Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction

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(Redirected from
Vario Crew
)
Lucchese Family Brooklyn Faction
Founded1950s
FounderLucchese crime family
Founding locationCanarsie, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Years active1930s–present
TerritoryBrooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Staten Island
EthnicityItalians as "made men" and other ethnicities as associates
ActivitiesRacketeering, bookmaking, loansharking, extortion, gambling, burglary, cargo theft, conspiracy, counterfeit consumer goods, murder, smuggling, fencing, union corruption, hotel robbery, hijacking and jewelry heists
AlliesGambino, Genovese, Bonanno and Colombo crime families
RivalsVarious gangs

The Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction is a group of

Lucchese Borgata
referred to this crew as the Brooklyn faction.

Before the merger the Vario Crew, sometimes known as the Canarsie Crew, had predominantly been based out of

Domenico "Danny" Cutaia
, who was able to bring back some stability. Cutaia would continue to control the crew until he stepped down for health concerns in late the 2000s.

The 19th Hole Crew, sometimes called Bensonhurst Crew, was based out of

Vic Amuso. In 1986, Vic Amuso became the new boss of the family and promoted his close ally Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
to Caporegime of the crew. Under Casso's leadership the Bensonhurst crew would be responsible for 100 murders making it the most violent and bloodiest reigns in Lucchese family history. In 1993, Casso was imprisoned, and he became one of the highest-ranking members of the Mafia to turn informant. After Casso's defection much of the crew's leadership was imprisoned and eventually the crew was merged with the Vario Crew creating the Brooklyn faction.

History of the Vario Crew

Don Turrido Curiale

The earliest known leader of the Lucchese family's Brooklyn crew was Salvatore "Don Turrido" Curiale, an immigrant from Agrigento in Sicily.[1] Curiale was an original Brooklyn mobster before the Commission was created and would later join the Lucchese crime family.[1] In the 1960s, Curiale stepped down, and proposed his closest ally Joseph Schiavo to be made the caporegime of the crew, but Schiavo did not want it and suggested his protege Paul Vario be promoted instead. Schiavo continued controlling garment businesses with Curiale and Tommy Lucchese, while serving as an elder advisor to Paul Vario.[1]

Paul Vario's power

Paul Vario received money from members of his crew and local criminals. Vario's crew was involved in hijacking cargo shipments from

Brooklyn
.

Martin Krugman
.

Henry Hill's drug organization

Two of Vario's crew members, Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke, began dealing in amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Hill ran his criminal enterprise with his wife Karen, William Arico, Anthony and Rocco Perla, Robin Cooperman, and Judith Wicks. In early 1979, Burke and Hill began selling heroin.

After Robert "Bobby" Germaine Jr., the son of Henry Hill's drug partner, became an informant, Hill was monitored. In 1980, Hill was arrested for drug dealing and looking at several life-sentences. He accepted the option to become an informant.

Hill's testimony led to 50 convictions. In 1980, on Burke's orders,

Angelo Sepe shot and killed Bobby Germaine, Jr. in Kew Gardens, Queens
.

Burke was given 20 years for fixing sporting events and a life sentence when the authorities convicted him for murdering scam-artist Richard Eaton. Vario was given a 12½-year sentence during the KENRAC trial.

Robert's Lounge Crew

The Robert's Lounge Crew was a semi-independent group of criminals working under the Vario Crew, led by Jimmy Burke, and based in Burke's bar, Robert's Lounge. They were active from 1957 to 1979.

The Robert's Lounge crew comprised numerous members, some described as inept, whose specialties included armed robbery, hijacking, and murder. Although an independent outfit, they were closely associated with the

Lucchese Family through which Burke had a longtime friendship and working relationship with Vario.[2]

Historical leadership

Caporegimes of the Vario crew (merged)

  • c. 1930s–1962: Salvatore "Don Turiddo" Curiale — stepped down, retired
  • 1962–1988: Paul Vario — sentenced in 1984 to 12+12 years in prison; died on May 3, 1988
    • Acting 1967–1970: Salvatore "Babe" Vario — youngest brother to Paul Vario
    • Acting 1970–1988: Vito "Tuddy" Vario — brother to Paul Vario
  • 1988–1991: Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco — served as Street Boss from May 1990 to January 1991; then served as Acting Boss from January 1991 to July 1991, when he was demoted; he became a government witness on September 21, 1991[3]
    • Acting 1990–1991: Louis Daidone — promoted to Caporegime
  • 1991–1992:
    Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone
    — imprisoned on May 1, 1992
  • 1992–2010:
    Domenico "Danny" Cutaia
    — imprisoned and released in early 2000, he took control of the merged Brooklyn faction
    • Acting 1996–1997: John Baudanza — demoted
    • Acting 1997–2002: John "Johnny Sideburns" Cerrella — arrested in 2002
    • Merged 2000: the 19th Hole crew merged into Cutaia's crew, creating the Brooklyn faction, Domenico Cutaia continued serving as Caporegime

Caporegimes of the 19th Hole crew (merged)

Caporegimes of the McDonald Ave crew (merged)

Caporegimes of the Brooklyn faction

Current members and associates

Members of the Brooklyn faction
  • Ray Argentina (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • John Baudanza (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Salvatore Cutaia (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Michael "Mikey Bones" Corcione (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Carlo Profeta (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Peter Vario (Soldier) — son of Paul Vario, former capo of crew, former Vario-Cutaia crew member
  • John "Big John" Castellucci (Soldier) — former capo of Brooklyn faction before demotion
  • John "Johnny Sidenurns" Cerella (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Joseph DiBenedetto (Soldier) — son-in-law to boss Vic Amuso, before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
  • Scotty Gervasi (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
  • Vincent "Vinny" Zappola (Soldier) — the uncle to George Zappola, before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
  • Joseph M. "Little Joe" Perna (Soldier) — former member of the New Jersey faction, before joining the Brooklyn faction under capo John Castellucci
  • Louis "Louie Jet" Gampero (Soldier) — was an associate to Ray Argentina and the Vario-Cutaia crew; inducted sometime in mid 2010s, joining the Brooklyn faction
  • Danny Campo (Soldier) — former associate of Patrick "Patty Red" Dello Russo, the underboss who sponsored his induction in late 2010s
  • John "Butch" Arpino (Soldier) — former associate of Louie Daidone, became an associate of Patty Red Dello Russo who sponsored him for induction in 2010s
Imprisoned members of the Brooklyn faction
  • Louis "Lou Bagels" Daidone
    — former Capo of the Vario crew, currently serving life in prison
  • Nicky Scarfo Jr. — former Capo of New Jersey faction before joining the Brooklyn faction under capo John Castellucci, currently in prison
Associates of the Brooklyn faction
  • Joseph Cutaia (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Victor Sperber (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Louis Colello (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • John Rodopolous (Associate) — before merger worked as associate to Vario-Cutaia crew
  • Peter "Petey Links" Bartolemeo (Associate) — associate of John Pennisi
  • John DiLorenzo (Associate) — associate of John Pennisi; owner of "Rosemarie's Pizzeria & Restaurant" out of Farmingdale, Long Island; was the subject of several sit-downs due to other families claiming him as being on record with them
  • Joe Fama (Associate) — formerly on record with Little Joey DiBenedetto and owner of DiFama Concrete out of Staten Island, poached by Matty Madonna

Past members and associates

These are past members and associates who have retired, transferred to another crew, been murdered, or died other ways.

Soldiers of Vario crew
  • Frank Manzo
    (Soldier)
  • Vito "Tuddy" Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Rugsy" Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Jocko" Vario (Soldier)
  • Salvatore "Babe" Vario (Soldier)
  • Thomas Vario (Soldier)
  • Peter "Pete the Killer" Abinati (Soldier)
  • Leonard Vario Jr. (Soldier)
  • Joseph D'Arco (Soldier)
  • Bruno Facciolo (Soldier, murdered in 1990)
  • Rosario Sacco (Soldier)
  • Luigi Sacco (Soldier)
  • Alfonso "Foo" Curiale (Soldier)
  • Paolo Danna (Soldier)
  • Ray Argentina (Soldier)
  • Joseph Chiavo (Soldier)
  • Carmine "Fats" Taglialatela (Soldier)
  • Anthony "Tony Blue Eyes" Stabile (Soldier, murdered in 1982)
  • Emmanuel "Manny from Miami" LoGiudice (Soldier, died in 1978)
  • Daniel “Danny” Rizzo (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew, died 2015
  • Anthony Guzzo (Soldier) — half-brother of Vito Guzzo Jr., a made member in the Colombo family, inducted under capo John Castellucci, later transferred to Joseph "Joe Cafe" DeSena Crew
Associates of the Vario crew
  • Clyde Brooks (associate, died in 1994)[citation needed]
  • Angelo 'Sonny Bamboo' McConnach (associate, died in 1996)
  • Joseph Abinati (associate)
  • Thomas "Tommy Red" Gilmore (associate, Murdered on February 6, 1989)
  • Frank James Burke (associate, murdered on May 18, 1987)[5]
  • Jimmy Burke (associate, died on April 13, 1996)[5]
  • Louis Cafora (associate disappeared in March 1979)[5]
  • Thomas DeSimone (associate, murdered on January 14, 1979)[5]
  • Richard Eaton (associate, murdered on July 18, 1979)[5]
  • Henry Hill (associate, became a witness in 1980, died on June 12, 2012)[6]
  • Martin Krugman (associate, disappeared on January 6, 1979)[5]
  • Angelo Sepe (associate, murdered on July 18, 1984)[5]
  • Louis Werner (associate, convicted on May 16, 1979)[5]

Former headquarters and hangouts

The crew operates throughout the New York City; The latest headquarters maintained under capo "Big John" Castellucci was the Cigar Vault Emporium in Staten Island. Some of its former headquarters and hangouts are:

Government informants and witnesses

In popular culture

References

Notes

Sources