Genovese Family Remains King of the Volcano
With little fanfare -- and no media coverage that we could find -- Genovese acting boss Daniel Leo is back on the streets, having been released from prison on Jan. 25, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Genovese crime family is deemed to be the most powerful criminal group in America -- and now, according to sources, free on the streets are its acting boss, street boss, underboss, consigliere -- and supposedly the capos who run a trio of the family's most powerful crews.
"The Genovese crime family is still the best organized, and has the deepest bench," the chief of investigations for the Manhattan district attorney has said.
"They continue to take part in traditional organized crime activities of gambling, loansharking and labor racketeering in New York and New Jersey."
"The Genovese family is the most secretive, criminally diverse, and powerful family in the country," an FBI agent added, noting that "their power stems from the control of unions and major industries."
As for the recent bust of gangsters involved in scamming the waste hauling business, the Genovese borgata is only one of three families involved, the Gambinos and Luccheses being the other two. On top of that, the original investigation was focused on Genovese capo Tino Fiumara, now deceased, which is why "Papa Smurf," a little-known wiseguy, became the lead mobster in the case. So for the Genovese family, the pending trial on that front does not have a major impact on its power to earn or protect itself.
As one Genovese gangster was quoted telling another, who unfortunately for the first gangster was an informant: "We got 30, 40 guys. Don't let anyone tell you that we're dead, 'cause we're here."
Here is a list of Genovese higher-ups who "are here"; but remember, this is the family known for hiding who its true boss is, as well as using figure heads and front men, and even confusing members of the other four families about its true hierarchy:
Acting Boss Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo - belonged to the Purple Gang of East Harlem in the 1970s. In the late 1990s, Leo joined Vincent Gigante's circle of trusted capos. With Gigante's death in 2005, Leo became acting boss. In 2008, Leo was sentenced to five years in prison on loansharking and extortion charges. In March 2010, Leo received an additional 18 months in prison on racketeering charges and was fined $1.3 million. Leo is currently in a community corrections facility. His scheduled release date is January 25, 2013.
Street Boss Liborio "Barney" Bellomo – became Street Boss in 1992. Bellomo served as acting boss for Vincent Gigante during the early 1990s. He controls one of the most influential crews in the crime family, the Manhattan East Harlem and Bronx-based 116th Street Crew. Bellomo was imprisoned in 1996, he was released in July 2008.
Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano - became underboss in 1986 under boss Vincent Gigante. A Gigante loyalist, Mangano belonged to the West Side Crew. Mangano was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the 1991 "Windows Case". He was convicted of extortion and attempting to manipulate the bidding process of window replacements within municipal housing projects. Released from prison in November 2006, Mangano is reportedly still a Manhattan faction leader.
Consigliere Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - former capo and trusted aide to boss Vincent Gigante.
Cirillo belonged to the West Side Crew and was known as one of the Four Doms; capos Dominick "Baldy Dom" Canterino, Dominick "The Sailor" DiQuarto and Dominick "Fat Dom" Alongi. Cirillo served as Acting Boss from 1997 to 1998, but resigned due to heart problems. In 2003, Cirillo became acting boss, resigned in 2006 due to his imprisonment on loansharking charges. In August 2008, Cirillo was released from prison. Law enforcement believes that Cirillo is still active in the family.
The Genovese crime family is deemed to be the most powerful criminal group in America -- and now, according to sources, free on the streets are its acting boss, street boss, underboss, consigliere -- and supposedly the capos who run a trio of the family's most powerful crews.
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| Daniel Leo, Genovese acting boss |
"The Genovese crime family is still the best organized, and has the deepest bench," the chief of investigations for the Manhattan district attorney has said.
"They continue to take part in traditional organized crime activities of gambling, loansharking and labor racketeering in New York and New Jersey."
"The Genovese family is the most secretive, criminally diverse, and powerful family in the country," an FBI agent added, noting that "their power stems from the control of unions and major industries."
As for the recent bust of gangsters involved in scamming the waste hauling business, the Genovese borgata is only one of three families involved, the Gambinos and Luccheses being the other two. On top of that, the original investigation was focused on Genovese capo Tino Fiumara, now deceased, which is why "Papa Smurf," a little-known wiseguy, became the lead mobster in the case. So for the Genovese family, the pending trial on that front does not have a major impact on its power to earn or protect itself.
As one Genovese gangster was quoted telling another, who unfortunately for the first gangster was an informant: "We got 30, 40 guys. Don't let anyone tell you that we're dead, 'cause we're here."
Here is a list of Genovese higher-ups who "are here"; but remember, this is the family known for hiding who its true boss is, as well as using figure heads and front men, and even confusing members of the other four families about its true hierarchy:
Acting Boss Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo - belonged to the Purple Gang of East Harlem in the 1970s. In the late 1990s, Leo joined Vincent Gigante's circle of trusted capos. With Gigante's death in 2005, Leo became acting boss. In 2008, Leo was sentenced to five years in prison on loansharking and extortion charges. In March 2010, Leo received an additional 18 months in prison on racketeering charges and was fined $1.3 million. Leo is currently in a community corrections facility. His scheduled release date is January 25, 2013.
Street Boss Liborio "Barney" Bellomo – became Street Boss in 1992. Bellomo served as acting boss for Vincent Gigante during the early 1990s. He controls one of the most influential crews in the crime family, the Manhattan East Harlem and Bronx-based 116th Street Crew. Bellomo was imprisoned in 1996, he was released in July 2008.
Underboss Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano - became underboss in 1986 under boss Vincent Gigante. A Gigante loyalist, Mangano belonged to the West Side Crew. Mangano was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the 1991 "Windows Case". He was convicted of extortion and attempting to manipulate the bidding process of window replacements within municipal housing projects. Released from prison in November 2006, Mangano is reportedly still a Manhattan faction leader.
Consigliere Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo - former capo and trusted aide to boss Vincent Gigante.
Cirillo belonged to the West Side Crew and was known as one of the Four Doms; capos Dominick "Baldy Dom" Canterino, Dominick "The Sailor" DiQuarto and Dominick "Fat Dom" Alongi. Cirillo served as Acting Boss from 1997 to 1998, but resigned due to heart problems. In 2003, Cirillo became acting boss, resigned in 2006 due to his imprisonment on loansharking charges. In August 2008, Cirillo was released from prison. Law enforcement believes that Cirillo is still active in the family.