Ferdinand Boccia
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand "The Shadow" Boccia (March 18, 1900 – September 19, 1934) was a New York mobster and gambling racketeer
who was killed by Vito Genovese
, who would become a mob boss. Boccia's murder would force Genovese to flee the United States
to Italy
to avoid prosecution. He is the father-in-law
of Andrew Ruggiano Sr. and brother-in-law
of Andrew Ruggiano Jr.
to murder him.
On May 11, 1937, the body of Ferdinand Boccia was pulled from the Hudson River
in New York City. It was widely believed that Boccia was shot to death three years earlier, either on February 9, 1934 or September 19, 1934, in Brooklyn
and then dumped in the river. Following the recovery of Boccia's body, Genovese offered Rupolo $175 to murder Gallo. After escaping two attempts on his life, Gallo went to the police and implicated both Rupolo and Genovese in the Boccia murder. While Rupolo was sentenced to twenty years for attempted murder, Genovese fled the country to Italy to avoid prosecution. In 1946, Genovese was extradited back to New York and jailed on the Boccia murder charge. However, lacking enough evidence, the government later released Genovese from custody.
mob associate Frank (Geeky) Boccia from Queens, New York, who was the brother-in-law
of Gambino crime family
capo Anthony Ruggiano, Sr. Frank Boccia was murdered by Dominick Pizzonia
, Freddy DiCongilio, son-in-law
Anthony (Fat Andy) Ruggiano, Jr., Thomas (Tommy Flash)Morea, and Anthony (Tony Lee) Guerrieri in June 1988, for having assaulted his mother-in-law Jennifer Ruggiano, the wife of Andrew Ruggiano for refusing to pay for his daughter's $500 baptism.
Anthony Ruggiano Jr. had lured Boccia to Cafe Liberty in Ozone Park, Queens
on the ruse of an upcoming planned heist, following which they called him into a back room for the alleged clandestine meeting and Pizzonia shot him in the head repeatedly. According to Ruggiano Jr., Pizzonia paused midway to reload, said "this guy don't want to fucking die", and then shot him a few more times. They gutted Boccia's like a fish so that his body would not float, and threw the body into the waters off Merrick, New York
. Although prosecutors Joseph Lipton and Paige Petersen presented an eyewitness who implicated Pizzonia as the shooter, jurors said they could not convict without a corpse; the body of Frank Boccia was never found. His suspected murderers were all acquitted, although his alleged killer Pizzonia would later be indicted for two other murders. Dominic became a made member of the Gambino crime family
for committing the murder. Boccia left behind a wife and a daughter.
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
who was killed by Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
, who would become a mob boss. Boccia's murder would force Genovese to flee the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to avoid prosecution. He is the father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
of Andrew Ruggiano Sr. and brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
of Andrew Ruggiano Jr.
Death
Boccia was an early victim of Vito Genovese's killing spree that aimed to increase his power in the Luciano crime family. Boccia had assisted Genovese in setting up a rigged card game for a rich Italian businessman that Boccia introduced to Genovese. Boccia later demanded a third of the profits from the scam. Genovese refused to pay Boccia and hired hitmen Willie Gallo and Ernest "The Hawk" RupoloErnest Rupolo
Ernest "the Hawk" Rupolo was a low-level New York mobster and hitman for the Genovese crime family. Rupolo would later turn informant and testify against family boss Vito Genovese.-The Boccia murder:...
to murder him.
On May 11, 1937, the body of Ferdinand Boccia was pulled from the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in New York City. It was widely believed that Boccia was shot to death three years earlier, either on February 9, 1934 or September 19, 1934, in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and then dumped in the river. Following the recovery of Boccia's body, Genovese offered Rupolo $175 to murder Gallo. After escaping two attempts on his life, Gallo went to the police and implicated both Rupolo and Genovese in the Boccia murder. While Rupolo was sentenced to twenty years for attempted murder, Genovese fled the country to Italy to avoid prosecution. In 1946, Genovese was extradited back to New York and jailed on the Boccia murder charge. However, lacking enough evidence, the government later released Genovese from custody.
Relatives
Ferdinand Boccia is a paternal blood relative of Gambino crime familyGambino crime family
The 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...
mob associate Frank (Geeky) Boccia from Queens, New York, who was the brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
of Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The 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 Anthony Ruggiano, Sr. Frank Boccia was murdered by Dominick Pizzonia
Dominick Pizzonia
Dominick "Skinny Dom" Pizzonia is a New York mobster and captain with the Gambino crime family who was a hitman and loanshark.-Early life and rise:...
, Freddy DiCongilio, son-in-law
Son-in-Law
Son-in-Law was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, especially for sport horses.The National Horseracing Museum says that Son-in-Law is "probably the best and most distinguished stayer this country has ever known." Described as "one of the principal influences for stamina in...
Anthony (Fat Andy) Ruggiano, Jr., Thomas (Tommy Flash)Morea, and Anthony (Tony Lee) Guerrieri in June 1988, for having assaulted his mother-in-law Jennifer Ruggiano, the wife of Andrew Ruggiano for refusing to pay for his daughter's $500 baptism.
Anthony Ruggiano Jr. had lured Boccia to Cafe Liberty in Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park is a working class neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach, and City Line, Brooklyn....
on the ruse of an upcoming planned heist, following which they called him into a back room for the alleged clandestine meeting and Pizzonia shot him in the head repeatedly. According to Ruggiano Jr., Pizzonia paused midway to reload, said "this guy don't want to fucking die", and then shot him a few more times. They gutted Boccia's like a fish so that his body would not float, and threw the body into the waters off Merrick, New York
Merrick, New York
Merrick is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 22,097. The name "Merrick" is taken from Meroke, the name of the Algonquian tribe formerly indigenous to the area...
. Although prosecutors Joseph Lipton and Paige Petersen presented an eyewitness who implicated Pizzonia as the shooter, jurors said they could not convict without a corpse; the body of Frank Boccia was never found. His suspected murderers were all acquitted, although his alleged killer Pizzonia would later be indicted for two other murders. Dominic became a made member of the Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The 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 committing the murder. Boccia left behind a wife and a daughter.
Further reading
- United States Congress. Senate. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Waterfront Investigation: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 1953. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC04716491&id=yCcTAAAAIAAJ&q=Ferdinand+The+Shadow+Boccia&dq=Ferdinand+The+Shadow+Boccia&pgis=1
- United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. Investigation of Improper Activities in the Labor Or Management Field. 1959. http://books.google.com/books?vid=0l7dFSlTiMGjlr2Dr1MJho5&id=4XYqm3FLdrUC&dq=%22Ferdinand+Boccia
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi: Hearings Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs. 1988. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC22610264&id=9lwRAAAAIAAJ&q=Ferdinand+The+Shadow+Boccia&dq=Ferdinand+The+Shadow+Boccia&pgis=1