Peter DeFeo
Encyclopedia
Peter DeFeo also known as "Philie Aquilino", was a New York mobster who became a caporegime
with the Genovese crime family
.
neighborhood, DeFeo joined the Luciano crime family under boss Frank Costello
. When DeFeo became a made man
, he entered a crew belonging to mobster Mike Miranda that operated in Lower Manhattan
and Brooklyn
. DeFeo soon aligned himself with capo Vito Genovese
, who would depose Costello as boss in the late 1950s. When Genovese went to prison in 1959, DeFeo served under acting boss Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli
.
DeFeo was a member of Patty Ryan Eboli's crew, and would eventually become the crew's captain. DeFeo operated most of his businesses from the Alto Knights Social Club in Little Italy. However, he also conducted business from other social clubs and the Cuomo Cheese Corporation in Little Italy. DeFeo's top hit men were Alexander "Black Alex" Morelli and the Lorenzo "Larry Chappie" Brescio. DeFeo was one of the main bosses of the Lower East Side Italian lottery, and controlled bookmaking in the area.
during the 1970s. Mobster Vincent Cafaro
testified that DeFeo's interests in the Carpenters Union were represented by Morelli and genovese associate Marcello Svedese, a union official with Local 17.
DeFeo's crew also extorted money from construction and construction-related trucking companies. As an example, DeFeo was receiving between $8,000 to $10,000 per year from P. Chimento Trucking during the 1980s. DeFeo also received payments from Ross Trucking, and controlled Pier 13 in Manhattan, which was known as "the Banana Pier".
murders in Amityville, New York
. As it turned out, Defeo's grandnephew, Ronald DeFeo, Jr.
, had murdered his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters in their suburban house. There were reports that the police originally considered Peter DeFeo as a suspect.
In 1981, DeFeo's influence within the family began to wane. Mobster Vincent Gigante
became boss and his capos Liborio Bellomo
and Vincent DiNapoli
whittled away much of DeFeo's power. In 1987, DeFeo and Bellomo got into a dispute over control over Carpenters Local 17 in the Bronx. To settle the dispute, consigliere Louis Manna
gave the local to Bellomo.
Soon after the dispute with Bellomo, DeFeo retired from the family. In April 1993, DeFeo died of natural causes at age 91.
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 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...
.
Rise to power
Growing up in New York's Little ItalyLittle Italy, Manhattan
Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. Today the neighborhood of Little Italy consists of Italian stores and restaurants.-Historical area:...
neighborhood, DeFeo joined the Luciano crime family under boss Frank Costello
Frank Costello
Frank Costello was an Italian New York City gangster who rose to the top of America's underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and enjoyed political influence.Nicknamed the "Prime Minister of the Underworld", he became one of the most powerful and influential Mafia...
. When DeFeo became a made man
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...
, he entered a crew belonging to mobster Mike Miranda that operated in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
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...
. DeFeo soon aligned himself with capo Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
, who would depose Costello as boss in the late 1950s. When Genovese went to prison in 1959, DeFeo served under acting boss Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli
Thomas Eboli
Thomas "Tommy Ryan" Eboli was a New York City mobster who eventually became the acting boss of the Genovese crime family.-Early life:...
.
DeFeo was a member of Patty Ryan Eboli's crew, and would eventually become the crew's captain. DeFeo operated most of his businesses from the Alto Knights Social Club in Little Italy. However, he also conducted business from other social clubs and the Cuomo Cheese Corporation in Little Italy. DeFeo's top hit men were Alexander "Black Alex" Morelli and the Lorenzo "Larry Chappie" Brescio. DeFeo was one of the main bosses of the Lower East Side Italian lottery, and controlled bookmaking in the area.
Carpenters' union rackets and extortion activities
DeFeo's crew was involved in the N.Y.C. District Council of CarpentersN.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters
The N.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters maintains jurisdiction over all carpentry work and exhibition work in the New York City area. The council is under UBC Trusteeship, after the firing of the current Executive Secretary-Treasurer, which is the highest position in the union, Michael J Forde...
during the 1970s. Mobster Vincent Cafaro
Vincent Cafaro
Vincent "Fish" Cafaro was a mobster and protegee of Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno, a top lieutenant in the Genovese crime family until becoming a government informant and witness.-Labor racketeer:...
testified that DeFeo's interests in the Carpenters Union were represented by Morelli and genovese associate Marcello Svedese, a union official with Local 17.
DeFeo's crew also extorted money from construction and construction-related trucking companies. As an example, DeFeo was receiving between $8,000 to $10,000 per year from P. Chimento Trucking during the 1980s. DeFeo also received payments from Ross Trucking, and controlled Pier 13 in Manhattan, which was known as "the Banana Pier".
Later years
In 1974, DeFeo came into the news after the Amityville HorrorThe Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror: A True Story is a book by Jay Anson, published in September 1977. It is also the basis of a series of films released between 1979 and 2005...
murders in Amityville, New York
Amityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. As it turned out, Defeo's grandnephew, Ronald DeFeo, Jr.
Ronald DeFeo, Jr.
Ronald Joseph "Butch" DeFeo, Jr. is an American murderer. He was tried and convicted for the 1974 killings of his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters...
, had murdered his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters in their suburban house. There were reports that the police originally considered Peter DeFeo as a suspect.
In 1981, DeFeo's influence within the family began to wane. Mobster Vincent 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...
became boss and his capos Liborio Bellomo
Liborio Bellomo
Liborio Salvatore Bellomo , known as Barney and Big Barney, is a high ranking caporegime and street boss of the Genovese crime family in New York City. Bellomo is one of the fastest rising Mafia members in the United States today, becoming a capo in his mid-twenties...
and Vincent DiNapoli
Vincent DiNapoli
Vincent DiNapoli is a New York mobster and captain in the Genovese crime family, involved in labor racketeering. DiNapoli is best known for creating a cartel in the 1970s that controlled the price of drywall in New York City.-Early years:...
whittled away much of DeFeo's power. In 1987, DeFeo and Bellomo got into a dispute over control over Carpenters Local 17 in the Bronx. To settle the dispute, consigliere Louis Manna
Louis Manna
Louis Anthony "Bobby" Manna , is a New Jersey mobster and former consigliere of the Genovese crime family.-Genovese family:...
gave the local to Bellomo.
Soon after the dispute with Bellomo, DeFeo retired from the family. In April 1993, DeFeo died of natural causes at age 91.
Further reading
- 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
- Osuna, Ric. The Night The Defeos Died: Reinvestigating the Amityville Murders. Nevada: Noble Kai Media, 2003. ISBN 1-59109-586-7
- United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. Investigation of Improper Activities in the Labor Or Management Field. 1959. http://books.google.com/books?vid=0l7dFSlTiMGjlr2Dr1MJho5&id=4XYqm3FLdrUC&q=%22Peter+DeFeo%22&dq=%22Peter+DeFeo%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Waterfront Investigation: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 1953. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC04716491&id=97dOXY_9unsC&q=%22Peter+DeFeo%22&dq=%22Peter+DeFeo%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1