Michael Sabella
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mimi" Sabella was a caporegime
in the Bonanno crime family
and a relative of Philadelphia crime family
mob boss Salvatore Sabella
.
parents from Castellammare del Golfo
. He was a close relative of Castellammarese mobster Dominick "Mimi" Sabella and his brother, the early Philadelphia crime family
boss Salvatore Sabella
. Mike Sabella became a soldier for the Bonanno family serving under boss Joseph Bonanno
in 1957. He was involved in gambling and loansharking during the 1950s.
Before the Bonanno wars of the 1960s, Sabella had been a soldier first in the crew of fellow Castellammarese Carmine Galante
and later under Joe Notaro, both top Joe Bonanno loyalists. During the conflict between the Bonannos and Gaspar DiGregorio
, Mike Sabella initially remained loyal to the Bonanno faction, but eventually the Commission
convinced him to join DiGregorio's group. As a result, he was rewarded with a promotion to capo of his old crew.
Sabella worked closely with Nicholas Marangello
, Galante's consigliere
and became a close confidant to his former captain Carmine Galante, who by the mid-1970s had become the street boss of the organization. Sabella's crew was among the largest in the Family, with interests stretching from Manhattan and New Jersey area down to Florida.
He is the father of two sons, Arthur Sabella who was born in c. 1957 and Steven Sabella who was born c. 1966, who is estranged from his family. During the 1970s, Sabella became the owner of Casa Bella, an upscale restaurant in Little Italy that served as his primary meeting place.
was undercover in the Bonanno family under the name "Donnie Brasco"; a jewel thief expert and Mafia associate. Pistone soon began working with several of the made men who worked for Sabella's crew, such as Anthony Mirra
and Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero
. After the takeover of Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano
, Donnie Brasco continued to work with the crew. Before the Donnie Brasco Operation was ended, Pistone was proposed to become a made member of the family. After the disclosure of Pistone as a federal agent working undercover, Sabella was indicted with Frank Balestrieri, boss of Milwaukee, but was cleared of all charges. It is alleged that Sabella became aware that Pistone's business partner was an agent working undercover and tried to warn Sonny Black but was largely ignored.
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...
in the Bonanno crime family
Bonanno crime family
The Bonanno 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 ....
and a relative of Philadelphia crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
mob boss Salvatore Sabella
Salvatore Sabella
Salvatore Sabella was the Sicilian Mafia boss of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the 1920s. Sabella built the future Bruno crime family and trained its leaders.-Early life:...
.
Early years
Born in Little Italy, Manhattan to SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
parents from Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo is a town and comune in the Trapani Province of Sicily. The name is roughly translated "Sea- Fortress of the Gulf", deriving from the medieval fortress in the harbor...
. He was a close relative of Castellammarese mobster Dominick "Mimi" Sabella and his brother, the early Philadelphia crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
boss Salvatore Sabella
Salvatore Sabella
Salvatore Sabella was the Sicilian Mafia boss of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the 1920s. Sabella built the future Bruno crime family and trained its leaders.-Early life:...
. Mike Sabella became a soldier for the Bonanno family serving under boss Joseph Bonanno
Joseph Bonanno
Joseph Charles Bonanno, Sr. was a Sicilian-born American mafioso who became the boss of the Bonanno crime family. He was nicknamed "Joe Bananas," a name he despised.-Early life:...
in 1957. He was involved in gambling and loansharking during the 1950s.
Before the Bonanno wars of the 1960s, Sabella had been a soldier first in the crew of fellow Castellammarese Carmine Galante
Carmine Galante
Carmine Galante, also known as "Lilo" and "Cigar" was a mobster and acting boss of the Bonanno crime family...
and later under Joe Notaro, both top Joe Bonanno loyalists. During the conflict between the Bonannos and Gaspar DiGregorio
Gaspar DiGregorio
Gaspar or Gaspare DiGregorio was a New York mobster and a high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family who was a key figure in the so-called "Banana War"....
, Mike Sabella initially remained loyal to the Bonanno faction, but eventually the Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
convinced him to join DiGregorio's group. As a result, he was rewarded with a promotion to capo of his old crew.
Sabella worked closely with Nicholas Marangello
Nicholas Marangello
Nicholas Marangello , also known as "Nicky Glasses", "Nicky Cigars", "Nicky the Butler" and "Little Nicky", was the underboss of the Bonanno crime family under Phillip Rastelli, the father-in-law of Robert Perrino and grandfather of Nicola Langora.-Biography:Marangello was born on the Lower East...
, Galante's 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...
and became a close confidant to his former captain Carmine Galante, who by the mid-1970s had become the street boss of the organization. Sabella's crew was among the largest in the Family, with interests stretching from Manhattan and New Jersey area down to Florida.
He is the father of two sons, Arthur Sabella who was born in c. 1957 and Steven Sabella who was born c. 1966, who is estranged from his family. During the 1970s, Sabella became the owner of Casa Bella, an upscale restaurant in Little Italy that served as his primary meeting place.
Donnie Brasco
FBI agent Joseph D. PistoneJoseph D. Pistone
Joseph Dominick Pistone, alias Donnie Brasco, , is a former FBI agent who worked undercover for six years infiltrating the Bonanno crime family and to a lesser extent the Colombo crime family, two of the Five Families of the Mafia in New York City...
was undercover in the Bonanno family under the name "Donnie Brasco"; a jewel thief expert and Mafia associate. Pistone soon began working with several of the made men who worked for Sabella's crew, such as Anthony Mirra
Anthony Mirra
Anthony "Tony" Mirra was an Italian-American mobster and soldier for the Bonanno crime family...
and Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero
Benjamin Ruggiero
Benjamin Ruggiero, also known as "Lefty," "Lefty Guns," "Lefty Two Guns" , was a soldier in the Bonanno crime family. He is well known for his friendship and mentorship of FBI undercover agent Joseph "Donnie Brasco" Pistone. Ruggiero was an old school Cosa Nostra mobster who knew how Mafia...
. After the takeover of Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano
Sonny Black Napolitano
Dominick Napolitano , also known as Sonny Black, was an American Mafia caporegime in the Bonanno crime family. He is well known for allowing FBI agent Joseph "Donnie Brasco" Pistone to become an associate in his crew and nearly getting him made.-Biography:Napolitano's grandparents were immigrants...
, Donnie Brasco continued to work with the crew. Before the Donnie Brasco Operation was ended, Pistone was proposed to become a made member of the family. After the disclosure of Pistone as a federal agent working undercover, Sabella was indicted with Frank Balestrieri, boss of Milwaukee, but was cleared of all charges. It is alleged that Sabella became aware that Pistone's business partner was an agent working undercover and tried to warn Sonny Black but was largely ignored.
Later years
After the murder of Carmine Galante in 1979, Mike Sabella and several other Bonanno leaders were demoted as a result of their close association with Galante while he was street boss. Sabella was replaced as capo by his former underling Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano.. After the assassination of the three captains: Sonny Red, Big Trin, and Philly lucky, Sabella decided to sell his restaurant and remained a low level figure throughout the 1980s. It is said that he had over 1 million dollars on the street as shylock money. His successor, Sonny Black, would later be brutally murdered, allegedly as a result of his close association with "Donnie Brasco"; however, former mob boss Joe Massino has testified that Napolitano was killed for trying to take over the family. Sabella died from complications from diabetes in 1989. He was 79 years old.External links
Further reading
- Pistone, Joseph D.; & Woodley, Richard (1999) Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaDonnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaDonnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia is a non-fiction crime book written by Joseph D. Pistone. It is the true story of FBI agent Joseph Pistone going undercover and infiltrating the Mafia...
, Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-66637-4. - Pistone, Joseph D. (2004). The Way of the Wiseguy, Running Press. ISBN 0-7624-1839-7.
- Pistone, Joseph D.; & Brandt, Charles (2007). Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, Running Press. ISBN 0-7624-2707-8.
- DeStefano, Anthony. The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family. California: Citadel, 2006.
- Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: St. Martin Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-30094-8