George Zappola
Encyclopedia
George "Georgie Neck" Zappola (born 1960) 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.
, New York City
. In the mid-1980s, Zappola joined the Lucchese family, working for the Brooklyn faction that was run by underboss
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
. Zappola became one of Casso's closest allies and in 1990 was promoted to caporegime. Both his father and a paternal uncle, small-time criminal associates of organized crime, were each murdered by unknown gunmen, in homicides that were never solved. Despite this, George still wanted to become a 'made man' in the Mafia.
A Brooklyn faction-leader, Zappola joined the labor and construction racketeering operation that earned the most money for the family. This operation was run by Stephen "Wonderboy" Crea
of the Bronx faction. He helped Anthony oversee his various business enterprises: a bagel
factory that supplied local McDonald's
restaurants, numbers rackets, and slot machine
s.
Zappola enjoyed watching professional Major League Baseball
games and fights in bars around Brooklyn. He was a regular patron of Bruno's Hair Salon in Bensonhurst, where he would get a massage and a pedicure
. Zappola was fastidious about his appearance and obsessed about his weight, walking six miles every day to stay trim. He wore a gold watch that was a gift from Casso, inscribed, "To George, a true friend, from Anthony." George was careless about police surveillance and electronic counter-surveillance, and carried a cell phone to which only Casso had the number. Zappola was Casso's most trusted contract killer.
In the late 80's, Zappola participated in the ambush murder of Lucchese capo Michael Pappadio. Lucchese boss Victor Amuso
and Casso had ordered Pappadio' death after he refused to give up one of his rackets. After several Lucchese mobsters surprised and beat Pappadio in a bagel shop, Zappola shot him in the head with a .22-caliber pistol.
In 1990, Zappola and George Conte shot James D. Bishop, a Democratic district leader and former head of the painters' union in Whitestone, Queens
as he was parking his car. The Lucchese family had controlled and looted the District Council 9 of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (IBPAT) for years. The mobsters would receive kickback
s from contractors in exchange for bid rigging
and allowing the use of cheaper non-union workers. When it appeared that Bishop might cooperate with prosecutors in a state investigation of the district council, the Lucchese family ordered Zappola and Conte to murder him.
In 1993, Zappola and capos Frank "Bones" Papagni and Frank "Spaghetti Man" Gioia, Jr. saw an opportunity to wrest power away from Crea. With his ascension to power, Crea had shifted the family's power center away from Brooklyn, the power bases for Zappola, Pagagni and Goia, back to Manhattan
and the Bronx, the historic power base of the Lucchese family. Zappola, Papagni, Gioia, and Consigliere
Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino
started planning to murder Crea. The disaffected mobsters also conspired with Casso to kill then Acting Boss
of the Gambino crime family
, John "Junior" Gotti in retaliation for the killing of Patrick Testa. Allegedly, Zappola and his fellow conspirators also wanted to kill Gotti's rival Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo
, in an attempt to split up the Gambino family. Unfortunately for Zappola and the other mobsters, legal problems thwarted all of their plotting.
, loansharking, illegal gambling, bribery, money laundering
, fraud, conspiracy
and murder charges.
In January 1995, Zappola was indicted on federal charges linking him to four killings and conspiracies to kill other members of the Lucchese family. In January 1996, Zapolla was indicted in a broad murder and racketeering indictment. In June 1996, Zappola and pleaded guilty to several murders, including the 1990 Bishop slaying. Zappola was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison.
in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
, Zappola bribed a federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) guard $1,000 to smuggle his sperm
out of the facility. The sperm was taken to a Manhattan fertility clinic
, where it was frozen for the future impregnation of Zappola's girlfriend. However, the girlfriend changed her mind about the scheme and went to the government. Authorities retrieved the sperm from the clinic, obtained a court order for a blood sample from Zappola, compared the DNA
, and got a positive match. In 1999, the government fired the prison guard and charged him with smuggling the sperm. During this time, Zappola also bribed BOP correctional officers to receive special food, wine, and visitors along with information from BOP computers.
In 1997, Zappola was transferred to the Allenwood Federal Correctional Institution, a medium security prison in Central Pennsylvania
. As of October 2011, Zappola is still incarcerated at Allenwood. His projected release date is March 3, 2014.
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...
with 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...
who became infamous for smuggling a sperm sample out of prison to impregnate his girlfriend.
Biography
Born and raised in BrooklynBrooklyn
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...
, New York City
New 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...
. In the mid-1980s, Zappola joined the Lucchese family, working for the Brooklyn faction that was run by 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...
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...
. Zappola became one of Casso's closest allies and in 1990 was promoted to caporegime. Both his father and a paternal uncle, small-time criminal associates of organized crime, were each murdered by unknown gunmen, in homicides that were never solved. Despite this, George still wanted to become a 'made man' in the Mafia.
A Brooklyn faction-leader, Zappola joined the labor and construction racketeering operation that earned the most money for the family. This operation was run by Stephen "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:...
of the Bronx faction. He helped Anthony oversee his various business enterprises: a bagel
Bagel
A bagel is a bread product, traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, which is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior...
factory that supplied local McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurants, numbers rackets, and slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s.
Zappola enjoyed watching professional Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games and fights in bars around Brooklyn. He was a regular patron of Bruno's Hair Salon in Bensonhurst, where he would get a massage and a pedicure
Pedicure
A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet and the nails. It provides a similar service to a manicure. The word pedicure refers to superficial cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails...
. Zappola was fastidious about his appearance and obsessed about his weight, walking six miles every day to stay trim. He wore a gold watch that was a gift from Casso, inscribed, "To George, a true friend, from Anthony." George was careless about police surveillance and electronic counter-surveillance, and carried a cell phone to which only Casso had the number. Zappola was Casso's most trusted contract killer.
In the late 80's, Zappola participated in the ambush murder of Lucchese capo Michael Pappadio. Lucchese boss Victor 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....
and Casso had ordered Pappadio' death after he refused to give up one of his rackets. After several Lucchese mobsters surprised and beat Pappadio in a bagel shop, Zappola shot him in the head with a .22-caliber pistol.
In 1990, Zappola and George Conte shot James D. Bishop, a Democratic district leader and former head of the painters' union in Whitestone, Queens
Whitestone, Queens
Whitestone is a residential neighborhood in the northernmost part of the City of New York borough of Queens. Located between the East River to the north and 25th Avenue to the south. Whitestone is surrounded by College Point, Flushing, Bayside, Auburndale, Linden Hill, and Murray Hill...
as he was parking his car. The Lucchese family had controlled and looted the District Council 9 of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (IBPAT) for years. The mobsters would receive kickback
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
s from contractors in exchange for bid rigging
Bid rigging
Bid rigging is a form of fraud in which a commercial contract is promised to one party even though for the sake of appearance several other parties also present a bid. This form of collusion is illegal in most countries...
and allowing the use of cheaper non-union workers. When it appeared that Bishop might cooperate with prosecutors in a state investigation of the district council, the Lucchese family ordered Zappola and Conte to murder him.
Brooklyn Captain
The early 1990s turned into a disaster for the Lucchese family. In 1991, Amuso was convicted on murder charges and sentenced to life in prison. With Amuso in prison, Casso assumed the family leadership. However, Casso was soon indicted himself on murder and racketeering charges and fled the state. During this period, Crea was elevated to Underboss, acting on direct orders from the absent Amuso and Casso. In 1993, Casso was captured.In 1993, Zappola and capos Frank "Bones" Papagni and Frank "Spaghetti Man" Gioia, Jr. saw an opportunity to wrest power away from Crea. With his ascension to power, Crea had shifted the family's power center away from Brooklyn, the power bases for Zappola, Pagagni and Goia, back to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the Bronx, the historic power base of the Lucchese family. Zappola, Papagni, Gioia, and 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...
Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino
Frank Lastorino
Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino is a New York City mobster and former Consigliere of the Lucchese crime family.-Lucchese hitman:Raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Lastorino soon joined the Lucchese crime family under Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo in extortion, loansharking and illegal gambling operations...
started planning to murder Crea. The disaffected mobsters also conspired with Casso to kill then Acting Boss
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
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...
, John "Junior" Gotti in retaliation for the killing of Patrick Testa. Allegedly, Zappola and his fellow conspirators also wanted to kill Gotti's rival Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo
Nicholas Corozzo
Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo is a New York mobster who is the reputed acting boss of the Gambino crime family.-Biography:...
, in an attempt to split up the Gambino family. Unfortunately for Zappola and the other mobsters, legal problems thwarted all of their plotting.
Indictments and prison
After his 1993 capture, Casso decided to avoid prison by becoming a government witness. Towards 1994, Zappola was indicted on racketeering and murder charges. As it turned, Casso was dropped from the Witness Protection Program and sent to prison for life. Although Casso never testified, the threat of his testimony convinced Gioia, to cooperate with the government for protection. Goia's testimony would lead to massive indictments of racketeering, extortionExtortion
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, illegal gambling, bribery, 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...
, fraud, 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...
and murder charges.
In January 1995, Zappola was indicted on federal charges linking him to four killings and conspiracies to kill other members of the Lucchese family. In January 1996, Zapolla was indicted in a broad murder and racketeering indictment. In June 1996, Zappola and pleaded guilty to several murders, including the 1990 Bishop slaying. Zappola was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Sperm smuggler
In October 1996, while being held at Metropolitan Detention CenterMetropolitan Detention Center
"Metropolitan Detention Centers" are federal detention facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and located throughout the United States...
in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
, Zappola bribed a federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) guard $1,000 to smuggle his sperm
Sperm
The term sperm is derived from the Greek word sperma and refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell...
out of the facility. The sperm was taken to a Manhattan fertility clinic
Fertility clinic
Fertility clinics are staffed medical clinics that assist couples, and sometimes individuals, who want to become parents but for medical reasons have been unable to achieve this goal via the natural course...
, where it was frozen for the future impregnation of Zappola's girlfriend. However, the girlfriend changed her mind about the scheme and went to the government. Authorities retrieved the sperm from the clinic, obtained a court order for a blood sample from Zappola, compared the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
, and got a positive match. In 1999, the government fired the prison guard and charged him with smuggling the sperm. During this time, Zappola also bribed BOP correctional officers to receive special food, wine, and visitors along with information from BOP computers.
In 1997, Zappola was transferred to the Allenwood Federal Correctional Institution, a medium security prison in Central Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. As of October 2011, Zappola is still incarcerated at Allenwood. His projected release date is March 3, 2014.