Tuesday, April 19, 2005
In Today’s column: WHY A WISEGUY TODAY IS LIKELY TO FEEL THE TIME HE HAS TO SPEND BEHIND BARS IS TRULY PUNISHING...PART II; "AFRICAN-AMERICAN 'GANGSTER,' 'RACKETEER,' or 'OUTLAW'?; WHY WASN'T FRANCIS P. CADILLAC FRANK" SALEMME WHACKED?; and WILL JOHN J. CONNOLLY JR. TESTIFY AGAINST HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW?
“African-American ‘Gangster,’ ‘Racketeer,’ Or ‘Outlaw?”
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo (1929- )
After four years of unrelieved bloodletting in the mid-1980's, during which some 20-odd mobsters were rubbed out, Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo emerged as the undisputed leader of the Philadelphia-South Jersey Cosa Nostra Family.
During Little Nicky Scarfo's reign, more than 28 people were murdered. Half were members of the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family. Little Nicky Scarfo's tenure at the helm of the Bruno-Scarfo Cosa Nostra Family may therefore be accurately characterized as one of "EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE.' This EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE was in contrast to twenty years in which Angelo Bruno utilized his understated, indiscreet method of social control.
One of the problems Little Nicky encountered early in his tenure as the boss of the Bruno-Scarfo Cosa Nostra Family was Atlantic City, N.J. The casinos in Atlantic City, N.J. were bringing in money; the Genovese and the Gambino Cosa Nostra Families wanted to penetrate Atlantic City.
Angelo "The Gentle Don" Bruno, who ruled the Philadelphia-South Jersey Cosa Nostra Family for two decades in relative peace, died because he would not extend Atlantic City, N.J. privileges to New York's Gambino and Genovese Cosa Nostra Families fast enough. Bruno naively believed that Atlantic City, like the rest of South Jersey, was Philadelphia territory and, he, therefore, did not have to rush to bring out the “Welcome” mat.
There are mega-millions involved in controlling Atlantic City's restaurants, bars, beer distributorships, laundry, vending machines and other businesses, not to mention gambling and casinos.
In March, 1980, Angelo Bruno was whacked. Chicken Man Testa succeeded the Gentle Don. Chicken Man was killed by a remote controlled bomb which brought Little Nicky Scarfo up to bat.
To the detriment of the Bruno-Scarfo Family, the EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE, perpetrate d under Little Nicky’s reign, spawned a slew of mob informants. Little Nicky even sought to whack a relative of a cooperating witness, a defendant's father. At one point Nicky Scarfo targeted the Harry Riccobene faction of the former Bruno Crime Family. More than 24 members of the Riccobene faction were targeted. The war went on for months. Two attempts to murder Harry "The Hunchback" Riccobene failed. Riccobene, 74-years-old in 1984, was finally convicted in the murder of Frank Monte, a Scarfo loyalist.
George Anastasia, the author of three critically acclaimed books about the Philadelphia mob and an award-winning reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, characterizes the Philadelphia Cosa Nostra Family as the nation's "most dysfunctional family."
But, Little Nicky wisely chose to share Atlantic City, N.J. territory with the Gambino and Geovese Cosa Nostra Families of New York instead of resisting the incursions of the Gambino and Genovese Cosa Nostra Families.
To the detriment of the Bruno-Scarfo Family, Little Nicky's EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE had a very negative side effect, it spawned a slew of mob informants.
In his blood lust, Little Nicky ordered Sal Testa, Chicken Man Testa's son, whacked. The bloodletting encouraged a host of turncoats. Little Nicky Scarfo, his nephew and underboss, Philip Leonetti and 15 others were convicted in 1988 on murder and racketeering charges. While they awaited sentencing there were even more defections. Philip Leonetti became an FBI/Federal Prosecutor's mob rat who guaranteed enough evidence against Little Nicky to insure that he would never be a free man again.
Nicodemo Scarfo is paying for his crimes of distrust and rage by way of consecutive 14- to- 55-year federal prison sentences for multiple racketeering offenses.
Little Nicky Scarfo's Underworld Typology
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo of spoke of diverse roles in the U.S. underworld in terms of a typology of status and power in ascending order:
"Drug Dealer," "Racketeer" and "Gangster."
Gangster-if a gangster is a drug dealer and a racketeer, he is a drug dealer and a racketeer plus...
Racketeer-if a racketeer is a drug dealer, he is a drug dealer plus...
Drug Dealer-a drug dealer is something less than a "racketeer" and much less than a "gangster."
The lowest position in this typology is that of the "drug dealer."
Salvatore "Sammy Bull" Gravano has condescendingly referred to the late Paul "Big Paulie" Castellano as a "racketeer."
African-American Outlaws In Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo's Typology
Black outlaws have excelled in the numbers racket, e.g. Madame Stephanie St. Clair, "The Policy Queen of Harlem," and the drugs racket, Frank Matthews.
The Harlem Numbers Game
"In any given week during the 1920's, nearly $5 million dollars in pennies and nickels moved through the streets and back alleyways of Harlem.
The game was called the "Numbers" and everyone played...
For years, Black "bankers" ran their illegal numbers racket right under the nose of the white underworld. It reaped millions for Black organized crime and helped build Harlem itself.
As Prohibition winded down, bootleggers like Dutch Schultz began looking for new ways to make money. The Black-run Harlem Numbers racket seemed like an easy target.
This error in Schultz's judgment, and his relentless pursuit of powerful and clever Black bankers Stephanie St. Clair and Bumpy Johnson, would cost him his life.
The Numbers Game itself is very similar to todays state-run "lottery" style games.
The game is easy to play, and for most of the 20th century it has kept Harlem above water financially.
The attraction of numbers was strong for Harlemites. The odds were slim but the sheer number of people playing meant that a nickel bet could turn into a several hundred dollars cash...instantly." See: http://www.independentproject.com/oldWFH/disk05/FilmZone/hoodlum/History/numbers.html
"In 1931, there were four prominent Black bankers in Harlem. Madame Stephanie St. Clair, Casper Holstein, Wilfred "Willy" Brunder and James Warner. They constitute good examples of what Little Nicky Scarfo terms "racketeers." They also contitute good examples of what the American Mafia terms "Outlaws." See: http://www.independentproject.com/oldWFH/disk05/FilmZone/hoodlum/History/queen.html
Frank Matthews, Drug Kingpin (1949-1973?)
The War in Vietnam had an unintended and often unrecognized impact on the politics of drug trafficking in the United States. Prior to the War in Vietnam, the American Mafia was the only connection black outlaws were able to use. Because of the War, many African-Americans travelled to Vietnam. Some of these soldiers saw opportunities to make drug connections that are independent of the American Mafia.
Blacks had an hard time competing with the mob regarding drugs until the emergence of Frank Matthews. Matthews may accurately be characterized as a "mob maverick." According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, a "maverick," is "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party." Matthews was a maverick because he had ideas that are antithetical to the maintenance of the American Mafia status quo.
Frank Matthews believed that black outlaws should be more than just pawns on the American Mafia chess board. If, for reasons beyond its control, the black community is hosting illicit drug distribution, it should also have a larger say as to everything else that is involved in the racket.
Frank Matthews was a key supplier for drug dealers in Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Baton Rouge and Detroit. He headed an operation out of an apartment complex nicknamed "The Ponderosa." The Ponderosa was protected by armed guards as workers cut and bagged the drugs. This operation would eventually cover the entire East Coast. At the height of his power, Matthews operated several drug mills employing more than 100 people. He often strutted around in mink coats. He owned several apartment buildings and owned a fleet of luxury cars. In 1971, he assembled the biggest drug dealers in the country to attend a summit held in Atlanta. The main topic of discussion: how to break mob control on the importation of heroin so that blacks could implement their own shipping services.
Before any of the suggestions were put in place, Matthews was arrested on drug conspiracy charges. Frank Matthews was last seen in Brooklyn Federal Court in 1973. Free on $325,000 bail, Matthews disappeared with $20 million dollars and hasn't been seen since.
Frank Matthews may have become a victim of American Mafia vengeance. He may have been whacked by or on the orders of the American Mafia, Or, maybe he was killed by disaffected members of his own organizaion.
Maybe, having escaped both justive and mob retribution, Frank Matthews is living today in hiding somewhere in the world.
Little Nicky Scarfo would characterize Frank Matthews, despite the latter's criminal skills, as a "drug dealer."
Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (1906-1968)
An example of an African-American that Little Nicky Scarfo would be likely to term a "gangster" was Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. Bumpy Johnson is such a "gangster" because he was a part of the equation, he was on the payroll, something most black criminal innovators can not claim.
Bumpy Johnson had a significant role in the American Mafia status quo. He was an enforcer, an executioner of the American Mafia status quo in New York City's black neighborhoods. Again, it was a black-on-black thing.
We have examined an example of an African-American kingpin who Little Nicky Scarfo would most likely deem a "drug dealer," i.e. Frank Matthews. We have scrutinized examples of purveyors of the African-American numbers game, two individuals Little Nicky Scarfo is likely to deem as "racketeers," e.g. Stephanie St. Clair, the Policy Queen of Harlem, and Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, her aide. Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson criminal career broadened to the point where he might fit into Little Nicky Scarfo's typology as a "gangster."
In Little Nicky Scarfo's typology, "labor racketeers" and "loan sharks" fall under the heading, "racketeers."
Where are the African-American labor racketeers? There are none. Where are the African-American loan sharks? Once again, they are non-existent.
Keeping An Eye On The Bouncing Ball
Salvatore "Sammy The Bull" Gravano - Salvatore "Sammy Bull" Gravano turned on the mob in 1991 after the FBI played for him a surveillance tape recording of John J. "The Dapper Don" Gotti with some very revealing dialogue. Sammy Bull became the first American Mafia underboss to testify against his boss. As part of his plea agreement, Sammy Bull admitted to taking part in 19 mob hits including the murder of his brother-in-law.
In the words of J. R. de Szigethy (April 2005), "Partners in Crime: The Mafia Cops, Part One: Mafia Cops Indicted!,"
"The incredibly light sentence Gravano received for the murders of 19 people sent shock waves throughout the ranks of the American Mafia, and the message was clear; if a Mob figure got caught red-handed committing crimes, including murders, no matter how many murders, all one had to do was enter into a plea bargain with the Feds, offer up some ‘big fish’ such as a Godfather or crooked cop, and you would be ‘wined and dined’ while a member of the Witness Protection Program before receiving your ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card" (p. 3). See: http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_297.html
Where is the African-American "gangster" who was given immunity and allowed to testify under oath to the murders of 19 men, including his brother-in-law, and whose plea agreement invoked a prison sentence of just 5 years?
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso - Gaspipe Casso was the underboss of the Lucchese Cosa Nostra Family. He and Vittorio "Vic" Amuso, his boss, had been key leaders of the Lucchese Cosa Nostra Family of new York in the late 1980's and early 1990's. These two men leadership style ravaged the Lucchese Cosa Nostra Family. Gaspipe Casso, in particular, exercised EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE when he indiscriminately murdered his wiseguy rivals.
The American Mafia traditionally prohibits the placing of contracts on the lives of the relatives of cooperating witnesses. Gaspipe Casso, like Little Nicky Scarfo, went against Mafia tradition and issued a death contract on the relatives of some cooperating witnesses. Gaspipe even plotted to kill a federal prosecutor.
Vic Amuso went on the lam and was successful in his efforts to elude capture until Gaspipe alerted the Feds to his whereabouts. (Vic Amuso was subsequently captured in Pennsylvania when an "anonymous" tipster phoned the FBI to tell them where Amuso would be showing up the following day).
All of the Amuso/Casso regime's EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE inspired some key Lucchese mobsters, e.g. Big Pete Chiodo, Little Al D'arco, Frank Goia, etc., to cut and roll.
Gaspipe Casso's interview with Correspondent Ed Bradley was broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, April 10, 2005 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. In the interview Casso alleged that he paid Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, the New York detectives, to set up or commit murders.
Gaspipe Casso's allegations -- vehemently denied by Bruce Cutler, Eppolito's lawyer, and Ed Hayes, Caracappa's counsel -- came out in a prison interview with Bradley in 1998, but could not be substantiated. 60 Minutes could not broadcast those allegations until now, with the highly decorated Eppolito and Caracappa under indictment.
Gaspipe Casso says he paid the two detectives to set up the 1986 murder of Jimmy Hydell that he committed himself because he thought Hydell tried to kill him. Casso alleges the two detectives shot to death Eddie Lino, a crime family associate, in 1990.
Gaspipe Casso will be remembered as a Lucchese boss who was perfectly terrible and as an FBI/Federal Prosecutor's mob rat who is even worse. He began cooperating with federal prosecutors and the FBI in early 1994. A little more than a year before that time, Casso had been a fugitive for more than 30 months. After he cooperated, Gaspipe Casso admitted under oath that he had a role in 36 gangland style killings, including the 1986 bombing death of Frank DeCicco, John J. Gotti's Gambino Crime Family underboss.
It was not for long that Gaspipe Caso was able to enjoy the fruit of his agreement with Uncle Sam. He was booted out of the federal witness protection program in 1988 after allegedly bribing prison guards and lying about other mob informants. Gaspipe wants to testify in the upcoming Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa trial, but it is very unlikely that his testimony will be allowed.
Where is the African-American "gangster" who was given immunity and allowed to testify under oath to the murder of 36 men? Where is the African-American "gangster" today who today is eager to testify for the prosecution against two highly decorated detectives he alleges have served as his "mob cop" confederates?
Philip Leonetti - Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo was named the new head of the Bruno Cosa Nostra Family and given a seat on the National Mafia Commission in 1981. The Bruno-Scarfo Cosa Nostra Family became allied to the powerful Genovese Crime Family of New York. Philip Leonetti was named the underboss of the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family.
Philip Leonetti's mother is Little Nicky Scarfo's sister. Leonetti was abandoned by his father at a young age and Uncle Nicky helped to raise young Philip in the neighborhood's of Philadelphia.
Under Little Nicky's leadership, the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family became the most violent of all 26 Cosa Nostra Families in the United States. The FBI accurately perceived Nicky Scarfo's EXAGGERATED VIOLENCE as weakness. It infiltrated the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family and waited for the right moment. Philip Leonetti was arrested in 1988 on charges of murder. The murder brought a sentence of 45 years prompting Leonetti to flip.
Leonetti confessed to the murder of 10 people. His testimony resulted in the convictions of dozens of high-ranking members of the Philadelphia/Atlantic City Mafia families. His testimony was used in the John J. Gotti trial.
Little Nicky Scarfo was convicted in 1988 on extortion and murder. He is serving a 69-year-prison sentence. Leonetti's testimony helped to confirm the verdict. It also opened the door to the convictions of other Scarfo associates.
Due to the successful completion of his plea agreement, Philip Leonetti was released from custody after serving only 5 years.
Where is the African-American "gangster" who was given immunity and allowed to testify under oath to the murders of 10 men and whose plea agreement invoked a prison term of just 5 years?
Ralph Natale - In May 2000, Ralph Natale. the sitting boss of the Philadelphia Cosa Nostra Family, became the first American Mafia boss to turn government informant and testify against his own men.
Natale pleaded guilty to a crime career that spanned 30 years and included seven murders, five attempted murders, extortion, gambling, drug trafficking and bribing a Camden New Jersey City official.
Natale testified against his successor, Joey "Skinny Joey" Merlino, the reputed acting mob boss of the Philadelphia-South Jersey Cosa Nostra Family and 10 other defendants. Ralph Natale is expected to testify against other crime families.
Ralph Natale was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his leadership role in a racketeering conspiracy. He was given five years credit for the time he has been in federal custody toward his prison term. He was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison term and to pay $120,000 in restitution. Ralph Natale will serve a maximum of eight years in prison.
Where is the African-American "gangster" who was given immunity and allowed to testify under oath to seven murders, five attempted murders, extortion, gambling, drug trafficking and bribery, and; who was sentenced to eight years imprisonment?
There are at least two wings to the New England Mafia today: the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family wing of Providence, R.I. and the Boston, Massachusetts wing. The New England Mafia that Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme offended, i.e. the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family , today is not what it used to be thanks to the likes of Whitey Bulger et al. of the Winter Hill Mob.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a court order requiring Raymond "Junior" Patriarca, former head of the New England Mafia, to reimburse the government more than $100,000 for the cost of his eight-year incarceration. Junior Patriarca is fighting the U.S. on fees for his prison term. Francis Salemme headed the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family in the early 1990s. See: http://www.thelaborers.net/history/new_england_organized_crime.htm
The Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family is still active in New England, e.g. in Springfield , Massachusetts, Providence, R.I. It is not clear to what extent the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family is operative in Boston, Masssachusetts.
The Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family may have given Cadillac Frank a "pass." There is a lot of information about the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family that Francis P. "Cadillac Frank" Salemme was privy to but, nevertheless did not divulge to the feds. The Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family thanks Francis Salemme for his contribution to the conviction of John J. Connolly Jr.
Francis Salemme entered a deal with the feds. In 2002, he helped the government convict John J. Connolly Jr., the retired FBI agent, of protecting longtime informants Flemmi and fugitive gangster James "Whitey" Bulger. His prison sentence was therefore reduced to eight years.
Francis Salemme was released from prison in March 2003 and went into the federal witness protection program. Eighteen months after his release, November 9, 2004, however, Francis Salemme was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements to prosecutors about his involvement in the 1993 killing of Boston nightclub manager Stephen A. DiSarro.
The indictment alleges that Francis Salemme, 72, was present on May 10, 1993, when DiSarro, 43, of Westwood, was slain and helped bury his body. DiSarro's remains have not been found.
Flemmi, who admitted killing 10 people while working as an FBI informant and cut a deal with the government last year that sent him to prison for life but spared him the death penalty, contends that he was a witness to DiSarro's slaying, and that Cadillac Frank Salemme was there.
Cadillac Frank Salemme denied any knowledge about DiSarro's slaying, even though he had been granted immunity, because he wanted to protect John J. Salemme, his brother, and Frank Jr., his son, now deceased, who were also allegedly involved in the killing. John J. Salemme, 62, served four years for illegal gambling involving football cards after a 1996 indictment and is now free.
Held without bail, the charges of making false statements and obstructing justice may cost Francis Salemme another possible 10 years in prison.
Cadillac Frank was released into the witness security program in March 2003 after serving his eight years in prison. He voluntarily left the program and returned to Massachusetts for a few months in 2004, saying he felt ''isolated" and homesick. Apparently neither the Providence, R.I. wing nor the Boston, Massachusetts wing of the New England Mafia knew far enough in advance that Cadillac Frank was roaming around town to insure that he would be whacked.
Cadillac Frank went back into WITSEC in August or September of 2004. On November 23, 2004. Cadillac Frank was kicked out of WITSEC because he is facing new criminal charges, for allegedly lying about his role in the 1993 Steven DiSarro slaying. Now Cadillac Frank is seeking bail while awaiting trial. Prosecutors said that Francis Salemme, who has fled prosecution twice before, is a flight risk if left on the street.
The Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family knows the best way to hurt Cadillac Frank is to allow him to continue living while John J. Salemme, his brother, is clipped. That's what both the Patriarca Cosa Nostra Family and the Boston wing of the New England Mafia plans to do if Cadillac Frank divulges any of the confidential information in question.
John J. Connolly Jr., the disgraced former FBI agent, is trying to get a new trial on the grounds that Francis P. "Cadillac Frank" Salemme testimony is tarnished. Connolly is serving a ten year prison term.
On Monday, November 29, 2004, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent testified that brotherly love drove Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme to lie about the 1993 murder of a Boston nightclub owner to protect his younger brother John J. Salemme. Held without bail, Francis Salemme faces another possible 10 years in prison on charges of making false statements and obstructing justice.
On Monday, December 20, 2004, after hearing a jailhouse confession from another prisoner who allegedly admitted to killing two potential witnesses, it was reported that Connolly has become an informant.
Investigators seized gambling ledgers from Arthur Gianelli, the brother-in-law of ex-FBI agent John J. Connolly, revealing $2,000 monthly payments to the Mafia and new Boston underboss Carmine "Big Cheese" DiNunzio on Tuesday, January 11, 2005.
In January of this year, investigators seized $40,000 from a secret "hide" inside Arthur Gianelli's Lynnfield mansion but lost the race to his wife's bank account when she cleared out $65,000.
A sweeping federal racketeering indictment unsealed on Monday, April 11, 2005, charges Arthur Gianelli with running a lucrative gambling ring and trying to bully the owners of three area bars into selling the bars to him and his partners.
John J. Connolly Jr. can always credibly claim that he was unaware of any specifics in regard to his brother-in-law's criminal activities. But, John J. Connolly wants to regain his freedom and it is unlikely that he has not gotten wind of any incriminating details about Arthur Gianelli.
On the other hand, it may be true that Arthur Gianelli can corroborate more incriminating information about John J. Connolly Jr. than Connolly can about Gianelli.
In the United States of America v. Joseph Massino et al. Defendants, (2004), Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale, the long time Bonanno Cosa Nostra Family underboss and brother-in-law to Joseph Massino, the boss, was the star witness for the prosecution. Good Looking Sal's testimony was crucial to Joseph Massino's conviction. Joseph Massino later became a Top Echelon (TE) mob rat.
In his effort to regain his freedom, will John J. Connolly Jr. testify against his own brother-in-law?