Tuesday, January 25, 2005
In Today’s column: Why Mob Enforcers and Executioners Are Serial Killers, Part I, FBI SOLIDARITY UNDER STRESS, LOUIS SHUMWAY: EARLY MOB RAT, A FOOL FOR A CLIENT, TO KILL A U.S. PROSECUTOR?
What Is The Crucial Distinction Between The Terms Mob "Enforcer" and "Executioner?"
In regard to mob hits, it is the mob enforcer who gives the order that an individual is to be killed. The hitman is the executioner.
It is possible for one person to function as both "enforcer" and "executioner" in a given situation. There were fake cops and real cops involved in the 1963 plot to end Lee Harvey Oswald's life. Jack Ruby's cops were supposed to eliminate the patsy, Oswald, but they bungled their duty. That is why Jack Ruby had to finish the job on Oswald. As such, in the Lee Harvy Oswald Hit, Jack Ruby functioned simultaneously as mob enforcer and executioner.
Salvatore "Sammy Bull" Gravano, former Gambino Cosa Nostra Family underboss, confessed his guilt to the murder of 19 men---all of whom were wiseguys or had some association with the mob. But, of these 19 homicides, Sammy Bull Gravano was both mob enforcer and the executioner on only the Eddie Garofalo hit. Sammy Bull orchestrated or helped to orchestrate the remaining 18 hits.
Eddie Garofalo
Paul Castellano
Thomas Bilotti
Robert "DiB" DiBernardo
Alan Kaiser
Francesco Oliveri
Louie DiBono
Louie Milito
Joseph Colucci
Jackie Calabro
John Simone
Frank Stillitano
Nick Scibetta
Frank Fiala
Michael DeBatt
Nick Mormando
Wilfred Johnson
John Santiago
Thomas Spinelli
Eddie Garofalo was a construction industry businessman and Gambino family associate who drew the wrath of John Gotti and was ordered killed by the Dapper Don. Eddie Garofalo was killed outside his Brooklyn, New York home on August 8, 1990 by an eight man hit team led by Sammy Bull Gravano. The slaying came four months before The Dapper Don and Gravano were nabbed on racketeering and murder charges.
Eddie Garofalo was a cousin of Gravano's brother-in-law, Eddie Garofala. According to the feds, the dead man was nicknamed "Cousin Eddie" by their mob associates to try and avoid confusion.
A mobster has to prove himself as an executioner before he is allowed to function as a mob enforcer.
Some Universal Characteristics of Mob Hit Victims
Mob enforcers and executioners are serial killers because their murder victims all have certain universal characteristics.
In the words of Donnie Brasco/Joseph D. Pistone (March 1, 2004) in The Way of the Wiseguy, Running Press; Book & CD edition, Philadelphia, ISBN: 0762418397.
"The thing is, wiseguys do not go around killing people for no good reason...it is very unusual for people with no mob dealings or no connection to the mob to wind up dead at the hands of a mobster...If, however, you are a wiseguy or a guy with some association to the mob, and you do certain things, you will get whacked" (Ibid., p. 28).
These characteristics are readily identifiable precursors to death.
"As for the target, you can be sure that the person getting hit is either a wiseguy or someone doing business with a wiseguy. Wiseguys are not in the business of whacking random people, or whacking people out of petty grudges. John Gotti allegedly getting rid of the poor bastard who accidentally ran over his young son was an exception. Almost without fail, the targeted person either ****** a wiseguy out of money or embarrassed a wiseguy in some way. Maybe he disrespected a made guy; maybe he got greedy in some deal. But, at least with the American Mafia, when you read about somebody getting whacked, you know that person was involved in illegal activity and made a fateful mistake along the way" (Ibid., p. 110).
John Favara was not a wiseguy. He was not involved in illegal activity. Rather, John Favara was what mobsters refer to as a "citizen."
Who Killed John Favara?
On March 18, 1980, 12-year-old Frank Gotti was riding a dirt bike near his home in Howard Beach, New York. Frank Gotti was the son of the late John Gotti, the boss of the Gambino Cosa Nostra Family. John Favara, John Gotti's neighbor, collided with Frank Gotti, killing him.
Favara, 51, disappeared on July 28, 1980 while John and Victoria Gotti were 1500 miles away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Eight members of one of the Gambino Crime Family crews, using a van and two cars, abducted John Favara, stole his car and killed him. They disposed of his body and crushed his car in Brooklyn so evidence would never be found.
John Favara had planned to sell his Howard Beach home within two days of the day he was abducted. Favara's body was placed in a barrel which was then filled with cement. The body was disposed in the Atlantic Ocean off Brooklyn. Favara's car was crushed in a junk yard.
John Favara was declared dead in 1983 by Janet, his widow.
The Ruby St. Lot Excavation
Turncoat Salvatore "Goodlooking Sal" Vitale, Joseph "Big Joey" Massino's underboss and brother-in-law, testified for the prosecution in the United States of America v. Joseph Massino et al. Defendants. Vitale testified that he was the lead gunman in the May 5, 1981 hit on capos Anthony "Sonny Red" Indelicato, Philip "Philly Lucky" Giaccone and Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera in a Brooklyn social club. Vitale's testimony corroborated the accusation that Big Joey Massino was the enforcer who orchestrated the murders.
Until recently, the remains of Big Trin and Philly Lucky were not found, but Sonny Red’s body – with at least three bullet wounds – was recovered three weeks later in a shallow grave by children playing in the Ruby Street lot in Ozone Park, Queens near its border with Brooklyn.
More recently, mob informants pointed to the Ruby Street lot as the burial places of Big Trin and Philly Lucky. The powers that be decided to excavate the Ruby Street lot.
Mob informants alleged that John "The Dapper Don" Gotti also used the Ruby St. lot as a place to dispose of the bodies of his murder victims. Mob turncoats told investigators that John Favara was among those buried in the gangster graveyard. Favara's son Scott wants to give his dad a proper burial.
The body of Thomas "Tommy" DeSimone, a killer who aspired to membership in the Lucchese Cosa Nostra Family and is believed to have had a role in the $5.8-million Lufthansa cargo heist in 1978, was also being sought in the lot. Tommy DeSimone disappeared in early 1979.
In early October, 2004 the excavation of the Ruby St. lot began. The excavation lasted two weeks.
On Monday, December 20, 2004, DNA tests confirmed that the skeletal remains unearthed from the Ruby St. lot the previous October, are those of
Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera and Philip "Philly Lucky" Giaccone. Neither Tommy DeSimone nor John Favara's remains were unearthed in the Ruby St. lot excavation.
Joseph D. Pistone (March 1, 2004), in "Why Wiseguys Will Kill You," i.e. chapter 3 of The Way of the Wiseguy, discusses the main "things" a wiseguy might do that will increase the likelihood that he will be whacked by the mob.
Most Likely Victims of Wiseguys
"Breaking any of these rules does not automatically mean that you will be whacked. It will simply subject you to possibly getting killed" (Ibid., p. 30). Wiseguys are likely to kill confederates who fail to share money from illegal activities, who testify before a grand jury, who talk to cops, who lay hands on another wiseguy, who mess around with another wiseguys girlfriend, wife or daughter, and/or who live a gay lifestyle.
Not share money from illegal activities...
For example, in Chicago, Illinois, professional thieves have to "kick up" to the Chicago Outfit under penalty of death.
Testify before a grand jury...
On June 19, 1975, Sam "Momo" Giancana was assassinated in his Chicago home five days before his scheduled testimony before the Church Committee on the mob's role in a CIA plot to assassinate Fidel Castro.
Giancana's lieutenant Johnny Roselli testified under oath at length behind closed doors. A few months after his testimony, Johnny Roselli was assassinated and his body stuffed in an oil drum.
Talk to cops...
Talking to cops, both uniformed and undercover, is something that will get a made man killed. The Bonanno Crime Family capo, Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano was killed for embracing Joseph Pistone, an undercover FBI agent posing as "Donnie Brasco."
Lay his hands on another wiseguy...
La Cosa Cosa is all about RESPECT. Among the greatest expressions of DISRESPECT to a made man is to laying of hands on a made man. Just about the only means such a disrespected individual has to regain respect is murder.
The Godfather (1972), directed by Frances Ford Coppola, introduced the fictional character "Moe Green." Greene is loosely based upon Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. Moe Greene has a very bad habit. He slaps Fredo Corleone around in public. Fredo is not a made man, but he is the brother of a made man, Michael Corleone, the new Godfather. Michael Corleone subsequently orders Moe Green to be whacked.
Mess around with a wideguy's girlfriend, wife, or daughter...
Paul "Big Paulie" Castellano's daughter told him that her boyfriend had insulted him royally. Big Paulie recruited a couple of young toughs to eliminate the problem permanently. John Gotti and Joseph Massino got together to kill Vito Borelli, the offending boyfriend.
What did Vito Borelli do wrong? According to Bonanno turncoat Goodlooking Sal Vitale, Borelli said out loud what Castellano's pals were afraid to: that Big Paulie looked a lot like Frank Perdue. the chicken magnate. Vitale was called on to help Massino and Gotti and several others dispose of Borelli's body in 1975 after these men killed him at a Manhattan cookie business operated by Bonanno soldier Anthony Rabito.
Vitale said that after he backed his car against the building, the crew placed a body wrapped in a tan cloth into the trunk. He drove the car to a Queens garage. At the garage the body was removed from the trunk.
A few days later, Vitale recalled, Massino explained that Borelli had been dating Castellano's daughter and had insulted him in front of her saying that "Paul Castellano looked like Frank Perdue."
In 1980 another of Paul Castellano's daughter's sweethearts offended Big Paulie. Frank Amato had already married Big Paulie daughter when Castellano had him whacked.
Live a gay lifestyle...
In early 1992, after some high level discussions, the DeCavalcante Cosa Nostra family sent out a hit team to whack John "Johnny Boy" D'Amata, the acting boss, for committing an unconscionable and most dishonorable crime: being gay.
The Mob and Serial Killing
One of the greatest myths in the history of organized crime is the belief that gangsters only kill other gangsters.
"We Only Kill Each Other."
In the early 1940's Meyer Lansky had Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel scout out Laws Vegas as the possible site for a lavish gambling casino and plush hotel. At first Siegel thought the idea was loony, regarding Las Vegas as little more than a comfort station in the desert for passing travelers. However, the more Siegel looked at the possibilities the more he liked the idea, and he became the enthusiastic booster for a legal gambling paradise. He talked the Syndicate to putting up a couple of million dollars to build a place, and the figure soon escalated to $6 million.
Siegel dubbed the place "the Flamingo," the nickname of a Bugsy Siegel mistress, Virginia Hill. In time, however, the Syndicate became upset about its $6 million. When the Flamingo first opened, it proved a financial disaster. Reportedly, the mobs from around the country demanded their money back. What really upset them was the accurate suspicion that Bugsy Siegel had been skimming off the construction funds, as well as some of the gambling revenues, and having Virginia Hill park it in Switzerland for him.
At the famous Havana Conference in December 1946, the Syndicate passed the death sentence on Bugsy Siegel. On June 20, 1947, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was shot to death as he sat in the living room of Virginia Hill's $500,000 mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
But, in the grim months before Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's murder, construction tycoon Del Webb had expressed nervousness about his personal safety with so many menacing types around the Flamingo. In a philosophical mood, Bugsy told him not to worry. He noted he himself had carried out 12 murders, all of which had been strictly for business reasons. Webb, Bugsy said, had nothing to fear because "we only kill each other."
A "Tragic Case Of Mistaken Identity"
For nearly 16 years George Aronwald's death remained a mystery until an unidentified witness stepped forward and fingered Joel "Joe Waverly" Cacace.
Cacace ordered the killing of former prosecutor William Aronwald for "disrespecting" organized crime.
But instead of tracking Aronwald, two hit men followed hi s 78-year-old father, George, then a retired part-time civil servant and administrative judge.
At the time of the March 20, 1987 slaying, the hit men, Vincent and Eddie Carini, along with a third hit man, Frank Smith, were members of a crew led by Cacace, then a Colombo soldier, authorities said.
The brothers and Smith mistakenly went to the law office of Aronwald's father, George Aronwald, a judge with the city Parking Violations Bureau, then followed him into a laundry store near his Queens home and shot him to death, prosecutors said.
"It was clearly "a tragic case of mistaken identity," U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf said.
Months after the Aronwald murder, the Carini brothers were whacked, found in separate cars on a Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, block.
Smith is now a government witness.
Why We Are Unlikely To Think of Mob Enforcers and Executioners As “Serial Killers”
Here is a discussion of the defining characteristics of the typical “serial killer.”
“Serial killers tend to be white, heterosexual males in their twenties and thirties who are sexually dysfunctional and have low self-esteem. Their methodical rampages are almost always sexual in nature. Their killings are usually part of an elaborate fantasy that builds to a climax at the moment of their murderous outburst. Serial killers generally murder strangers with cooling off periods between each crime. Many enjoy cannibalism, necrophilia and keep trophy-like body parts as mementos of their work. Serial killers are sadistic in nature. Some return to crime scenes or grave sites of their victims to fantasize about their deeds. Many like to insert themselves in the investigation of their crimes and some enjoy taunting authorities with letters or carefully placed pieces of evidence.
Serial killers tend to prey on women and children of their same race. Prostitutes, drifters and hitchhikers are their victims of choice. Some homosexual killers enjoy hunting young boys and gay men. Female serial killers tend to be "black widows" who kill a succession of husbands, lovers, or other family members. They can also be nurses or other medical professionals who become self-appointed "angels of death" murdering babies, elderly, or the desperately ill in a misguided effort to relieve their suffering. Most serial killers grew up in violent households. As youngsters they enjoyed torturing animals, setting fires and were chronic bed-wetters. As adults, many serial killers have some type of brain damage and are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs.” See: http://www.mayhem.net/Crime/serial.html
Mob enforcers and executioners likewise tend to be white , heterosexual males but it is neither necessarily true that they are sexually dysfunctional nor that they have low self-esteem. The murders that mob enforcers and executioners conspire to and/or commit are not characteristically “methodical rampages” nor are they characteristically “sexual in nature.” The murders of mob enforcers and executioners are not “usually part of an elaborate fantasy that builds to a climax at the moment of their murderous outburst.”
The victims of mob enforcers and executioners, are less likely than the victims of other serial killers, to be “strangers.” Among mob enforcers and executioners, there is no necessity for “cooling off periods between each crime.” Most mob enforcers and executioners do not “enjoy cannibalism, necrophilia.” Most do not “keep trophy-like body parts as mementos of their work.” Mob hit men are not necessarily “sadistic in nature.” The mob hierarchy prohibits them from inserting “themselves in the investigation of their crimes.” When a mob enforcer or executioner decides to have a symbolic _expression left remaining at the scene of a hit, it whole process is expedited with the utmost criminal professionalism.
Mob enforcers and executioners are more likely to victimize men of their own race. But, they are subject to victimizing members of the general U.S. population as well. They are prohibited from victimizing women and children. The mob is currently involved in the controversy over when if ever the children and/or other family members of cooperating witnesses should be victimized in reprisal. Mob enforcers and executioners are unlikely to victimize prostitutes, drifters and/or hitchhikers.
As Joe Pistone (March 1, 2004) has noted, apparently, being gay will get a wiseguy killed. Other then that, mob enforcers and executioners are unlikely to target homosexuals. Women have been used as contract killers but rarely as mob enforcers. Women are particularly effective if a target is vulnerable to a female hitter. Mob enforcers and executioners are unlikely to target the elderly and/or the desperately ill. The mob does not practice mercy killing in the outside world. There is no evidence to support the conclusion that mob enforcers and/or executioners tend to emerge from violent households, that they enjoy torturing animals, setting fires or suffer from enuresis at a higher rate than the total population. There is no evidence to support the conclusion that mob enforcers and/or executioners tend to be afflicted with brain damage and/or chemical dependency.
A mob enforcer and/or executioner is less likely than most members of the total population to be accused. If he is accused, he is less likely to be formally charged with a crime. If he is formally charged with a crime, he is less likely to have to go to trial. If he is tried, he is less likely to be found guilty of the crime with which he had been charged. If he is found guilty, he is less likely than most members of the total population to be sentenced to the most severe criminal sanctions.
Another reason we are unlikely to think of mob enforcers and mob executioners as serial killers is the very low rate of conviction of contract killers in general. As can best be determined the conviction rate in contract murders runs about one-tenth of 1 percent.
Who can sleep in peace after evoking the mob's ire?
"Donnie Brasco" was a wake up call for La Cosa Nostra but, a nightmare for Joseph D. Pistone.
Joe Pistone is justifiably very careful about his security. Pistone could have a hell of a conversation about security with Osama Bin Ladin and/or Salman Rusdie.
True, Paul Castellano rescinded the $500,000 contract on Pistone's head back in the late seventies--early eighties. After all, Pistone is FBI.
However, the mob still has a bone to pick with, and a point to make about, Joseph D. Pistone.
The good news for society is that the Witness Protection Program has proven itself. The myth of an omnipresent and omnipotent mob of inescapable wrath has been shattered.
The bad news for society is that time is on the mob's side. So, it is inexpedient for the mob to whack Joe Pistone right now. That doesn't mean the mob has forgotten and/or forgiven him for the damage his "Donnie Brasco" portrayal has accrued.
Many this is why solidarity is so important among FBI agents especially FBI agents under stress. John J. Connolly Jr., the disgraced former FBI agent, still has at least one friend from the bureau. That man, Joe Pistone, continues to call Connolly one of the "best street agents he has ever met.'' Pistone stays in touch with his former colleague with exchanged letters.
Apparently, there still is FBI solidarity between Joe Pistone and John J. Connolly. "I've known John for a long time. His reputation amongst other FBI agents - one of a good street agent, and an individual who had the ability to cultivate informants," Pistone said. "I've never heard anybody say a negative word about John. He was known as a top-notch informant recruiter."
Louis Shumway was one of the earliest FBI informants and rats. He beefed on the mob long before there was a Witness Protection Program that is proven.
Louis Shumway was an accountant for Al Capone's liquor business. The feds took him to Latin America where he was hidden until the Capone trial began.
Louis Shumway's testimony helped the feds to convict Al Capone of tax evasion, not racketeering, on October 17, 1931. Al Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 1939.
Three decades ago, Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico had taken some pre-law classes in two-and-one-half-years at the St. John's University. He had a childhood dream of practicing the law.
However, Little Allie Boy dropped out of college and gave up his childhood ambition of becoming a lawyer to emulate his father, Carmine Persico, and become a gangster.
Allie Boy may soon realized his childhood dream as his own defendant in an effort to beat new federal murder charges that could mean life in prison or worse.
On October 14, 2004, the feds indicted Little Allie Boy and John "Jackie" DeRoss, the Columbo Crime Family underboss, for the May 26, 1999 murder of Columbo Family underboss William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, and for obstruction of justice related to the investigation of Cutolo's murder.
The Snake As His Own Lawyer
In 1986, after being convicted of racketeering and after having to look at 39 years of imprisonment, Carmine "The Snake" Persico performed as his own lawyer during the historic Commission Trial. During that trial, the leaders of all five families were charged with extortion, murder and other crimes as a part of the same racketeering conspiracy.
Carmine "The Snake" Persico's efforts to defend himself were no less effective than the efforts of the lawyers who were hired to represent his co-defendants in the Commission Trial. All his co-defendants were convicted and seven, including Snake Persico, received 100-year prison terms.
Many of The Snakes mob colleagues, including William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, saw neither the humor nor the righteousness about Snake Persico's judicial antics. These mob colleagues cited The Snake's efforts as against Mafia rules. These mob colleagues tried to have the Mafia Commission depose The Snake. When their efforts to have The Snake deposed failed, these mob colleagues began a bloody mob war that cost the lives of 10 members and associates and sent many survivors to federal prison for the rest of their lives.
Carmine and Alphonse Persico and Jerry Langella went down for labor and construction racketeering and extortion for terms of 39, 12, and 65 years respectively. In addition, Carmine and Langella were each sentenced to 100 year terms for crimes under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (R.I.C.O.) Act.
Like his father, Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico has always played an integral role in his own defense. Dale Smith is Allie Boy Persico's lawyer. He says Alphonse Persico has no current intention to represent himself in his upcoming trial.
Until now, one wondered if either Carmine "The Snake" or Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico had ever heard the old adage, "A lawyer who serves as his own defendant has a fool for a client."
The FBI is investigating a death threat against the federal prosecutor who nailed Bonanno crime boss Joseph Massino for seven gangland murders.
Greg Andres, the Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney, is getting round-the-clock protection and is closely shadowed by two armed U.S. marshals on the street and in the federal courthouse.
At what point has the American underworld gone too far, i.e. transgressed beyond its realm? If a prosecutor is whacked, have the Bonanno's trespassed beyond the limits tolerated by American citizens? The American Mafia whacked a president of the United States and got away with it.
Will the Bonanno (i.e. the Massino) Crime Family act to victimize Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Greg Andres in retaliation for his prosecutions of more than 70 members and associates of the Bonanno Crime Family? Or is the "threat" just frivolous puffing?
Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, the Italian prosecutors, were murdered in 1992 by the Sicilian Mafia. But, the murder of American prosecutors in the United States is not tolerated by its citizens.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of this situation.