Joseph Biondo
Joseph Biondo (April 16, 1897, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Italy – June 10, 1966, New York City; pronounced "bee-ON-doh") also known as "JB", "Joe Bandy", "Joe the Blonde", and "Little Rabbit", was a New York City mobster with the Gambino crime family who was heavily involved in gambling activities. Biondo was also the family underboss for approximately eight years.
Career
Born in
Biondo's early criminal record included arrests for
With the repeal of
In early 1938, Biondo was indicted on charges of extorting payments from taxicab companies. On July 13, 1938, a
In 1957, Biondo and underboss Carlo Gambino conspired to assassinate family boss Albert Anastasia in a Manhattan barber shop. When Gambino took over after Anastasia's death, he appointed Biondo as underboss.
In 1965, Gambino became dissatisfied with Biondo's independence and replaced him as underboss with capo Aniello Dellacroce. Working with mobster Sam DeCavalcante of the DeCavalcante crime family, Biondo had gained a share of revenues from a sanitation landfill in New Jersey. However, Biondo had hid this new revenue from Gambino to avoid sharing it with the family. DeCavalcante later revealed the deception to Gambino, who then removed Biondo from power.
Death
Joseph Biondo died in New York of natural causes on June 10, 1966. He is buried at the
Family
Joseph Biondo married Louise Vope in 1934. They went on to have two kids Vincent Joseph Biondo and Drew Dean Biondo, both Drew and vincent followed in their father's footsteps in the Gambino crime family. Drew moved between Philadelphia and Boston while being the head boss of the Patriarca crime family while Vincent stayed in Queens to run his father's businesses. Living members of the Biondo family consist of only few, Drew Dean Biondo(64) Vincent Joseph Biondo(60) Dustin Joseph Biondo(41) Vincent Joseph Biondo JR(39) Joseph's life long best friend Anthony Ruggiano was Vincent and Drews godfather as was Joseph to Anthony Ruggiano Jr who both Drew and Vincent looked at like a little brother.
References
- ISBN 978-0-415-99030-1.
- ^ a b c d "Lucania Aide Held in Taxicab Racket" (PDF). New York Times. July 14, 1938. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ISBN 1-59257-305-3.
- ^ "Old Indictment Ended" (PDF). New York Times. June 25, 1942. Retrieved 24 December 2011.