Raider-Cop Nation The New 5 Series

Podcast: Raider-Cop Nation

Date:May 22, 2019

Episode#88

Subject:The Bonanno Crime Family

Host: Alpha Mike

Leadership Quote: “ There's no such thing as good money, or bad money, there's just money! Charlie "Lucky" Luciano.

Host Alpha Mike starts us off in the journey of the Bonanno Family in the year of 1931. After Maranzano's murder in 1931, the Mafia families called a meeting in Chicago. The purpose of the meeting was to replace the old Sicilian Mafia regime of "boss of all bosses" and establish a rule of consensus among the crime families. Charlie Luciano established a Mafia board of directors to be known as "The Commission" to oversee all Mafia activities in the United States and serve to mediate conflicts between families.[1]The Commission consisted of seven family bosses: the leaders of New York's Five Families: Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Vincent Mangano, Tommy Gagliano, Joseph Bonanno, and Joe Profaci

At the young age of 26, Joseph "Don Peppino" Bonanno was named "father" of his crime family, by the Commission as motioned by Charlie Luciano. Don Peppino, was "father", as he called it in his book biography A Man of Honor. From 1931 to 1969 Joseph Bonnano runs the family, but not with problems such as the

Banana WarsIn October 1964, Bonanno disappeared and was not heard from again for two years. Bonanno later claimed that he was kidnapped in front of his lawyer's apartment at 36 East 37th Street in New York City by Buffalo Family members, Peter Magaddino and Antonino Magaddino. According to Bonanno, he was held captive in upstate New York by his cousin, Stefano Magaddino. What is beyond dispute is that Bonanno resurfaced in May 1966 at Foley Square, claiming he'd been kidnapped. He was indicted for failing to appear before the grand jury, but challenged it for five years until the charge was dismissed in 1971. Unwilling to accept the loss of his family, Bonanno rallied several members of his family behind him. The family split into two factions, the DiGregorio supporters and the Bonanno loyalists. Bonanno expected the position of the Commission and step away from the family under penalty of death. In 1969, in an attempt to restore order to the Bonanno family, the Commission appointed a three-man panel to run the family. This panel included Rastelli, Joseph DiFilippi, and Natale Joe Diamonds Evola. He lived in Arizona a comfortable and quit life. Until his biography book was released in 1983, soon the Commission would suffer the consequences.

Boss of the Bonnano Family: Host Alpha Mike explains the musical chairs concept.

1931-1969: Joseph Don Peppino Bonanno

Disputed1964—1966 – Gaspar "Gasparino" DiGregorio– installed when Bonanno disappeared and later forcibly replaced by the Commission

Acting1966—1968 – Paul Sciacca 1968—1971 –imprisoned

1971—1973 – Natale "Joe Diamonds" Evola

1973—1991 – Phillip "Rusty" Rastelli

Acting1974—1979 – Carmine "Cigar" Galante

Acting1979—1983 – Salvatore "Sally Fruits" Farrugia – appointed by the Commission[55]

Acting1987—1991 – Anthony "Old Man" Spero

1991—2004 – Joseph "Big Joe" Massino– imprisoned January 2003, became government informant in October 2004

2004 – 2011 – Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano– imprisoned November 2004, in July 2007 received a life sentence

• Acting2004—2006 – Michael "the Nose" Mancuso– imprisoned February 2006
• Acting2006—2009 –