Cosa Nostra News

Tony Spilotro was sent by the Chicago Outfit to oversee their interests in Las Vegas, and was the inspiration for the Joe Pesci character in Martin Scorsese's Casino . Caifano Spilotro protected the Outfit's money, aka the skim (illegal casino profits "skimmed” off the top). Because the Outfit 's interests in Las Vegas predate Spilotro, before Tony the Ant, another mobster terrified people on the fabled Las Vegas strip (as well as in Chicago and elsewhere). Marshall Caifano was sent to Las Vegas to purchase land but also looked out for the Outfit's interests, which included the Riviera casino then run by Gus Greenbaum, formerly of the Flamingo. Caifano was a suspect in numerous unsolved murders, typically involving Outfit associates. He was also suspected of committing the notorious, grizzly murder of Estelle Carey, a beautiful young cocktail waitress. One of the perceived motives for the killing is that she was "made an example of" to keep he

Moretti was killed in an empty restaurant at lunchtime. Which mobster inspired  The Godfather ? None of them. Mario Puzo told us that Don Vito Corleone was based on his mother. Why shouldn't we believe him? The problem is that the historical focus has been misaligned. The big question was always,  was Puzo writing from experience or research?  In   other words, take Francis Ford Coppola's reply in a recent  NPR interview . "I  knew nothing about five crime families which had recently become exposed to the public with the publication of "The Valachi Papers." But neither did Mario Puzo, who was also Italian-American. But he knew nothing about it, and he wanted to write this book sort of to get some money for his family. He thought it could be commercial, and he did everything on research. He knew nothing. He never had met any of these figures, and he advised me never to meet them, which I never did....  " The question: Well, WHAT research did

The boss of the Genovese crime family’s Springfield crew, Eugene "Rooster" Onofrio, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison earlier this month , referenced an unknown part of the story of the Genovese crime family's control of the West Mass, city. Eugene "Rooster" Onofrio Onofrio, during a 2014 recorded call, referred to himself as "the skipper" of Springfield -- meaning the crew's capo.  Springfield "was given to him" he added, though he never named by who. It is likely that he took over the crew sometime after 2011, when former Springfield chief Arthur Nigro -- who ran Springfield from the Bronx and had also been a Genovese family acting boss -- was sent away to prison for murder. Nigro had given the nod for Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno to be removed from his position running the Genovese family's Springfield crew (as well as life on this earth). In 2011, Nigro and enforcers Fotios "Freddy" Geas, of West Spr

Former Detroit mob associate Alan “Gunner” Lindbloom recently finished a 13-year prison sentence for extortion, armed robbery, bank robbery, weapons violations, and a litany of other crimes. Gunner with the huge salmon he caught by his home in Northern Michigan. These days, however, he focuses on promoting his novels,  TO BE A KING , and his new gangster inspired line of clothing  “OUR THING” Apparel.  Oh yeah, he also spends a lot of time catching giant f&%king fish!! This is Gunner's new life—he’s an acclaimed novelist who writes about a fictional Detroit Mafia Family, and he is the CEO/owner of a Mafia-themed apparel line that was inspired by his books. (And for this story, I spoke to someone who probably knows him better than he knows himself: his wife, Maria.) Lindbloom was born into Detroit Mafia royalty; his mother was the cousin of Detroit’s legendary don of dons, Jack Tocco . Made members of the Detroit Mafia were about 100-strong in its 1960s heyday. By