln Metropolitan Detention Center. On November 12, 2000, Caselle and other Lucchese members were charged drug trafficking, extortion and loansharking. He was released from prison on August 28, 2008.

• (In prison) Domenico "Danny" Cutaia – capo of the Brownsville Crew. Cutaia is a former messenger between the imprisoned Amuso and the crime family. On October 25, 2009, he was sentenced to three years in prison for bank fraud. His projected release date November 21, 2012.

• (In prison) Carlo Profeta – acting capo of the Brownsville Crew. On February 24, 2010, Profeta was indicted along with Lucchese soldier Salvatore Cutaia, associates Joseph Cutaia and Eric Maione, Bonanno capo Anthony Mannone and associate Jerome Carameilli on racketeering and extortion charges. In February 2011, Profeta and associate Eric Maione pleaded guilty to extortion charges. As of September 2011, Profetta is being held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)

New Jersey

Main article: The Jersey Crew

• (In prison) Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta – capo of the Jersey Crew and boss of the entire Lucchese's New Jersey faction. Taccetta is currently serving life in prison for conspiracy and drug trafficking convictions.

• Ralph Vito Perna – capo in the Jersey crew. Was arrested in December 2007 with Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna. The Jersey crew ran an illegal gambling operation that earned approximately $2.2 billion overa 15-month period. The crew also worked with New Jersey correction officers and members of Nine Trey Gangster, a set, or subgroup, of the Bloods street gang. The Jersey crew used Bloods members to smuggle illegal drugs and prepaid cell phones into the New Jersey state prisons.

• Joseph "Joey" Giampa – capo operating in New Jersey. Giampa has a stepson named Gennaro Vittorio, a.k.a. Gerry Giampa who is also involved in organized crime.

Soldiers

Soldier (sgarrista/soldato/wiseguy/button/buttonman/goodfella): a soldier is a made man who has already proven himself to the family. In order to become a soldier he must pass the voting of the captains vote then a message is passed up to the boss or underboss. The soldier then takes an oath (Omertà) to honor the family, he is then assigned into a crew and given a captain. A soldier is one of the lowest ranks in the family but still has much power over associates and friends.

• Thomas "Tommy Red" Anzellotto – soldier, in 1998 he replaced Lucchese soldier soldier Samuel Cavalieri.

• Salvatore "Sal" Avellino – soldier and former capo. In the 1980s, Avellino was the boss Anthony Corallo's bodyguard and chauffeur. In the early 1990s, Avellino was a member of a ruling panel that controlled the family. He was released from prison on October 13, 2006.

Carmine Avellino

• Carmine Avellino – soldier involved in extorting carting companies. In 1984, Carmine and his brother Salvatore had a sit-down with Bonanno family members Joe Massino, Salvatore Vitale and "Stevie Beefs" Cannone over controlling King Caterers. In 1988, Carmine was banned from New Jersey casinos. In January 1995, Carmine was indicted along with Anthony Baratta, Frank Federico and Rocco Vitulli for the August 1989, murders of Robert Kubecka and Donald Barstow. On February 25, 2004, he was released from prison.

• Robert "Bucky the Boss" Caravaggio – soldier in the Jersey crew. Caravaggio is operating Morris County and Northern New Jersey.

• Alfonso T. "Tic" Cataldo – soldier running illegal gambling operations in Northern New Jersey and working with Eurasian organized crime groups. Cataldo was arrested in December 2007 on charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering charges along with two members of the Lucchese ruling panel Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna.

• John "Sideburns" Cerrella – soldier, former acting capo in the 1990s. Formerly a Genovese family associate operating in Broward County, Cerrella later became a made man in the Lucchese family. He is a Long Island faction leader who conducts racketeering, fraud, stocks and wire fraud in Queens and Long Island. He was released from prison on November 27, 2009.

• Joseph "Joey Blue Eyes" Cosentino – soldier. In 1997, Cosention and Anthony Mangano murdered Bonanno family drug dealer Constable Farace.

• Ralph Cuomo – soldier and owner of Ray's Pizza in Little Italy. In 1969, Cuomo was convicted of narcotics trafficking after being found with 50 pounds of heroin. In 1998, Cuomo discussed heroin drug sales with Lucchese soldier Frank Gioia, Jr.

• Salavatore Cutaia – soldier whose father, Domenico Cutaia, is a high-ranking Lucchese capo. Salavtore's son Joseph Cutaia is considered to be an associate in the family. His son Joseph was charged on December 24, 2009 for an attempted robbery and stick up of a Bensonhurst, Brooklyn couple along with Nicholas Bernardo.

• Santo Giampapa – soldier, he and his brother Joseph were acquitted in the 1992 killing of Lucchese capo Michael Salerno.

• Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino – soldier in the Bensonhurst crew. He is a former capo and Consigliere. In the early 1990s, Lasterino hatched the plot to kill both John A. Gotti and Lucchese capo Steven Crea to take over the family. He was released from federal prison on December 23, 2008 after serving 14 years on racketeering, extortion and conspiracy to commit murder.

• Vincent "Vinny Casablanca" Mancione – soldier and former acting capo. On December 12, 2002, Macione along with Consigliere Joseph Caridi, capo John Cerrella and soldier Carmelo Profeta were arrested for extorting restaurants on Long Island. He was released from prison in August 2006.

• Anthony Mangano – soldier. In 1997, Mangano and Joseph Cosentino murdered Bonanno family drug dealer Constable Farace.

• Frank Manzo – soldier with the Vario crew.

• Anthony Pezzullo – soldier, former member of the Lucchese Construction Group involved in bid rigging, extorting construction companies, and corrupting union locals. The group consisted of acting boss Steven Crea, capos Dominic Truscello and Joseph Tangorra, soldiers Phillip Desimone, Joseph Datello (Truscello crew member), Joseph Zambardi and associate Andrew Reynolds.

• Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr. – soldier, he is the son of former Philadelphia crime family boss Nicodemo Scarfo. With help from his father he joined the Lucchese family. Scarfo Jr. is a member of the Lucchese family's New Jersey faction.

• Rocco Vitulli – soldier, he was a member of Anthony Baratta's crew. On August 10, 1989, Vitulli along with Frank Federico murdered Robert M. Kubecka and Donald Barstow, two executives of a trash-collection company in East Northport, New York. In January 1995, Vitulli was charged along with Carmine Avellino, Anthony Baratta and Frank Federico for the murders of Kubecka and Barstow. He was released from prison on September 7, 2000.

Imprisoned soldiers

• Ray Argentina – soldier in the Lucchese family. In 2001 Argentina was charged along with Louis Gampero for illegal mortgage fraud activities in Brooklyn, up state New York and Long Island. He was also running an illegal cocaine ring in Long Island with Ken Cardona. Argentina is currently incarcerated and projected release date is October 4, 2024.

• Anthony "Bowat" Baratta – soldier and former capo in the Bronx. Ran large drug trafficking operations in the 1990s and sat on the family's Ruling Panel. He is currently imprisoned with a projected release-date of September 25, 2012.

• John Baudanza – a soldier, operating in his father-in-law Domenico Cutaia's crew. His father Carmine and uncle Joseph are both members of the Colombo crime family. In 1997, John and his cousin Joseph M. Baudanza were involved in stock crimes. On April 17, 2007, John, along with his father and uncle pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to operating a "pump and dump" stock scam. He is currently serving his sentence in the Allenwood prison with a projected release date of August 2, 2015.

• Michael "Mikey Bones" Carcione – soldier and former acting capo for Domenico Cutaia's crew. In 2008, Carcione was arrested along with capo Domenico Cutaia, soldiers John Baudanza, Salvatore Cutaia, associates Steven Lapella, Victor Sperber, Louis Colello, and John Rodopolous for loansharking, illegal gambling among other illegal criminal activities. Carcione is currently imprisoned with a projected release date of July 3, 2012.

• George "Goggles" Conte – a soldier, and former capo. In 1991, Conte along with other capos inducted five new members into the crime family. In January 1995, Conte and George Zappola were indicted and convicted of murder and racketeering. Conte is currently imprisoned, with a projected release date of March 10, 2014.

• Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone – soldier a former acting boss, Consigliere and capo. He was convicted to life in prison in 2003.

• Andrew DiSimone – a former acting capo operating in the Bronx, Westchester and Manhattan. DiSimone was arrested on October 1, 2009 for bribery and illegal gambling operations. He was convinced that he was paying off corrupt NYPD officers for protection on loansharking, sports bookmaking and illegal gambling activities. The two officers were actually undercover agents for two years the officers in a sting named Operation Open House receiving $222,000 in bribes. He is currently imprisoned, with a projected release date of August 7, 2013.

• Christopher "Christie Trick" Furnari Sr. – soldier a former Consigliere in the Lucchese family, convicted in the 1980s Mafia Commission case. He is currently imprisoned with a projected release date is November 24, 2044.

• James "Jimmy Frogs" Galione – a soldier replaced late Lucchese soldier Pete DePalermo position. In 1997 he and Mario Gallo plead guilty to the murder of an associate to the Bonanno/Colombo families Constable "Gus" Farace in 1989. Farace was a drug dealer responsible for killing an undercover federal agent. He was also charged with running a crack ring that operated in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn since 1992. He is currently imprisoned due out on December 24, 2015.

• Joseph "Joey Bang Bang" Massaro – a soldier in the Harlem Crew reported to Capo Anthony Baratta. He was operating in Long Island forcing topless bar owners to book his strippers from Entertainment Plus Agency. Massaro would use threats of intimidations and arson to get his way. In summer of 1989 helped cover up a murder of Joseph Fiorito with Patrick Esposito he was arrested in 1993. At his trail FBI agent Joe Pistone discussed what he learned about a Bonanno-Lucchese family sit-down over the topless bars in Long Island. Former Lucchese family acting boss Alphonse D'Arco also testified against him, Massaro received a life sentenced.

• Frank "Bones" Papagni – soldier and former capo in the early 1990s, with racketeering, illegal gambling and loansharking operations in the Brooklyn section. He is serving 20 years for the attempted murder conspiracy on John A. Gotti in 1993. Papagni's projected release-date is November 24, 2015.

• Michael J. Perna – soldier and former Capo in the Jersey faction; he began working for the Lucchese families Jersey faction sometime in 1976; by the 1980s was serving as the Underboss of the Jersey Faction for Michael Taccetta; acquitted in the 21 month trail along with other Jersey faction members on August 26, 1988; in 1993 was convicted of gambling and extortion along with Michael and Martin Taccetta with the testimony of Thomas Ricciardi and Anthony Accetturo; relatives include his father Joseph Perna, younger brother Ralph; The 67 year-old is currently imprisoned at the Federal Correction Institution at Fairton, New Jersey his projected release date is August 2, 2015.

• Martin Taccetta – soldier and former Capo in the Jersey Crew was released from prison in 2005 due to lack of evidence in his trial, and wrongfully being accused of murder charges in his older brother Michael Taccetta's trial in 1993. On July 30, 2009 the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed lower court decision that granted Taccetta release and reinstated Martin life sentence for racketeering and extortion.

• Joseph "Joey Flowers" Tangorra – soldier and former capo whose crew was based in Bensonhurst Brooklyn and was involved in extortion and racketeering activities. Tangorra is currently incarcerated and reportedly suffers from mental illness. His projected release date is December 9, 2014.

• George "Georgie Neck" Zappola – soldier and former capo under the regime of Amuso and Casso in the 1980s. He operated out of the Brooklyn wing with racketeering, extortion activities. Zappola is currently imprisoned on murder-conspiracy charges in aid of racketeering with Frank Papagni. His projected release date is March 3, 2014

Family crews

A crew is a group of soldiers and associates who operate in a specific area. The capo runs the crew and reports to the underboss. The soldiers run illegal activities such as illegal gambling, loansharking, bookmaking, extortion, and fencing of stolen goods. The soldiers pay tribute to the capo and the capo sends a portion of this tribute money to the boss and underboss. The soldiers are "made men", or full family members, and have associates (who are not made men) working for them. An associate works for a crew in hopes of proving his worth to the family and becoming a made man. To be eligible to become a made man, an associate must be of Italian ancestry on both sides of his family.

• The Vario Crew – active in Brooklyn and Queens
• The Jersey crew – a faction in the Lucchese crime family. The leader of the Jersey crew/faction is imprisoned Michael Taccetta, the acting boss/capo is Ralph Perna.

Recruitment gangs

• The Tanglewood Boys – were an Italian-American gang from Yonkers, New York. They were named after the Tanglewood Shopping Center located on a busy shopping strip on Central Avenue in Yonkers. Members of the gang frequently operated within and around the shopping mall. They began in the 1990s as a "farm team" or recruitment gang for the Mafia, specifically the Lucchese crime family. Several members went on to other crime families as well, and they were usually the sons of made members. In 1994, members of the gang were arrested for murdering a college student Louis Balancio at a Yonkers sports bar. After the arrests, one member, Darin Mazzarella, became an informant, leading to the convictions of other members of the gang.

• East Harlem Purple Gang – were a group of Italian American hit-men and heroin dealers. The group was considered a semi-independent gang operating in East Harlem and the Bronx during the late 1970s. Members would join the Lucchese and Genovese families.

Controlled unions

The Lucchese family has taken over unions across United States. The crime family has extorted money from the unions in blackmail, strong-arming, violence and other matters to keep their control over the market. Similar to the other four crime families of New York City they worked on controlling entire unions. With the mob having control over the union they control the entire market. Bid-rigging allows the mob to get a percentage of the income on the construction deal only allowing certain companies to bid on jobs who pay them first. The mob also allows companies to use non-union workers to work on jobs the companies must give a kickback to the mob. Unions give mob members jobs on the books to show a legitimate source of income. The Mafia members get into high union position and began embezzling money from the job and workers.

• Clothes manufacturing - In the Garment District of Manhattan, the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees Locals 10, 23, 24, and 25 were controlled by members of the Lucchese family. Lucchese Associates would extort the businesses and organize strikes. Today some unions still are working for the family.
• Kosher meat companies - In the early 1960s Giovanni "Johnny Dio" Dioguardi merged Consumer Kosher Provisions Company and American Kosher Provisions Inc. together. Dio was able to control a large portion of the Kosher food market, forcing supermarkets to buy from his companies at his prices.
• Food distribution - At the Hunts Point Cooperative Market in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, the Lucchese family controlled unions involved in the food distribution industry.
• Airport services and freight handling - At John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty, the unions were controlled by the Lucchese family.
• Construction - Teamsters unions in New York City and New Jersey have been under Lucchese control; Mason Tenders Locals 46, 48, and 66 were controlled by the old Vario Crew.
• Newspaper production and delivery - In November 2009, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau sent search warrants to investigate the Newspaper Mail Deliverers Union. This union controlled circulation, production and delivery offices at The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News and El Diario La Prensa. When the Cosa Nostra took control over the union, the price and costs for newspapers increased. Charges were put against many union members as well as the former union President Douglas LaChance. LaChance is accused as being Lucchese crime family associate. In the 1980s LaChance was convicted on labor racketeering charges and served five years in prison. He was also involved in the Manhattan 1990s case were New York Post was being strong-armed in to switching their delivery companies, but was acquitted in the case.

Former members

• Stefano "Steve" LaSalle (spelled LaSala) was an early member of the Morello family. In 1915, East Harlem's Italian lottery "king" Giosue Gallucci was murdered, allowing LaSalle and Tommaso Lomonte to take over the lottery. He later became a member of Reina family. LaSalle served as underboss to Tom Lucchese and later Carmine Tramunti, he retired in the 1970s.
• Anthony "Buddy" Luongo – a capo who tried to take over the family after boss Anthony Corallo was imprisoned in the Commission case. In December 1986, Luongo met Vic Amuso, Anthony Casso, Bobby Amuso and Dom Carbucci in Brooklyn when Bobby Amuso shot Luongo dead.
• Mariano "Mac" Macaluso – served as consigliere in the 1960s. In 1986, after the Mafia Commission Trial, Macaluso became the new underboss. In 1989, boss Vittorio Amuso forced Macaluso into retirement. He died in 1992 from natural causes.
• Richard "Toupe" Pagliarulo – in 1991 he took over Peter Chiodo's Bensonhurst crew. He later died of natural causes in prison.
• Guido "the Bull" Penosi – was an associate in the Lucchese and Gambino crime family's. Penosi lived in Beverly Hills, and he was a narcotics dealer active in Los Angeles and the West Coast. In the 1980s Penosi along with his cousin Frank Piccolo stopped Genovese family mobster from extorting his friend Wayne Newton (Wayne Newton v. NBC).
• Patrick "Patty" Testa – was the younger brother to Joseph Testa. In 1984, he was indicted on fraud and theft charges along with members of the Gambino family's DeMeo crew. Testa was sentenced to two years in prison and after his release joined the Lucchese crime family. On December 2, 1992 Testa was murdered, he was shot in the back of the head nine times. It was later revealed that Anthony Casso had ordered Frank Lastorino to murder Testa.

Government informants and witnesses

• Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco – former acting boss from 1990 to 1991. Became government witness on September 21, 1991.
• Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede – former acting boss from 1993 to 1998, then demoted to capo when imprisoned. Became government witness in early 2002 after his release.
• Anthony Casso – former underboss from 1986 to 1993. Became government witness in 1992.
• Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo – capo of the Jersey crew from 1970s to 1988. Became government witness in 1993.
• Peter Chiodo – former capo. Became a government witness after being shot 12 times on May 8, 1991.
• Frank "Spaghetti Man" Gioia, Jr. – former soldier. In 1991, he became a made man. In 1993, he was arrested for trafficking heroin from Manhattan to Boston. In 1994, Gioia found out that Frank Papagni planned to murder his father and he decided to become an government witness. Since becoming a government witness Gioia has testified against 60 defendants.
• Frank Gioia, Sr. – former soldier. Did not testify against the family but entered Witness Protection with son Frank Jr. in 1994.
• Vincent Salanardi – former soldier. In 2002, Salanardi was indicted on racketeering charges and became a government witness, and later dropped from the program. In March 2006, he was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. Salanardi's projected release date is October 29, 2012.
• Frank Suppa – former soldier. Member of the Jersey faction seen as a Capo in Florida; became informant in late 1997.
• Henry Hill – former associate. His life was the basis for the book Wiseguy and the film Goodfellas. He and his wife Karen, became government witnesses.

Allied and Rival criminal groups

Mafia allies

• The Lucchese-Gambino-Genovese alliance (1953–1985) between Tommy Lucchese, Carlo Gambino and Vito Genovese began with a plot to take over the Mafia Commission by murdering family bosses Frank Costello and Albert Anastasia. At that time, Gambino was Anastasia's new underboss and Genovese was the underboss for Costello. The first target of the conspiracy was Costello. On May 2, 1957 gunmen attempted to kill Costello on a New York street. Costello survived the assassination attempt, but immediately decided to retire as boss in favor of Genovese. The conspirators' second target was Anastasia. On October 25, 1957, the Gallo brothers (from the Colombo family) murdered Anastasia in a Manhattan barber shop, allowing Gambino to become boss of Anastasia's family. After he assumed power, Gambino started conspiring with Lucchese to remove their former ally Genovese. After the disastrous 1957 Apalachin meeting of mob leaders in Upstate New York, Genovese lost a great deal of respect in the Commission. In 1959, with the assistance of Luciano, Costello, and Meyer Lansky, Genovese was arrested. Gambino and Lucchese assumed full control of the Mafia Commission. Under Gambino and Lucchese, the Commission pushed rival Bonanno boss Joseph Bonanno out of power, triggering an internal war in that family. In the 1960s, the Commission backed the Gallo brothers in their rebellion against Profaci family boss Joe Profaci. In 1962, Gambino's oldest son Thomas married Lucchese's daughter Frances, strengthening the Gambino-Lucchese alliance. Lucchese gave Gambino access into the rackets at the New York airports rackets he controlled and Garment District rackets, Gambino allowed Lucchese into some of their rackets. After Lucchese death in July 1967, Gambino used his power over the Commission to make Carmine Tramunti the boss of the Lucchese family. Gambino continued the alliance with Tramunti's successor, Anthony Corallo. After Gambino's death, the new Gambino boss Paul Castellano continued the alliance with Corallo. In 1985, the Gambino-Lucchese alliance finally dissolved after Gambino capo John Gotti ordered Gambino boss Paul Castellano's assassination without Commission approval.

• The Lucchese-Genovese alliance (1986–present) The new alliance started in 1986 with Amuso and Genovese boss Vincent Gigante teaming up against Gambino boss John Gotti. Gotti had ordered the murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano who also led the Mafia Commission. The Castellano murder started between the Gambino family and the Genovese and Lucchese families. To avenge Castellano, the alliance ordered the killing of Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco. However, the alliance failed its attempts to kill Gotti. The Lucchese-Genovese alliance is still strong today, with the two families cooperating on deals around New York City. Joseph DiNapoli a member of the family's three man ruling panel has two brothers in the Genovese crime family; Vincent "Vinny" DiNapoli, a captain, and Louis DiNapoli, a soldier in Vincent's crew.

• The Lucchese-Gambino alliance (1999–present) The new alliance between the families started in 1999 when acting boss Steven Crea teamed up with several Gambino capos. The mobsters extorted millions of dollars from the construction industry in bid-rigging scams. In early 2002 Lucchese capo John Capra worked with Gambino acting boss Arnold Squitieri, acting underboss Anthony Megale and acting Capo Gregory DePalma. The group was involved in illegal gambling and extortion activities in Westchester County, New York. The members were arrested in 2005 leaving to reveal that DePalma had allowed FBI agent Joaquin Garcia (known as Jack Falcone) to work undercover with his crew since 2002. In late 2008 Gambino capo Andrew Merola teamed with Lucchese’s Jersey faction acting Boss Martin Taccetta in an illegal gambling ring, extorting money from labor unions and car dealerships. In 2008, Merola was indicted and Taccetta was sent back to prison in 2009.

• The Lucchese-Bonanno sitdown (2010) Lucchese acting capo Carlo Profeta and Bonanno capo Anthony Mannone had a sitdown over a Lucchese soldier who owed $213,000 to Mannone. On February 24, 2010, Profeta, soldier Salvatore Cutaia and associates Joseph Cutaia and Eric Maione, along with Mannone and Bonanno associate Jerome Carameilli were indicted on racketeering and extortion charges.

Other allies

• The Lucchese-Lepke alliance (1920s-1944) started with Tommy Lucchese and Louis "Lepke" Buchalter extorting payments from garment makers in New York's Garment District. During the 1930s, Lepke was one of the most powerful Jewish gangsters in New York City. With his allies Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, Lepke fought for control over Jewish neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn and together formed Murder, Inc. Lepke would fall when his trusted Brownsville crew leader, Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, became a government witness and testified against Lepke in a murder trial. On March 4, 1944, Lepke was executed by electrocution. After Lepke's execution, Tommy Lucchese took over Lepke's rackets in the Garment District and Brownsville.

• The Lucchese-Greek Mafia alliance (1980s-present) started in the early 1980s. The Velentzas Family, a Greek-American criminal organization led by Spiros Velentzas, operated in Astoria, Queens and other Greek communities in the city. The Lucchese family offered Velentzas protection in return for a percentage of his family's illegal gambling profits.

• The Lucchese-Russian Mafia alliance took place in the late 1980s. Marat Balagula was a Russian criminal boss whose organization controlled Brighton Beach and other Russian-American communities in New York. When the Colombo family tried to extort payments from Balagula's lucrative gasoline business, he met with Lucchese consigliere Christopher Furnari. Funari offered Balaqula an alliance to protect him from the Colombos and other Cosa Nostra families

• The Lucchese-The Council alliance lasted from the early 1970s into the 1980s. Leroy "Nicky" Barnes was an African-American drug dealer in Harlem who was supplied with heroin by Lucchese associate Matthew Madonna and Colombo capo "Crazy Joe" Gallo. Barnes created a criminal organization known as The Council that dealt large amounts of heroin in Harlem.

Rivals

• The Cuban Mafia, called La Coporacion (the Corporation), was led by Jose Miguel Battle, Sr. a native Cuban who set up the organization in Miami, Florida and Union City, New Jersey. Up into the 1980s, Battle worked in Union City with Bonanno capo Joseph Zicarelli. Battle then swapped connections to Genovese Capo James Napoli. In 1985, La Coporacion battled with the Lucchese family for control over numbers rackets.

• The Albanian Mafia, called the Rudaj Organization, was led by boss Alex Rudaj, Nikolla Dedaj and Italian Nardino Colotti and operated in Yorktown, New York, the Bronx, and Queens. The Rudaj started in 1993 and lasted to 2004, when it was decimated by the Cosa Nostra and criminal prosecution. The Rudaj briefly fought the Lucchese family for control of gambling rackets in Astoria, Queens. The Rudaj attacked two Greek associates of the Lucchese family on August 3, 2001.

Family events

• Window Case - 1978 to 1990 - four of the five New York City crime families (Lucchese, Genovese, Gambino and Colombo) formed a cartel that controlled the sale and installation of thousands of energy-efficient windows in New York City housing projects.

In popular culture

• The 1981 film Gangster Wars Lucchese family's future boss Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese was played by actor Jon Polito.
• The 1990 film Goodfellas was based on Lucchese mob associate Henry Hill and The Vario Crew of the Lucchese family.
• The 1991 film Mobsters Lucchese family boss Gaetano "Tommy" Reina was played by actor Christopher Penn.
• In the 1991 film Out for Justice, the William Forsythe character "Richard Madano" was based on Lucchese mobster Matthew Madonna.
• The 1999-2007 HBO TV-show The Sopranos, the Lucchese family's New Jersey faction was the main inspiration for the DiMeo crime family according Crime Library. Main character Anthony "Tony" Soprano was based on Lucchese mobster Michael Taccetta.
• In 2005 and 2006 a fictionalized version of The Tanglewood Boys was featured on CSI: NY, in episode 1.13 "Tanglewood" and in episode 2.20 "Run Silent, Run Deep".
• The 2006 film Find Me Guilty was based on the 1980s trial of 20 members of the Lucchese Jersey Crew.
• The 2006 Electronic Arts video game The Godfather: The Game, the Stracci Family could be based on the Lucchese crime family. In the game, the family is based in New Jersey; the Lucchese family has a large power base in New Jersey.
• In the 2007 film American Gangster, the Armand Assante character Dominic Cattano was based on Lucchese mobster Carmine Tramunti.
• In the 2008 Rockstar North's video game GTA IV, the fictional Lupisella family could loosely be based on the Lucchese family. The Lupisella family is mainly based in Bohan, the GTA 4 version of the Bronx, and is operating in Liberty City, the game's version of New York City.

References

Sources

• Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: St. Martin Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-30094-8
• DeStefano, Anthony. The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family. California: Citadel, 2006.
• Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5
• Critchley, David. The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931

Further reading

• DeVico, Peter J. The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. Tate Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1-60247-254-8
• Rudolph, Robert C. The Boys from New Jersey: How the Mob Beat the Feds. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-8135-2154-8
• Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
• Davis, John H. Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-06-016357-7
• Jacobs, James B., Christopher Panarella and Jay Worthington. Busting the Mob: The United States Vs. Cosa Nostra. New York: NYU Press, 1994. ISBN 0-8147-4230-0
• Maas, Peter. Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997. ISBN 0-06-093096-9
• Volkman, Ernest. Gangbusters: The Destruction of America's Last Great Mafia Dynasty New York, Avon Books, 1998 ISBN 0-380-73235-1
• Eppolito, Louis. Mafia Cop: The Story of an Honest Cop whose Family Was the Mob. ISBN 1-4165-2399-5
• Lawson, Guy and Oldham, William. The Brotherhoods: The True Story of Two Cops Who Murdered for the Mafia. ISBN 978-0-7432-8944-3
• Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5

External links

• Lucchese Crime Family News - The New York Times
• Lucchese Crime Family Epic: Descent into Darkness Part I by Thomas L. Jones
• American Gangland: Lucchese Crime Family
• Dieland: Mob: The Lucchese Family
• Dieland: Mob: The New Jersey Crew