Famous Mafiosos

Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone (Italian: [kaˈpoːne]); born January 17, 1899, died January 25, 1947), nicknamed "Scarface," was an American gangster and businessman. He became the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. Capone's seven-year reign as crime boss ended when he went to prison at age 33. Capone was born in New York City in 1899 to Italian immigrant parents. He joined the Five Points Gang as a teenager. He became a bouncer in organized crime places, like brothels. In his early twenties, he moved to Chicago and became a body guard.

Henry Hill Jr. (June 11, 1943 – June 12, 2012) was an American criminal. From 1955 to 1980, Hill worked with the Lucchese crime family. In 1980, Hill became an FBI informant. His testimony secured 50 convictions, including those against mob capo Paul Vario and James Burke on several charges. Nicholas Pileggi wrote about Hill's life in the true crime book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. Martin Scorsese made Wiseguy into the film Goodfellas, starring Ray Liotta as Hill.

Charles Luciano (LOO-chee-AH-noh, Italian: [luˈtʃaːno]; born Salvatore Lucania [salvaˈtoːre lukaˈniːa]; November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962), known as "Lucky Luciano," was an influential Italian-born mobster, criminal mastermind, and crime boss operating mainly in the United States. Luciano established the first Commission, making him the father of modern organized crime in the U.S. He also became the first official boss of the modern Genovese crime family. Luciano worked with his associates to develop the National Crime Syndicate.

Salvatore Gravano is an American actor. He appeared in "Families of the Mafia."

Anthony Salvatore Casso (born May 21, 1942) was an American mobster and former underboss of the Lucchese crime family. Casso was called a "homicidal maniac" in the mafia. He admitted to the government responsibility for 36 murders but likely committed many more. Former Lucchese captain and witness Anthony Accetturo said of Casso, "all he wanted to do is kill, kill, get what you can, even if you didn't earn it." Casso confessed involvement in the murders of Frank DeCicco, Roy DeMeo, and others.

Joseph Anthony "Joe" Colombo, Sr. (Italian: [koˈlombo]); lived June 16, 1923, to May 22, 1978). He was the boss of the Colombo crime family, one of the "Five Families" of the Cosa Nostra in New York.

Carlo "Don Carlo" Gambino (Italian: [ˈkarlo ɡamˈbiːno]; August 24, 1902 – October 15, 1976) was a Sicilian-American mobster and boss of the Gambino crime family, which still bears his name. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention, Gambino unexpectedly took charge of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino stayed quiet and kept secrets. He was convicted of tax evasion in 1937, but his sentence was suspended. He lived to 74; a heart attack in bed ended his life.

Joseph Charles Bonanno Sr. (born Giuseppe Carlo Bonanno; Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈkarlo boˈnanno]; January 18, 1905 – May 11, 2002) was an Italian-born American mafioso, businessman, and racketeer. At age 26, he became boss of the Bonanno Crime family. He ran this family for 30 years after the Castellamarese War and was an original member of the Commission.

Vito "Don Vitone" Genovese (Italian: [ˈviːto dʒenoˈveːze, -eːse]; November 27, 1897 – February 14, 1969) was an Italian-American mobster. He rose during Prohibition as an enforcer in the American Mafia. Genovese was a long-time associate and childhood friend of Charles Luciano. He joined the Castellammarese War and helped shape the rise of the Mafia and organized crime in the United States. He later led Luciano's crime family, which the authorities renamed the Genovese crime family. He served as Boss of all Bosses from 1957 to 1959, ruling one of the wealthiest.

Richard Cain (October 4, 1931 – December 20, 1973), also known as Richard Scalzitti, was a corrupt Chicago police officer. He was a close associate of Mafia boss Sam Giancana.

Jack Ignatius Dragna (born Ignazio Dragna; Italian pronunciation: [iɲˈɲattsjo draɲˈɲa]; April 18, 1891 – February 23, 1956) was an American Mafia member and Black Hander. He worked in Italy and the United States during the 20th century. Dragna ran bootlegging in California during Prohibition in the United States. In 1931, he took over as the boss of the Los Angeles crime family from Joseph Ardizzone after Ardizzone vanished and died. James Ragen and Earl Warren called Dragna the "Capone of Los Angeles." Dragna kept the Los Angeles crime family boss.

Antonio "Tony Ducks" Corallo (February 12, 1913 – August 23, 2000) was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family. Corallo controlled trucking and construction unions in New York.

Vincent Louis Gigante, known as "Chin," was a New York Italian-American mobster in the American Mafia. He headed the Genovese crime family from 1981 to 2005. Gigante began as a professional boxer, fighting 25 bouts between 1944 and 1947. He then became a Mafia enforcer for the Luciano crime family, which preceded the Genovese family. Gigante had five brothers; Mario, Pasquale, and Ralph joined him in the Mafia. Louis, however, stayed outside the crime family and became a p.

Frank Abbandando, nicknamed "The Dasher," was a New York City contract killer. He committed many murders for the Murder, Inc. gang. Abbandando stabbed victims through the heart with an ice pick. After a trial and conviction for murdering a Brooklyn loan shark, he died by electric chair at Sing Sing on February 19, 1942.

Carmine Galante (Italian: [ˈkarmine ɡaˈlante]; February 21, 1910 – July 12, 1979) was an American mobster and boss of the Bonanno crime family. Galante wore a cigar constantly, earning him the nicknames "The Cigar" and "Lilo," a Sicilian term for cigar.

Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano (Italian: [kastelˈlaːno]; June 26, 1915 – December 16, 1985), known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" (or "PC" to his family), was an American mafia boss. Castellano replaced Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family in New York, the largest Cosa Nostra family then. His business skills led John Gotti to assassinate Castellano in 1985, causing years of instability for the Gambino family.

Anthony Provenzano, also known as Tony Pro, (May 7, 1917 – December 12, 1988) was a Caporegime of the Genovese crime family in New York City. Provenzano was born May 7, 1917, in Manhattan's Lower East Side. He was the fourth of six children from Sicilian immigrants, Rosario and Josephine Provenzano. Provenzano associated with Teamsters Union director Jimmy Hoffa and President Richard Nixon because he worked as an International Brotherhood of Teamsters vice president for Teamsters Local 560 in Union City, New Jersey. At fifteen, he quit Public School 114 and started working.

Salvatore "Handsome Sal" Vitale (born September 22, 1947 in Maspeth, Queens) worked as a New York City caterer. Vitale was a former underboss of the Bonanno crime family in the American Mafia before becoming a government informant.

Vincent "Fat Vinnie" Teresa (1930–1990) was an American mobster in the Boston branch of the Patriarca crime family. Teresa served as a lieutenant under boss Raymond Patriarca.

Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, born June 4, 1944, was an Italian-American mobster. He became the de facto boss of the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family. Palermo later became a government witness. Fictional mob boss Tony Soprano, from the HBO series The Sopranos, is based on Palermo.

Primo Cassarino, born April 26, 1956, was a New York mobster. He became an enforcer for the Gambino crime family. Cassarino extorted money from actor Steven Seagal.

Michael DiLeonardo, born June 18, 1955, was an Italian-American mobster. He became a capo in the Gambino family. DiLeonardo turned into a government informant in the early 2000s. He cooperated with the FBI and convicted over 80 mobsters. DiLeonardo spent time in a witness protection program.

Angelo Bruno, born Angelo Annaloro (Italian: [ˈandʒelo annaˈlɔːro]; May 21, 1910 – March 21, 1980), was a Sicilian-American mobster. Bruno was the boss of the Philadelphia crime family for twenty years until his assassination. Bruno earned the nicknames "the Gentle Don" or "the Docile Don" after death because he favored peace over violence, unlike his successors.

Frank "the Prime Minister" Costello, born Francesco Castiglia [franˈtʃesko kaˈstiʎʎa] (January 26, 1891 – February 18, 1973), was an Italian-American Mafia gangster and crime boss. Costello climbed to the top of American organized crime. He controlled a huge gambling operation and held political sway. Nicknamed "The Prime Minister of the Underworld," he became one of the most powerful mafia bosses in American history. He eventually led the Luciano crime family, which later became the Genovese crime family, one of the Five Families operating in New York City.

Nicodemo Domenic "Little Nicky" Scarfo, born March 8, 1929, died January 13, 2017, was a member of the American Mafia. Scarfo became the boss of the Philadelphia crime family after Angelo Bruno and Phil Testa died. Some accounts describe Scarfo as psychotic, cruel, and vicious. Former criminal associates testified that Scarfo would kill someone if shown the slightest disrespect or even if stared at. Scarfo organized a brutal regime and ordered over a dozen murders during his time.

Frank Coppa Sr., born September 11, 1941, was a Sicilian-American gangster in the Bonanno crime family. Coppa Sr. was a close friend of Joseph Massino and Frank Lino. He made significant money through stock fraud schemes. In 2002, Coppa became the first Bonanno made man to turn state's evidence.

William Daddano Sr., born December 28, 1912, died September 9, 1975, also known as "William Russo" and "Willie Potatoes," was a top enforcer and loan shark for the Chicago Outfit. Daddano Sr. participated in several high-profile robberies.

Peter "Fat Pete" Chiodo (1951–2016) was a capo in the Lucchese crime family. Chiodo later became a government witness.

Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci (Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe proˈfaːtʃi]; October 2, 1897 – June 6, 1962) founded the Colombo crime family. This Italian-born New York City La Cosa Nostra boss established the family in 1928. He led the family for more than thirty years; he was the last of the Five Families to organize.

Raymond Loreda Salvatore Patriarca Sr. (March 18, 1908 – July 11, 1984) was an Italian-American mobster from Providence, Rhode Island. He became the longtime boss of the Patriarca crime family. His control covered New England for over thirty years. He was a major U.S. crime boss, often settling fights between Cosa Nostra families outside the region. He fathered Raymond Patriarca Jr.

Russell Bufalino (born Rosario Alberto Bufalino; Italian pronunciation: [roˈzaːrjo alˈbɛrto bufaˈliːno]; September 25, 1903 – February 25, 1994), also known as "McGee" and "The Old Man," was a Sicilian-born American mafioso. He became the boss of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Bufalino crime family, ruling from 1959 to 1989. Though leading a small family, Bufalino greatly influenced the national Cosa Nostra criminal organization.

Vincenzo Colosimo (Italian: [vinˈtʃɛntso koˈlɔziːmo]; February 16, 1878 – May 11, 1920), known as James "Big Jim" Colosimo or "Diamond Jim," was an Italian-American Mafia crime boss. He moved from Calabria, Italy, in 1895 and built a criminal empire in Chicago using prostitution, gambling, and racketeering. Colosimo gained power through small crimes and running brothels. From about 1902 until his death in 1920, he led a gang that became known as the Chicago Outfit. Colosimo imported Johnny Torrio from New York in 1909, who became an enforcer.

Sam Giancana, born Salvatore Giangana (June 15, 1908 – June 18, 1975), was a Sicilian American mobster. Giancana became the boss of the criminal Chicago Outfit from 1957 to 1966.

Ciro Terranova (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtʃiːro ˌtɛrranɔːva]; July 20, 1888 − February 20, 1938) was an Italian-born New York City gangster. Terranova served as an underboss for the Morello crime family at one point.

Thomas "Tommy" Lucchese (born Gaetano Lucchese; Italian pronunciation: [ɡaeˈtaːno lukˈkeːse]; December 1, 1899 – July 13, 1967) was an Italian American gangster. He was a founding member of the Mafia in the United States, an offshoot of the Cosa Nostra in Sicily. From 1951 to 1967, he headed the Lucchese crime family, one of the Five Families dominating organized crime in New York City.

Michele Sindona, an Italian banker and convicted felon, died on March 22, 1986, after living from May 8, 1920, to March 22, 1986. Banking circles called Sindona "The Shark." Sindona joined Propaganda Due (#0501), a secret Italian Freemasonry lodge, and had links to the Sicilian Mafia. He died poisoned in prison while serving a life sentence for murdering lawyer Giorgio Ambrosoli.

Joseph Gallo, also known as "Crazy Joe," was a New York City gangster for the Profaci crime family, later becoming known as the Colombo crime family. He lived from April 7, 1929, to April 7, 1972.

Louis "Little New York" Campagna, an American gangster and mobster, served as a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit for more than thirty years. Campagna lived from March 31, 1900, to May 30, 1955.

This article lists past and inactive members of the Lucchese crime family. These individuals have either been killed, died, or became informants.

Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera, a Bonanno crime family capo, was murdered on May 5, 1981. He was killed alongside Alphonse Indelicato and Philip Giaccone while planning to overthrow aspiring Bonanno boss Philip Rastelli. Trinchera lived from December 20, 1936, to May 5, 1981.

Cesare "The Tall Guy" Bonventre, a Sicilian mobster and caporegime, served the New York City Bonanno crime family. Bonventre lived from January 1, 1951, to April 16, 1984.

Roy Albert DeMeo, a New York American mobster, was a member of the Gambino crime family. DeMeo headed the DeMeo crew in the Gambino family, which became known for over 100 alleged murders. DeMeo committed most of those murders himself. DeMeo lived from September 7, 1940, to January 10, 1983.

Francesco Raffaele Nitto (Italian: [franˈtʃesko raffaˈɛːle nitˈto]; January 27, 1886 – March 19, 1943) was Frank Nitti, an Italian-American gangster. Nitti served as one of Al Capone's top henchmen. Nitti controlled all money for the operation. Nitti later took over as the boss of the Chicago Outfit from Capone.

Frank Scalice, also known as "Don Ciccio" and "Wacky," was an Italian-American mobster active in New York City. Scalice led the future Gambino crime family from 1930 to 1931 and served as underboss from 1951 to 1957. Scalice was born Francesco Scalice and lived from March 31, 1893, to June 17, 1957.

Dominick Napolitano, also known as Sonny Black, was an American Mafia caporegime in the Bonanno crime family. Napolitano unwittingly let FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone join his crew. Napolitano nearly got Pistone arrested.

Frank "Bomp" Bompensiero (October 29, 1905 – February 10, 1977) was a Mafia hitman and a longtime Caporegime in the Los Angeles crime family. In 1956, boss Frank DeSimone demoted Bompensiero to soldier after the death of boss Jack Dragna. Bompensiero was the older brother of associate Salvatore "Sam" Bompensiero. Bompensiero earned a reputation for the many killings he carried out for his superiors. Jimmy Fratianno, a close associate, once said Bompensiero "had buried more bones than could be found in the brontosaurus room of the Museum of Natural History."

Tommy Gagliano (born Tommaso Gagliano; Italian: [tomˈmaːzo gaʎˈʎaːno]; May 29, 1883 − February 16, 1951) was an Italian American mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family, one of New York City's "Five Families," which U.S. federal authorities later named. He ran as a low-profile boss for more than twenty years. Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese, his longtime loyalist and underboss, became his successor.

Frank DeCicco, also known as Frankie D and Frankie Cheech (November 5, 1935 – April 13, 1986), was the underboss for the Gambino crime family in New York City. He is not to be confused with Frank DiCicco.