Lucchese crime family New Jersey faction

Lucchese crime family's
New Jersey faction

In	Newark, New Jersey
Founded by	Lucchese crime family
Years active	c. 1920s–present
Territory	Northern New Jersey counties of Essex, Morris, Union, Monmouth and Passaic
Ethnicity	Italian, Italian American
Membership	50 made members, unknown about of associates
Criminal activities	Racketeering, conspiracy, loansharking, money laundering, murder, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, extortion
Allies	Genovese (New Jersey faction), Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, DeCavalcante and Philadelphia crime families.
Rivals	Various gangs in New Jersey, including their allies

The Lucchese crime family's New Jersey faction, also known as The Jersey Crew, is a powerful faction within the Lucchese crime family. The faction operates throughout the Northern New Jersey area. During the 1970s into the late 1980s, the faction was led by Anthony Accetturo and his protégé Michael Taccetta. In 1987, Victor Amuso took over the family and began demanding a higher percentage of tribute from the faction. Accetturo refused and a war erupted between the New Jersey faction the New York faction. This left brothers Michael and Martin Taccetta in charge of the faction as they tried to have Accetturo and his family murdered. In 1993, Accetturo defected and became government witness, he helped convict Michael and Martin Taccetta. Today the faction is still controlled by the Taccetta brother's who are in prison.

History

Early history

The Jersey crew was recognized as a bootlegging crew under Gaetano Reina's crime family. Throughout the prohibition era the crew smuggled alcohol into New York City. In 1930, Reina was murder and his family was taken over by Tommy Gagliano and Tommy Lucchese.

Toward the 1940s and early 1950s, the New Jersey Crew expanded their operations through their legitimate businesses. Since 1931 the crew been under the control of Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese, the Underboss of the Gagliano crime family, and it operated from Bergen County throughout Essex, Morris, Passaic and Union counties, all the way to Sussex County. Upon the death of longtime Boss Thomas Gagliano, Tommy Lucchese was soon installed as boss of the family, which was renamed the Lucchese crime family. The crew were then headed by several of their high-ranking members, like prominent New Jersey mobsters Settimo Accardi, Anthony "Ham" Delasco, and Joseph Abate from Newark. Since the time of Joseph Abate as leader of the regime was ending, Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo, who was chosen to become the new leader of the crew. Accetturo had a good friendship with Lucchese caporegime Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo and was the unofficial leader for the crews entire illegal gambling and loansharking operation in Newark.

Accetturo in charge

Toward the 1970s, the crew were unofficially headed by Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo, because Accetturo had not yet been inducted into the Lucchese crime family due to "closed books". The leader of the crew was still Joseph Abate, with Anthony Accetturo as his protégé waiting to take over. The Jersey Crew then came to control the entire Newark area, with loansharking, illegal gambling, narcotics, money laundering and extortion operations. Reportedly, with Accetturo in charge of the crew, they handed something between $70,000 and $80,000 a year to Tommy Lucchese. Upon Lucchese's death in 1967, and several years of different "acting bosses" such as Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti and Ettore "Eddie" Coco. At the end of 1973, when Anthony Corallo was released from prison, he was quickly installed as boss. Corallo, a longtime friend of Accetturo, quickly inducted Accetturo and his second in commands Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta and Martin Taccetta into the Lucchese crime family, so they could officially control the entire New Jersey area.

Accetturo and Taccetta

During the early 1970s, Accetturo relocated to Miami to avoid prosecution for his illegal gambling and loansharking business in Newark, and Michael Taccetta was soon promoted by Accetturo to run the day-to-day activities. Meanwhile, Accetturo created illegal operations in Florida where he could lie low from law enforcement. Taccetta soon expanded Accetturo's former operations in New Jersey as the crew grew stronger, and several members of the Lucchese crime family in New York were sent to win over the moneymakers. Taccetta developed an operation that soon controlled the entire New Jersey area. From arson and burglary, to loansharking and extortion, to illegal gambling and drug trafficking, the Jersey Crew soon made millions of dollars in profit, and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars back to Anthony Corallo in New York City for years. Both Accetturo and Taccetta soon became the most powerful mobsters in New Jersey. Accetturo was repeatedly indicted, and the State of New Jersey tried to extradite him but failed due to his "poor" health. Accetturo later relocated his business interests to Miami and Hollywood, Florida, but still remained the official boss of New Jersey. Michael Taccetta was chosen once again to run the Northern New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family, during the mid 1970s. Toward the late 1970s, the crew allegedly earned something between $700,000 and $800,000 in profit every year.

Operating in Philadelphia

In 1980, the longtime Don of the Philadelphia crime family, Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno, was shot and killed on March 12. This resulted in a huge power vacuum between prominent Bruno members Philip Testa and Nicodemo Scarfo, both fighting for the total control of the Bruno crime family. Accetturo and Taccetta, on the other hand, used their situation to establish a new foothold in Philadelphia, as a part of the Jersey Crew, with illegal gambling and loansharking operations. Unfortunately, because of the bad relations between the two factions in Philadelphia's crime family, as well as both Taccetta and Accetturo taking advantage of the situation, the relationship between Philadelphia and the New York Families, especially the Luccheses, eventually turned worse after the murder of Angelo Bruno, which led to all cooperation between the families being completely terminated. It was around this time that prominent Bruno member Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio, and many others, defected to the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family to make more profit and to avoid being killed.

21 months in trial

During the early 1980s, US law enforcement started an operation to terminate all organized crime activities in the North Jersey area. After a four-year-long investigation was finished, indictments were brought against 20 members of the Jersey Crew. Accetturo was brought from Florida, the Taccetta brothers were arrested in Newark, and 17 other known members were put on trial for 76 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) predicates, which included loansharking, extortion, racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, arson and thefts, as well as murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The trial began in late 1986-early 1987. During the trial, former member of the Philadelphia crime family Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio fired his lawyer and went on to represent himself during the entire trial. Although not popular with Accetturo and Taccetta, DiNorscio is reported to have charmed the jury, as the trial ended in 1988 with the acquittal of all 20 defendants. The prosecutors were stunned, and the Jersey Crew went right back to where they left off.

The Taccetta era

Even with the aquittals, the authorities eventually managed to split up the Jersey Crew when Michael Taccetta grew jealous of Anthony Accetturo, Jr., who was supposed to take over for Anthony Accetturo upon his retirement. The Taccetta brothers reportedly claimed war on Accetturo, who had escaped to Miami to avoid being killed. Although the war never got to a point of massive shooting in the streets, the two factions were close to killing and destroying each other completely in late 1988. The crew had other problems, however, when the Lucchese crime family was given new leadership under Vittorio "Vic" Amuso who stepped up after Corallo.

New York rivalry

Toward the year of 1989, the Jersey Crew's war had diminished because the two factions were more interested in making money than in arguing about who was in charge. The new leaders were reportedly Michael Taccetta and Martin Taccetta, who operated through their legitimate business, Taccetta Group Enterprises, which was under control by the Lucchese crime family. Through the company, the Jersey Crew were able to launder money and pay their tribute to the heads of the Luccheses in New York. However, both Accetturo and Taccetta had apparently skimmed off some profit and only sent a $50,000-a-year payment to the new leaders from the Brooklyn faction. When Anthony Corallo was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987, and his protegé Anthony "Buddy" Luongo was found murdered earlier, the new bosses Victor Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, known for their brutal use of violence, questioned the profit they received from the Jersey Crew. When they demanded 50% of the crew's total profit, both Taccetta and Accetturo reportedly refused, portraying themselves as hard-working money machines that were only having a bad year. Amuso and Casso, on the other hand, saw this as an act of weakness, and gave the order to "Whack Jersey", meaning that the entire North Jersey faction should be eliminated. Summoned to a meeting in Brooklyn with Victor Amuso and Anthony Casso, the entire North Jersey faction, who were fearful of being massacred, went into hiding, disrupting their illegal activities. Over the next 12 months, most of the New Jersey crew members came back to the family. Amuso is to have portrayed Accetturo as a distrustful servant who was betraying his boss. Taccetta reportedly sent messages to Amuso in Brooklyn asking that a contract to be placed on Accetturo's life, so Taccetta could control the entire New Jersey faction.

Taccetta's arrest and trial

In the early 1990's, with the murder contract on his life, Accetturo was placed under federal protection after being extradited from North Carolina to New Jersey. During this time, Accetturo had little power over the New Jersey faction he had been reportedly stripped of his rank and demoted him to soldier. The Taccetta brothers also had problems with their longtime rival Thomas Ricciardi who was trying to take over the faction. In 1992 the entire crew's administration Anthony Accetturo, Michael and Martin Taccetta, Thomas Ricciardi and Michael Perna were indicted on racketeering, loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In 1993, when the trial began both Accetturo and Ricciardi decided to defect to the government and turn state's evidence testifying against Michael and Martin Taccetta, and Michael Perna.

On August 13, 1993 the jury convicted all three men of racketeering and Martin Taccetta was sentenced to life in prison. Michael Taccetta and Michael Perna later plead guilty and were sentenced on September 20, 1993 to 25 years in prison each.

In 2005, Martin Taccetta won an appeal and regained his freedom, but in July 2009 the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the lower court decision and upheld his life sentence for racketeering and extortion. Ricciardi went into the Witness Protection Program, and revealed that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case in 1988 ended the way it did because the jury had been rigged.

2007 indictment

Chart of the 2007 "Operation Heat" capos Joseph DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna, Ralph V. Perna and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.

On December 18, 2007, New Jersey law enforcement indicted and arrested 32 members and associates of the Lucchese crime family. In a year-long investigation titled "Operation Heat" law enforcement agencies uncovered a $2.2 billion dollar illegal gambling, money laundering and racketeering ring from New Jersey to Costa Rica. Two members of the Lucchese family three man ruling panel were indicted Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna, top New Jersey Faction capos Ralph V. Perna and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.. Others indicted included members Alphonse Cataldo, Martin "Marty" Taccetta (brother of Michael Taccetta), and associates Frank Cetta, Antonio Russo, Joseph M. Perna and John G. Perna, Ralph M. Perna (all three are sons of Ralph Perna), John Mangrella, Gary Medure, Samuel Juliano, Michael Maffucci, Gianni Iacovo, Robert Romano, James Furfaro Jr., John Turi, George Maiorano, Michael A. Cetta, Charles J. Bologna, Elliot Porco, Shptim Hani, Blerim Ibriami, Michael Ramuno III and two female associates Roseanne Perna (wife of Joseph Perna) and Vita Cetta.

The investigation also uncovered that Lucchese family members had aligned with members of a Bloods street gang set "Nine Trey Gangsters" to smuggle heroin, cocaine, marijuana and cell phones into East Jersey State Prison with corrupt prison guards. The prison corruption involved Lucchese associates Joseph Perna and Michael Cetta with gang members Edwin Spears, Dwayne Spears, Francine Higtower, Kristine Gilliam, and Michael Bruinton.

Current position

Although the Jersey Crew is much weakened due to increased law enforcement and internal rivalry, Michael Taccetta, at age 60, is reported as the official boss of the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family, though he is serving a prison term without the possibility of parole. Upon his release, Martin Taccetta is reportedly ready to take over as the Boss of North Jersey. The crew is estimated to have between 20 to 30 made members, and twice as many associates. Still, after prosecution, the Jersey Crew remains a strong faction of the Lucchese crime family, operating with illegal activities mostly in Newark.

Historical leadership

Boss of the New Jersey faction

A capo in the faction is chosen as boss to supervise the other capos. The title of "boss" holds no power within the family's administration.

• c. 1920s–1953 – Settimo "Big Sam" Accardi – in 1953 his citizenship was revoked; in 1955 he fled the country
• 1953–1960s – Anthony "Ham" Delasco – died
• c. 1960s–1979 – Joseph Abate – retired, died in 1994
• 1979–1988 – Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo – during the 1980s he lived in Florida on August 26, 1988 he was acquitted in the 21 month trial; he was imprisoned in 1993 and became an government witness
  • Acting 1980s–1988 – Michael Taccetta – with Michael Perna as his "underboss" and Martin Taccetta as his "consigliere"
• 1988–present – Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta – on August 26, 1988 he was acquitted in the 21 month trial; in 1993 he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison
  • Acting c.1993–2005 – Robert "Bucky the Boss" Caravaggio
  • Acting 2005–2007 – Martin "Marty" Taccetta – released from prison in 2005; on July 30, 2009 he was sent back to prison
  • Acting 2007–present – Ralph Vito Perna – indicted in 2007 on gambling charges

Current faction leaders

• Boss/Capo Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta – capo of the Lucchese crime family's New Jersey faction. Taccetta has been in prison since 1993, after being sentenced to 25-year on Federal racketeering and murder conspiracy charges with a projected release in 2016.

• Acting Boss/Capo Ralph Vito Perna – longtime Jersey faction member, released from prison in 2006 and took over as acting faction leader in 2007. Perna was arrested in December 2007 with Joseph DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna two members of the family's ruling committee. The Jersey crew was involved with running a gambling operation that earned approximately $2.2 billion in a 15-month period. The crew also worked with New Jersey correction officers and members of the Nine Trey Gangster, a set in the Bloods gang. The crew would use gang members to smuggle drugs and pre-paid cell phones into New Jersey state prisons.

Capos

• Robert "Bucky the Boss" Caravaggio – Capo in the Jersey Crew who oversees operations in the northern New Jersey, especially Morris County. Caravaggio also worked with Carlo Taccetta.
• Joseph "Joey" Giampa – Capo in the Jersey Crew. Giampa has a stepson named Gennaro Vittorio, a.k.a. Gerry Giampa who is also involved in organized crime.
• Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr. – Capo operating in the South Jersey-Philadelphia area, he is the son of former Philadelphia family boss Nicodemo Scarfo. He was a soldier in the Scarfo family, until his fathers arrest in the mid-1990s, he then joined the Lucchese family with his fathers help. There are rumors that Scarfo is trying to take over the Philadelphia family.

Soldiers

• Alfonso T. "Tic" Cataldo – a soldier in the Lucchese family running illegal gambling operations in northern New Jersey. He is 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.

• (In prison) Michael J. Perna – soldier, he began working for the Lucchese families New Jersey faction sometime in 1976; by the 1980s was serving as the Underboss in the 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.

• (In prison) 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.

Former members and associates

• Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio – was a member of the Philadelphia crime family before joining the Lucchese crime family in the 1980's.
• Vincent "Jimmy" Craparotta – a former associate, he was murdered in 1993.

Government informants and witnesses

• Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo – former capo of the New Jersey faction, in 1993 he became government witness.
• Thomas "Tommy Boy" Ricciardi – former soldier, in 1993 he became a government witness.

Popular culture

• The 2006 Sidney Lumet film Find Me Guilty chronicles the 2-year trial of Accetturo, the Taccetta brothers and the other family members. Vin Diesel stars as Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio who defends himself.
• According to the Crime Library website, the Jersey Crew is the main inspiration of the DiMeo crime family in the HBO TV-show The Sopranos. Michael Taccetta is probably the inspiration to the leading role of Tony Soprano, as other real-life Jersey crew members can be recognized on the screen.

References

Sources

• DeVico, Peter J. The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra. Tate Publishing, 2007.
• Carlo, Philip. Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss. William Morrow (2008) ISBN 978-0061429842
• 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

Further reading

• Raab, Selwyn. The Five Families: The Rise, Decline & Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empire. New York: St. Martins Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-36181-5

External links

• http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/family_epics/lucchese1/5.html
• http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/mafiosi_20020410sl.html
• http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/mafiosi_20030723sl_ricciardi.html