The Genovese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra ). The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of Organized Crime. They are rivalled in size by probably only the Gambino crime family and in terms of power only the Gambino crime family and the Chicago Outfit matches them. They have generally maintained a varying degree of influence over many of the smaller mob families outside of New York, including ties with the Patriarca , the Buffalo and the Philadelphia crime families. The Genovese family manipulated members of the Philadelphia crime family into murdering one time Boss Angelo Bruno, so that they could gain control of their territory in Atlantic City. Although the leadership of the family seems to have been in limbo the last few years, specifically since the death of Boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante, the family stills appears to be more organized than most of the other crime families and has remained powerful.

History of the Genovese Crime Family

The Origins

The Genovese crime family is believed to have been developed in the early 1900s by members of several Sicilian-American street-gangs, who together founded the Morello crime family and the early origins of the organization of what would be the Genovese crime family. Established by brothers Antonio, Nicolo, and Giuseppe Morello, and half brothers Vincenzo "Vincent" Terranova and Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova following their arrival from Corleone, Sicily in 1892, the crime family became involved with extortion and bootlegging activities during the early 1910s, and reportedly mentored several young children of Italian immigrants into joining their crew in the East Harlem faction of Manhattan. But as this family grew power and influence in the Manhattan area, the rival Brooklyn based Neapolitan Camorra and their prominent leaders Pellegrino Morano and Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila claimed a long and bloody war between the criminal factions, which reportedly went on for a decade. But as prominent Don Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria seized power of the Morello crime family in the early 1920s, Masseria was seen as the most powerful criminal in the entire New York area, as he gained strength of both the Brooklyn Camorra and the Morellos.

The Castellammarese Era

As Masseria gained power in the early 1920s, he recruited new and young blood into his family, like mobsters Charlie "Lucky" Luciano , Frank Costello, Joseph "Joey A" Adonis, Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia and Carlo Gambino who all joined Masseria into bootlegging, smuggling of alcohol and liquor, extortion, loansharking and gambling rackets. But as another powerful mobster named Salvatore Maranzano gained support in the Brooklyn section, he became the leader of the Castellammare del Golfo, the prominent organization that dominated the power in Brooklyn and included members such as Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno , Joseph Profaci , and Stefano Magaddino. By the year of 1928, during the Prohibition, an all-out war had been leashed upon the two factions, who desperatly tried to gain the complete power of New York and all of its lucrative rackets. The war is reportedly named the Castellammarese War, since it was Neapolitan on one side and the Sicilian on the other, however, reportedly more than 60 mobsters on both sides of the families were murdered during the war of the late 1920s.

But in 1931, it became clear that none of the old Mustache Petes were going to win the war, as the young and genious Charlie "Lucky" Luciano decided to play both sides of the war and in the end let them kill each other. On April 15, 1931, Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was murdered on a Coney Island restaurant, reportedly by members of Luciano's crew. (Luciano had allegedly been eating dinner with Masseria, but then exused himself to the bathroom, before his entourage came in) Although Salvatore Maranzano claimed victory later that year and organized the powerful Five Families of New York, Luciano , now Maranzano's second-in-command, reputedly had Maranzano stabbed and shot to death in his Manhattan office about six months later. Luciano was now the most powerful mobster in the US.

Luciano and Establishing the Commission

With Luciano as the new leader of organized crime, he and his cooperator Meyer Lansky together created the modern Cosa Nostra and divided areas into several crime families all over the United States. He founded the Commission, consisting of the Five Families, the Chicago Outfit and the Buffalo crime family of Upstate, New York, represanting all the power and influence. The name Cosa Nostra , means "Our Thing", was created and thousands of Italian-American mobsters were allowed to join the crime families and become made men. But as Luciano set up rules everyone had to follow to keep the organization alive, the hit-squad Murder Inc., headed by Albert Anastasia under the control of the Commission, went on to eliminate everyone who broke the rules as the Luciano crime family kept pulling the strings. Luciano made Vito Genovese the family Underboss, and Frank Costello as Consigliere. But in 1935, Luciano was indicted on pandering charges, and sentenced to 30-50 years in prison. Genovese was to take over the Luciano family and run the day-to-day activities, however, Genovese escaped a murder charge and ran off to Italy, leaving Frank Costello as the new Acting boss of the Luciano crime family. Luciano was later deported in 1946 after serving ten years in prison.

The Prime Minister

During the reign of Frank Costello, the Luciano family controlled much of the bookmaking, loansharking, illegal gambling and the labor racketeering in New York City. Costello was heavily fond of the financial sides of the Lucianos , and reportedly didn't have much to do with the family "muscle". Nicknamed "The Prime Minister of the Underworld", Costello also controlled much of the docks in New York and was said to have so many political and judicial contacts that no state judge could be appointed in any case without his consent. Costello believed in diplomacy and discipline, and also started the Family's interests in Las Vegas during the early 1940s, by allowing his friends Meyer Lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel build the casinos there, however, later Luciano allegedly sanctioned Siegel's murder. Costello ruled for 20 peaceful years until his Underboss, Vito Genovese, returned from Italy and was aquitted in his murder trial.

With the murder of Mangano crime family boss Albert Anastasia in early 1957, Costello lost his most powerful ally into keeping Genovese in line. However, with his death, Carlo Gambino seized the control of the Mangano family, and Genovese realized that he was still only the Underboss and attempted to have Costello assassinated in 1957, but as he was hit in the side of the head, Costello still survived. (the trigger-man was allegedly Vincente "Chin" Gigante, future boss of the family) However, after the shooting, Costello quietly retired and let the Luciano family to Genovese.

Genovese in Control

Vito "Don Vito" Genovese reportedly seized the control of the family, which he re-christened, as well as the Commission in 1957, same year as he attended the infamous Apalachin Meeting, a convention with 100 powerful Mafia bosses from every corner of the United States. However, the meeting was raided by US law enforcement and Genovese and others ducked into the woods and escaped, but were arrested and indicted only days later. Genovese, who was a fond of "old school" and "muscle", reportedly went on to eliminate everyone who he saw as rivals, and concentrated much of the narcotics and the drug trafficking as the main activity, however, this became his downfall, as he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the narcotics charges in 1959. Genovese, who saw himself as the most powerful Don in New York, was squashed by the rival Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino , now the most powerful member of the Commission and reputed "Commission Chairman". The bitter Genovese had reportedly been lured in a conspiracy involving Gambino, and even Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello, in order of Gambino seizing control of the Mafia.

Front Bosses and the Panel

When Genovese was sent to prison in 1959, a "Ruling Panel" that included Acting boss Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli, Underboss Gerardo "Jerry" Catena and his protege Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo, was set up to rule the Genovese family with complete secrecy. When Genovese died in prison in 1969, various "Front Bosses" were also established for the purpose of distracting US law enforcement and confuse other powerful Mob bossses like Carlo Gambino , who manipulated Eboli to take over the Genovese family completely in the late 1960s, however, when Eboli's $4 million dollar drug debt to Gambino wasn't repayed, Eboli was murdered in 1972, leaving a Genovese captain and Gambino ally, Frank "Funzi" Tieri to become the new official boss, when in reality, the "Panel", consisting of Gerardo "Jerry" Catena, Michele "Big Mike" Miranda and Philip Lombardo made all the family's decisions.

With the 1980 murder of Philadelphia crime family boss Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno, the Genovese crime family members Vincent Gigante and Philip Lombardo began manipulating the rival factions of the war-angered Philadelphia family, and in end supported Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, who in return gave them permission to operate in the Atlantic City faction of the Philadelphia crime family, in 1982.

This tactic had great success in fooling law enforcement. Tieri was eventually captured by the authorities and the first Mob boss to be sentenced under the RICO act in 1981, when caporegime of the Manhattan faction, Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno, was made new front boss with Tieri's imprisonment, when Philip Lombardo continued as the defacto boss. In 1985 front boss Salerno was convicted of being the Genovese crime family boss in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison. Lombardo, who had retired, left the Genovese family to Vincent "Chin" Gigante sometime in the mid 1980s.

The Oddfather

A more elaborate family "Administration" was introduced upon Vincent Gigante's take-over of the Genovese crime family, which involved the creation of a fourth messagario (messenger) and fifth position, "Street Boss", in the family. Since Gigante rarely spoke only with a few close associates and through his sons, Vincent Esposito and Andrew Gigante, these positions were set up with the intention of insulating the Boss further from law enforcement investigations. As Gigante also found a way to lure US law enforcement, as well as everybody else in believing he was legally insane, Gigante ducked prosecution after prosecution, and always convinced several pshyciatrists that his mental illness turned worse. To make everything look more credible, Gigante always wore a robe and mummled totally innapropriate words when facing an arrest, indictment or just walking on the sidewalk in New York City. By then, he was nicknamed "The Oddfather".
However, Gigante was in full charge of the Genovese crime family, as he conspired to murder Gambino crime family boss John Gotti in 1986, after Gotti had murdered his former boss Paul Castellano in 1985 without the approval of the Commission. A bomb plot to kill Gotti, hatched by Gigante and Lucchese crime family leaders Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, instead killed Gotti's Underboss Frank DeCicco on April 13, 1986, leaving a large power-vaccum left between three of the Five Families of New York.

As a longtime "tension" between broke out between these families in the late 1980s, and early 1990s, Gigante kept running the Genovese crime family behind his alleged insanity. During the years of the early 1990s, Gigante reportedly controlled his family with iron fists, and ordered the murders of several Gambino crime family mobsters, before Gotti's Underboss, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, decided to confess to 19 murders and testify against Gotti and Consigliere Frank LoCascio in 1992. However, Gravano also began to testify against Gigante, as well as Philadelphia crime family Underboss Phil Leonetti decided to become an informant as well, and testify that Gigante had ordered the murders of several of his earlier associates during the 1980s. Additionally, Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, former Underboss turned informant of the Lucchese crime family, implicated Gigante in the 1986 plan to kill new Gambino leaders John Gotti , Frank DeCicco and Eugene "Gene" Gotti. In 1997, Gigante was convicted on several racketeering and conspiracy charges and sentenced to 12 years in a federal prison. Gigante died from heart disease on December 19, 2005. He was 77 years of age. At his time of death, he was incarcerated at the federal prison in Springfield, MO.

Current Position and Leadership

Since the 1990s, infamous mobsters in top positions of all the Five Families have agreed to become informants and testify against as many as they can name, putting the Boss, the Capos and the Soldiers away on various criminal charges. This went to continue as far as the Bonanno crime family Boss, Joseph "Big Joe" Massino, who defected in 2005. Several top Genovese crime family figures like Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, Consigliere Louis "Bobby" Manna, capo James "Little Jimmy" Ida and Street boss Liborio "Barney" Bellomo have all gotten lenghty prison sentences on murder, racketeering and conspiracy charges. US law enforcement has during the last decades systematically broken down the Genovese crime family, as well as other families of Cosa Nostra and it is believed that the entire Commission is expected to be completely disabled during the next decades.

Since late 2004, a series of prosecutions against high-ranking Genovese family capos has weakened the family even more enourmesly. Liborio "Barney" Bellomo (street boss), already incarcerated for racketeering, was hit with murder charges, and won't be out for a long time. Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, Lawrence Dentico and Mario Gigante, all senior capos, have also been indicted on broad RICO enterprise charges. Vincent Gigante himself died in 2005 and the leadership expectedly went to reputed Genovese capo turned Acting boss, Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo, and with the 2006 releasement of Gigante's prominent Underboss, Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano, as well as the incarcerated Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo as the new Genovese family Consigliere.

As of March, 2008, Daniel Leo is still listed as Acting boss, but was hit with extortion and loansharking charges and was sentenced to 5 years in prison in early 2008. Underboss Venero Mangano is reportedly heading the Brooklyn faction of the Genovese crime family, as well as Acting Consigliere, Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico, was operating out of the New Jersey faction of the family until he was convicted of racketeering, loansharking and extortion charges, and will not due out until 2009. Although the much weakened Genovese family is heavily under preassure, it still succeeds much power and influence in several areas of New York, New Jersey and Atlantic City. It is being recognized as the most powerful Mafia family in the United States.

Bosses of the Genovese crime family

• 1922–1931 — Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria (Boss, murdered in 1931 during the Castellammarese War)
• 1931–1946 — Salvatore 'Charlie "Lucky" Luciano' Lucania (Boss, jailed in 1936)
• 1936–1946 — Frank "Frankie the Prime Minister" Costello (acting boss)
• 1946–1957 — Frank "Frankie the Prime Minister" Costello (Boss, retired)
• 1957–1969 — Vito "Don Vito" Genovese (Boss, jailed 1959, died in prison in 1969)
• Circa 1959–1972 — Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli (acting boss, turned front boss sometime in the mid 1960s, murdered 1972)
• Circa 1965–1972 — Gerardo "Jerry" Catena (jailed 1970-72, retired 1973, died 2000 at age 98)
• Circa 1965–1981 — Philip "Benny Squint" Lombardo (retired)
• 1972–1981 — Frank "Funzi" Tieri (acting boss, turned front boss sometime in the early 1970s by the family)
• 1981–1987 — Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno (front boss for Vincent Gigante, jailed 1987, died in prison)
• 1981–2005 — Vincent "Chin" Gigante (Boss, jailed 1997, died in prison of heart failure on December 19, 2005)
• 1990–1996 — Liborio "Barney" Bellomo (street boss, jailed)
• 1996–1998 — Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (street boss, steps down)
• 1997–2003 — Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello (acting boss, jailed)
• 2003–2005 — Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (acting boss, jailed)
• 2005–2006 — Mario Gigante (acting boss, possible in retirement after the death of his brother in 2005)
• 2006–2007 — Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo (acting boss) (indicted May 31, 2007, held without bail awaiting trial), Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano (underboss) (released from prison December, 2006 after serving 15 years), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (consigliere) (Sentenced to 46 months on March 3, 2006), Lawrence "Little Larry Dentico (acting consigliere) (promoted prior to coping a plea and being sentenced to 4 1/2 years in early 2006)
• 2007–present — Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo (acting boss), Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano (underboss), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo (consigliere) (imprisoned)
  

  Current Family Leaders

• Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo - Current Acting Boss of the Genovese crime family. A former member of the Purple Gang in the 1970s, Leo became one of the closest in the circle of Vincent Gigante, Matthew Ianniello and Dominick Cirillo in the late 1990s. Currently imprisoned due to his involvement with loansharking. In early 2008, Leo was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
• Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano - Underboss of the Genoveses since the 1980s under Vincent Gigante. Due to active involvement in the 1991 Windows Case where he was convicted of extortion and attempting to manipulate the bidding process of window replacement for public housing, Mangano was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Released in 2006, reportedly a Brooklyn faction leader.
• Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - Official Consigliere of the Genovese family since late 1990s, Cirillo was in the closest circle with Mangano and Vincent Gigante during the 1980s. Served as the former Acting Boss sometime during the 1990s, he is currently imprisoned due to loansharking charges. Projected release-date is in 2008.
• Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico - Capo in the New Jersey faction, Dentico was promoted to Acting Consigliere with the imprisonment of Cirillo. Currently imprisoned on extortion, loansharking and racketeering charges. Projected release-date is May 5, 2009.
• Current Family Capos
• Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - Capo in the Brooklyn faction since the 1980s, Cirillo managed to become one of the most powerful members of the family under Vincent "Chin" Gigante in the 1990s, before he was imprisoned.
• Liborio "Barney" Bellomo - Capo in the Genoveses' Brooklyn docks, he was promoted caporegime by the age of 30, and promoted again to Street Boss by Vincent Gigante in the 1990s. Serving time for money laundering and extortion operations. Due for parole in 2009, and being 52 by that time means he may yet potentially become boss, only time will tell.
• Ernest "Ernie" Muscarella - Capo in the Harlem and upper Manhattan factions of the family. Muscarella used to serve as Acting Boss for Gigante sometime in the 1990s. Longtime racketeer in New York, Muscarella was released from prison in 2007.
• Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello - Capo in the central Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan factions of the family, Ianniello used to serve as top member in the Genovese crime family. Currently imprisoned due to large racketeering charges in New York City.
• Lawrence "Little Larry" Dentico - Capo in the New Jersey faction, Dentico was promoted to Acting Consigliere with the imprisonment of Cirillo. Currently imprisoned on extortion, loansharking and racketeering charges.
• Ciro "Chris" Perrone - Capo, recognized as the top soldier for Matthew Ianniello since the 1970s. Operated with loansharking, racketeering, illegal gambling and extortion from his Italian restaurant in Ozone Park, Queens. Currently imprisoned.
• Anthony "Tough Tony" Federici - Capo in the Queens section of the Genovese family. Used to operate with large labor racketeering activities from his Italian restaurant, and seen as one of the top members after the death of Vincent Gigante.
• Rosario "Ross" Gangi - Capo of the Brooklyn wing of the Genoveses. Involved in large racketeering, loansharking, extortion and credit card fraud operations in New York City. Currently imprisoned, projected release is in 2008.
• Tino "Greek" Fiumara - Capo in the New Jersey faction of the Genovese crime family since the 1980s. Reportedly involved in illegal gambling, loansharking, racketeering and drug trafficking activities in the Newark faction. Under tight parole restrictions until January 2008, including not being able to meet with known felons, Fiumara is a viable candidate for boss.
• Mariano "Mario" Gigante - Capo in the Manhattan faction of the Genoveses and brother of Vincent Gigante. Took over the control of the racketeering operations in the Garment District during the the 1980s. Possibly retired.
• Frank "Punchy" Illiano - Capo who used to manage the Gallo Crew of the Colombo crime family, switched to the Genoveses along with Albert Gallo in the 1970s to avoid being murdered. Illiano, a South Brooklyn faction leader, is involved with illegal gambling, loansharking and extortion operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.
• James "Little Jimmy" Ida - Capo in the Manhattan faction of the Genovese crime family. Took over as Consigliere after the imprisonment of Louis Manna, and conspired to kill Gambino leader John Gotti along with Vincent Gigante. Serving life without parole since 1996.
• Louis "Bobby" Manna - Capo with control of the North Jersey faction and the former Consigliere of the family. Convicted of conspiracy to attempt the murder on Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, serving life without parole.
• Pasquale "Patsy" Perello - Capo in the Bronx faction of the Genovese crime family. Used to be involved in large criminal activities with Dominick Cirillo during the late 1990s. Perello's son Dominick dissapeared in 2004.
• Vincent "Vinny" DiNapoli - Capo in the East Harlem faction of Manhattan in the Genovese crime family, with large racketeering operations in the Bronx, New York. Brother Joseph DiNapoli is a top member in the Lucchese crime family.
• Peter "Pete" DeFeo - Capo in the Little Italy faction of the Genovese crime family. A longtime rival of Vincent Gigante, DeFeo's influence eventually declined during the 1980s as Liborio Bellomo took over the construction and labor racketeering operations in East Bronx.
• John "Johnny Sausage" Barbato - Capo in the New Jersey faction of the Genoveses. A recognized member of the family since his early arrests on bookmaking and illegal gambling since the 1960s. In January, 2007, Barbato pled guilty on racketeering and conspiracy charges and will serve no more than the next 2 to 6 years in prison as his sentence.
• Alan "Baldie" Longo - Capo with former stocks and fraud activities in the Brooklyn faction of the family. Indicted in 2005 on racketeering, loansharking and pump-and-dump scams, convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
• Joseph "Joey" Zito - Capo in the Bronx and Brooklyn, Zito was at some point the Acting Underboss in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as he was jailed for racketeering and loansharking charges and released in 2005. Currently running the Bronx faction of the Genovese family.
• John "Buster" Ardito - Capo with alleged money laundering, drug trafficking, extortion, loansharking and racketeering operations in the New Jersey and Brooklyn factions of the family since the 1970s. Close ties with crews in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Died 2006.
• Alphonso "Allie Shades" Malangone - Capo of the family since the 1980s, with extortion, loansharking and fraud operations in the Brooklyn faction of the Genoveses. Took over the waste management activtites before sent to prison in the late 1990s.
• Renaldi "Ray" Ruggiero - Capo with control of the South Florida faction of the Genovese crime family. Indicted in 2006 on conspiracy to commit extortion, robbery, money laundering, and loansharking charges. Currently on trial, if convicted, Ruggiero faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 120 years and fines of up to $1,750,000.