Francesco Guarraci
Encyclopedia
Francesco "Frank" Guarraci (born late 1955), is a prominent member and reputed current boss of the DeCavalcante crime family
.
in 1955, to where the DeCavalcante crime family's origins can be traced. During the 1980s, he emigrated to the United States
, and in 1989, Guarraci was inducted into the crime family during a ceremony led by John Riggi
himself, according to Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
, who turn state's evidence
in 2000. However, Guarraci wasn't recognized as an inducted member by US law enforcement until years later.
by New Jersey
law enforcement in the beginning of 2006. Guarraci's official job is as a foreman in Laborers' Local 394.
Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile
and Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo
from 2003 to 2006, Guarraci was promoted to "acting boss" along with Underboss
, Joseph "Joe" Miranda
, to run the day-to-day activities of the DeCavalcante crime family
on behalf of the imprisoned Riggi
. As of May, 2009, Francesco Guarraci at age 54 is still in charge of the family, along with Miranda, on the orders of the imprisoned boss Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi. The Ribera Social Club, where family members hang out, has been run by Gaurraci since 1989.
The prospects for a strong organization exist due to the induction of 12 new members by Joseph Miranda, raising the total to 60 made men, resulting in new respect in Cosa Nostra.
DeCavalcante crime family
The DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
.
Early inducted member
Francesco Guarraci was born in Ribera, SicilyRibera, Sicily
Ribera is a comune in the province of Agrigento, Region of Sicily, southern Italy, between the Verdura and Magazzolo valleys in the so-called Plain of San Nicola....
in 1955, to where the DeCavalcante crime family's origins can be traced. During the 1980s, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in 1989, Guarraci was inducted into the crime family during a ceremony led by John Riggi
Giovanni Riggi
Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi is a New Jersey mobster and member of the DeCavalcante crime family since the 1940s, before the family had acquired its name. Riggi was the leader of the "Elizabeth crew" in the family when he was a Caporegime. He had been the acting boss during the 1970s and has...
himself, according to Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
Vincent Palermo
Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo is a former de facto boss of the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family who eventually became a government witness. Fictional mob boss Tony Soprano is said to be loosely based on Palermo.-Background:...
, who turn state's evidence
Turn state's evidence
To turn state's evidence is when an accused or convicted criminal testifies as a witness for the state against his associates or accomplices. Turning state's evidence is occasionally a result of a change of heart or feelings of guilt, but more often is done in response to a generous offer from the...
in 2000. However, Guarraci wasn't recognized as an inducted member by US law enforcement until years later.
DeCavalcante captain
Guarraci was listed as a soldier for the DeCavalcante crime family throughout late the 1990s and early 2000s, as the family was broken down by federal law enforcement and internal rivalry, as well as the longtime acting boss, Vincent Palermo who turned state's evidence in 2000. At some point between 2005 and 2006, Guarraci was promoted in the family, as he was listed as a CaporegimeCaporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
by New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
law enforcement in the beginning of 2006. Guarraci's official job is as a foreman in Laborers' Local 394.
Riggi's acting boss
In early 2007, it was confirmed that after the convictions of ConsigliereConsigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile
Stefano Vitabile
Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile, , is a New Jersey mobster and former consigliere of the DeCavalcante crime family.-Early years:...
and Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo
Girolamo Palermo
Girolamo "Jimmy Dumps" Palermo is the longtime underboss of the DeCavalcante crime family in Elizabeth, New Jersey, under the imprisoned boss Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi.-Murdering Al Colicchio:...
from 2003 to 2006, Guarraci was promoted to "acting boss" along with Underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
, Joseph "Joe" Miranda
Joseph Miranda
Joseph "Joe" Miranda is an American mobster and member of the New Jersey-based DeCavalcante crime family. A longtime "soldier" to Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante and later boss Giovanni Riggi, he became acting Underboss for Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo following the imprisonment of many...
, to run the day-to-day activities of the DeCavalcante crime family
DeCavalcante crime family
The DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
on behalf of the imprisoned Riggi
Giovanni Riggi
Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi is a New Jersey mobster and member of the DeCavalcante crime family since the 1940s, before the family had acquired its name. Riggi was the leader of the "Elizabeth crew" in the family when he was a Caporegime. He had been the acting boss during the 1970s and has...
. As of May, 2009, Francesco Guarraci at age 54 is still in charge of the family, along with Miranda, on the orders of the imprisoned boss Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi. The Ribera Social Club, where family members hang out, has been run by Gaurraci since 1989.
The prospects for a strong organization exist due to the induction of 12 new members by Joseph Miranda, raising the total to 60 made men, resulting in new respect in Cosa Nostra.
Further reading
- Smith, Greg B. Made Men: The True Rise-and-Fall Story of a New Jersey Mob Family. Berkley Books, 2003. ISBN 0-425-18551-6
- Jacobs, James B. Busting the Mob: The United States Vs. Cosa Nostra. New York: NYU Press, 1994. ISBN 0-8147-4230-0
- Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5
- Goldstock, Ronald, Martin Marcus and II Thacher. Corruption and Racketeering in the New York City Construction Industry: Final Report of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. New York: NYU Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8147-3034-5
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Organized Crime in America: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate. Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 1983.
External links
- http://www.thechicagosyndicate.com/2006_06_18_archive.html