Frank Lastorino
Encyclopedia
Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino (April 9, 1939) is a New York City mobster and former Consigliere
of the Lucchese crime family
.
, Lastorino soon joined the Lucchese crime family under Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
in extortion
, loansharking and illegal gambling operations during the 1970s, and was recognized as one of the most notorious hitmen from the Brooklyn faction of the crime family. He was formally inducted into the crime family in 1987. Lastorino reportedly achieved great friendship and partnership with Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
and Vittorio "Vic" Amuso
during the mid 1980s, as the family leadership was turning in another direction.
of New York, as Boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
, Underboss
Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro
and then Consigliere Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari
of the Lucchese crime family were put in the courtroom of the infamous Mafia Commission Trial
, on labor racketeering, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, money laundering
, murder and conspiracy
charges. All twelve defendants were found guilty, and the entire administration of the Lucchese crime family received life imprisonment due to their crimes. This led to the election of Brooklyn faction-leaders Victor Amuso and Anthony Casso as the new bosses of the Lucchese family, after the murder of Corallo's top aide, Anthony Luongo, in 1986. Due to his close relationship with both Amuso and Casso, Lastorino was rewarded with the position of Caporegime
or Captain of the Brooklyn faction in the Lucchese crime family. Under Amuso's leadership, Lastorino rose to become one of the most feared and most powerful mobsters in the family.
. As they were named fugitives, they used messengers to give out orders to the top members of the family, like Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco
, Anthony "Bowat" Baratta
, Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
and Salvatore "Sal" Avellino
, who were all included in the "Ruling Panel" with Lastorino to run the day-to-day activities in the early 1990s. Lastorino also established cooperation and great fear with powerful capos
of the Brooklyn faction, George "Georgie Neck" Zappola
, Frank Gioia, Jr. and Frank "Bones" Papagni, and as Amuso and Casso sent their orders with messengers, US law enforcement estimated that these orders were unofficially carried out by these men, although it was never official. However, Lastorino used to sit at the family Ruling Panel in early 1990s.
soldier Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello
was shot to death outside his Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
home. Boriello had been a top bodyguard for John Gotti
during his heyday in the 1980s, and was also a great friend and associate before Gotti was incarcerated. Apparently, Gotti believed the murder was ordered by Genovese crime family
boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante
, but in real-life, US law enforcement recognized the order coming from Anthony Casso, in retaliation for the murder of their own member Patrick Testa, in an attempt to squeeze the Gambino crime family out of control. Reportedly, the murder was carried out by the fierce Lastorino, allegedly with assistance of New York Police Department detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
, who were on the payroll of the Lucchese crime family at the time. It is reported by US law enforcement that Lastorino allegedly carried out the murder only to be promoted to Consigliere.
. The situation was that after these murders, Lastorino, George Zappola
, Frank Papagni and Frank Gioia, Jr. would be at the top in the Lucchese crime family.
and the attempted murder conspiracies on Steven Crea, John A. Gotti and Nicholas Corozzo
, as well as additional racketeering charges. Lastorino was sentenced to 20 years in prison and placed at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey
.
Consigliere
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...
of the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The 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...
.
Lucchese hitman
Raised in Canarsie, BrooklynCanarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
, Lastorino soon joined the Lucchese crime family under Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
Anthony Corallo
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
in extortion
Extortion
Extortion 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...
, loansharking and illegal gambling operations during the 1970s, and was recognized as one of the most notorious hitmen from the Brooklyn faction of the crime family. He was formally inducted into the crime family in 1987. Lastorino reportedly achieved great friendship and partnership with Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
Anthony Casso
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso is a former New York City mobster who served as underboss and acting boss of the Lucchese crime family until he was arrested in 1993, becoming a cooperating witness for the Federal Government...
and Vittorio "Vic" Amuso
Victor Amuso
Vittorio "Little Vic" Amuso is a New York mobster and, as of 2011, the reputed Boss of the Lucchese crime family. Amuso is currently serving life at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, Texas on murder and racketeering charges....
during the mid 1980s, as the family leadership was turning in another direction.
Brooklyn Captain
In 1985, the US government launched a pile of indictments toward the Five FamiliesFive Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
of New York, as Boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
Anthony Corallo
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
, 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...
Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro
Salvatore Santoro
Salvatore 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 then Consigliere Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari
Christopher Furnari
Christopher "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:...
of the Lucchese crime family were put in the courtroom of the infamous Mafia Commission Trial
Mafia Commission Trial
The Mafia Commission Trial was a criminal trial in New York City, USA. Using evidence obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, eleven organized crime figures, including the heads of New York's so-called "Five Families," were indicted by United States Attorney Rudolph Giuliani under the...
, on labor racketeering, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, murder and conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
charges. All twelve defendants were found guilty, and the entire administration of the Lucchese crime family received life imprisonment due to their crimes. This led to the election of Brooklyn faction-leaders Victor Amuso and Anthony Casso as the new bosses of the Lucchese family, after the murder of Corallo's top aide, Anthony Luongo, in 1986. Due to his close relationship with both Amuso and Casso, Lastorino was rewarded with the position of Caporegime
Caporegime
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...
or Captain of the Brooklyn faction in the Lucchese crime family. Under Amuso's leadership, Lastorino rose to become one of the most feared and most powerful mobsters in the family.
Ruling Panel
In 1990, both Victor Amuso and Anthony Casso were named in massive indictments towards the Lucchese crime family, which included murder and conspiracy charges, and decided to flee New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As they were named fugitives, they used messengers to give out orders to the top members of the family, like Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco
Alphonse D'Arco
Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco , also known as "The Professor", is a New York mobster who became the acting boss of Lucchese crime family. He was the first boss, acting or otherwise, of a New York crime family to become a government witness....
, Anthony "Bowat" Baratta
Anthony Baratta
Anthony "Bowat" Baratta is a New York City mobster and former capo in the Lucchese crime family.-Capo of the "Harlem Crew":In 1978, Baratta became a made man in the Lucchese crime family operating under the family's Bronx faction...
, Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
Steven Crea
Steven L. Crea , also known as "Wonderboy", or "Herbie", is a New York mobster heavily involved in labor racketeering who eventually became the acting boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Rise to power:...
and Salvatore "Sal" Avellino
Salvatore Avellino
Salvatore "Sal" Avellino is a mobster and caporegime in the Lucchese crime family who was involved in labor racketering in the garbage and waste management industry in Long Island, New York...
, who were all included in the "Ruling Panel" with Lastorino to run the day-to-day activities in the early 1990s. Lastorino also established cooperation and great fear with powerful capos
Caporegime
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...
of the Brooklyn faction, George "Georgie Neck" Zappola
George Zappola
George "Georgie Neck" Zappola is a New York mobster and caporegime with the Lucchese crime family who became infamous for smuggling a sperm sample out of prison to impregnate his girlfriend.-Biography:Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City...
, Frank Gioia, Jr. and Frank "Bones" Papagni, and as Amuso and Casso sent their orders with messengers, US law enforcement estimated that these orders were unofficially carried out by these men, although it was never official. However, Lastorino used to sit at the family Ruling Panel in early 1990s.
Killing Boriello
On April 13, 1991, 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...
soldier Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello
Bartholomew Boriello
Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello was a New York mobster who belonged to the Gambino crime family and served as boss John Gotti's favorite bodyguard and chauffeur...
was shot to death outside his Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
home. Boriello had been a top bodyguard for John Gotti
John Gotti
John 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...
during his heyday in the 1980s, and was also a great friend and associate before Gotti was incarcerated. Apparently, Gotti believed the murder was ordered by Genovese crime family
Genovese crime family
The 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...
boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante
Vincent Gigante
Vincent Gigante was a short lived professional light heavyweight boxer who was known as "The Chin" Gigante. He fought 25 matches and lost four, boxing 121 rounds. On February 19, 1945, he fought Pete Petrello in Madison Square Garden and won by a knock out in the second round. During his successful...
, but in real-life, US law enforcement recognized the order coming from Anthony Casso, in retaliation for the murder of their own member Patrick Testa, in an attempt to squeeze the Gambino crime family out of control. Reportedly, the murder was carried out by the fierce Lastorino, allegedly with assistance of New York Police Department detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa are two former New York Police Department police detectives who worked on behalf of the New York Mafia while they committed various illegal activities...
, who were on the payroll of the Lucchese crime family at the time. It is reported by US law enforcement that Lastorino allegedly carried out the murder only to be promoted to Consigliere.
Conspiracies
In 1993, with the final capturing of Anthony Casso and the elevation of Steven Crea as the new Underboss of the Lucchese crime family, Lastorino hatched a plot to seize the control of the family completely. Since his promotion, Crea had shifted the family's power center away from the Brooklyn faction and back to the Manhattan and Bronx factions that had been dominating the family for decades, which wasn't approved by most of the Amuso/Casso loyalists. Which is why Lastorino reportedly organized the plot to kill Crea, then gain control of the Lucchese crime family, and then go after the Gambino crime family by murdering John Gotti's son, John "Junior" Gotti and his rival Nicholas "Little Nick" CorozzoNicholas Corozzo
Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo is a New York mobster who is the reputed acting boss of the Gambino crime family.-Biography:...
. The situation was that after these murders, Lastorino, George Zappola
George Zappola
George "Georgie Neck" Zappola is a New York mobster and caporegime with the Lucchese crime family who became infamous for smuggling a sperm sample out of prison to impregnate his girlfriend.-Biography:Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City...
, Frank Papagni and Frank Gioia, Jr. would be at the top in the Lucchese crime family.
Indictments
Toward the year of 1994, massive indictments of labor and construction racketeering, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling and murder charges were put on dozens of members of the Lucchese crime family, including Lastorino, who was charged with the murder of Bartholomew BorielloBartholomew Boriello
Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello was a New York mobster who belonged to the Gambino crime family and served as boss John Gotti's favorite bodyguard and chauffeur...
and the attempted murder conspiracies on Steven Crea, John A. Gotti and Nicholas Corozzo
Nicholas Corozzo
Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo is a New York mobster who is the reputed acting boss of the Gambino crime family.-Biography:...
, as well as additional racketeering charges. Lastorino was sentenced to 20 years in prison and placed at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey
Fort Dix, New Jersey
JB MDL Dix , better known as Fort Dix, is a United States Army base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Dix is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Reserve Command...
.