Frank Scarabino
Encyclopedia
Frank "Franky the Beast" Scarabino (born 1956) is a New York City mobster and former "soldier
" in the North Jersey based DeCavalcante crime family
, before becoming a government informant.
and Anthony "Tony" Capo
sometime in the mid 1980s, as well as recognizing him as a member of the DeCavalcante crime family, under reputed captains Philip Abramo
and Anthony Rotondo
.
along with soldiers Anthony Capo
, James "Jimmy" Gallo, Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
, captain Philip Abramo
and even Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile
, the reputed family Consigliere
, which involved murdering Fred Weiss, a private sanitation magnate considered for becoming an informant. The hit was requested by reputed Gambino crime family
Boss John Gotti
of New York, and Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi
, Boss of the DeCavalcante family, accepted his request, and contracted Scarabino, Capo, Gallo and Palermo for the task. Scarabino, still only a family associate, reportedly agreed and on September 11, 1989, Scarabino and others shot and killed Weiss in front of his Staten Island
home, however, it is Palermo, Capo and Gallo who are credited for Weiss's murder.
of Elizabeth, New Jersey
and Philip Abramo of the New York faction. At the time, Scarabino's criminal activities include labor and construction racketeering, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion
and murder. Scarabino allegedly conspired to murder Daniel Annunziatta and former Acting boss and captain, Gaetano "Corky" Vastola
, in the early 1990s on the orders of John D'Amato
, who had been recruited by John Gotti into take over the DeCavalcante crime family after the imprisonment of Riggi in 1990. According to law enforcement, Scarabino also helped organize the murder of former family Underboss, Louis "Fat Lou" LaRasso
in 1991, in aid of the racketeering operations that Philip Abramo took over in New York. It was around this time that Scarabino bought a house in Staten Island, New York.
. Scarabino was charged with extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, conspiracy to commit bookmaking and loansharking activities. He was also charged with the murder of Fred Weiss, and with conspiracy to the attempted murders of Daniel Annunziatta, Gaetano Vastola and Louis LaRasso. At this time, Scarabino learned that then-current acting boss Vincent Palermo had sanctioned his murder, along with Stefano Vitabile, Anthony Rotondo and Frank Polizzi
, however, with Palermo, Rotondo and fellow soldier Anthony Capo all turning state's evidence, Scarabino and the other family members were basically broken down by US authorities, as Scarabino chose to join them as an informant
and testify against his former associates of the DeCavalcante family.
Made man
A 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...
" in the North Jersey based 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...
, before becoming a government informant.
Background
Since the late 1970s, US law enforcement listed Scarabino as an associate of the crime family based in the Northern New Jersey area, and linked him with reputed 'made men' Anthony "Marshmallow" MannarinoAnthony Mannarino
Anthony "Anthony Marshmallow" Mannarino is a New Jersey mobster and reputed soldier in the DeCavalcante crime family who supervised family operations in Florida....
and Anthony "Tony" Capo
Anthony Capo
Anthony "Tony" Capo is a hitman in the DeCavalcante crime family who became a government witness.- Made Man :A resident of South Beach, Staten Island, Capo became an associate of the DeCavalcante crime family during the early 1980s under powerful Elizabeth, New Jersey faction leader Giovanni...
sometime in the mid 1980s, as well as recognizing him as a member of the DeCavalcante crime family, under reputed captains Philip Abramo
Philip Abramo
Philip Abramo , also known as "The King Of Wall Street", "Lou Metzer" is a caporegime in the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family who was allegedly involved in security fraud and murder. Abramo was a capo of the DeCavalcante family's crew in Miami, Florida.-Early years:Born in New York, Abramo...
and Anthony Rotondo
Anthony Rotondo
Anthony Rotondo is a former capo in the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey and police informant.- Early life :Anthony Rotondo lived with his father Vincent "Jimmy the Gent" Rotondo, and his father expressed wishes for his son to become a lawyer. Rotondo graduated from the Nazareth High School, and...
.
Murdering Fred Weiss
According to US law enforcement, in August 1989, Scarabino was involved in a conspiracyConspiracy (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...
along with soldiers Anthony Capo
Anthony Capo
Anthony "Tony" Capo is a hitman in the DeCavalcante crime family who became a government witness.- Made Man :A resident of South Beach, Staten Island, Capo became an associate of the DeCavalcante crime family during the early 1980s under powerful Elizabeth, New Jersey faction leader Giovanni...
, James "Jimmy" Gallo, 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:...
, captain Philip Abramo
Philip Abramo
Philip Abramo , also known as "The King Of Wall Street", "Lou Metzer" is a caporegime in the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family who was allegedly involved in security fraud and murder. Abramo was a capo of the DeCavalcante family's crew in Miami, Florida.-Early years:Born in New York, Abramo...
and even 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:...
, the reputed family Consigliere
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...
, which involved murdering Fred Weiss, a private sanitation magnate considered for becoming an informant. The hit was requested by reputed 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...
Boss 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...
of New York, and Giovanni "John the Eagle" 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...
, Boss of the DeCavalcante family, accepted his request, and contracted Scarabino, Capo, Gallo and Palermo for the task. Scarabino, still only a family associate, reportedly agreed and on September 11, 1989, Scarabino and others shot and killed Weiss in front of his Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
home, however, it is Palermo, Capo and Gallo who are credited for Weiss's murder.
Criminal activities
During the 1990s, Scarabino was inducted into the DeCavalcante crime family under reputed captains Anthony RotondoAnthony Rotondo
Anthony Rotondo is a former capo in the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey and police informant.- Early life :Anthony Rotondo lived with his father Vincent "Jimmy the Gent" Rotondo, and his father expressed wishes for his son to become a lawyer. Rotondo graduated from the Nazareth High School, and...
of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
and Philip Abramo of the New York faction. At the time, Scarabino's criminal activities include labor and construction racketeering, illegal gambling, loansharking, 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...
and murder. Scarabino allegedly conspired to murder Daniel Annunziatta and former Acting boss and captain, Gaetano "Corky" Vastola
Gaetano Vastola
Gaetano Vastola is an Italian football player, who plays as defender for S.S. Lanciano.-Career:In the past he played with Scafatese, Giugliano, Narnese, Maceratese, Salernitana, U.S. Avellino, Ascoli Calcio 1898 and Gallipoli Calcio.-References:...
, in the early 1990s on the orders of John D'Amato
John D'Amato
John "Johnny Boy" D'Amato was a New Jersey mobster and former Acting boss of the DeCavalcante crime family. After being recruited by Gambino crime family Boss John Gotti to take over the family, and amidst rumors that he was homosexual, D'Amato was murdered in January 1992.- Captain :After being...
, who had been recruited by John Gotti into take over the DeCavalcante crime family after the imprisonment of Riggi in 1990. According to law enforcement, Scarabino also helped organize the murder of former family Underboss, Louis "Fat Lou" LaRasso
Louis LaRasso
Louis "Fat Lou" LaRasso was a New Jersey mobster and the longtime official Underboss of the DeCavalcante crime family.- Apalachin meeting :...
in 1991, in aid of the racketeering operations that Philip Abramo took over in New York. It was around this time that Scarabino bought a house in Staten Island, New York.
Indictment and witness protection
However, on October 19, 2000, over 50 members of the DeCavalcante crime family were indicted for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The 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...
. Scarabino was charged with extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, conspiracy to commit bookmaking and loansharking activities. He was also charged with the murder of Fred Weiss, and with conspiracy to the attempted murders of Daniel Annunziatta, Gaetano Vastola and Louis LaRasso. At this time, Scarabino learned that then-current acting boss Vincent Palermo had sanctioned his murder, along with Stefano Vitabile, Anthony Rotondo and Frank Polizzi
Frank Polizzi
Francesco "Frank" Polizzi was a New Jersey mobster and captain in the DeCavalcante crime family.- DeCavalcante family :...
, however, with Palermo, Rotondo and fellow soldier Anthony Capo all turning state's evidence, Scarabino and the other family members were basically broken down by US authorities, as Scarabino chose to join them as an informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
and testify against his former associates of the DeCavalcante family.
External links
- http://www.ipsn.org/indictments/loren-maltese_indictment/doj_pressrel_decavalcante.htm
- http://www.ipsn.org/indictments/loren-maltese_indictment/decavalcante_indictment2.htm