Vincent DiNapoli
Encyclopedia
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.
during the 1950s, DiNapoli was originally associated with the Lucchese crime family
. He later switched to the Genovese crime family and became an associate of soldier Vincent "Fish" Cafaro
, front boss Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno's top lieutenant. DiNapoli's older brother Joseph
is allegedly a captain in the Lucchese crime family
and his younger brother Louis
allegedly is a soldier in DiNapoli's crew.
In the late 1970s, Cafaro sponsored DiNapoli for family membership in the family and he was placed in Saverio Santora
's 116th Street crew.By the early 1980s, DiNapoli had become New York's most powerful labor racketeer, earning himself and the Genovese family bosses millions of dollars from extortion
, shakedown, bid rigging
, and controlling companies.
charges in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
indictment. DiNapoli allegedly became worried worried that Maritas might cooperate with law enforcement and received approval from the Genovese hierarchy to kill him. In 1982, Maritas disappeared before the trial was scheduled to start. After Cafaro became a government witness, he claimed that DiNapoli murdered Maritas. Later in 1982, DiNapoli pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sent to prison for five years. While in prison, his union rackets were managed by his brother Louis and Louis Moscatiello. DiNapoli later became close to the next District Council President, Paschal McGuinness
, and the two men continued to enforce a mob tax on all drywall
construction in New York.
In 1978, DiNapoli established the Operative Plasterer
s and Cement Mason
s International Association Local 530 and designated Mosciatello as business manager. DiNapoli also controlled Carpenters Local 257 through his associates Attilio Bitondo
and Eugene Hanley
. DiNapoli used their positions to extort contractors operating on the East Side of Manhattan. DiNapoli would again be convicted and sentenced to prison; his interests in the District Council would be absorbed by a close associate, Liborio Bellomo
.
DiNapoli did not hesitate to use fear to keep the rackets in check. DiNapoli was suspected of ordering the slaying of Danny Evangelista, a dissident union leader from Local 385; Evangelista was shot to death while sitting at his desk in the Local. DiNapoli also allegedly gave the order to firebomb
the home of another Local 385 member, Shaun Tones, who criticized various union officials.
and the South Bronx
, and received $32 million in city contracts in 1988 alone.
In the early 1980s, DiNapoli became enraged when he lost out on a contractor who made a deal with Gambino boss Paul Castellano
; the contractor, Frederick DeMatteis became one of Long Island
's biggest developers. A conversation between members of the Concrete Club indicated that Castellano prevailed and kept DeMatteis as his partner:
Neil Migliore: "Metro's Paul's."
Christopher Furnari: "It's Paul."
DiNapoli had no choice but to accept the ruling from his superiors.
DiNapoli, Salerno, and mob associate Nicholas Auletta also owned the old Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York
. DiNapoli owned "Il Boschetto", a Bronx restaurant. During his time in prison, actor Burt Young
operated the restaurant. In 1992, investigators learned that DiNapoli and Lucchese capo Steven Crea
co-owned a valuable housing development in Yonkers, New York
.
On June 28, 1991, an Appeals Court in New York reversed the convictions of DiNapoli and the other mobsters and ordered a new trial.
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...
, involved in labor racketeering. DiNapoli is best known for creating a cartel
Cartel
A cartel is a formal agreement among competing firms. It is a formal organization of producers and manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing, and production. Cartels usually occur in an oligopolistic industry, where there is a small number of sellers and usually involve homogeneous products...
in the 1970s that controlled the price of drywall
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
in New York City.
Early years
Growing up in the East Harlem section of ManhattanManhattan
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...
during the 1950s, DiNapoli was originally associated 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...
. He later switched to the Genovese crime family and became an associate of soldier Vincent "Fish" 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:...
, front boss Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno's top lieutenant. DiNapoli's older brother Joseph
Joseph DiNapoli
Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli , is a high-ranking member of the Lucchese crime family, holding the rank of caporegime or captain, in the family's Ruling Committee/Panel, controlling the day-to-day operations since 2003, along with Aniello "Neil" Migliore and Matthew Madonna...
is allegedly a captain in 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...
and his younger brother Louis
Louis DiNapoli
Louis DiNapoli is a New York City mobster and soldier in the Genovese crime family. DiNapoli grew up in the East Harlem section of Manhattan and became a made member of the Genovese family in the early 1980s, joining the 116th Street Crew, which was headed by his older brother Vincent DiNapoli. ...
allegedly is a soldier in DiNapoli's crew.
In the late 1970s, Cafaro sponsored DiNapoli for family membership in the family and he was placed in Saverio Santora
Saverio Santora
Saverio Santora , also known as "Sammy Black", was a New York mobster with the Genovese crime family who briefly served as family underboss....
's 116th Street crew.By the early 1980s, DiNapoli had become New York's most powerful labor racketeer, earning himself and the Genovese family bosses millions of dollars from extortion
Extortion
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...
, shakedown, 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 controlling companies.
Union boss
DiNapoli dominated the New York City District Council of Carpenters through his ally Teddy Maritas. In 1981, DiNapoli, his brother Louis, and Maritas, were indicted on labor racketeering and 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...
charges in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
indictment. DiNapoli allegedly became worried worried that Maritas might cooperate with law enforcement and received approval from the Genovese hierarchy to kill him. In 1982, Maritas disappeared before the trial was scheduled to start. After Cafaro became a government witness, he claimed that DiNapoli murdered Maritas. Later in 1982, DiNapoli pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sent to prison for five years. While in prison, his union rackets were managed by his brother Louis and Louis Moscatiello. DiNapoli later became close to the next District Council President, Paschal McGuinness
Paschal McGuinness
-Early life and career:Paschal was born in County Cavan, Ireland. During his early life, he learned the Carpenter trade via an apprenticeship program. After emigrating to the United States, Paschal joined Local Union 608 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America in November 1957...
, and the two men continued to enforce a mob tax on all drywall
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
construction in New York.
In 1978, DiNapoli established the Operative Plasterer
Plasterer
A plasterer is a tradesman who works with plaster, such as forming a layer of plaster on an interior wall or plaster decorative moldings on ceilings or walls...
s and Cement Mason
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
s International Association Local 530 and designated Mosciatello as business manager. DiNapoli also controlled Carpenters Local 257 through his associates Attilio Bitondo
Attilio Bitondo
Attilio Bitondo , also known as "Tillio", was a New York City labor leader and an associate in the Genovese crime family in the crew of powerful Manhattan captain Vincent DiNapoli....
and Eugene Hanley
Eugene Hanley
Eugene Hanley was a New York City labor leader, as well as an associate of the Genovese crime family. Hanley took over as President of Local 257 of the New York City District Council of Carpenters for his father-in-law, a Genovese mobster named Will Graziano...
. DiNapoli used their positions to extort contractors operating on the East Side of Manhattan. DiNapoli would again be convicted and sentenced to prison; his interests in the District Council would be absorbed by a close associate, 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...
.
DiNapoli did not hesitate to use fear to keep the rackets in check. DiNapoli was suspected of ordering the slaying of Danny Evangelista, a dissident union leader from Local 385; Evangelista was shot to death while sitting at his desk in the Local. DiNapoli also allegedly gave the order to firebomb
Firebomb
Firebomb may refer to:* Firebombing* Incendiary device* Molotov cocktail* A season 2 episode of the television show Alias* "Fire Bomb", a song by Rihanna from her 2009 album Rated R...
the home of another Local 385 member, Shaun Tones, who criticized various union officials.
Business Holdings
DiNapoli secretly owned interests in a dozen construction companies, real estate properties, and housing developments. DiNapoli and Tony Salerno were the key figures representing the Genovese family in the concrete industry. Along with close associate Edward "Biff" Halloran, the men grossed millions of dollars, enough for Forbes Magazine to place both Salerno and DiNapoli on the list of the Top 10 Richest Mobsters in the nation. DiNapoli secretly owned Cambridge Drywall and Inner-City Drywall, which became became one of the biggest developers in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
and the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
, and received $32 million in city contracts in 1988 alone.
In the early 1980s, DiNapoli became enraged when he lost out on a contractor who made a deal with Gambino boss Paul Castellano
Paul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
; the contractor, Frederick DeMatteis became one of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
's biggest developers. A conversation between members of the Concrete Club indicated that Castellano prevailed and kept DeMatteis as his partner:
- Tony Salerno: "Metro is Paul's, right?"
Neil Migliore: "Metro's Paul's."
Christopher Furnari: "It's Paul."
DiNapoli had no choice but to accept the ruling from his superiors.
DiNapoli, Salerno, and mob associate Nicholas Auletta also owned the old Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. DiNapoli owned "Il Boschetto", a Bronx restaurant. During his time in prison, actor Burt Young
Burt Young
Burt Young is an American actor, painter and author. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law and friend Paulie in the Rocky film series.-Personal life:...
operated the restaurant. In 1992, investigators learned that DiNapoli and Lucchese capo Steven 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:...
co-owned a valuable housing development in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
.
Prison
In March 1986, DiNapoli and other Genovese family members were indicted for labor racketeering, construction bid-rigging, extortion, illegal gambling, and murder conspiracies. The indictment alleged that DiNapoli and his associates had cost real estate developers millions of dollars due to mob control of the concrete companies and subsequent bid rigging. While awaiting trial, Cafaro struck a deal with federal prosecutors and became a government witness. In 1988, DiNapoli was convicted and sentenced to prison.On June 28, 1991, an Appeals Court in New York reversed the convictions of DiNapoli and the other mobsters and ordered a new trial.
Further reading
- 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
- 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. 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
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi: Hearings Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 1988. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC19099088&id=DQeMhDjHx58C&q=%22Vincent+DiNapoli%22&dq=%22Vincent+DiNapoli%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Labor Violence and the Hobbs Act: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary. 1984. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC11402008&id=cDfz_F23nB4C&q=%22Vincent+DiNapoli%22&dq=%22Vincent+DiNapoli%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
External links
- National Legal and Policy Center - Organized Labor Accountability Project Union Corruption Update
- The Boalt Journal of Criminal Law Ten Years of Court-Supervised Reform: A Chronicle and Assessment by James B. Jacobs and Kristin Stohne
- CNN Money.com The Mafia's Bite of the Big Apple
- New York Times: REPUTED MOB LEADER AMONG 15 INDICTED ON RACKETEERING COUNTS By ARNOLD H. LUBASCH
- New York Times: Grand Jury Vote Expected Soon In Union Inquiry By SELWYN RAAB
- New York Times: MAJOR MAFIA LEADER TURNS INFORMER, SECRETLY RECORDING MEETINGS OF MOB By ARNOLD H. LUBASCH