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Rochester crime family

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The Rochester crime family, also known as the Valenti crime family or the Rochester Mafia, was an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Rochester, New York that was part of the American Cosa Nostra.

Rochester crime family
Foundedc. 1950s
FoundersBuffalo crime family
Founding locationRochester, New York, United States
Years activec. 1950s–1993[1]
TerritoryPrimarily the Rochester metropolitan area, with additional territory throughout Western New York
EthnicityItalians as "made men" and other ethnicities as associates
ActivitiesRacketeering, loansharking, extortion, prostitution and gambling
Allies
Rivals

History

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The Rochester family's first well known official boss was Constenze "Stanley" Valenti. In 1957, after the Apalachin Conference, Stan and his brother Frank were both jailed for civil contempt, because they refused to answer questions about the meeting. In 1958, Stan was sentenced to 16 months in prison, and Jake Russo became the next boss.[1][2]

Splitting from Buffalo

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In 1964, Frank Valenti returned to Rochester with his brother Stan, and Pittsburgh associate Angelo Vaccaro. Frank became an associate in the Pittsburgh crime family in John LaRocca's family. Stan Valenti was married to the daughter of Antonio Ripepi, who was a capo in the Pittsburgh family. This time, Frank Valenti was taking over the Rochester family. By the end of the year, Russo went missing and his body has never been found. In 1970, Valenti wiped out the last Russo soldier, Billy Lupo. Also, Frank Valenti told Buffalo crime family boss Stefano "The Undertaker" Magaddino that Rochester would become an independent family. Prior to this, Rochester was just a crew which answered to the Maggadino's Buffalo crime family.

The Valenti regime

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Valenti created a well-organized crime family by promoting Samuel Russotti to underboss, Rene Picarreto to consigliere and Salvatore Gingello, Dominic Celestino, Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro and Dominic Chirico as his capos.[1] His most trusted ally was capo Chirico, who he gave special tasks to carry out. He divided up the family's illegal activities of gambling, extortion, loan sharking, insurance fraud, arson, narcotics and weapon trafficking among his capos to ensure peace.

In 1970, the Rochester crime family bombed nine buildings, including three Jewish synagogues and two black churches, as part of the Rochester bombings designed to focus the attention of local authorities away from organized crime. Only one person was injured.[3][4][5]

In 1972, Valenti was approached by his underboss Samuel "Red" Russotti, his consigliere Rene Piccarreto, and highly powerful capo Salvatore "Sammy G" Gingello. The three accused Valenti of skimming profits and asked him to step down as boss; he refused. Valenti felt that the Pittsburgh family would back him and the Chirico crew up with muscle. Unknown to him was that his consigliere, Picarreto, had made a secret alliance with members of the Bonanno crime family. Valenti's most trusted capo and bodyguard, Domenic Chirico, was shot and killed on Augustine Street. Instead of fighting he was allowed to move to Phoenix, Arizona and retire. After retiring Valenti was arrested and convicted of extortion,[1] he later died on September 20, 2008.

The Russotti era

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After Valenti fled the city, Samuel Russotti became boss, Piccarreto remained as consigliere, and Gingello became the underboss. The family was strong until January 1977 when the police fabricated evidence to indict all the upper echelon. The convictions put Russotti, Piccaretto, Gingello, Thomas Marotta and Eugene DeFrancesco away for murdering Vincent Massaro with a 25 years to life sentenced. When this happened, Thomas Didio became the acting boss. Russotti thought he would be able to manipulate Didio, but he really just created a monster. Didio began demoting all the Russotti loyalists while receiving advice from imprisoned former boss Valenti. When the truth came out about the fabricated evidence, all the top guys got out of prison. This created an "A team and B Team" war. Part of the "A team" was Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Richard Marino, Thomas Marotta and others. Part of the "B Team" was Thomas Didio, Rosario Chirico (Domenic's brother), Stan Valenti, Angelo Vaccaro and others.[1]

On April 23, 1978, Salvatore "Sammy G" Gingello was killed when a bomb was detonated when he entered his car, which was parked across from the Stillson St. restaurant, Ben's Cafe Society.[6] On July 6, 1978 Thomas Didio was murdered by a gunman who was using a machine gun. After these two murders the FBI decided it was time to crack down on the situation, with the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) coming into play they took down most of the remaining key players. In 1988, Angelo Amico and Loren Piccarreto were both indicted under RICO. Angelo Amico was the acting boss, and Loren Piccarreto (son of Rene Piccarreto) was the underboss.[1]

Amico pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy and tax evasion in October 1988, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Loren Piccarreto, Joseph Geniola and Donald Paone were convicted and imprisoned in early 1989.[7] The RICO convictions of the late 1980s effectively dismantled the Rochester family.[7] Russotti died of a heart attack in federal prison in Michigan on June 25, 1993, at the age of 81.[8]

Following his release from prison in July 1996, Thomas Marotta led around half of the remaining former members of the defunct Rochester family in joining the Bonanno family.[9][10] Others, including Rene Piccarreto and Angelo Amico, rejoined the Buffalo family.[10]

Historical leadership

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Boss (official and acting)

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  • c. 1950s–1958 – Constenze "Stanley" Valenti – imprisoned in 1958; released in 1960; died on February 23, 2001
  • 1958–1964 – Jake Russo – murdered
  • 1964–1972 – Frank Valenti – retired, died on September 20, 2008
  • 1972–1993 – Samuel "Red" Russotti – imprisoned in 1984; died in 1993[1]
    • Acting 1977–1978 – Thomas Didio – murdered in July 1978 during the "A & B Wars"
    • Acting 1977–1978 – Salvatore "Sammy G" Gingello – murdered on April 23, 1978 during the "A & B Wars"
    • Acting 1988 – Angelo Amico – arrested in 1988; released in 1993[11]
    • Acting 1988 – Loren Piccarreto – son of Rene Piccarreto; arrested 1988; released in 1994[12]

Underboss

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  • 1964–1972 – Samuel "Red" Russotti – promoted to boss
  • 1972–1978 – Salvatore "Sammy G" Gingello – promoted to acting boss
  • 1978–1984 – Richard Marino – convicted imprisoned for murder
  • 1984–1988 – Loren Piccarreto – promoted acting boss

Consigliere

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  • 1964–1984 – Rene Piccarreto – imprisoned in 1984; released in 2007; died in March 2014.[13][14]

Government informants and witnesses

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  • Joseph "Spike" LaNovara - former soldier. He was a part of Frank Valenti's regime and became an informer in the early 1970s after facing murder charges.
  • Angelo Monachino - former soldier. It is believed he participated in the December 14, 1970 murder of William Constable.[15][16] He owned a construction company named Barmon Construction. Monachino also served as an accomplice in the murder of Jimmy "the Hammer" Massaro, as he allowed the murder to take place inside of a garage located at his business property; Massaro was shot 9 times. He agreed to become an informer in 1975. In September 1975, he was arrested along with former Rochester mob boss Frank Valenti, and Jimmy Massaro who was murdered in November 1973, and were accused of burning down a warehouse and receiving $80,000 insurance money in September 1971.[17][18]
  • Anthony Oliveri - former soldier. It is noted that he was a close friend of fellow Rochester crime family member, Anthony Columbo. It is believed he and Columbo conspired to murder Angelo DeMarco in March 1978, as the pair had parked their car in front of DeMarco's home and were in a car chase with law enforcement on the same night, a .357 Magnum and a 12 gauge shotgun were found in the car.[19] Oliveri participated in the July 1978 murder of Thomas Didio, who was murdered by Anthony Columbo with a machine gun, inside of a motel in Victor, New York. He was allegedly inducted into the Rochester mob in December 1978. He became an informer since at least in 1980.[20] He testified in December 1984 against several members of the Rochester crime family.[21]

See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g The Mafia Made Easy: The Anatomy and Culture of La Cosa Nostra
  2. ^ Mario Machi, Allan May, Charlie Molino Rochester, New York Rick Porrello's AmericanMafia.com
  3. ^ Montgomery, Paul (1970-11-07). "8th Blast in Rochester Area Damages a Third Synagogue". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Police Investigating Bombing of Temple, the Third in Less Than Two Weeks". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1970-11-09. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ Riley, David (2013-10-12). "Oct. 12: The Columbus Day Bombings shake Rochester". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York · Page 1A". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  7. ^ a b Rochester, New York Mario Machi, Allan May, Charlie Molino and Greg Q., American Mafia Archived May 8, 1999, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ This day in history, June 25 - Head of Rochester mafia dies in prison Megan Demarco, Democrat and Chronicle (June 25, 2013) Archived October 26, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Man of the Mob: The Making and Breaking of Tom Marotta Gary Craig, Democrat and Chronicle (April 25, 2004) Archived April 13, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b Is Buffalo Cosa Nostra Family the Mafia's Dark Horse? Ed Scarpo, Cosa Nostra News (November 21, 2017) Archived November 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator "Angelo Joseph Amico" Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine released August 3, 1993
  12. ^ Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator "Loren Piccarreto" Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine released January 21, 1994
  13. ^ ;Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator "Rene Piccarreto" Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine released December 13, 2007
  14. ^ "Rene J. Piccarreto Sr. Obituary (2014) Rochester Democrat and Chronicle". Legacy.com.
  15. ^ "Three charged in 70' slaying" (PDF). The Geneva News. Helen Casey. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York · Page 2". Democrat and Chronicle. 13 April 1979. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Reconnecting with dad, a mob informant". Democrat and Chronicle. Gary Craig. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Arson Laid to Ex‐Rochester Fire Chief". The New York Times. NY TIMES. 13 September 1975. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York · Page 9". Democrat and Chronicle. 10 November 1982. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York · Page 1". Democrat and Chronicle. 12 November 1980. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Mob A-Team/B-Team". Rochester First. Archived from the original on 2018-06-01. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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