Lucchese crime family

Lucchese crime family

Named after Gaetano Lucchese
In	New York City
Founded by	Gaetano "Tommy" Reina
Years active	1920s-present
Territory	Various neighborhoods in New York City and New Jersey
Ethnicity	Italian, Italian-American made men and other ethnicities as "associates"
Membership	115-140 made members,[1] 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, hijacking, Labour Racketeering, Point shaving, loansharking, money laundering, murder and Robbery
Allies	Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, and Genovese Crime Families
Rivals	Various gangs in New York City and their allies

The Mafia (Cosa Nostra)
Sicilian Mafia
Commission · Sicilian Mafia clans · Sicilian Mafiosi Second Mafia War · History of the Sicilian Mafia
Antimafia
Italian Antimafia Commission · Maxi Trial
American Mafia (Commission)
Mafia crime families · Italian-American crime families Commission member families: Bonanno · Colombo · Gambino · Genovese · Lucchese · Chicago Outfit · Scarfo · DeCavalcante · Detroit Partnership Castellammarese War
Chain of Command
Commission Family (Cosca - Dee Khan) Don (Boss of family - Hasnain) Underboss Consigliere (Advisor) Caporegime or capodecina (Captain) Soldato (Soldier) Associate
Codes
Made man · Omertà · Vendetta
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The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that controls organized crime activities in New York City, U.S., within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). Their illicit activities includes profiting from labor and construction racketeering, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, drug trafficking, money laundering, hijacking, fraud, fencing and murder for hire.^[2]

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Reina Gang 1.2 The Two Tommies 1.3 Lucchese era 1.4 Tramunti and the French Connection 1.5 Tony Ducks and the Jaguar 1.6 The iron fists of Amuso and Casso 1.6.1 Acting bosses 1.6.2 Mafia cops 1.7 Current position and leadership 1.7.1 2009 indictments 2 Historical leadership of the Lucchese crime family 2.1 Bosses (official and acting) 2.2 Underboss 2.3 Consigliere 3 Current family members 3.1 Current administration 3.2 Capos 3.3 Soldiers 4 Lucchese crime family (crews) 4.1 New Jersey faction 4.2 Recruitment gang 5 Lucchese family controlled unions 6 Allied criminal groups 7 Deceased members 8 Government informants 9 Mafia trials 10 In popular culture 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External links

History

The Reina Gang

The Lucchese family started out around World War I as a criminal gang in the Bronx under Gaetano "Tom" Reina, who controlled ice distribution in New York.^[3] During the 1920s, Reina became an ally of 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. However, Masseria learned of Reina's possible betrayal and plotted with Reina lieutenant Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano to kill him. On February 26, 1930, Reina was murdered by gunman Vito Genovese outside his aunt's apartment.^[4] With Reina dead, Messeria bypassed Gagliano and installed his underling Joseph "Fat Joe" Pinzolo as head of the Reina gang. Furious with this betrayal, Gagliano and Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese defected to Maranzano. In September 1930, Lucchese lured Pinzolo to a Brooklyn office building, where he was murdered.

The Two Tommies

With Masseria's murder in early 1931, Maranzano took control of all the New York gangs and reorganized them into five criminal families. Gagliano became the boss of the Reina gang, to be later known as the Lucchese family, with Lucchese as his underboss. With the September 1931 murder of Maranzano, Lucky Luciano became the top boss in New York. However, Luciano kept the five families as created by Maranzano. In the ensuing years, Tommy Gagliano and Tommy Lucchese led their the family into profitable areas of the trucking and clothing industries.^[5]

Tommy Gagliano took control of the old Reina gang and became the fifth boss in New York City. Gagliano took a seat on the Mafia Commission using his trusted friend Tommy Lucchese as his underboss and Stefano Ronnelli as his consigliere. When Lucky Luciano was sent to prison in 1936, Gagliano was faced with a strong alliance that had taking control of the Commission. The alliance of Vincent Mangano, Joseph Bonanno, Stefano Magaddino, and Joseph Profaci used their power to control organized crime in America. Gagliano was very careful to never cross the alliance and tried to stay out of the media attention. He was a quiet mafia boss who was rarely seen and used this to his advantage; Gagliano instead spoke to a few close allies. Tommy Lucchese was the front man and was seen more in the streets. Lucchese was even present in the Havana Conference in Cuba on behalf of Gagliano in 1946. Gagliano stayed a mysterious mafia boss from 1932 to his death of natural causes in 1951 or 1953, which is still unclear.

Lucchese era

When Gagliano died in 1953, Lucchese, who had been loyal to his boss from beginning to end, took over as Boss, and took Vincenzo Rao, aka (Vincent "Nunzio" Rao) as his Consigliere and Stefano LaSalle as his Underboss. He carried on the traditions Gagliano had established, making the family which now bore his name one of the most profitable in New York. Lucchese further developed the family's interests by controlling Teamsters unions, workers' co-operatives and trade associations, and racketeering at the new Idlewild Airport. He also took the family into new rackets in Manhattan's Garment District and in related trucking industry around New York City. Lucchese also enjoyed close relations with mayors and other politicians, including New York City Mayors William O'Dwyer and Vincent Impellitteri and members of the judiciary, which aided the family on numerous occasions. All this while keeping the low profile for which he became lauded in Mafia circles. Lucchese spent 44 years in the mafia without receiving a single criminal conviction.^[6]

When Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese became boss he helped Vito Genovese and Carlo Gambino in their fights to become bosses. By 1962 the team of Lucchese and Gambino controlled the Commission. Together they backed the Gallo crew from the Profaci family in their war against their boss Joe Profaci. Gambino and Lucchese saw the war as a way to take over rackets that were under control of the Profaci family, because the Profaci's were too involved in their war. Then Lucchese and Gambino teamed up to take out Joseph Bonanno and they used the Commission to strip him of his Godfather title. This started another war and the Lucchese Family and the Gambino Family grew stronger. Lucchese led a quiet, stable life until he developed a fatal brain tumor and on July 13, 1967. With the death of Lucchese the family was very powerful in New York City. The Lucchese family had a stronghold in East Harlem, the Bronx and consisted of about 200 made members.^[7] The Commission then decided to put in capo Carmine Tramunti until Lucchese first choice Anthony Corallo was released from prison.

Tramunti and the French Connection

Toward the end of his life, Lucchese suffered various health problems and his heart finally gave up July 13, 1967. The man who took over at the head of the family was Carmine "Gribbs" Tramunti. At the time, Tramunti was almost 70 years old and himself suffering from ill health, but with boss-in-waiting Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo in prison, Tramunti was chosen as caretaker boss while Corallo served out his sentence. Tramunti faced a number of criminal charges during his time at the head of the family and was eventually convicted of financing a large heroin smuggling operation. This also included the arrests and convictions of Vincent Papa and Anthony Loria Sr. in the infamous French Connection. This scheme was responsible for distributing millions of dollars in heroin up and down the East Coast during the early seventies, which in turn led to a major New York City Police Department (NYPD) corruption scheme. The scope and depth of this scheme is still not known, but officials suspect it involved corrupt NYPD officer/officers who allowed access to the NYPD property/evidence storage room, where hundreds of kilograms of heroin lay seized from the now-infamous French Connection bust, and then replaced the missing heroin with white baking flour. The substitution was only discovered when officers noticed insects eating all the bags of "heroin". By that point an estimated street value of approximately $70 million worth of Herion had already been taken. The racket was brought to light and arrests were made. Certain plotters received jail sentences, including Papa. (Papa was later assassinated in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia; several conflicting reasons why have been suggested). These were the times of Frank Serpico and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Knapp Commission. Corallo took over upon Tramunti's incarceration in 1974.^[8]

Tony Ducks and the Jaguar

After the incarceration of Carmine "Gribbs" Tramunti in 1974, the Lucchese crime family received a powerful Capo by the name of Anthony Corallo from the Queens faction as their new leader. Corallo, nicknamed "Tony Ducks" from a reputation of 'ducking' criminal convictions, was a Boss squarely in the Tommy Lucchese mold. He was heavily involved in union control and worked closely with Jimmy Hoffa, the international president of the Teamsters, during the 1940s and 1950s. Corallo, who had close ties to the Painters and Decorators Union', the Conduit Workers Union, and the United Textile Workers, put 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 the trafficking of narcotics, as well as union racketeering and major illegal gambling operations. As Corallo never discussed business during sit-downs, fearing U.S. government were monitoring the conversations, he discussed business in his bodyguard and chauffeur's Jaguar which had a phone in it, and reportedly drove 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.^[9][10]

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.^[11]

But as Corallo maintained a strong leadership of the Lucchese Family, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had managed to plant a bug in Corallo's car in the early 1980s, where he conducted most of his businesses over the car's phone, and he was duly overheard talking at great length about mob affairs, all from illegal gambling and labor racketeering, to 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, and saw Corallo to be convicted on numerous charges and sent to prison, where he would spend the rest of his life (he died in 2000). Corallo's second choice as successor was, after the disappearing of acting boss Anthony "Buddy" Luongo in 1986, Vittorio "Vic" Amuso.^[9]

The iron fists of Amuso and Casso

During the late 1980s, the Lucchese family underwent a period of great turmoil. In 1986, "Vic" Amuso and his fierce underboss, Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, seized control of the Lucchese family and instituted a powerful and notorious regime. 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, Caso, 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. ^[12][13]

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 his men to "Whack Jersey", meaning eliminate the entire New Jersey faction, and summoned them to a meeting in Brooklyn, New York. Fearful for their lives, none of the New Jersey mobsters attended the meeting.

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, ruling the family from afar and ordering the execution of anyone they deemed troublesome, either they were considered rivals or potential informants.^[12][14]

What followed next was a series of botched hits, which led some members of the family turning informants to save their own lives. The planned executions went as high as Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco, the acting boss while Amuso was in hiding, who had little choice but to turn himself over to the authorities to spare him and his family from Amuso and Casso and their increasingly erratic demands. Amuso also ordered the slaying of captain Peter "Fat Pete" Chiodo, who along with Casso was in charge of the Windows Case operation, but as he was shot 12 times and survived, he also 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.^[15][16]

On July 29, 1991, the FBI captured Amuso in Pennsylvania, and two years later Casso was caught in Greenwood, NY. Amuso had resisted all attempts by the police to turn on the mob, but Casso wasted little time in doing so. Unfortunately for Casso, his testimony proved so inconsistent that he was ultimately accused of having gone back on his deal to help the authorities and refused leniency in sentencing for his various crimes. Amuso was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1991, as well as Casso in 1994, who had been a fugitive for over four years, and 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.^[13][17][18]

Acting bosses

Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede was chosen as the acting boss of the Lucchese family, though Amuso continued to pull the strings from behind bars throughout the mid 1990s. DeFede, who supervised the powerful Garment District racket, reportedly earned more than $40,000 to $60,000 a month, and when placing Steven Crea in charge of the family's labor and construction racketeering operations, the Lucchese family earned something 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, and pled guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Angry at his guilty plea, Amuso became uncertain of DeFede's loyalty, and promoted Crea as new acting boss of the Lucchese family.^[19]

Crea, a powerful Bronx faction leader, raised the family's profit enormously, which convinced Amuso that DeFede had been skimming off the profit, and decided to put out a 'contract' on his life in late 1999, but on 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 "Crazy Dom" Truscello and Joseph "Joey Flowers" Tangorra. Crea was eventually convicted in 2001 and sentenced to five years in prison.^[20][21]

To complete a fairly hapless trio of acting bosses, the fierce Consigliere of Queens, Louis "Lou Bagels" Daidone, who had been a prominent member of the Lucchese family since the 1980s, seized control of the family upon Crea's conviction in 2001, and kept running the family. However, with the release of Joseph DeFede, whom Amuso had ordered to be killed earlier, DeFede turned state's evidence while fearing for his life, which was enough to convict Daidone of murder and conspiracy. This was also the result of the testimony from Alphonse D'Arco in September 2004.^[19]

Mafia cops

In April 2006, it was revealed that two respected New York City police detectives were also working as hired hitmen and informants for Anthony Casso during the 1980s and early 1990s before they both retired from local law enforcement. They were determined to be Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who had spent much of their combined 44 years with the NYPD committing murders and leaking confidential information to the Lucchese crime family. They participated in eight murders between 1986 and 1990, and over a period of six years, they were paid $375,000 by Casso in bribes and as payments for murder 'contracts'. It is proven that Casso used Caracappa and Eppolito to put pressure on the Gambino crime family by murdering several of their members, because Casso, along with the imprisoned Victor Amuso and Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante, wanted their rival John Gotti out of the way. Caracappa and Eppolito are now seen as two of the most important reasons for why the 'tension' between these three families during the late 1980s and early 1990s, continued so long.^[20]

Among their contracts was putting James Hydell into the trunk of a car and handing him over to Casso for torture. Hydell's body has never been found. They also shot Bruno Facciolo, who was found in Brooklyn in the trunk of a car with a canary in his mouth. After having been pulled over for a routine traffic check, Gambino crime family captain Edward "Eddie" Lino was killed on a freeway in his Mercedes-Benz. In 2006, Eppolito and Caracappa were convicted of murdering James Hydell, Nicholas Guido, John "Otto" Heidel, John Doe, Anthony DiLapi, Bruno Facciolo, Edward Lino and Bartholomew Boriello on the orders of Casso and the Lucchese crime family. That year, they were sentenced to life imprisonment.^[21][22]

Current position and leadership

Victor Amuso, 74, remains the official Boss of the Lucchese crime family despite serving a life sentence. It is unclear how much influence he has over the family from his prison cell. In the last few years, a three man ruling panel, Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli, 74, Aniello "Neil" Migliore, 75, and Matthew Madonna, 75, has been running the family. All three are long time capos in the family, but Migliore is believed to have the final say on things. Migliore has been a major player in the family for more than 30 years and is said to have huge respect on the street. In 2006, former acting boss Steven Crea was released from jail after serving five years in prison.^[23] Still it remains to be seen what role Crea will play for the Lucchese crime family since his parole restrictions expired in 2009.

In the last few years, after suffering greatly from turncoats, federal prosecution, and internal conflicts due to bad leadership, the Lucchese family has avoided further dramatic federal indictments. Consigliere Joseph Caridi will be released from prison on November 28, 2009 after serving almost 6 years in prison for extortion and loansharking. The only recent major conviction was against the Jersey Crew leader Martin Taccetta, who in July 2009 was sentenced to life in prison of racketeering chargers he was acquitted of five years ago.^[24] Arguably, recognized Underboss Migliore has managed to bring some stability to the Lucchese family.

A March 2009 article in the New York Post identified Vittorio Amuso as the current imprisoned boss, with Aniello Migliore, Joseph DiNapoli, and Matthew Madonna serving on a ruling panel, which maintains the family for the imprisoned Amuso. The article also states that the Lucchese family consists of approximately 100 "made" members,^[25] possibly making it the smallest of the Five Families, although not the weakest. It is probably the third most powerful, as the Bonanno family has had to deal with their Boss turning government informant and their next Boss being deported to Canada. While the Colombo family have been damaged ever since the family wars of the 1990s and the multiple indictments relating to it in the 2000s.^[26]

2009 indictments

On October 1, 2009 29 mobsters and associates of the Lucchese family were indicted in two separate bribery and racketeering schemes.^[27][28] Prosecutors said acting Lucchese capo Anthony Croce and mobsters Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna were key players in an operation that pulled in approximately $400 million from gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking and extortion. The ring passed around more than $120,000 in construction bribes, prosecutors said, adding that investigators tapped 64 telephones and bugged a restaurant in a two-year probe with the N.Y.P.D. and the Department of Investigation.^[27] Other associates were charged with taking cash to void violations, lift stop-work orders and speed up inspections at more than a dozen sites across the city and extorted bribes from contractors and building owners, dealt drugs and trafficked in firearms according to prosecutors.^[27]

In a separate indictment, the FBI charged 12 more reputed Lucchese mobsters in a gambling, loansharking and extortion scheme. Prosecutors said the ring paid $222,000 in bribes to an N.Y.P.D. detective and sergeant posing as crooked cops to protect city poker parlors.^[27] Acting Lucchese capo Andrew DiSimone and crime family soldier Dominic Capelli ran the ring, said the N.Y.P.D. vice division, who headed up the sting, dubbed Operation Open House.

On November 18, 2009 the NYPD arrested 22 members and associates of the Lucchese and Gambino crime families.^[29] The raid was a result of cases involving loan sharking and sports gambling on Staten Island. There are also charges of bribing New York City court officers and bribing Sanitation Department officials. The Operation Pure Luck investigated Gambino's family loansharking and bookmaking activities on Staten Island.^[30] Gambino family capo Carmine Sciandra, soldier Michael Murdocco, associates Vinnie LaFace and Benedetto Casale were arrested. In Operation Night Gallery investigated loansharking and bookmaking of the Lucchese family in Staten Island. Lucchese family capo Anthony Croce, soldier Joseph Datello and (Joseph brother) Frank Datello along with others.^{[31] [32]}

Historical leadership of the Lucchese crime family

Bosses (official and acting)

Boss- Don/Godfather The Don is the head of the family, no one can call the shots over his decisions. He is also only one of two people (the second man is the Underboss) who can initiate someone into the family, allowing them to become a made man. Since his rank gives him the authority to give the oath to new members and make them sgarrista (soldiers). He also has the authority to give people their positions and ranks. As the Boss of the family he usually reigns as a dictator. The Acting Boss is responsible for running the crime family while the Boss is incarcerated or unable to run the family because of a sickness. If the boss dies he can become the new boss or be stepped over and lose his position as Acting Boss.

• 1920–1930– Gaetano "Tommy" Reina (Murdered February 26, 1930 during the Castellammarese War by the Masseria faction. Some believe his murder sparked the shooting war between the Masseria and Maranzano factions, others believe the war truly started with the murders of Castellammarese Clan leaders in Detroit and Chicago the following May and October.)
• 1930– Bonaventura "Joseph/Fat Joe" Pinzolo (Murdered September 5, 1930 by the Gagliano/Lucchese faction of the Reina crime family.)
• 1931–1953 — Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano (allegedly semi-retired due to ill health sometime in 1951, died February 16, 1953. others speculate he died in 1951.)

1. Acting 1951-1953 - Gaetano Lucchese (was the Underboss promoted to Boss in 1953)

• 1953–1967 — Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese (by 1966 he was basically incapacitated and semi-retired due to terminal illness, died of brain tumor on July 13, 1967.)

1. Acting 1966-1967 - Carmine Tramunti (he became commission substituto and an intern boss for a year when Lucchese was unable to continue as an active leader, stepped down for a short period of time.)
2. Acting 1967- Ettore "Eddie" Coco (he was Luchese's second choice as successor, but like Lucchese's first Anthony Corallo he was imprisoned in 1967 for murder charges and had to step down.)

• 1967–1973 — Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti (due to Coco's imprisonment Tramunti was once again chosen as an acting leader until Luchese's first choice was released from prison. Tramunti himself was imprisoned in October 1973 and died in prison October 15, 1978.)
• 1973–1986 — Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo (he was Luchese's first choice for successor, but at the time of Luchese's death Corallo was on trial, soon convicted in 1968 and sentenced to two years in prison. Indicted in the famous commission case on February 15, 1985, convicted on November 19, 1986 and on January 13, 1987 he was sentenced to 100 years in prison, died in prison August 23, 2000.)

1. Acting 1986-- Anthony "Buddy" Luongo (Promoted to Boss after Commission Case decision)

• 1986– — Anthony "Buddy" Luongo (Luongo was named Coralla's successor soon after the verdicts of the commission case were rendered in late 1986, but sometime in December 1986, Luongo, a Bronx faction leader was murdered by Brooklyn faction leaders Vic Amuso and Tony Casso.)
• 1987–present — Vittorio "Vic" Amuso (former Brooklyn faction leader and consigliere Chris Furnari convinced Tony Corallo to make Furnari's protégés Vic Amuso and Tony Casso the new bosses in early 1987. Former Bronx faction leader and underboss Tom Santoro advised against it knowing the succession of Amuso and Casso would be the biggest mistake in the crime family's history.)

1. Acting 1990–1991-- Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco (a capo promoted to Street Boss from May 1990 to January 1991 by Victor Amuso, then to Acting Boss January 1991 September 1991, he was then demoted by Amuso, but held a position within the crime family's ruling panel/committee until he defected to the government on September 21, 1991.)
2. Acting 1991–1993—was a four-man ruling panel (four capos with Consigliere) Salvatore "Sal" Avellino, Anthony "Bowat" Baratta, Steven "Wonderboy" Crea (becomes Underboss in 1993), Domenico "Danny" Cutaia, and consigliere, Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino
3. Acting 1993–1998 -- Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede (a caporegime and close associate to who was promoted by Victor Amuso and was eventually jailed in 1998. DeFede defected to the government soon after being released from prison in early 2002 fearing Amuso had sanctioned his murder.)
4. Acting 1999–2001 -- Steven "Wonderboy" Crea (the official underboss who was promoted by Amuso and eventually indicted and jailed on September 6, 2000 on extortion charges. Crea was eventually convicted in 2001 and sentenced to five years in prison.)
5. Acting 2001–2003 -- Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone (one of the last violent supporters of Amuso, he was arrested in March 2003 and sentenced to life in prison January 2004)
6. Acting 2003–2006—was a three-man ruling panel Aniello "Neil" Migliore, Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna (street bosses) (allegedly after the new acting boss was chosen sometime in 2006 it was decided that the three-man ruling panel/committee would be substituted for the official underboss' position for the time being and act as street bosses in assisting the acting boss.)^[33]
7. Acting 2006–2008 -- Steven "Wonderboy" Crea (released from prison August 24, 2006 under strict parole restrictions. he received help from the Ruling Committee/Panel) Aniello "Neil" Migliore, Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna
8. Acting 2008–present Ruling Committee/Panel Aniello "Neil" Migliore (Migliore the Underboss has the Final Say), Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna ^[34]

Underboss

The underboss is the number two position in the family (after Don, Godfather, Boss). 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 and soldier(s) to carry out murders and other criminal activities. The underboss takes control of the crime family after the boss's death. He keeps this power until there is a new boss chosen to run the crime family which in some cases was the Underboss.

• 1930–1951 -- Gaetano Lucchese (promoted to acting boss 1951, to boss in 1953)
• Acting 1951–1953 -- Stefano LaSalle (promoted to official underboss 1953)
• 1951–1972 -- Stefano LaSalle (retired)
• Acting 1967–1972 - Paul Vario (promoted to official underboss 1972)
• 1972–1979 -- Paul Vario (imprisoned in 1984)
• 1979–1986 -- Salvatore Santoro (imprisoned in Commission Case in 1986)
• 1986–1989 -- Mariano Macaluso (picked after Commission Case, retired in 1989)
• 1986–1993 -- Anthony Casso (defected to FBI in 1992)
• 1993–1998 -- Steven Crea (promoted to acting boss in 1998)
• 1998–present -- Aniello Migliore
• Acting 1998–2001-- Eugene Castelle
• Acting 2001–2003 -- Joseph Caridi (promoted to Consigliere)

Consigliere

The Consigliere is also known as an advisor or "right-hand man". A consigliere is a counselor to the boss of a crime family. The consigliere is beneath only the boss in the power structure but does not have underbosses, capos, or soldiers working for him. Like the boss, there is usually only one consigliere per criminal organization.

• 1931–1953 -- Stefano "Steve" Ronnelli (retired in 1953)
• 1953–1973 -- Vincenzo Rao (retired in 1973)
• 1973-1986 -- Christopher Furnari (imprisoned in Commission case in 1986)
• 1986 -- Ettore Coco (held the spot after Commission case then retired)
• 1986–1989 -- Anthony Casso (promoted to Underboss)
• 1989–1993 -- Frank Lastorino 1989-1993 (imprisoned)
• 1993–2003 -- Louis Daidone (promoted to Acting Boss 2001, then got a life sentence in prison)
• 2003–present -- Joseph Caridi

Current family members

Current administration

• Boss Vittorio "Vic" Amuso - Amuso has been boss of the Lucchese crime family since the conviction of Anthony Corallo in 1987. One of the most feared mobsters from the old Brooklyn faction of the family. Jailed in 1992, currently serving a life sentence ^[35]
• Acting boss Steven "Wonderboy" Crea - he has been Acting Boss since 2006 after his release from prison. Crea, a Bronx faction leader and longtime construction racketeer, is a longtime ally of Victor Amuso. Currently running the day-to-day activities of the family. Along with the Ruling Panel consisting of Aniello "Neil" Migliore (the current underboss), Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna.
• Underboss Aniello "Neil" Migliore - he is the current underboss and member of the Ruling Panel along with Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna in the Lucchese crime family. Migliore is a longtime Bronx faction leader and former rival of Amuso, he was shot and wounded in 1992 on the orders of Amuso.
• Consigliere Joseph "Joe C." Caridi - Caridi operates out of the Long Island and Queens factions of the Lucchese crime family with extortion and labor racketeering. A former ally of Vic Amuso, he is currently imprisoned on extortion and loansharking charges. His projected release-date is November 28, 2009.^[14]

Capos

Caporegime (Crew boss/captain/lieutenant): a caporegime is appointed by the don, and is in charge of his own borgata (regime, or crew). This is made up of a sgarrista (soldiers). Each capo reports directly to the underboss for permission to do different things. When someone is needed to be taken care of the capos are usually asked to carry out the order. They are the head of day-to-day operations of their own crews. The capo heads a crew of any given number of soldiers. These soldiers give the capo part of their earnings, and the Capo gives part up to the underboss. Caporegimes are also the ones who may ask and recommend certain men to be sworn into their crews. When this happens they must ask the underboss or the don himself.

Bronx

• Steven "Wonderboy" Crea - Capo, although promoted to acting boss in 2006 after release from prison. A Bronx faction leader and longtime construction racketeer. Currently running the day-to-day activities of the Lucchese family.

• Aniello "Neil" Migliore - Capo in the Lucchese crime family. A longtime Bronx faction leader and former rival of Amuso, he was shot and wounded in 1992 on the orders of Amuso. Currently promoted to the unofficial underboss position of the family. ^[36][37]

• Matthew "Matt" Madonna - Capo of the Lucchese family. Former rival of Victor Amuso and operates out of the Bronx faction. Sat on the family Ruling Panel with Migliore and DiNapoli as street boss of the Lucchese crime family.^[33]

• (In prison) Anthony "Bowat" Baratta - Capo in the Bronx faction of the Lucchese crime family. Used to ran large drug trafficking operations in the 1990s, as he sat on the family's Ruling Panel. He is currently imprisoned on narcotics and racketeering charges. His projected release-date is September 25, 2012.^[38]

Bronx & Brooklyn

• Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli - Capo in the Lucchese crime family. Longtime Lucchese member and operates from the Bronx and Brooklyn factions of the family. He is a former rival of Victor Amuso. He also has two younger brothers in the Genovese crime family one is a captain Vincent "Vinny" DiNapoli and the other Louis DiNapoli is a soldier. ^[33]

• Dominic "Crazy Dom" Truscello - Capo with racketeering, extortion and illegal gambling operations in the Bronx and Brooklyn sections of the Lucchese family. Truscello operated the "Prince Street Crew" and co-worker in construction racketeering with Steven Crea. Truscello is also a longtime ally of Vic Amuso.^[39][40]

Bronx & Manhattan

• John "Hooks" Capra - Capo of the Lucchese family. Operated in the Bronx and Manhattan factions with extortion and illegal gambling. Convicted of an illegal gambling operation that earned more than $20 million every year with members of the Gambino crime family. John Capra was released from federal prison on September 10, 2008.^[41]

• (In prison) George "Goggles" Conte - Capo in the Bronx and Manhattan factions of the family with racketeering, drug trafficking, extortion and loansharking activities. Convicted of these charges in 1995, including murder-conspiracy. Currently imprisoned. His projected release-date is March 3, 2014.^[42][43][44]

• Andrew DiSimone – an acting capo for the Lucchese family was arrested on October 1, 2009 for bribery and illegal gambling operations. DiSimone thought he was paying off corrupt NYPD officers for protection for his loansharking, sports bookmaking and illegal gambling operations around the city. The officers were working a two year undercover sting name Operation Open House and received $222,000 in bribes. DiSimone along with crime family soldier Dominic Capelli and associate John Alevis were key figures in the indictment.^[45]

Manhattan & Queens

• Salvatore "Sal" Avellino - Capo in the Luccheses since the 1980s. Longtime Amuso supporter and used to sit at the family's Ruling Panel in the early 1990s. Currently operates in the Manhattan and Queens factions with racketeering and extortion activities. He is also the family's current waste management executive in New York.

Brooklyn

• Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino - Capo in the Brooklyn section of the Lucchese family. A former family Consigliere, Lasterino hatched the plot to kill both John A. Gotti and captain Steven Crea, plus to take over the Lucchese crime family in the early 1990s. Frank Lastorino was released from federal prison on December 23, 2008 after serving 14 years on racketeering, extortion and conspiracy to commit murder.^[38][46][47]

• (In prison) Domenico "Danny" Cutaia - Capo with loansharking, extortion and money laundering operations in the Brooklyn faction (The Vario Crew) of the Lucchese family. Former messenger between the imprisoned Victor Amuso and the 'Ruling Panel'.^[48] On October 25, 2009 Domenico Cutaia was sentenced to serve three years in prison for bank fraud. Cutaia now is now 72 years old very sick and suffering from multiple sclerosis. ^[49]

• (In prison) George "Georgie Neck" Zappola - Caporegime in the Lucchese crime family since the regime of Victor Amuso and Anthony Casso in the 1980s. Operated out of the Brooklyn wing with racketeering, extortion activities. He is currently imprisoned on murder-conspiracy charges in aid of racketeering with Frank Papagni. His projected release date is March 3, 2014^{[38][46][50][51]}

• (In prison) Joseph "Joey Flowers" Tangorra - Capo of the Lucchese crime family. Crew based in the Brooklyn faction and huge muscle with extortion and racketeering activities. He is currently incarcerated due to alleged mental illness. His projected release date is December 9, 2014.

• (In prison) Frank "Bones" Papagni - Capo in the Luccheses since 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. His projected release-date is November 24, 2015.^[38][46]

• Eugene Castelle - Capo in Lucchese Family, he operates a loansharking and number racketing the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bath Beach. Castelle also managed a group of narcotics distributors in Brooklyn. He served as acting underboss from 1998-2001 until he was arrested and pleaded guilt to racketeering charges. Castelle was sent to federal prison, he was released on August 28, 2008.^[52]

• Anthony "Blue Eyes" Santorelli - Capo in Lucchese family operates in Brooklyn. Santorelli was formerly part of The Tanglewood Boys which is a recruitment gang for the Lucchese crime family and in some occasions for other crime families. The Tanglewood Boys operate in Yonkers, New York. ^[53][54]

• Michael "Mikey Bones" Carcione - an acting capo on behalf of Domenico Cutaia’s crew which was known as the Vario crew. The crew operates around Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. In 2008 Carcione was arrested along with capo Domenico Cutaia, soldiers John Baundanza (a son-in-law to Cutaia), Salvatore Cutaia (son of Domenico Cutaia), associates Steven Lapella, Victor Sperber, Louis Colello, and John Rodopolous for loansharking, illegal gambling among other illegal criminal actives.^[55]

Queens & Long Island, NY

• (In prison) John "Sideburns" Cerrella - Capo of the Lucchese family since the 1990s. A Long Island faction leader, Cerrella operates with racketeering, fraud, stocks and wire fraud in Queens and Manhattan. He is currently imprisoned with Joseph Caridi. His projected release-date is November 28, 2009.

• Vincent "Vinny Casablanca" Mancione - Capo in Lucchese crime family operates in Queens and Long Island. Mancione a close ally of Joseph Caridi he operates in Long Island with loansharking rackets among other crimes. In December 12, 2002 Macione, consigliere Joseph Caridi, and capo John Cerrella were arrested for extorting restaurants in Long Island. ^[56]

Staten Island

• Anthony Croce - Capo running a sports betting ring, loansharking on Staten Island. He was an acting capo running a sport gambling racket in Bronx and upper Manhattan until he was arrested in November 2008, along with three associates with 500 grams of cocaine. ^[57] On October 1, 2009 Croce and 29 other Lucchese Family members including Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna were indicted on bribery and racketeering charges. The scheme made around $400 million from gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking and extortion. The extortion scheme involved associates working as building inspectors passing out bribes to construction official around the city. The contractors would have to pay them bribes in order to keep working. ^[58] Croce was arrested on November 18, 2009 along with family soldier Joseph Datello and (Joseph brother) Frank Datello in Operation Night Gallery were the NYPD investigated his base of operation a bar on Staten Island called Night Gallery.^{[59] [60]}

New Jersey

• (In prison) Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta - Capo of the Jersey Crew and Boss of the entire New Jersey faction of the Lucchese family. Longtime rival of Victor Amuso. Currently serving life in prison for conspiracy charges and drug trafficking.^[61][62][63] His younger brother Martin Taccetta is reportedly the acting boss of the Jersey Crew.

• (In prison) Martin Taccetta - Capo part of 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 Mike 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.^[64]

• Robert "Bucky the Boss" Caravaggio - Capo in the Lucchese crime family Jeresy Crew he oversees operations in the northern New Jersey, concentrating his efforts in Morris County, he also worked with Carlo Taccetta.^[65]

• Joseph "Joey" Giampa -Capo in the Lucchese crime family in the Jersey Crew. Joseph has a stepson named Gennaro Vittorio, a.k.a. Gerry Giampa who is also involved in organized crime.^[66][67]

• Ralph Perna - Capo in the Lucchese family’s Jersey crew he was arrested in December 2007 along with Joseph DiNapoli, Matthew Madonna two members of the family’s ruling committee and other members of the family. The Jersey crew was involved with running a gambling operation earning around $2.2 billion in about 15 months. The crew was also working with New Jersey correction officer and members of the Nine Trey Gangster which is a set in the Bloods gang. They would use gang member to smuggle drugs and pre-paid cell phones into Jersey State Prisons. ^[68]

Soldiers

A soldier, also known as sgarrista, soldato, wiseguy, button, buttonman or goodfella, is a made man and has already proven himself to the family. He becomes a made guy after the voting of the captains, who then pass the message up to the boss or underboss. When he is made he takes an oath to honor the family. A soldier is one of the lowest ranks in the crime family but still has much power over associates and friends. The soldier is then assigned into a crew and given a capodecine (Captain). The caporegime gives orders and jobs from collecting money to hits.

• (In prison) John Baudanza - soldier in Lucchese Family since 1995 when he was inducted into the family and placed in his father-in-law's Domenico Cutaia crew. John's father is Carmine Baudanza who is a longtime Colombo crime family associate and his uncle Joseph Baudanza is a powerful Colombo Family captain. In December 2007 John Baudanza along with his father and uncle were sentenced to prison. He is currently serving a seven-year sentence in upstate New York and his projected release date is July 20, 2014.^[69]

• Ralph Cuomo - soldier in Lucchese family and owner of Ray's Pizza in Little Italy, Manhattan located at 27 Prince Street. The pizza place was opened in 1959. In 1969, Cuomo was convicted of narcotics trafficking and was found with 50 pounds of high quality heroin. Cuomo later confessed in 1998 to discussing heroin drug sales in the pizzeria with Lucchese Family soldier Frank Gioia, Jr. (In 1998 Gioia became a government witness and testified against Lucchese Capos and soldiers)^[70][71]

• Anthony Pezzullo is a soldier in the Lucchese family and member of the "Lucchese Construction Group". The group consisted of (acting boss) Steven Crea, (capo) Dominic Truscello, (capo) Joseph Tangorra, (soldiers) Phillip Desimone, Joseph Datello (a member of Truscello crew), Joseph Arthur Zambardi and associate Andrew Reynolds. The group was involved in bid rigging, extorting construction companies, and corrupting union locals.^[72]

• Francesco Manzo is a soldier in the Lucchese family and was part of the Vario Crew.^[73]

• Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr. -is the son of Nicodemo Scarfo and was a Philadelphia crime family soldier. He joined Lucchese crime family in the early 1990s after his father was arrested. Today he is a soldier part of The Jersey Crew operating in South Jersey and Philadelphia. There are clams that he is trying to take over the Philadelphia crime family.^[74]

Lucchese crime family (crews)

A crew is controlled by a capo and he runs all the criminal operation is specific area. The soldiers in his crew run illegal activity like gambling, loansharking, bookmaking, extortion, fencing, and other criminal activities. They pay tribute to the capo and his sends money to the boss and underboss. The soldiers in the crew are mademan and have associate (who are not mademen) working for them in illegal activity. An associate is trying to make a name, for himself in hopes of one day becoming a made guy. This can only happen if he is a full blooded Italian that has proven himself.

1. The Vario Crew (operates out of Brownsville, Brooklyn and Queens Area) Capo- Domenico "Danny" Cutaia
2. Prince Street Crew (operates in lower Manhattan area) Capo- Dominic "Crazy Dom" Truscello ^[75]

New Jersey faction

The Jersey Crew, which operates in Newark, New Jersey, and Northern New Jersey counties of Essex, Union, Monmouth and Morris, is made up of two or three separate crews and more like a faction in the Lucchese crime family. There is only one leader of the entire Jersey crew/faction and it is Michael Taccetta. The Jersey Faction has other capo running crews in the New Jersey area. ^[65]

• Imprisoned Boss - Michael Taccetta

1. Acting Boss/capo- Ralph Perna ^[76]
2. Capo - Robert "Bucky the Boss" Caravaggio ^[65]
3. Capo - Joseph "Joey" Giampa

• Philadelphia branch - Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr. - a soldier in the family operating in South Jersey and Philadelphia.^[77]

Recruitment gang

• The Tanglewood Boys - is a recruitment gang for the Lucchese crime family and in some occasions for other crime families. The group acts as a starter gang for young Italian men to prove themselves loyal in hopes of becoming made. The group operates in Yonkers New York near a shoping mall.^[78]

Lucchese family 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 there 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.

• Garment District (some unions were controlled and some still are)
• Hunts Point Cooperative Market located in Hunts Point (unions were controlled by the family)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty (all three airports had unions under control of the Lucchese family)
• Teamsters unions in Construction around New York City and New Jersey have been under controlled of the Lucchese Family

Allied criminal groups

• Gambino & Lucchese Alliance (1953–1985). The alliance started with Tommy Lucchese, Carlo Gambino and Vito Genovese taking over the commission. Then Gambino and Lucchese decided to get ride of Genovese by teaming up with Costello and Luciano. With Genovese out of the way they controlled the commission and organized crime in New York City. Carlo Gambino was the new head of the Commission (or Boss of Bosses). This allowed Carlo and Lucchese made deals and worked together on many occasions. They used their power to start a Colombo family war in the 1960s by backing the Gallo brothers. This allowed them to take new territory and gain more power in the New York City underworld. Gambino and Lucchese even went as far as stripping Joe Bonanno of his boss title starting another family war. By taking Joe Bonanno out there was know one the challenge their power. The alliance continued with Carlo Gambino and Carmine Tramunti, then Carlo Gambino and Anthony Corallo to finally Paul Castellano and Anthony Corallo. The alliance ended when Paul Castellano was killed by John Gotti orders.
  • (The 1999–present alliance) The new alliance between the two families was started by acting Boss Steven Crea teaming up with Gambino family capos in 1999. They would extort the construction industry and would make millions in bid-rigging together. ^[79]

• Genovese & Lucchese Alliance(1955-1959). The alliance started in mid 1950s when Vito Genovese convinced both Carlo Gambino and commission member Tommy Lucchese into joining his cause to take out the Costello-Anastasia alliance. Genovese and Gambino were only underboss in their families and wanted to become bosses they asked Lucchese for his support. Vito order the hit on Frank Costello, but it failed to kill him on May 2, 1957 he in turn retired leaving Vito Genovese the boss. The second target was Albert Anastasia killing him on October 25, 1957 allowed Carlo Gambino to become the new boss. After the 1957 Apalachin meeting Vito Genovese began to lose respect in the commission. Geonovese was arrested in 1959 but unknown to him his allies had switch sides to help Costello and Luciano take him out.
  • (The 1986-\–present alliance) The new alliance started in 1986 with Vincent Gigante and Victor Amuso the bosses of the two families teaming up against John Gotti. Gotti had ordered the murder of Gambino family Boss Paul Castellano who was the head of the Commission (or Boss of Bosses). This started a three family war the Genovese & Lucchese families versus the Gambino family. The alliance tried to get revenge for the murder of Castellano and order the killing of Gambino family underboss Frank DeCicco. The alliance is still strong today and the two families operate 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, who is a captain and Louis DiNapoli, who is a solider in the Vincent's crew making the alliance stronger between both families.

• Lucchese & Greek mafia alliance started in the early 1980s. The Velentzas Family is lead by Spiros Velentzas his Greek-American criminal organization operates around New York City. The group works in Greek communities like Astoria, Queens and other neighborhoods around the city. The Lucchese crime family offered them protection in return for a percentage of the gambling profits and the alliance formed.

• Lucchese & the Russian mafia alliance took place in the late 1980s. Marat Balagula a Russian criminal boss who organization was operating around New York City. He contorled Brooklyn’s Russian communities like Brighton Beach. Balagula became upset about being shaking down by the Colombo crime family on his gasoline business. He then had a sitdown with Lucchese crime family consigliere Christopher Furnari who in turn offered an alliance to ensure his protection from the other families trying to shake them down as well.

Deceased members

• Patrick Testa -murdered on December 2, 1992 was a made member of the DeMeo Crew in the Gambino crime family before he transfered over to the Lucchese Family.
• Remo (mobster) - a made member of the the Vario crew.
• Angelo Sepe - murdered on July 18, 1984, he was a member of the Lucchese crime family and was a suspect in the 1978 Lufthansa heist.
• Anthony DiLapi –murdered on February 4, 1990 he was a Teamsters union leader in New York City's Garment District also a soldier in the Lucchese crime family.
• Bruno Facciolo – a former Soldier in Luchhese family and brother to Gambino family associate Louis Facciolo, died in 1990’s
• James Burke -died on April 13, 1996 from lung cancer, he was an Irish-American gangster and Lucchese crime family associate believed to have organized the Lufthansa heist in 1978.
• Thomas DeSimone - murdered on January 14, 1979, was an Italian-American gangster and associate of the Lucchese crime family.
• Richard "Toupe" Pagliarulo – was a soldier in the late 1980s and early 1990s before becoming a capo taking over Peter Chiodo’s Bensonhurst, Brooklyn crew in 1991 after Chiodo had turned states evidence. Pagliarulo later was arrested and died of natural causes in prison.^{[80] [81]}

Government informants

• Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco - was acting boss from 1990-1991 he was then demoted back to capo then defected to the government on September 21, 1991.
• Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede - acting boss from 1993-1998 was demoted back to capo when imprisoned, defected to the government after being released in early 2002.
• Anthony Casso - was underboss from 1986-1993 defected to FBI in 1992
• Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo - was capo of The Jersey Crew from 1970-1988 defected in 1993.
• Peter Chiodo - Fat Pete was a capo' in the Lucchese family who later became a government witness after being shot 12 times on May 8, 1991 by three shooters and lived. ^[82]
• Frank Gioia, Jr. - was a soldier defected in 1998
• Frank Gioia, Sr. - soldier he did not testify aganist the family but entered Witness Protection Program with son Frank Gioia Jr. in 1998. ^[83]
• Vincent Salanardi - Vinny Baldy a soldier became a government witness in 2002.^[84]
• Henry Hill - associate - his life was the basis for the book Wiseguy and the film Goodfellas and his wife Karen Hill also testified. ^[85]

Mafia trials

• Mafia Commission Trial - in the case the boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo, underboss Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro, and Consigliere Christopher "Christy Tick" Furnari all three received 100 year sentences.
• Window Case - 1978 to 1990 four of the New York City crime families (Lucchese, Genovese, Gambino and Colombo) formed a cartel over the window replacement companies. ^{[86] [87]}
• Mafia related events in timeline
  • See also: list of 'years in Organized Crime'

In popular culture

• The Lucchese crime family was used in the 1990 film Goodfellas. The movie is based on The Vario Crew and is the true story of Henry Hill a Irish-Italian gangster.
• The Lucchese crime family was used in the 2006 Find Me Guilty. The movie is based on true events of the Jersey Crew in the 1980s where 20 members were put on trail.
• In the film Out for Justice directed by John Flynn and starring Steven Seagal and William Forsythe. Forsythe character "Richard Madano" was based on Lucchese family mobster Matthew Madonna.
• In the GTA IV video game, the Lupisella family is based on the Lucchese crime family, the Lupisella family is based in Bohan GTA 4 version of the Bronx and is one of the 5 Crime Families operating in Liberty City (New York City).
• In 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.

References

Further reading

• 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
• 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
• 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

External links

• What’s Left of the Mob By Jerry Capeci, Published Jan 10, 2005, New York Magazine
• The story of the Lucchese, one of the 5 NY crime familiesBy Anthony Bruno - Crime Library on truTV.com
• Lucchese Crime Family News - The New York Times

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