Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction

The Lucchese crime family's Brooklyn faction is a group of Italian-American mobsters within the Lucchese crime family that control organized crime activities in the New York metropolitan area but are predominantly based out of Brooklyn and Staten Island. The Brooklyn faction was created after two separate crews in the Lucchese family were merged together. The merger occurred during the early 2000s, when the Lucchese family administration decided that Vario Crew Caporegime Domenico "Danny" Cutaia would also take control of the 19th Hole Crew. The Lucchese family administration saw the 19th Hole crew without leadership because it had been crippled by numerous indictments and informants during 1990s, leaving many members imprisoned. After the merger of the two crews, the 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 Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie and Flatlands. The crew was controlled by Caporegime Paul Vario during the early 1960s into the early 1980s, when Vario, Jimmy Burke, and a number of other associates were imprisoned, primarily due to the testimony of another long-term associate, Henry Hill. The life story of Hill's time with the Vario crew was the subject of Nicholas Pileggi's book Wiseguy and Martin Scorsese's crime film adapted from that book, Goodfellas (1990), starring Ray Liotta as Hill. After Vario's imprisonment, Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco became the new caporegime of the crew. During the early 1990s, D'Arco worked closely with family boss Vic Amuso and Underboss Anthony Casso, following their orders having numerous murders committed. In 1991, D'Arco became the family's acting boss when Amuso and Casso went into hiding, but D'Arco eventually feared for his life and became a government witness. The crew was then taken over by 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 Bensonhurst, Brooklyn before it was merged into the Brooklyn faction. In the past, the crew was controlled by Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari and then by his protege 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, Sicily. Curiale was an original Brooklyn mobster before the Commission was created and would later join the Lucchese crime family. In the 1960s, Curiale stepped down as Caporegime, and proposed his closest ally Joseph Schiavo to be made the new caporegime of the crew, but Schiavo refused 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.

Paul Vario's power

In 1962, Paul Vario was released from prison and became a made man in the Lucchese family, and then he quickly was promoted to the caporegime of the Brooklyn crew. Vario operated from an old German bar known as Geffken's on Flatlands Avenue and a Junkyard on Avenue D in Canarsie, Brooklyn. He became a powerful mobster receiving millions of dollars from the members of his crew and local criminals. Vario's junkyard in Canarsie is where he oversaw most of the crew's criminal operations that included hijackings, loansharking, bookmaking and fencing stolen property. His crew was heavily involved in hijacking cargo shipments, extorting shippers and airlines in exchange for labor peace from John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, NY. Vario also controlled several loansharking and bookmaking operations in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

One of Vario's associates was James "Jimmy" Burke, an Irish gangster who ran his own crew, of hijackers that would pay off truck drivers and then unload the goods at a warehouse Vario controlled. Burke led his semi-independent Robert's Lounge Crew, from his bar Robert's Lounge. The Robert's Lounge crew was composed of numerous people who were involved in armed robbery, hijacking, and murder. Although Burke's crew was an independent, many members were associates of Lucchese family through Burke's and Vario's longtime friendship. Burke's crew included wiseguy's Thomas DeSimone and Henry Hill.

Vario also maintained a close alliance with Lucchese caporegime John Dioguardi, who controlled labor unions in New York City. In the 1970s, when Vario and Burke were imprisoned, the majority of Vario's bookmaking operations were taken over by his Russian Jewish associate, Martin Krugman.

In the late 1970s, two of Vario's associates Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke, began dealing in amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Hill ran his drug organization 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.

D'Arco with Amuso and Casso

After Vario's imprisonment, Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco was promoted and became the new caporegime of the crew. D'Arco worked closely with family boss Vic Amuso and Underboss Anthony Casso. He followed their orders having numerous murders committed and D'Arco eventually feared for his life and became a government witness, later testifying against Amuso and Casso.

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+1⁄2 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
  • 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)

• c. 1960s–1981: Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari — promoted Consigliere; indicted on February 15, 1985, convicted on November 19, 1986, in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced on January 13, 1987, to 100 years in prison.
• 1981–1986: Vittorio "Vic" Amuso — promoted to boss
• 1986–1987: Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso — promoted to Consigliere
• 1987–1991: Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino — promoted to Consigliere; imprisoned in April 1993
  • Split 1988: Crew splits forming the new McDonald Ave Crew in Bensonhurst
• 1991–1995: George "Georgie Neck" Zappola — became a fugitive in 1991, captured and imprisoned in 1995
  • Acting 1991–1995: George "Georgie Goggles" Conte — imprisoned in 1995
• 1995–2000: Joseph "Joey Flowers" Tangorra — arrested in November 2000
• 2000: Merged with the Vario crew, creating the Brooklyn faction

Caporegimes of the McDonald Ave crew (merged)

• 1988–1991: Peter "Fat Pete" Chiodo — on May 8, 1991, shot 12 times, becomes a government witness testifying against Vic Amuso and Anthony Casso
• 1991–1996: Richard "Richie the Toupe" Pagliarulo — imprisoned in 1992, receiving a life sentence
  • Acting 1991–1996: Frank "Frankie Bones" Papagni — promoted to Consigliere
• 1996–1998: Eugene "Boopsie" Castelle — promoted to acting underboss
• 1998: Merged with the 19th Hole crew in Bensonhurst

Caporegimes of the Brooklyn faction

In early 2000, the Vario-Cutaia Crew caporegime Domenico Cutaia was given the members of 19th Hole crew creating the Brooklyn faction.

• c. 2000s–2010: Domenico "Danny" Cutaia — imprisoned, released from prison on October 5, 2013, died August 14, 2018
  • Acting 2000–2002: John "Johnny Sideburns" Cerrella — arrested in 2002
  • Acting 2003–2008: Michael "Mikey Bones" Corcione — arrested in 2008
  • Acting 2010: Carlo Profeta — arrested in 2010
• 2010–2017: John "Big John" Castellucci — arrested, and demoted
  • Split 2017: Crew splits forming the new Brooklyn-Long Island Crew
• 2017–2021: Frank "Frankie Bones" Papagni — promoted to Underboss
• 2021–Present: George "Georgie Neck" Zappola

Caporegimes of the Brooklyn-Long Island Crew

• 2017–present: Patrick "Patty" Dellorusso — served as acting underboss

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 "Johnny Sidenurns" Cerella (Soldier) — before merger was with Vario-Cutaia crew

• John "Big John" Castellucci (Soldier) — former capo of Brooklyn faction before demotion
• 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

• Frank "Frankie Bones" Papagni (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
• George "Georgie Goggles" Conte (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
• James "Jimmy Frogs" Galione (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew
• Frank Giacobbe (Soldier) — before merger was with 19th Hole-Bensonhurst crew

Members of the Brooklyn-Long Island Crew

• Louis "Louie Jet" Gampero (Soldier) — was an associate to Ray Argentina and the Vario-Cutaia crew; inducted sometime in mid 2010s, becoming a member of the Brooklyn faction, is a member of Patty Dellorusso crew.
• 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
• Joseph M. "Little Joe" Perna (Soldier) — former member of the New Jersey faction, before joining the Brooklyn faction under capo John Castellucci. Transferred back to the New Jersey faction becoming acting capo.

Associates of the Vario crew

• Clyde Brooks (associate, died in 1994)
• 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)
• Jimmy Burke (associate, died on April 13, 1996)
• Louis Cafora (associate disappeared in March 1979)
• Thomas DeSimone (associate, murdered on January 14, 1979)
• Richard Eaton (associate, murdered on July 18, 1979)
• Henry Hill (associate, became a witness in 1980, died on June 12, 2012)
• Martin Krugman (associate, disappeared on January 6, 1979)
• Angelo Sepe (associate, murdered on July 18, 1984)
• Louis Werner (associate, convicted on May 16, 1979)

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:

• La Donna Rosa Restaurant in Little Italy, Manhattan
• Bargain Auto Junkyard
• Euclid Taxi Cab Company in Brownsville, Brooklyn
• Geffkens Bar – a bar owned by Paul Vario
• Kew Motor Inn
• Robert's Lounge – the former headquarters of Jimmy Burke's crew, located on Lefferts Boulevard and Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park, Queens
• The Bamboo Lounge – former hangout, located on Rockaway Parkway and Avenue N in Canarsie, Brooklyn
• Lefferts Bar –
• The Suite – a former hangout owned by Henry Hill, located on Queens Boulevard near Forest Hills, Queens

Government informants and witnesses

• Richard Bilello – associate, murdered on October 28, 1974
• Alphonse "Little Al" D'Arco – became a witness on September 21, 1991, died in 2019
• Theresa Ferrara – became a government informant, disappeared on February 10, 1979
• Peter Gruenwald – associate, became a witness in 1978, died in 1979
• Henry Hill – associate, became a witness in 1980, died on June 12, 2012
• John Pennisi – became a cooperating witness in 2018, after being falsely accused of being an Informant
• Steven Lapella – associate, indicted along with Dom Cutaia in 2008, and soon became a cooperating witness

In popular culture

• Goodfellas (1990), directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on the Vario Crew and the life story of crew associate Henry Hill (portrayed by Ray Liotta)

References

Notes

Sources

• Nicholas Pileggi, Wiseguy: Life In A Mafia Family (1986)
• Greg and Gina Hill. On the Run: A Mafia Childhood
• May, Allan. The Lufthansa Heist Revisited. TruTv.com