Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction

The Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction is a group of Italian-American mobsters within the Lucchese crime family that control organized crime activities within the New York metropolitan area but are predominantly based out of Brooklyn and Staten Island. The Brooklyn faction was created when two separate crews in the Lucchese family were merged together. The merger occurred during the early 2000s, after the Lucchese family administration decided that Vario Crew Caporegime Domenico "Danny" Cutaia would also take control of the 19th Hole Crew. The Lucchese administration saw the 19th Hole crew without leadership after being crippled with numerous indictments and informants during 1990s, leaving many members imprisoned. Cutaia became the Caporegime of the two merged crews which became known as the Brooklyn faction for the Lucchese Borgata.

Lucchese Family Brooklyn Faction
Founded1950s
FounderLucchese crime family
Founding locationCanarsie, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Years active1930s–present (merged)
TerritoryBrooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Staten Island
EthnicityItalians as "made men" and other ethnicities as associates
ActivitiesRacketeering, bookmaking, loansharking, extortion, gambling, burglary, cargo theft, conspiracy, counterfeit consumer goods, murder, smuggling, fencing, union corruption, hotel robbery, hijacking and jewelry heists
AlliesGambino, Genovese, Bonanno and Colombo crime families
RivalsVarious gangs

Before the merger the Vario Crew, was sometimes known as the Canarsie Crew and had been predominantly based out of Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie and Flatlands. In the past, the crew was controlled by Caporegime Paul Vario during the early 1960s into the early 1980s, when Vario, Jimmy Burke, and a number of other associates were imprisoned, primarily due to the testimony of another long-term associate, Henry Hill. The life story of Hill's time with the Vario crew was the subject of Nicholas Pileggi's book Wiseguy and Martin Scorsese's crime film adapted from that book, Goodfellas (1990), starring Ray Liotta as Hill. After Vario's imprisonment, Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco became the new caporegime of the crew. During the early 1990s, D'Arco worked closely with family boss Vic Amuso and Underboss Anthony Casso, following their orders having numerous murders committed. In 1991, D'Arco became the family's acting boss when Amuso and Casso went into hiding, but D'Arco eventually feared for his life and became a government witness. The crew later taken over by Domenico "Danny" Cutaia, who was able to bring back some stability. Cutaia would continue to control the crew until he stepped down for health concerns in late the 2000s.

The 19th Hole Crew, sometimes called Bensonhurst Crew, was based out of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn before it was merged into the Brooklyn faction. In the past, the crew was controlled by Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari and then by his protege Vic Amuso. In 1986, Vic Amuso became the new boss of the family and promoted his close ally Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso to Caporegime of the crew. Under Casso's leadership the Bensonhurst crew would be responsible for 100 murders making it the most violent and bloodiest reigns in Lucchese family history. In 1993, Casso was imprisoned, and he became one of the highest-ranking members of the Mafia to turn informant. After Casso's defection much of the crew's leadership was imprisoned and eventually the crew was merged with the Vario Crew creating the Brooklyn faction.

History of the Vario Crew

Don Turrido Curiale

The earliest known leader of the Lucchese family's Brooklyn crew was Salvatore "Don Turrido" Curiale, an immigrant from Agrigento in Sicily.[1] Curiale was an original Brooklyn mobster before the Commission was created and would later join the Lucchese crime family.[1] In the 1960s, Curiale stepped down, and proposed his closest ally Joseph Schiavo to be made the captain of the crew, but Schiavo did not want it and suggested his protege Paul Vario be promoted instead. Schiavo continued controlling garment businesses with Curiale and Tommy Lucchese, while serving as an elder advisor to Paul Vario.[1]

Paul Vario's power

Paul Vario received money from members of his crew and local criminals. Vario's crew was involved in hijacking cargo shipments from JFK Airport in Queens, NY; they also ran several loansharking and bookmaking operations in Brooklyn.

James Burke, a close ally of Vario's, ran a crew of hijackers that would pay off truck drivers and then unload the goods at a warehouse Vario controlled. Another ally of Vario's was John Dioguardi, a Lucchese family capo who controlled labor unions in New York City. In the 1970s, when Vario and Burke were imprisoned, the majority of Vario's bookmaking operations were taken over by his Russian Jewish associate, Martin Krugman.

Henry Hill's drug organization

Two of Vario's crew members, Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke, began dealing in amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Hill ran his criminal enterprise with his wife Karen, William Arico, Anthony and Rocco Perla, Robin Cooperman, and Judith Wicks. In early 1979, Burke and Hill began selling heroin.

After Robert "Bobby" Germaine Jr., the son of Henry Hill's drug partner, became an informant, Hill was monitored. In 1980, Hill was arrested for drug dealing and looking at several life-sentences. He accepted the option to become an informant.

Hill's testimony led to 50 convictions. In 1980, on Burke's orders, Angelo Sepe shot and killed Bobby Germaine, Jr. in Kew Gardens, Queens.

Burke was given 20 years for fixing sporting events and a life sentence when the authorities convicted him for murdering scam-artist Richard Eaton. Vario was given a 12½-year sentence during the KENRAC trial.

Robert's Lounge Crew

The Robert's Lounge Crew was a semi-independent group of criminals working under the Vario Crew, led by Jimmy Burke, and based in Burke's bar, Robert's Lounge. They were active from 1957 to 1979.

The Robert's Lounge crew comprised numerous members, some described as inept, whose specialties included armed robbery, hijacking, and murder. Although an independent outfit, they were closely associated with the Lucchese Family through which Burke had a longtime friendship and working relationship with Vario.[2]

Historical leadership

Caporegimes of the Vario crew (merged)
  • c. 1930s–1962: Salvatore "Don Turiddo" Curiale — stepped down, retired
  • 1962–1988: Paul Vario — sentenced in 1984 to 12+1⁄2 years in prison; died on May 3, 1988
    • Acting 1967–1970: Salvatore "Babe" Vario — youngest brother to Paul Vario
    • Acting 1970–1988: Vito "Tuddy" Vario — brother to Paul Vario
  • 1988–1991: Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco — served as Street Boss from May 1990 to January 1991; then served as Acting Boss from January 1991 to July 1991, when he was demoted; he became a government witness on September 21, 1991[3]
    • Acting 1990–1991: Louis Daidone — promoted to Caporegime
  • 1991–1992: Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone — imprisoned on May 1, 1992
  • 1992–2010: Domenico "Danny" Cutaia — imprisoned and released in early 2000, he took control of the merged Brooklyn faction
    • Acting 1996–1997: John Baudanza — demoted
    • Acting 1997–2002: John "Johnny Sideburns" Cerrella — arrested in 2002
    • Merged 2000: the 19th Hole crew merged into Cutaia's crew, creating the Brooklyn faction, Domenico Cutaia continued serving as Caporegime

Caporegimes of the 19th Hole crew (merged)

Caporegimes of the McDonald Ave crew (merged)

Caporegimes of the Brooklyn faction

Current members and associates
Members of the Brooklyn faction
  • John "Big John" Castellucci (Soldier) — former capo of Brooklyn faction before demotion
  • Joseph DiBenedetto (Soldier) — son-in-law to boss Vic Amuso, before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
  • Louis "Louie Jet" Gampero (Soldier) — was an associate to Ray Argentina and the Vario-Cutaia crew; inducted sometime in mid 2010s, joining the Brooklyn faction
  • Anthony Guzzo (half-brother of Vito Guzzo Jr., the Colombo Hitman) (Soldier) — inducted under capo John Castellucci
  • Danny Campo (Soldier) — associate of Patrick "Patty Red" Dello Russo, the underboss who sponsored his induction in late 2010s
Associates of the Brooklyn faction
  • Joseph Cutaia (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Steven Lapella (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Victor Sperber (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Louis Colello (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • John Rodopolous (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew

Past members and associates

These are past members and associates who have retired, been murdered, or died other ways.

Soldiers of Vario crew
  • Frank Manzo (Soldier)
  • Vito "Tuddy" Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Rugsy" Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Jocko" Vario (Soldier)
  • Salvatore "Babe" Vario (Soldier)
  • Thomas Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Pete the Killer" Abinati (Soldier)
  • Leonard Vario Jr. (Soldier)
  • Joseph D'Arco (Soldier)
  • Bruno Facciolo (Soldier)
  • Rosario Sacco (Soldier)
  • Luigi Sacco (Soldier)
  • Alfonso "Foo" Curiale (Soldier)
  • Paolo Danna (Soldier)
  • Ray Argentina (Soldier)
  • Joseph Chiavo (Soldier)
  • Carmine "Fats" Taglialatela (Soldier)
  • Louis "Lou Bagels" Daidone (Acting Capo)
Associates of the Vario crew
  • Clyde Brooks (associate, died in 1994)
  • Angelo 'Sonny Bamboo' McConnach (associate, died in 1996)
  • Joseph Abinati (associate)
  • Thomas "Tommy Red" Gilmore (associate, Murdered on February 6, 1989)
  • Frank James Burke (associate, murdered on May 18, 1987)[5]
  • Jimmy Burke (associate, died on April 13, 1996)[5]
  • Louis Cafora (associate disappeared in March 1979)[5]
  • Thomas DeSimone (associate, murdered on January 14, 1979)[5]
  • Richard Eaton (associate, murdered on July 18, 1979)[5]
  • Henry Hill (associate, became a witness in 1980, died on June 12, 2012)[6]
  • Martin Krugman (associate, disappeared on January 6, 1979)[5]
  • Angelo Sepe (associate, murdered on July 18, 1984)[5]
  • Louis Werner (associate, convicted on May 16, 1979)[5]

Former headquarters and hangouts

The crew operates throughout the New York City; The latest headquarters maintained under capo "Big John" Castellucci was the Cigar Vault Emporium in Staten Island. Some of its former headquarters and hangouts are:

Government informants and witnesses
  • Richard Bilello – associate, murdered on October 28, 1974
  • Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco – became a witness on September 21, 1991, died in 2019
  • Theresa Ferrara – became a government informant, disappeared on February 10, 1979[5]
  • Peter Gruenwald – associate, became a witness in 1978,[5] died in 1979
  • Henry Hill – associate, became a witness in 1980, died on June 12, 2012[6]
  • John Pennisi – became a cooperating witness in 2018, after being falsely accused of being an Informant

References

Notes

  1. Capeci, Tom Robbins, Jerry (October 2013). Mob Boss The Life of Little Al D'Arco, the Man Who Brought Down the Mafia. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 9781250037435. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. "Robert's Lounge Crew". TruTV.
  3. "Declaration of Alphonse D'Arco in Mason Tenders RICO Suit". Thelaborers.org. October 5, 1994. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  4. "Inmate Locator: Domenico Cutaia". Bureau of Prisons.
  5. May, Allan. "The Lufthansa Heist Revisited: Cast of Characters". TruTv.com. p. 20. Archived from the original on 2012-04-28.
  6. "Henry Hill, Inspiration For "Goodfellas", Dead At 69". MTV. June 13, 2012.
  7. Hill, Henry; Schreckengost, Bryon (28 April 2010). A Goodfella's Guide to New York: Your Personal Tour Through the Mob's Notorious Haunts. pp. 90 and 135. ISBN 9780307556462.
  8. Pileggi, Nicholas (September 1990). Wiseguy: Life In a Mafia Family. pp. 104, 145. ISBN 9780671723224.
  9. Hill, Henry; Schreckengost, Bryon (28 April 2010). A Goodfella's Guide to New York: Your Personal Tour Through the Mob's Notorious Haunts. p. 77. ISBN 9780307556462.
  10. Pileggi, Nicholas (September 1990). Wiseguy: Life In a Mafia Family. pp. 102–103. ISBN 9780671723224.
  11. Postiglione, Louis M. (22 January 2010). Did I Win Or Did I Lose?: 77 Years of Wisdom. p. 68. ISBN 9781449061258.
  12. Pileggi, Nicholas (September 1990). Wiseguy: Life In a Mafia Family. pp. 120, 122. ISBN 9780671723224.

Sources

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