Joseph Miranda
Encyclopedia
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 high-ranking members in 2003.
As the crime family's most senior member, earning him the sobriquet
"the Old Man", Miranda was the defacto head of the DeCavalcantes for three years until stepping down in favor of Francesco Guarraci in late-2006. He and Guarraci are presently the two top men, as boss
and underboss respectively, in the criminal organization.
and loan shark
under both founder Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante
and Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi
during the 1960s and mid 1970s. FBI documents indicate that DeCavalcante once prevented Miranda from being killed by speaking up for him at a sit-down meeting after Miranda robbed another mobster while working for DeCavalcante.
For decades, Miranda operated from a First Avenue bar in Elizabeth, New Jersey
. He was recognized as the Acting Underboss for Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo
after Palermo's incarceration in 2003. According to law enforcement, Miranda is recognized as a senior advisor and still reportedly holds the rank of Underboss, while Palermo is incarcerated. He attempted to rebuild the DeCavalcante family, inducting half a dozen new members into the organization, but turned control over to 51-year-old Sicilian immigrant Francesco Guarraci by the end of 2006. As of December 2007, the octogenarian Miranda was still operating out of the Elizabeth, New Jersey faction. According to US law enforcement, Miranda and Frank Guarraci are in charge as bosses of the family, with Miranda still running the day-to-day operations.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mobster and member of the 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...
-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...
. A longtime "soldier"
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...
to Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante
Sam DeCavalcante
Simone Rizzo "Sam" DeCavalcante , known as "Sam the Plumber", was a member of the New Jersey Mafia. Claiming descent from the Italian royal family, DeCavalcante was nicknamed "The Count"...
and later boss Giovanni 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...
, he became acting 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...
for 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:...
following the imprisonment of many high-ranking members in 2003.
As the crime family's most senior member, earning him the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
"the Old Man", Miranda was the defacto head of the DeCavalcantes for three years until stepping down in favor of Francesco Guarraci in late-2006. He and Guarraci are presently the two top men, as 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...
and underboss respectively, in the criminal organization.
Biography
Joseph Miranda served as a made manMade 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...
and loan shark
Loan shark
A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence....
under both founder Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante
Sam DeCavalcante
Simone Rizzo "Sam" DeCavalcante , known as "Sam the Plumber", was a member of the New Jersey Mafia. Claiming descent from the Italian royal family, DeCavalcante was nicknamed "The Count"...
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...
during the 1960s and mid 1970s. FBI documents indicate that DeCavalcante once prevented Miranda from being killed by speaking up for him at a sit-down meeting after Miranda robbed another mobster while working for DeCavalcante.
For decades, Miranda operated from a First Avenue bar in 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...
. He was recognized as the Acting Underboss for 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:...
after Palermo's incarceration in 2003. According to law enforcement, Miranda is recognized as a senior advisor and still reportedly holds the rank of Underboss, while Palermo is incarcerated. He attempted to rebuild the DeCavalcante family, inducting half a dozen new members into the organization, but turned control over to 51-year-old Sicilian immigrant Francesco Guarraci by the end of 2006. As of December 2007, the octogenarian Miranda was still operating out of the Elizabeth, New Jersey faction. According to US law enforcement, Miranda and Frank Guarraci are in charge as bosses of the family, with Miranda still running the day-to-day operations.
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.