1987 in organized crime
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See also:
1986 in organized crime
,
other events of 1987,
1988 in organized crime
and the
list of 'years in Organized Crime'
.
1986 in organized crime
1986 in organized crime
See also:1985 in organized crime,other events of 1986,1987 in organized crime and thelist of 'years in Organized Crime'.-----Events:*According the government reports, it is estimated there are 2,500 members of the "La Cosa Nostra" and thousands of associate members...
,
other events of 1987,
1988 in organized crime
1988 in organized crime
See also:1987 in organized crime,other events of 1988,1989 in organized crime and thelist of 'years in Organized Crime'.-----Events:*Genovese crime family member Vincent "Vinnie" DiNapoli, then considered by federal authorities to be the tenth most influential U.S...
and the
list of 'years in Organized Crime'
Timeline of organized crime
This is a timeline of the history of organized crime.Note: Sources included are Carl Sifakis's The Mafia Encyclopedia, Herbert Asbury's The Gangs of New York and others. Online references also include Thomas P...
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Events
- January - Commission Case The Bosses of the 5 New York Families - The Commission - are sentenced. All 8 defendants return to court to hear Judge Richard Owen hand down the sentences. All 6 Bosses, Genovese Boss (Front Boss) Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno-100 years, Lucchese Boss Antonio "Tony Ducks" Corallo-100 years, Lucchese Underboss Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro-100 years, Lucchese Consigliere Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari-100 years, Colombo Boss Carmine Junior" Persico-100 years, Colombo Acting Boss/Underboss Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella-100 years. The other 2 Colombo soldier Ralph Scopo-100 years, Bonanno soldier Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato-45 years
- January 15 - Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, Boss of the Philadelphia crime familyPhiladelphia crime familyThe Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
, is arrested and charged with planning an extortion scheme with a city councilman. Scarfo is ordered by Federal Magistrate Edwin E. Naythons to be held without bail as public danger pending his eventual trial. - January 16 - Bonanno crime familyBonanno crime familyThe Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
Boss Philip "Rusty" Rastelli is convicted of labor racketeering over a 20 year period between 1964 until 1985 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. - January 20 - Former Teamsters Union President Roy L. Williams' appeal before the U.S. Parole Commission on the grounds of ill health is denied, ordering the 71-year-old former labor union leader to serve his full prison term. Williams, who had been imprisoned for conspiring to bribe a U.S. Senator, will eventually be released from prison on May 31, 1992.
- February - Pasquale "Paddy Bulldog" Varriale, a minor gambler and con artist, is killed after receiving $10,000 from the Bonanno crime familyBonanno crime familyThe Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
, and later backing out of, an agreement to bribe a juror connected to the Pizza ConnectionPizza Connection TrialThe Pizza Connection Trial was one of the longest criminal jury trials on record in the district of Manhattan. It took place between October 24, 1985 and March 2, 1987-Scope of the trial:...
case. His brother Carmine Varriale, a made manMade manA made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
within the Lucchese crime familyLucchese crime familyThe Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
, would be murdered in September. - March 2 - The defendants of the "Pizza ConnectionPizza Connection TrialThe Pizza Connection Trial was one of the longest criminal jury trials on record in the district of Manhattan. It took place between October 24, 1985 and March 2, 1987-Scope of the trial:...
" are officially convicted of drug trafficking after being found guilty by a New York jury. Another 175 mobsters and their Sicilian counterparts are eventually indicted in the aftermath of the federal investigation. In Italy, only Vito BadalamentiVito BadalamentiVito Badalamenti is a member of the Sicilian Mafia. He is on the "Most wanted list" of the Italian ministry of the Interior since 1995.-Mafia heritage:Vito Badalamenti was born in Cinisi, Sicily...
, the son of Sicialian mafioso and former Cupola chairman and Capo di tutti capiCapo di tutti capiCapo di tutti capi or capo dei capi is Italian for "boss of all bosses" or "boss of bosses". It is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole...
Gaetano "Don Tano" Badalamenti, would be acquitted. - March 10 - After four years as a government informant, Cleveland mobster Angelo "Big Ange" Lonardo's prison sentence is reduced to time served by U.S. District Court Judge John Mandos and is released on 5 years probation.
- March 12 - Illario "Larry Baiona" Zannino, Consigliere of the Patriarca crime familyPatriarca crime familyThe Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
, is sentenced to a consecutive 30 years imprisonment on illegal gambling and extortion charges. During the trial Zannino publicly threatened, and later apologized to the jurors. - March 13 - Gambino crime familyGambino crime familyThe Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
leader John "The Dapper Don" Gotti is acquitted, along with 5 other defendants, on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActThe Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO) and conspiracy charges by a U.S. New York petit jury. - March 17 - Santo Trafficante Jr., boss of the Trafficante crime familyTrafficante crime familyThe Trafficante crime family better known as the Tampa Mafia, is the only original Mafia crime family in the state of Florida.-Tampa's underworld:...
, died at age 72. - April 22 - As a result from a civil case between the federal government and Local 6A among other labor unions, the leaderships of the ColomboColombo crime familyThe Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
, GenoveseGenovese crime familyThe Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
and LuccheseLucchese crime familyThe Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
crime families including Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella, Carmine "Junior" PersicoCarmine PersicoCarmine John Persico, Jr. also known as "Junior", "The Snake" and "Immortal", has been the de-facto boss of the Colombo crime family since the early 1970s. Persico has overseen gang wars, murders, and major rackets, most of the time from prison. He has been serving life imprisonment without...
, Dominic "Donnie Shacks" Montemarano, Ralph "Ralphie" ScopoRalph ScopoRalph "Little Ralphie" Scopo was a New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who became a powerful labor racketeer. He was the father of Colombo mobsters Joseph Scopo and Ralph Scopo Jr., and the grandfather of Joseph Scopo Jr...
, Anthony "Fat Tony" SalernoAnthony SalernoAnthony "Fat Tony" Salerno was a New York mobster who served as front boss of the Genovese crime family to family boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante from the 1970s until his conviction in 1986...
, Anthony "Tony Ducks" CoralloAnthony CoralloAnthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
, Salvatore "Tom Mix" SantoroSalvatore SantoroSalvatore T. "Tom Mix" Santoro, Sr. served as Underboss in the Lucchese crime family during the 1980s before being convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison.-Early life:...
, and Christopher "Christy Tick" FurnariChristopher FurnariChristopher "Christie Tick" Furnari, Sr. is a Lucchese crime family mobster serving life in prison. During the 1980s, Furnari served as the family consigliere until his 1986 racketeering conviction.-Early years:...
are ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Vincent L. Broderick, SDNY, are barred from interfering or participating in labor union activities or in relation to concrete industry. - April 29 - William Ciccone, a mentally ill Ozone Park, Queens resident, fired a shot at Gambino crime familyGambino crime familyThe Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
boss John GottiJohn GottiJohn Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
outside the Bergin Hunt and Fish ClubBergin Hunt and Fish ClubThe Bergin Hunt and Fish Club is a former Gambino crime family mob hangout and headquarters that was located at 98-04 101st Avenue in Ozone Park .-Today:...
. Ciccone was apprehended, taken to a Staten Island candy store and tortured and murdered by associate Joe Watts. Former soldier Dominic "Fat Dom" Borghese testified that Watts pumped six bullets into Ciccone's head. - May 19 - A U.S. District Court clerk, Mildred Carmella Russo, is indicted by a Federal grand jury and charged with supplying information to members of the Gambino crime familyGambino crime familyThe Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
for more than a decade. - May 21 - Los Angeles crime family Boss Peter John Milano and his brother, Underboss Carmen "Flipper" MilanoCarmen MilanoCarmen Joseph Milano was a disbarred lawyer who eventually became a member of the American Mafia, serving as Underboss of the Los Angeles crime family. The criminal organization he served is headed by his older brother Peter Milano...
are indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActThe Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
, along with 13 other members, by a Federal grand jury and charged with drug trafficking, extortionExtortionExtortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and other crimes. - June 13 - Several high ranking members of the Colombo crime familyColombo crime familyThe Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
including leader Carmine "Junior" Persico, Underboss Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella, Capos John "Jackie" DeRoss, Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo and members Dominic "Little Dom" Cataldo and Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico are convicted of labor racketeering. - August 4 - Philadelphia mobster Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, along with 6 associates, pled not guilty to charges of conspiracy and murder in 1 of 3 gangland slayings, including the July 1985 murder of Frank "Flowers" D'Alfonso.
- October 13 - N.Y.C. District Council of CarpentersN.Y.C. District Council of CarpentersThe N.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters maintains jurisdiction over all carpentry work and exhibition work in the New York City area. The council is under UBC Trusteeship, after the firing of the current Executive Secretary-Treasurer, which is the highest position in the union, Michael J Forde...
officials John O'ConnorJohn O'ConnorJohn O'Connor may refer to:*John Joseph O'Connor , Cardinal and eleventh bishop of the Archdiocese of New York*John Joseph O'Connor , Fourth bishop of the Diocese of Newark...
, Martin FordeMartin FordeMartin Forde is a retired labor union activist.-Early life and career:Martin Forde lives in Queens NY and East Durham NY. Martin is the father of Mike Forde. Martin Forde was born in County Mayo, Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1952...
, Attilio BitondoAttilio BitondoAttilio Bitondo , also known as "Tillio", was a New York City labor leader and an associate in the Genovese crime family in the crew of powerful Manhattan captain Vincent DiNapoli....
, Eugene HanleyEugene HanleyEugene Hanley was a New York City labor leader, as well as an associate of the Genovese crime family. Hanley took over as President of Local 257 of the New York City District Council of Carpenters for his father-in-law, a Genovese mobster named Will Graziano...
, and Irving Zeidman were indicted by the Manhattan District AttorneyNew York County District AttorneyThe New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
's office for extorting building contractors. The men had ties to Gambino crime familyGambino crime familyThe Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
capo Ralph MoscaRalph MoscaRalph "Ralphie Bones" Mosca, also known as Funzie, was a Queens/Bronx-based Gambino crime family caporegime. Mosca's crew was involved in labor racketeering, specifically through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, loan...
and Genovese crime familyGenovese crime familyThe Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
capo Vincent DiNapoliVincent DiNapoliVincent DiNapoli is a New York mobster and captain in the Genovese crime family, involved in labor racketeering. DiNapoli is best known for creating a cartel in the 1970s that controlled the price of drywall in New York City.-Early years:...
, and the indictments were the result of informant Gambino crime familyGambino crime familyThe Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
associate Dominick LoFaro. All men would be convicted and sent to prison. - October 21 - Sicilian mafioso and nephew of Gaetano BadalamentiGaetano BadalamentiGaetano Badalamenti was a powerful member of the Sicilian Mafia. Don Tano Badalamenti was the capofamiglia of his hometown Cinisi, Sicily, and headed the Sicilian Mafia Commission in the 1970s...
, Pietro Alfano, whose Oregon, IllinoisOregon, IllinoisOregon is a city located in Ogle County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 3,721, down from 4,060 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ogle County.- History :...
pizzeria was the center of Midwest drug trafficking operations for the Pizza ConnectionPizza Connection TrialThe Pizza Connection Trial was one of the longest criminal jury trials on record in the district of Manhattan. It took place between October 24, 1985 and March 2, 1987-Scope of the trial:...
, was convicted for narcotics conspiracy and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Among those convicted include Salvatore Lamberti and Giuseppe Lamberti who each receive twenty years. - December 16 - The Maxi TrialMaxi TrialThe Maxi Trial was a criminal trial that took place in Sicily during the mid-1980s that saw hundreds of defendants on trial convicted for a multitude of crimes relating to Mafia activities, based primarily on testimony given in as evidence from a former boss turned informant...
, a purge of hundreds of SicilianSicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
mafiosi, comes to an end. Of the 474 defendants 360 were convicted and 114 acquitted. Michele "The Pope" Greco was convicted of 4 murders and received life imprisonmentLife imprisonmentLife imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
. - December 16 - Defendant Antonino Ciulla is shot dead on his way home from the Maxi TrialMaxi TrialThe Maxi Trial was a criminal trial that took place in Sicily during the mid-1980s that saw hundreds of defendants on trial convicted for a multitude of crimes relating to Mafia activities, based primarily on testimony given in as evidence from a former boss turned informant...
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Arts and literature
- A Better Tomorrow II (film) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094357/
- Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaDonnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaDonnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia is a non-fiction crime book written by Joseph D. Pistone. It is the true story of FBI agent Joseph Pistone going undercover and infiltrating the Mafia...
(non-fiction book) by Joseph D. PistoneJoseph D. PistoneJoseph Dominick Pistone, alias Donnie Brasco, , is a former FBI agent who worked undercover for six years infiltrating the Bonanno crime family and to a lesser extent the Colombo crime family, two of the Five Families of the Mafia in New York City...
. - The Untouchables (film) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/ starring Kevin CostnerKevin CostnerKevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
, Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Charles Martin SmithCharles Martin SmithCharles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director.-Early life:Smith was born in Van Nuys, California. His father, Frank Smith, was a film cartoonist and animator, while his uncle Paul J. Smith was an animator as well as a director for the Walter Lantz Studios...
, Andy GarcíaAndy GarcíaAndrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
and Robert DeNiro.
Deaths
- February - Pasquale Varriale "Paddy Bulldog", New York criminal and associate of the Bonanno crime familyBonanno crime familyThe Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
- March 17 - Santo Trafficante, Jr.Santo Trafficante, Jr.Santo Trafficante, Jr. was one of the last of the old-time Mafia bosses in the United States. He allegedly controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante, Sr...
, Tampa crime family Boss. - May 12 - Robert TrimboleRobert TrimboleRobert Trimbole was an Australian businessman, drug baron and organised crime boss whose alleged involvement in the disappearance of anti-marijuana campaigner Donald Mackay and involvement in drug trafficking in the Griffith, New South Wales area, led to a royal commission, a Coroner's inquest and...
, Australian businessman and drug baron - September - Carmine Varriale, Lucchese crime familyLucchese crime familyThe Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
member and brother of Pasquale Varriale - December 16 - Antoninio Ciulla, SicilianSicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
mafioso