Somewhere in 1930’s New York, a group of men, speaking in a language that sounded Italian – which if translated, would we understand its meaning? – Locked together in a secret ceremony. To welcome yet another new member of the family. But this is no Christening. It is a Sacramentum (solemn oath) to a family, not bonded by blood, but by: honor, loyalty and respect. After Joseph ‘Joe Cargo’ Valachi swore the oath of Omertà,…
The last time a mob boss was gunned down in New York, you would have to cast your mind back to 1985, that was of course the assassination of Paul Castellano outside Sparks Steakhouse. 34 years later, and again the Gambino Crime Family take to the headlines, and this time 53 year old Frank Cali is the one lying on the streets of Staten Island. The shooting happened less than 24 hours ago, and currently…
May 5 1890 A group of men employed by Charles Matranga as stevedores are ambushed at the intersection of Esplanade and Claiborne Ave’s. The men are: Antonino Matranga, Frank and Tony LoCascio, Vincent Caruso, Rocco Geraci, Bastion Incardona and Salvatore Sunseri. Antonino Matranga is wounded so badly that he loses his right leg but they all survive. May 6 1890 The Matranga men that were ambushed name six men from the Provenzano faction as those…
Today marks the 90th year anniversary of The St Valentine’s Day Massacre, which saw the slayings of seven members and associates of Chicago’s North Side Gang led by Bugs Moran. The men were gathered at a Lincoln Park garage on the morning of Valentine’s Day 1929, where they were made to line up against a wall before being shot by four unknown assailants carrying Shoguns and Tommy Guns. It was a cold and chilly morning…
I would like to welcome back, not only, an old friend of NCS, but, also a good friend of mine. Someone I admire and respect. It’s the award-winning author, journalist, researcher and Gangland Legend, Christian Cipollini. Christian, thank you for joining us today. David: Easy question to start. For me, it is such an honour to be interviewing you today. As you know, yourself, Alan Gunner Lindbloom and Seth Ferranti are the three writers I…
Whitey, the former leader of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, who was finally captured in 2011 after 16 years on the run has been found dead in his cell. As of yet no further deauls have been revealed other than an inmate with Mafia ties being brought in for questioning. Whitey Bulger, who inspired the film Black Mass featuring Johnny Depp, and the Academy Award winning, The Departed, was killed the same day in which he…
On this day in 1921 eight men were acquitted in the Black Sox Scandal, a scandal which would cement its place in history as one of the biggest Major League Baseball match fixing incidents to have ever happened. Behind it all was one man, Arnold Rothstein,who would never be indicted for his part in the fix. Arnold Rothstein So What Happened? Eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series…
25 years ago today the Genovese mobster Tony Salerno passed away at the grand age of 80 years old, at a medical center for prisoners in Missouri. Tony Salerno made a name for himself in the 1960’s, when he controlled the largest numbers racket operation in New York, grossing up to $50 million per year. Whilst many mobsters moved out of Harlem during a period where Latino and African-American’s began to dominate the neighborhoods, Salerno…