Ralph Scopo
Encyclopedia
Ralph "Little Ralphie" Scopo (1932 - March 1993) was a New York mobster with the Colombo crime family
who became a powerful labor racketeer. He was the father of Colombo mobsters Joseph Scopo and Ralph Scopo Jr., and the grandfather of Joseph Scopo Jr. and Ralph Scopo III.
and Concrete
Workers District Council, Scopo controlled three chapters in New York City of the Laborers' International Union of North America
. These locals included thousands of laborers who worked on big constructions projects in the New York area. Scopo used his position to extort money from cement contractors in New York in return for big contracts and labor peace. These payments went to four New York Cosa Nostra families in an arrangement called the "Concrete Club"
The Concrete Club allocated contracts for high-rise building projects over $2 million in New York City to certain concrete contractors, guaranteeing them profitable winning bids for projects. In return, the contractors gave 2% of their project payments to Scopo, who disbursed them to the Club. Although Scopo was only a low-ranking soldier, his membership in the Concrete Club allowed him more influence than some capos in the Colombo family. Eventually, Scopo became consigliere
for the Colombo family.
The Cosa Nostra's control over the cement companies was ultimately backed up by violence. In an recorded conversation with contractor James Costigan, Scopo explained how the Concrete Club "protected" contractors:
In another recording in April,1984, Scopo tells an associate that the Gambino crime family
had murdered capo Roy DeMeo
because they feared DeMeo might become a government witness and testify against them.
trial. As part of this investigation, agents placed a remote listening device in Scopo's car.
In February 1985, Scopo and other high-ranking Cosa Nostra leaders were indicted on federal racketeering charges. Scopo was specifically charged with extorting $326,000 from a concrete supplier. As a result of the indictment, Scopo was forced to resign from the District Council. Along with the other defendants, Scopo pleaded not guilty in what would become known as the Mafia Commission Trial
. On November 14, 1985, the trial was interrupted when Scopo complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital. However, he was able to return to the trial the next day.
. On January 13, 1987, Scopo received a $240,000 fine and 100 years in prison. Two months later, on March 21, 1987, the remaining leadership of the Concrete Workers District Council resigned, to be replaced by a court-appointed trustee. After Scopo's conviction, his son Joseph became the new capo for his father's crew and later family underboss.
On July 17, 1987, Scopo was convicted of federal extortion charges in the Colombo Trial (which was separate from the Commission Trial).
In March 1993, Ralph Scopo Sr. died of natural causes while serving his sentences in a federal penitentiary.On October 22, 1993, son Joseph Scopo was murdered by loyalists of Colombo boss Carmine Persico
.
Colombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
who became a powerful labor racketeer. He was the father of Colombo mobsters Joseph Scopo and Ralph Scopo Jr., and the grandfather of Joseph Scopo Jr. and Ralph Scopo III.
Concrete Club
As president and business manager of the CementCement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
and Concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
Workers District Council, Scopo controlled three chapters in New York City of the Laborers' International Union of North America
Laborers' International Union of North America
The Laborers' International Union of North America is an American and Canadian labor union formed in 1903. As of March 31, 2010, they have about 632,000 members, members, about 80,000 of which are in Canada.The current general president is Terence M...
. These locals included thousands of laborers who worked on big constructions projects in the New York area. Scopo used his position to extort money from cement contractors in New York in return for big contracts and labor peace. These payments went to four New York Cosa Nostra families in an arrangement called the "Concrete Club"
The Concrete Club allocated contracts for high-rise building projects over $2 million in New York City to certain concrete contractors, guaranteeing them profitable winning bids for projects. In return, the contractors gave 2% of their project payments to Scopo, who disbursed them to the Club. Although Scopo was only a low-ranking soldier, his membership in the Concrete Club allowed him more influence than some capos in the Colombo family. Eventually, Scopo became 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...
for the Colombo family.
The Cosa Nostra's control over the cement companies was ultimately backed up by violence. In an recorded conversation with contractor James Costigan, Scopo explained how the Concrete Club "protected" contractors:
Scopo: If I tell you stories about Contractors that you know, that's supposed to get hurt, that I protected...
Costigan: Why would any, they get hurt?
Scopo: Well, we...for doin' what their not supposed to be doin'.
In another recording in April,1984, Scopo tells an associate that 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...
had murdered capo Roy DeMeo
Roy DeMeo
Roy Albert DeMeo was a soldier in the Gambino crime family. He is infamous for heading the DeMeo crew, a gang suspected by the FBI of murdering at least 70 people between 1973 and 1983. The vast majority were disposed of so thoroughly that they were never found...
because they feared DeMeo might become a government witness and testify against them.
Racketeering convictions
In 1980, the FBI initiated Operation Genus against all five of the New York Cosa Nostra families, an effort that would result in the infamous Mafia CommissionMafia Commission
Mafia Commission may refer to:*Sicilian Mafia Commission*The Commission *Mafia Commission Trial...
trial. As part of this investigation, agents placed a remote listening device in Scopo's car.
In February 1985, Scopo and other high-ranking Cosa Nostra leaders were indicted on federal racketeering charges. Scopo was specifically charged with extorting $326,000 from a concrete supplier. As a result of the indictment, Scopo was forced to resign from the District Council. Along with the other defendants, Scopo pleaded not guilty in what would become known as the Mafia Commission Trial
Mafia Commission Trial
The Mafia Commission Trial was a criminal trial in New York City, USA. Using evidence obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, eleven organized crime figures, including the heads of New York's so-called "Five Families," were indicted by United States Attorney Rudolph Giuliani under the...
. On November 14, 1985, the trial was interrupted when Scopo complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital. However, he was able to return to the trial the next day.
Prison
On November 18, 1986, Scopo was convicted in the Commission Trial of racketeering for carrying out the orders of the Mafia CommissionThe 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...
. On January 13, 1987, Scopo received a $240,000 fine and 100 years in prison. Two months later, on March 21, 1987, the remaining leadership of the Concrete Workers District Council resigned, to be replaced by a court-appointed trustee. After Scopo's conviction, his son Joseph became the new capo for his father's crew and later family underboss.
On July 17, 1987, Scopo was convicted of federal extortion charges in the Colombo Trial (which was separate from the Commission Trial).
In March 1993, Ralph Scopo Sr. died of natural causes while serving his sentences in a federal penitentiary.On October 22, 1993, son Joseph Scopo was murdered by loyalists of Colombo boss Carmine Persico
Carmine Persico
Carmine John Persico, Jr. also known as "Junior", "The Snake" and "Immortal", has been the de-facto boss of the Colombo crime family since the early 1970s. Persico has overseen gang wars, murders, and major rackets, most of the time from prison. He has been serving life imprisonment without...
.
Further reading
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- Davis, John H. Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-06-016357-7
- Goldstock, Ronald. 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
- Jacobs, James B., Christopher Panarella and Jay Worthington. 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
- Raab, Selwyn. The Five Families: The Rise, Decline & Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empire. New York: St. Martins Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-30094-8
External links
- New York Times: Jury Is Told Crime Families Control Concrete Business by Ronald Smothers