Colombo crime family

Origins In September 1921, Joseph Profaci arrived in New York City from Villabate, Sicily, Italy. Yale had been murdered in retaliation for refusing to give Capone, a Neapolitan, control over the Unione Siciliana fraternal association. The killing allowed Profaci and his brother-in-law, Joseph Magliocco, to gain territory for their small gang, Castellammarese boss Maranzano began his own campaign to become "boss of bosses", which started the Castellammarese War. Masseria, along with his ally Manfredi Mineo, the new boss of the D'Aquila family, ordered the murder of Gaetano Reina, whom he believed to have sided with Maranzano. Following Reina's murder on February 26, 1930, Masseria appointed Joseph Pinzolo as the new boss of the Reina family. Profaci maintained a neutral stance, secretly supporting Maranzano. The war ended when Charles "Lucky" Luciano, a Masseria lieutenant, betrayed him to Maranzano by setting up Masseria's murder on April 15, 1931. One of his most unpopular demands was a $25 monthly tribute from every soldier in his family. In the late 1950s, Frank "Frankie Shots" Abbatemarco, a caporegime (captain, or head of a "crew") under Profaci, became a chafed at the boss' tribute. Abbatemarco controlled a lucrative policy game that earned him nearly $2.5 million a year with an average of $7,000 a day in Red Hook. In early 1959, Abbatemarco, with the support of the Gallo brothers and Carmine Persico's Garfield Boys, began refusing to pay the tribute. However, other versions of the story indicate that Gallo played no part in Abbatemarco's murder. Profaci then ordered the Gallo brothers to hand over Abbatemarco's son Anthony. When the Gallos refused, Profaci refused to give them the policy game. This marked the start of the first war within the family, Profaci, however, had no intention of honoring this peace agreement. On August 20, 1961, he ordered the murders of Larry Gallo and Gallo loyalist Gioielli. Gunmen allegedly murdered Gioielli after inviting him to go deep sea fishing. Larry Gallo survived a strangulation attempt by Persico and Salvatore "Sally" D'Ambrosio at the Sahara Club in East Flatbush after a passing police officer intervened. The next June, Profaci died of cancer, leaving longtime underboss Magliocco as the new boss. The war continued on between the two factions. In 1963, Persico survived a car bombing and his enforcer Hugh McIntosh was shot in the groin as he attempted to kill Larry Gallo. Bonanno sought Magliocco's support, and Magliocco readily agreed. Not only was he bitter due to being denied a seat on the Commission, but Bonanno and Profaci had been close allies for over thirty years prior to Profaci's death. Bonanno's audacious goal was to take over the Commission and make Magliocco his right-hand man. The Commission summoned Bonanno and Magliocco to explain themselves. Fearing for his life, Bonanno went into hiding in Montreal, leaving Magliocco to deal with the fallout. Badly shaken and in failing health, Magliocco confessed his role in the plot. The Commission spared Magliocco's life but forced him to relinquish leadership of the Profaci family and pay a $50,000 fine. As a reward for his fealty to the Commission, Colombo was awarded control of the family. Therefore, Colombo set about reshuffling the family's ranks, placing old-time gangsters in greater positions of power than the younger, more ambitious ones who could have potentially posed a threat to his rule. He promoted elderly mobsters Salvatore "Charlie Lemons" Mineo and Benedetto D'Alessandro to underboss and consigliere, respectively. In doing so, Colombo also sought to stabilize the family after enduring such a tumultuous period of conflict. When D’Alessandro later retired in 1969, Colombo promoted Joseph "Joey Yack" Yacovelli to consigliere. Along with former Gallo crew member Nicholas Bianco and New England family boss Raymond Patriarca, Colombo was also able to finally end the war with the Gallos. In 1968, Larry Gallo died of cancer. In 1971, the other New York bosses ordered their men to stay away from the scheduled second demonstration and not support Colombo's cause. In a sign that the bosses had turned on Colombo, the IACRL's chief organizer, Gambino family capo Joseph DeCicco, resigned, ostensibly due to ill health. As a supposedly conciliatory gesture, Colombo invited Gallo to a peace meeting with an offering of $1,000. Gallo refused the invitation, demanding $100,000 to stop the conflict, which Colombo rejected, instigating the family's second internal war. Second Family War (1971–1975) On June 28, 1971, Colombo held the second rally of the IACRL at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Although many in the Colombo family blamed Gallo for the shooting, the police eventually concluded that Johnson was a lone gunman after they had questioned Gallo. After this assassination attempt, Yacovelli, fearing further attempts at reprisal from the Gallo crew, fled New York. With Yacovelli now on the run and Mineo, the family's underboss, having previously made it clear that he had no interest in controlling the family, the door appeared to be wide open for Persico, now a powerful caporegime, to permanently take over as boss. However, Perisco had been sent to federal prison on hijacking charges in January 1972, so another capo named Vincenzo Aloi, the son of well-respected former capo Sebastiano "Buster" Aloi as well as Carlo Gambino's godson, became the new acting boss. After his conviction, Aloi, who was free on bail pending an appeal, stepped down as acting boss. Joseph "Joey" Brancato, acting capo for John "Sonny" Franzese while the latter was serving a fifty-year federal sentence for bank robbery, became acting boss. Brancato, however, had no interest in a permanent leadership position and only took the job for the purpose of finally negotiating an end to the war with the Gallo crew, which by then had split itself into two groups that had started fighting each other. Having successfully negotiated a peaceful resolution to the Gallo wars, Brancato stepped down as acting boss and returned to running his Long Island crew. With no other viable candidates standing in his way, the imprisoned Persico officially took over the Colombo family by the end of 1973, placing Thomas DiBella in charge of the family as acting boss and promoting his brother Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico to consigliere and Anthony "Tony Shots" Abbatemarco to underboss. Poor health forced DiBella to retire in 1977, and Colombo died in 1978. The Colombo family was facing another power vacuum. in 1984 Carmine Perisco's incarceration coincided with the release of his brother Alphonse from seventeen years in prison. Persico designated Alphonse as acting boss with support as underboss from Gennaro Langella and Carmine's other brother, Theodore. Langella supervised various labor rackets for the family, including their stake in "Concrete Club", and exerted control over various labor unions, including Cement and Concrete Workers District Council, Local 6A. In 1979, Carmine was released from federal prison. In November 1981, he was convicted of conspiracy and racketeering charges and sentenced to five years in prison. Prosecutors aimed to strike at all the crime families at once using their involvement in the Commission. Seven of the defendants were convicted of racketeering on November 19, 1986, with Persico and Langella each sentenced on January 13, 1987, to 100 years' imprisonment. In the separate Colombo Trial, Persico was sentenced to 39 years' imprisonment, Langella to 65 years' imprisonment, and Alphonse Persico to 12 years, on November 17, 1986. Mafia historian and The New York Times organized-crime reporter Selwyn Raab later wrote that the Colombos suffered more long-term damage than any other family as a result of the Commission Trial. Raab pointed out that Persico was by far the youngest boss in New York and "at the peak of his abilities." Although he was 53 years old at the time of the Commission Trial, he had already headed the family for 14 years. In contrast, the other New York bosses were in their seventies and likely would have ceded power to mafiosi of Persico's generation even if they had not been sent to prison. Raab believed that Persico would have had a long reign ahead of him had the trial not intervened. More than 80 made members and associates from both sides of the Colombo family were convicted, jailed or indicted. These included Persico's brother Theodore "Teddy" Persico and his son Alphonse Persico, DeRoss, Orena's nephew William V. Orena, his older brother Micheal Orena, and Orena's two sons, Victor Orena Jr. and John Orena. While both sides appealed to the Commission for help, the war continued. In November 1991, Gregory Scarpa, a Persico loyalist, was driving his daughter and granddaughter home when several Orena gunmen ambushed them. Scarpa and his relatives managed to escape. The war continued until 1992, when Orena was convicted of racketeering, the 1989 Ocera murder, and other related charges. He received three life sentences plus 85 years in federal prison. 58 soldiers and associates—42 from the Persico faction and 16 from the Orena faction—were sent to prison. Raab later wrote that Persico's attempts to keep control of the family from prison nearly destroyed it. By his estimate, 70 of the family's members and associates were convicted as a result of the war, and the family was down to around 75 made members. and considered dissolving the family. Lucchese underboss Anthony Casso proposed to merge the family with his own to end the war, while in 2000, plans were proposed to split its manpower and resources among the remaining families. In 2002, with the help of Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino, the other families finally allowed the Colombos to rejoin the Commission. The family after Third Colombo War in 1996 With Orena out of the picture, the way was clear for "Little Allie Boy" to become acting boss after his release in 1994. In 1994, Carmine Persico appointed Andrew Russo as acting boss. When Russo went to prison in 1996, Alphonse Persico took over as acting boss. In 1999, he was arrested in Fort Lauderdale after being caught in possession of a pistol and shotgun; as a convicted felon, he was barred from carrying guns. Shortly after his arrest, Persico ordered the murder of underboss William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, an Orena supporter during the Third Colombo War. Cutolo's son, vowing revenge, offered to wear a wire and pose as a prospective Colombo associate. Based on evidence from this wire, Little Allie Boy was indicted on RICO charges. Realizing he stood no chance of acquittal, he pled guilty to the state charges in February 2000 and to the RICO charges in December 2001. In 2004, Alphonse Persico and underboss John "Jackie" DeRoss were indicted for the Cutolo murder. In December 2007, both men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Family consigliere Joel "Joe Waverly" Cacace took over running the family until 2003, when he was imprisoned on murder and racketeering charges. The family then came under the influence of Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, who took over as street boss. In June 2008, Gioeli, underboss John "Sonny" Franzese, former consigliere Joel Cacace, captain Dino Calabro, soldier Dino Saracino, and several other members and associates, including Orlando "Ori" Spado, were indicted on multiple racketeering charges, including loansharking, extortion and three murders dating back to the Colombo Wars. Alphonse Persico was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 27, 2009, for the Cutolo murder. Current position With DeLeo imprisoned, Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo once again took control of the family. On January 20, 2011, street boss Andrew Russo, acting underboss Benjamin Castellazzo, consigliere Richard Fusco, and others were charged with murder, narcotics trafficking, and labor racketeering. In September 2011, Castellazzo and Fusco pleaded guilty to reduced charges. In December 2011, it was revealed that capo Reynold Maragni wore a wire for the FBI and gained information about Thomas Gioeli's role in the 1999 murder of William Cutolo. On July 11, 2018, four associates and members of the Colombo crime family were part of a 32-count indictment charging them with a number of crimes, including money laundering, racketeering, illegal gambling, and extortion. The crimes allegedly took place between December 2010 and June 2018, predominantly in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Two made members of the Colombo family, Vito DiFalco and Jerry Ciauri, were among the accused. Gambino crime family soldier Anthony Licata was also indicted. On March 22, 2021, Amato pleaded guilty. On August 13, 2020, an indictment charged Colombo family associate Frangesco "Frankie" Russo, Genovese family soldier Christopher Chierchio, attorney Jason "Jay" Kurland and securities broker Frank Smookler with conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment accused the "lottery attorney" Kurland, along with Russo, Chierchio and Smookler, of swindling $80 million from jackpot winners in an illegal scheme which involved siphoning money from the winners' investments. On September 14, 2021, an indictment was served that included the Colombo family's boss, Andrew "Mush" Russo, underboss Benjamin "Benji" Castellazzo, consigliere Ralph "Big Ralphie" DiMatteo, captains Vincent Ricciardi, Richard Ferrara, and Theodore "Teddy" Persico Jr., soldier Michael Uvino, and associates Thomas Costa and Domenick Ricciardo. The indictment charged these members of the Colombo family with infiltrating and taking control of a Queens-based labor union and its affiliated health care benefit program, as well as conspiring to commit fraud in connection with workplace safety certifications. In December 2023, the remaining defendants were sentenced to prison, Ralph DiMatteo received three years, Theodore Persico received five years, and Benjamin Castellazzo was given fifteen months. On April 23, 2022, Andrew Russo's funeral was attended by 100 mourners in Brooklyn. Robert "Little Robert" Donofrio, a long-time soldier who initially sided with the Orena Faction but switched to the Persico Faction during the third war, is now believed to be running the family as acting boss until Theodore 'Skinny Teddy' Persico's release from prison in 2025. On February 5, 2025, Joseph Orapallo and his son Frank, who are descendants of the family's former capo Joseph Tomasello, were arrested on major gun charges. On February 11, 2026, Theodore Persico was ordered to return to prison for a nine month sentence a month after he pled guilty to violating his supervised release terms by meeting with organized crime members during a Christmas party in December 2025. Around this time, the New York Times described Persico as by now being the Colombo crime family's "former boss." In January 2026, Persico aide and recent Colombo street boss Francis "PR" Guerra was determined to now be the Colombo family's acting boss. ==Historical leadership==

Boss (official and acting) • 1920–1927 — Salvatore DiBella – stepped down • 1927–1962 — Joseph Profaci – died of natural causes • Acting 1962–1963 — Joseph Magliocco – fled, after the murder of Joe Gallo • Acting 1972 — Joseph "Joey" Brancato – stepped down • Acting 1972–1973 – Vincenzo Aloi – imprisoned • 1974–1979 — Thomas DiBella 1981–1984, 1985–2019, died on March 7, 2019 • Acting 1983–1984 — Gennaro "Gerry Lang" Langella – imprisoned – imprisoned • Acting 1987–1991 — Vittorio "Vic" Orena – imprisoned sentenced to life • Acting 1991–1993 — Vacant – disputed leadership during the third war • Acting 1994–1996 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo – imprisoned March 1997 • 2019–2022 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo – indicted on September 14, 2021. became acting underboss • 2025–present — Theodore N. "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr. • Acting 2025–present — Francis "BF" Guerra Street boss • 1987 — Ruling Panel – Benedetto Aloi, Vincent "Jimmy" Angelino and Joseph T. Tomasello – disbanded September 1987 • 1991–1993 — Joseph T. Tomasello • 1993–1994 — Ruling Panel – Joseph T. Tomasello, Theodore "Teddy" Persico and Joseph Baudanza – disbanded 1994 • 1994–1996 — Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico – became acting boss • 1996–1999 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo – imprisoned • 2000–2003 — Joel "Joe Waverly" Cacace – imprisoned January 2003 • 2003–2008 — Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli – imprisoned June 2008 • 2008–2009 — Ralph F. DeLeo and others • 2010–2011 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo – jailed January 2011 – stepped down • 2014–2019 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo – released from prison on June 13, 2013, became boss 2019 Underboss (official and acting) • 1928–1962 — Joseph "Joe Malyak" Magliocco – promoted to boss • 1962–1963 — Salvatore "Sally the Sheik" Musacchio – brother-in-law to Joseph Magliocco • 1962–1963 — John Misuraca – became acting boss • 1963–1967 — John "Sonny" Franzese – imprisoned • 1967–1973 — Salvatore "Charlie Lemons" Mineo – stepped down • 1973–1977 — Anthony "Tony Shots" Abbatemarco – fled • Acting 1973–1975 — Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo • 1977–1981 — Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico – Carmine Persico's brother; promoted to acting boss • 1981–1994 — Gennaro "Gerry Lang" Langella – promoted to acting boss • Acting 1983–1987 — John "Sonny" Franzese • Acting 1987— Benedetto "Benny" Aloi released June 23, 2017 • Acting 2008–2009 — Theodore "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr. – became consigliere • 2025–present — Francis "BF" Guerra • 1954–1959 — Giuseppe "Joseph/Peppino/Tony" Buffa – Joe Profaci's son Sal was married to Buffa's daughter; he died in 1959 • Acting 1959–1964 — Calogero "Charles the Sidge" LoCicero – murdered 1968 • Acting 1963 — Salvatore Badalamenti – stepped down • Acting 1964–1965 — Benedetto D'Alessandro – appointed to official consigliere • 1965–1969 — Benedetto D'Alessandro – became acting boss 1971 • Acting 1974–1975 — Charles Panarella • 1975–1977 — Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico – Carmine Persico's brother; promoted to underboss – stepped down • 1983–1988 — Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico – Carmine Persico's brother; died in 1989 Factions of the third war The Colombo crime family divided into two factions during the third family war (1991 to 1993). Persico faction • Boss – Carmine "Junior" Persico • Consigliere – Carmine Sessa • Faction Boss – Vittorio "Vic" Orena • Faction Underboss – Benedetto "Benny" Aloi • Faction Acting Underboss – Joseph Scopo • Faction Consigliere – Vincenzo Aloi ==Current members==

Administration • Boss — Theodore N. "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr. — former capo and son of Theodore Persico Sr. Persico was inducted as a soldier for the Colombo family in January 1987. It is believed Persico ordered the murder of Joseph Scopo, who had served as the underboss of the Orena faction during the Colombo family war in the early 1990s, Scopo was shot 3 times and killed in October 1993. In April 2004, Persico was released from prison after serving 16 years in prison, after he was convicted of drug dealing cocaine in May 1988. According to prosecutors at his trial in 1988, Persico had sold 13 ounces of cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on 3 occasions in June 1986. He helped lead the family from 2008, until his arrest in 2009, working with his cousins Michael Persico and Lawrence Persico. He was released from prison on May 29, 2020. Persico Jr. was rounded up in an extensive indictment against the family that took place on September 14, 2021. Persico was released in July 2025. In late 2025, he started organizing the family administration. In February 2026, Persico was sentenced to 4 months in prison. • Acting boss/underboss — Francis "BF" Guerra — currently serving as the acting/street boss and underboss of the family. During his sentencing the government proved that Guerra had committed numerous additional crimes, including the 1992 murder of Michael Devine and the 1993 murder of Joseph Scopo. Donofrio and other Persico loyalists were part of various attempts to murder several of Orena's underlings between June 1991 and July 1992, including Cutolo, Orena's underboss Joseph Scopo, capo Thomas Petrizzo, soldier Vincent DeMartino and associate Gabriel Scianna, but were unsuccessful with each of their targets. He was released on July 14, 2000, and got off supervised release in 2003. He was released on May 3, 2023. Caporegimes Brooklyn faction • Carmine L. Persico — born in November 1970. Current capo. Persico is a half-brother to Theodore N. "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr., and the nephew to former boss Carmine "Junior" Persico. In May 2005, Persico was indicted for extortion. • William "Billy" Russo — born in November 1954. Current capo. Russo is the son of Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo, who served as boss of the Colombo family in around the 2020s. Bronx • Dennis "Fat Dennis" DeLucia — capo with gambling operations in the Bronx. In 2011, he was indicted along with acting boss Andrew Russo and soldiers Ilario Sessa and Joseph Savarese, as well as Angelo Spata, Carmine Persico's son-in-law. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to extortion of a rival gambling club in the Bronx and before his sentencing his lesbian daughter described him as "a same-sex marriage supporter, despite his role in the Mafia". DeLucia was released from prison on July 12, 2013. Soldiers New York • Joseph "Joe" Amato — former capo operating a loansharking operation on Staten Island. On October 3, 2019, Amato along with son Joseph Amato Jr., soldiers Daniel Capaldo and Thomas Scorcia and associate Anthony Silvestro were indicted on extortion and loansharking charges. On March 22, 2021, Amato and his son accepted plea deals on all charges. In October 2021, Amato was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Released from prison on November 13, 2023. • Carmine Baudanza — soldier; born in December 1942. In December 2007, Baudanza was sentenced to seven years in prison, after he was indicted in March 2006 following a three-year investigation by the FBI and the IRS for a $20 million fraud operation. • Joseph Baudanza — former capo with operations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island. Baudanza along with his brother Carmine and nephew John Baudanza were arrested and convicted on stock fraud in 2008. Baudanza was released from prison in February 2011. • Richard Cappa — born in April 1971. In 1993, Cappa was indicted on charges of conspiracy to murder and illegal gambling. In November 2012, Cappa pleaded guilty to extortion in connection with a $13,000 debt. • Salvatore "Sally Boy" Castagno — former capo of the "Gravesend-Coney Island crew" (aka "East Third Street Clique") which was previously controlled by Benjamin Castellazzo. • Benjamin "Benji" Castellazzo On January 20, 2011, Castellazzo was indicted on federal racketeering charges. Castellazzo was released from federal custody on August 14, 2015. On September 14, 2021, Castellazzo was indicted and charged along with boss Andrew Russo, consigliere Ralph DiMatteo and three captains Theodore Persico Jr., Richard Ferrara and Vincent Ricciardo with infiltrating and taking control of a Queens-based labor union. In December 2023, Benjamin Castellazzo was sentenced to fifteen months in prison. In November 2010, he was sentenced to years imprisonment after he had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and conspired to sell 50 kilograms of cocaine. He was released on April 29, 2016. • Giovanni "John" Cerbone — Cerbone is part of the Staten Island crew run by Joseph Amato. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to money laundering, distribution of cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone pills. Cerbone was sentenced to 5-years imprisonment. • James "Jimmy Green Eyes" Clemenza — former capo operating in Brooklyn. On August 25, 1961, he tried to strangle Larry Gallo with a rope in a Brooklyn bar. In the mid-1990s, Clemenza along with his brother Gerard "Jerry", and brothers Chris and Anthony Colombo, were suspended without pay for backing Orena during the family war. In 1999, Clemenza, along with his brother Jerry, were under FBI surveillance attending a dinner in a Little Italy restaurant on Mulberry Street with cast members of The Sopranos. • '''Andrew "Andre" D'Apice''' — soldier; born in 1973. In May 2005, D'Apice was indicted alongside Theodore Persico Jr., his cousin, for extortion and racketeering. • Vincent "Chickie" DeMartino — soldier. In June 1991, DeMartino was inducted as a soldier in the Colombo family by Vic Orena and William Cutolo. In April 1993, DeMartino was sentenced to four years in prison on weapons charges. In 1999, Alphonse Persico ordered DeMartino and Thomas Gioeli to murder Cutolo, who was subsequently shot and killed in May 1999. DeMartino was paid $50,000 for the murder. On July 16, 2001, DeMartino and Michael Spataro attempted to murder Joseph Campanella, but failed. In 2004, Campanella testified against DeMartino, and in early May 2004, DeMartino was sentenced by former U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie to 25 years in prison. In May 2022, DeMartino was released from prison due to health problems. • Luca DiMatteo — former capo who previously served as acting captain of the Lombardo crew. His younger brother Ralph DiMatteo is the family's consigliere. On July 9, 2015, DiMatteo along with his nephew Luca "Lukey" DiMatteo were indicted and charged with racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loansharking, and operating an illegal gambling business in Brooklyn and elsewhere between January 2009 and June 2015. The indictment identified DiMatteo as a longtime acting captain in the Colombo family. He was released from prison on January 8, 2018. • Ralph "Big Ralphie" DiMatteo — former consigliere of the family. On September 14, 2021, DiMatteo was indicted and charged along with boss Andrew Russo, underboss Benjamin Castellazzo and three captains, Theodore Persico Jr., Richard Ferrara and Vincent Ricciardo, with infiltrating and taking control of a Queens-based labor union. In July 2023, DiMatteo pleaded guilty to extortion, conspiracy and money laundering from 2020 to 2021. In December 2023, Ralph DiMatteo was sentenced to three years in prison. When he was promoted to Consigliere, Farese maintained the control of the Florida faction. Prosecutors obtained evidence on Farese through a recording device on government informant Reynold Maragni. In December 2012, Farese was acquitted of all charges. In April 2021, Farese was charged with one count of federal healthcare fraud. He and several partners, including Colombo associate Patrick Truglia, owned an orthotic brace supply company in Florida from 2017 to 2019, nominally owned by others, which engaged in kickback schemes to bribe medical providers and telehealth services to unnecessarily prescribe elderly patients with braces, which would be charged to Medicare. The court dockets of Farese and Truglia were sealed, unlike the other defendants in the case. The indictment did not mention Farese's ties to organized crime. • Anthony "Tony Black" Induisi — current soldier and former capo active in Florida. Born in 1949 or 1950. According to the FBI, Induisi was initiated into the Colombo family in August 1978 and was placed in a crew operated by captain Johnny Irish Matera, who was later murdered in July 1981. According to the FBI and U.S. Marshall's Service in 1981, Induisi was placed at a meeting with the Colombo family, with Carmine Persico, Tom DiBella, Vic Orena, John Matera, Gennaro Langella, Allie Persico and Vic Regina, and from the DeCavalcante crime family, Giovanni Riggi, Sam DeCavalcante, Stefano Vitabile, and Jimmy Rotondo. In August 1994, Induisi was sentenced to 5 years in prison with 3 years of probation and a fine of $10,000, for operating a $3 million-a-year illegal sports bookmaking business in Tamarac, Florida from between 1988 and 1989. According to prosecutors, Induisi hired a hitman in 1989 to kill the son of an American Mafia soldier in Broward County, however the murder was never carried out. • Vincent Langella — the son of Gennaro Langella. In 2001, Langella pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. On July 3, 2001, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Langella was released on April 12, 2005. • Vincent "Vinny the Boxer" Maddalone — member of former capo of the "Sally Bread" Cambria's crew. Maddalone is a former professional boxer. • Craig "Little Craig" Marino — soldier. In March 2006, Marino was indicted for extortion. • Joseph "Joe Fish" Marra — imprisoned after being sentenced to 37 months in federal custody for a racketeering conviction in 2021. in 2023, Marra has a released from prison. • Joseph "Joe Monte" Monteleone — born in 1940. Monteleone was a Persico loyalist during the 1990s Colombo family war. Monteleone was sentenced to life imprisonment on murder and racketeering charges. He was released from prison in 2023. • Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico — Carmine Persico's son and former acting boss of the family. In 2009, Alphonse was sentenced to life in prison and is currently in the FCI McKean in Pennsylvania. In March 2019, his father and longtime boss Carmine Persico died in prison. • Anthony "Chucky" Russo — a soldier and former capo. His cousin is William "Billy" Russo and his uncle was Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo. In the 1990s, during the third family war Anthony Russo worked closely with his now deceased cousin Joseph "JoJo" Russo in Brooklyn and Long Island. Russo and his cousin "JoJo" Russo, were Persico loyalists who attempted to kill Victor Orena in June 1991. In November 2022, Russo was granted a reduced life sentence and will be eligible for release in six years. In 2023, Russo released from prison. • Dino "Little Dino" Saracino — born in 1972 in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, he and his family moved to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, shortly after he was born. During the Colombo war in the 1990s, Saracino was loyal to Carmine Persico. He plotted to murder Michael Burnside during that time as retribution for taking his brother' life. He was sentenced to 50 years in April 2014 and was sent to a Pennsylvania federal prison to do his time; acquitted of murdering NYPD police officer Ralph Dols although he was convicted of witness tampering, extortion and murder conspiracy. It is apparent that he became an initiated soldier after either killing Dols in 1997 or high ranking Colombo member Joseph Scopo in 1993 however according to law he was found not guilty. His brother Sebastian "Sebby" Saracino testified against him at his trial. It is known that Saracino was close and a member of Thomas Gioeli's crew. In October 2017, he appealed his conviction and it was denied. • Thomas Scorcia — On October 3, 2019, he was part of an indictment targeting members of the Colombo family for racketeering, extortion and loansharking. Scorcia was overheard on a wiretap discussing a scheme to fix an NCAA college basketball game. • Vincent "Vinny Linen" Scura — current soldier since at least 2023. Born in 1961. Scura was indicted in October 2019 on charges of racketeering, loansharking and extortion. • John Staluppi — born in January 1947. In 1972, Staluppi pleaded guilty to receiving stolen car parts. He was identified by the FBI as a member of the Colombo family during the early 1990s. Staluppi is a successful businessman and yacht owner, reputedly worth between $400 million and $500 million. • Anthony Stropoli — current soldier since at least 2023. In June 2000, Stropoli was charged for securities fraud and wall street related scams. • Michael Uvino — a former capo, Uvino ran his crew from "The Sons of Italy Social Club" in Hauppauge, Long Island. In 2009, Uvino was sentenced to 10 years for running illegal card games on Long Island and for assaulting two men. His release date was May 24, 2016. He was indicted in September 2021 along with Andrew Russo, Benjamin Castellazzo, Ralph DiMatteo and other members. Massachusetts • Ralph F. DeLeo — from Somerville, Massachusetts he led the New England faction of the family. During the 1990s, while in prison he met Alphonse Persico he was released in 1997. In 2000, he was inducted into the Colombo crime family. In 2008, DeLeo became street boss after Thomas Gioeli was arrested. On December 17, 2009, DeLeo was indicted on racketeering charges from crimes in five different states. He is currently imprisoned with a release date of May 28, 2024. He was released into a halfway house in October 2023, and on May 28, 2024, he was released. Imprisoned members • Aurelio "Ray" Cagno — born in November 1940. Cagno was convicted for the May 1993 murder of James "Jimmy" Randazzo, alleged to be cooperating with authorities. Cagno was convicted in June 2004 for the murder and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. His brother, Rocco Cagno, testified in court that he and Aurelio had been active with the Colombo family since the early 1970s and both became soldier's in 1987. • John "Jackie" DeRoss — born in July 1937. In November 1986, DeRoss was sentenced to 12 years in prison for extortion within the construction industry. DeRoss is a brother-in-law to Carmine Persico and served as underboss from 1999 to 2004. In February 2002, DeRoss was convicted of extortion, after Genovese family associate turncoat Michael D'Urso taped DeRoss confessing to conspiracy of obtaining 'protection money' from two deli supply companies, and he was sentenced to 7 years in prison. In February 2009, DeRoss was sentenced by former U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert to life imprisonment for his participation in the May 1999 murder of Colombo family underboss, William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, and for witness tampering. • Dino "Little Dino" Saracino — born in August 1972. In April 2014, Saracino was sentenced to 50 years in prison, after he was convicted in May 2012 for extortion, witness tampering and 2 murder conspiracies. According to prosecutors, Saracino engaged in racketeering conspiracy that spanned from between 1991 and 2008, and that he had sided with Carmine Persico during the 1990s Colombo family war, prosecutors also alleged that Saracino had participated in the August 1995 murder of Richard Greaves, the August 1997 murder of NYPD officer Ralph Dols, and the May 1999 murder of Colombo family underboss William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, as Cutolo was murdered in the basement of his home. • Michael Sessa — born in October 1958. He is the younger brother to Carmine Sessa, whom was the consigliere for Carmine Persico during the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, he had played a key role during the Colombo family war in the early 1990s and he had admitted to participating in 13 murders during the war, before he defected as a government witness in November 1993. According to the testimony of former Colombo family associate and cooperating witness, Joseph Ambrosino, Sessa was inducted as a soldier for the Colombo family in December 1988, and in 1991, Sessa was promoted to acting captain replacing Robert Zambardi, and that he had sided with the Carmine Persico faction during the Colombo family war during the 1990s, also according to Ambrosino, Sessa and his crew were involved in murder, loansharking, firearm trafficking and fraudulent credit cards. In November 1992, Sessa was convicted of murder conspiracy, murder, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and loansharking, and in May 1993, Sessa was sentenced by former U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein to life imprisonment with a fine of $2 million. Associates • Lawrence "Larry" Persico — the son of former family boss Carmine Persico and brother to Alphonse Persico and Michael Persico. In 2004, Larry was indicted on racketeering charges. His father wrote a letter to the courts defending his son. Lawrence was sentenced on March 11, 2005, and released on December 9, 2005. • Michael Joseph Persico — the son of imprisoned family boss Carmine Persico and brother to Alphonse Persico and Lawrence Persico. In 2010, Michael was accused of racketeering conspiracy involving debris removal contracts for the site of the former World Trade Center. In 2011, Michael was indicted for supplying firearms in the 1993 murder of Joseph Scopo. • Sean Persico — the son of Theodore Persico and brother to Daniel, Frank, and Theodore Jr., Sean was involved in stock scams. • Francesco "Frankie" Russo — the son of former Colombo captain Joseph "JoJo" Russo and grandson of Colombo boss Andrew "Mush" Russo. On August 13, 2020, an indictment charged Frankie Russo, Genovese family soldier Christopher Chierchio, attorney Jason "Jay" Kurland and securities broker Frank Smookler with conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment accused the "lottery attorney" Kurland along with Russo, Chierchio and Smookler with swindling $80 million of dollars from jackpot winners in an illegal scheme of siphoning money from the jackpot winners' investments. ==Former members==

• Joseph "Chubby" Audino — soldier and Orena faction loyalist during the third Colombo war in the 1990s. In 1994, he was sentenced to years imprisonment for tax fraud. • Frank "Frankie Shots" Abbatemarco — was born in 1899 and grew up in Red Hook, Brooklyn. During the 1950s, Abbatemarco was a powerful capo in Profaci family controlling Red Hook. He died on April 7, 2011. • Vincenzo "Vinny" Aloi — former soldier; born on September 22, 1933. In August 1973, Aloi was sentenced to 7 years in prison for perjury, after he allegedly lied to a grand jury investigating the April 1972 murder of Joey Gallo. In February 1974, Aloi was sentenced by former U.S. District Judge Whitman Knapp to 9 years in prison for stock-fraud, along with Johnny Dio, an infamous member of the Lucchese family. Aloi died in 2025. • Salvatore "Sally Bread" Cambria — former capo and one-time street boss. Cambria died of natural causes on October 5, 2024, aged 73. • Dominick "Little Dom" Cataldo — died in prison 1990. • Antonio Cottone — deported to Sicily, where he became the Mafia boss of Villabate, the home town for the Profaci family. Cotonne was murdered in 1956. • '''Salvatore "Sally" D'Ambrosio''' — During the 1960s First Colombo War, D'Ambrosio and future boss Carmine Persico attempted to murder mobster Larry Gallo. D'Ambrosio also participated in the murder of Joseph Gioelli. • Leonard "Lenny Dell" Dello — was a former member of the Gallo crew. Dello died in 2009. • Nicholas "Jiggs" Forlano — former capo who ran a loan-sharking operations with Charles "Ruby" Stein. In the 1970s, Forlano moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and started operating there. In 1977, Forlano died of a heart attack at the Hialeah race track in Florida. • John "Sonny" Franzese — former underboss. He died at age 103 on February 24, 2020. • Michael "Yuppie Don" Franzese — son of John Franzese. Michael organized a highly lucrative gasoline scam racket with the Russian mafia. Franzese was promoted to caporegime in 1980 and retired in 1995 after he was released from prison. • Richard "Richie Nerves" Fusco — former consigliere. On January 20, 2011, Fusco was indicted on federal racketeering charges. he was sentenced to four months in prison. Fusco died in September 2013. • Ralph "Ralphie" Lombardo — former capo and acting consigliere. Lombardo runs bookmaking and loansharking activities on Long Island. In 1975, Lombardo was convicted of conspiracy of selling stock in an automobile leasing company in New Jersey. In 2003, Lombardo was the consigliere and he was indicted on illegal gambling, loan-sharking and witness tampering. He was released from prison on August 27, 2006. On July 29, 2022, Lombardo died. • Dominic "Donnie Shacks" Montemarano — former soldier. He was released from prison in 1997, Montemarano moved to Los Angeles and has invested in movies. Montemarano died of COVID-19 in January 2021. • Charles "Moose" Panarella — a hitman who spent time in Las Vegas. Declared mentally unfit for trial, under house arrest. He died on July 18, 2017. • Anthony "Big Tony" Peraino — associate who helped finance groundbreaking adult entertainment movie "Deep Throat". Died of natural causes in 1996. • Daniel "Danny" Persico — former soldier. Daniel Persico was the son of Theodore Persico Sr., brother to Carmine, Sean and Theodore Persico Jr., and nephew of Carmine Persico. In March 2000, Persico was arrested and later convicted on a pump and dump stock scam. He was released from prison on November 14, 2003. Persico died from colon cancer in June 2016, aged 54. • Theodore "Teddy" Persico Sr. — former capo. Theodore Persico Sr. was brother to Carmine Persico, uncle of Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico, and father to Theodore N. Persico Jr. He was a capo in Brooklyn during the 1970s, and served on the family ruling panel from the early 1990s until his arrest and conviction. Persico was released from prison on October 9, 2013. He died in 2017. • Thomas Petrizzo — born in 1933 in Brooklyn. Petrizzo was the owner of 4 companies based in New Jersey which he had used to money launder through. In 1985 and 1986, he earned $2.1 million for storing, shaping and delivering steel bars from Milstein Properties. He had a strong influence in the labor unions, specifically the construction industry. Petrizzo provided the steel frames, columns and girders for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Battery Park City projects, the new Federal courthouse in Foley Square and many Manhattan skyscrapers. He was promoted to capo during the late 1980s due to his influence in the unions and his multi-million dollar operations, however he was demoted in his old age as a result of power loss. In December 1993, he was arrested alongside 5 other Colombo members. The FBI alleged that he extorted $1.3 million from a Swiss engineering company and camouflaged the payoffs as consulting fees into his own businesses. He was arrested among numerous Colombo associates and members, including his former son-in-law Michael Persico, son of Carmine Persico. The scam consisted of placing vending machines inside Colombo family controlled car dealerships, Petrizzo was also charged with extorting construction debris removal unions at Ground Zero; he was acquitted. In 1996, he pleaded guilty to extortion. Petrizzo died on September 11, 2022. • Vincent "Vinnie Unions" Ricciardo — former capo of a Long Island crew, Ricciardo took over John "Sonny" Franzese's old crew. He was part of the Orena faction during the Third Colombo War. On November 2, 1992, Ricciardo was shot and wounded in an ambush that killed Anthony Mesi and injured Paul Schiavo. He was indicted on September 14, 2021, along with several members of the family. In August 2024, Ricciardo was granted compassionate release from prison. Before he could be released, however, Ricciardo died in prison, on August 17, 2024, aged 78. • Nicholas Rizzo — was a soldier operating in extortion and loan sharking rackets, in January 2011, the then 83 year old mobster had his first arrest on gambling charges. He was later convicted to 6 months in a medical facility, but given a humanitarian release. But a week later spotted in a social club ran by the Bonanno acting boss Vincent "Vinny T.V." Badalamenti. He died on May 26, 2022. • Andrew "Mush" Russo — also known as "Andy Mush", "Mushy", was a longtime member of the family who served as boss following Carmine Persico's death. Russo's cousin was longtime Colombo family boss Carmine Persico In November 1986, Russo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released on July 29, 1994, under special parole conditions. He was released from prison in 2013. • Ralph "Little Ralphie" Scopo — influential soldier who ran the Cement Club. Died in prison 1993. • Ralph Scopo Jr. — son of Ralph Scopo. Died under indictment for extortion in 2013. • Ilario "Fat Larry" Sessa — former soldier. Sessa was born on December 21, 1966. He was a member of Carmine Persico's faction during the Third Colombo War of the early 1990s. Sessa died on March 6, 2026, aged 59. == Former associates ==

• Nicholas "Nicky" Bianco — a Gallo crew member, Bianco later joined the Patriarca crime family. Bianco died in prison in 1994. • Vincent Langella — the son of reputed Colombo crime family underboss Gennaro Langella, Vincent served 3 to 4 years in federal prison for his role in a $15 million Mafia pump and dump scheme. Vincent died in January 2015 from complications of the liver. • Hugh "Apples" MacIntosh — a Scottish-American enforcer for Carmine Persico during the 1960s. In 1969, MacIntosh was imprisoned on hijacking charges. • Frank Persico — the son of Salvatore Persico, and cousin of acting Colombo boss Alphonse "Allie" Persico. Frank was a stockbroker who was sentenced to five years in prison for a $15 million stock swindle. Frank was released on July 12, 2006; four months later, Frank died of a heart attack. • Michael "Mike Rizzi" Rizzitello — a Gallo crew member, later joined the Los Angeles crime family. He died in prison in 2005. • Tony Sirico — an associate and enforcer for Carmine Persico throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. He was arrested 28 times during his mafia career, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery. When the family opened its books in the 1970s, he was offered a promotion to be made, but he declined. While serving a sentence at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, he was inspired by an acting troupe of ex-convicts to give acting a try. Since then, he has played gangster characters in numerous films and TV shows. His most acclaimed performance was as Paulie Gualtieri in the Emmy award-winning drama The Sopranos. Sirico died on July 8, 2022, at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. • Charles "Ruby" Stein — "loanshark to the stars", was an associate and business partner to Nicholas Forlano. Stein ran gambling clubs on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. In the early 1970s, Irish mobster Jimmy Coonan became Stein's bodyguard. Coonan and the Westies gang murdered Stein in 1977 in order to erase debts owned to Stein and to take over his loansharking operation. ==Government informants and witnesses==

Members • Paul "Paulie Guns" Bevacqua — former acting capo of the Gioeli crew. He was a supporter of the Orena faction who rivalled against the Persico faction during the early 1990s. It is believed that he wore a wire microphone around 2008. He died on November 11, 2011. • Rocco Cagno — former soldier. Colombo mobster Jimmy Randazzo was his sponsor, who was murdered in May 1993. He was inducted into the Colombo crime family in 1987. He participated in the murder of Colombo captain Jimmy Angelino at his home in November 1988. In November 1993, he was indicted on murder and firearm charges and began to cooperate with the government in March 1994. • Dino "Big Dino" Calabro — former capo. He has allegedly participated in 8 murders. Calabro is suspected of participating in the August 1997 murder of NYPD officer Ralph C. Dols, on orders of former Colombo consigliere Joel Cacace. He began cooperating after his June 2008 arrest, he was arrested alongside 2 other Colombo soldier's on charges of drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, murder and loansharking. In November 2017, he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. • Joseph "Joe Campy" Campanella — former soldier. He was a close ally of William Cutolo. Campanella was shot twice by Vincent "Chicky" DeMartino with a .357 Magnum on July 16, 2001, in Coney Island after being wrongly suspected of cooperating with the authorities; DeMartino was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder. • Joseph "Joey Caves" Competiello — born in 1970. He had served as a soldier for the Colombo family. By October 2008, Competiello became a government witness after he was indicted in June 2008, on a range of charges such as murder, racketeering and extortion, and faced life imprisonment. In April 2012, Competiello testified against Dino "Big Dino" Calabro and Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, and admitted to participating in August 1995 murder of Richard Greaves, the July 1997 murder of Carmine Gargano Jr., the 1990s murder of Joseph Miccio, the August 1997 murder of NYPD officer Ralph Dols, and the May 1999 murder of William Cutolo, as Competiello tipped the FBI regarding the whereabouts of the corpse of Cutolo. In December 2014, Competiello was sentenced by former U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan to 12 years in prison after he had admitted to participating in 5 murders. • Richard Ferrara — former capo of a Brooklyn crew, Ferrara was indicted on September 14, 2021, along with several members of the family. In December 2022, Ferrara pled guilty to shaking down UCTIE Local 621. Ferrara was revealed in April 2023 to have become an informant in the extortion case, and he reportedly aided the FBI in helping solve the murder of Russian national Ilder Gazizouline, who was killed by Israeli bouncer Dmitr Praus on June 21, 2009, following a confrontation at the Fusion nightclub in Sheepshead Bay, after which Ferrara's friend Dmitr Bediner helped transport Gazizouline's corpse to a wooded area in Sullivan County to be buried; Bediner confessed to his involvement in the killing to Ferrara a couple of days before he allegedly lied to federal agents about it on February 8, 2022. • Reynold Maragni — former capo who was active in South Florida. In 2000, he was indicted on charges of credit card and bank fraud scams, loansharking and illegal gambling. A year later, he was sentenced to 2 years in prison. He was arrested in January 2011 and accused of distributing marijuana, smuggling cigarettes, extorting members of a cement and concrete union in Queens, and operating an illegal gambling ring with former Colombo captain Joseph Parna; Maragni agreed to become an informant immediately after his arrest. From April to December 2011, he wore a watch with a microphone and recorded many conversations. • Lawrence "Larry" Mazza — former soldier, hitman and protégé of Colombo crime family capo Greg Scarpa. It is noted that he had an affair with Scarpa's wife, Linda Schiro. Mazza has admitted to murdering four people, including the January 1992 murder of Nicky Grancio, using a 12-gauge shotgun which was allegedly stolen from a New Jersey police car. He had previously witnessed the December 1991 killing of Vincent Fusaro by Scarpa, who shot Fusaro in the neck, body and back of the head with an M52 rifle while he hung up a Christmas garland on the door of his home in Brooklyn. Mazza has allegedly participated in around 25 murders. Sometime in the mid-1990s after his arrest by the FBI, he agreed to cooperate. Mazza has since relocated to Florida and became a fitness personal trainer. He released a book titled "The Life: A True Story about a Brooklyn Boy Seduced into the Dark World of the Mafia." • Salvatore "Big Sal" Miciotta — former capo. Miciotta allegedly became a soldier for the Colombo family alongside Vincent "Jimmy" Angelino, Gerard "Jerry Brown" Clemenza, Michael Franzese, John Minerva, Vito Guzzo Sr. and Joseph Peraino Jr. on Halloween Day 1975 or 1978. He first became acquainted with Lucchese crime family underboss Anthony Casso. • John Pate — former capo and loyalist to the Persico faction. In April 1972, he was arrested for possession of a handgun alongside Charles Panarella, Carmine Persico and Gennaro Langella. He was active in Staten Island and was promoted to captain in the late 1980s. In mid-1992, he was arrested on murder and loansharking charges. It is believed that he became an informer around 1993. • Anthony "Big Anthony" Russo — former acting capo, not related to Andrew Russo. In 2011, Russo was charged with the 1993 murder of Orena loyalist Joseph Scopo and agreed to be a federal witness. • Gregory "the Grim Reaper" Scarpa Sr. — notorious hitman and FBI informant from the 1970s to 1994. Scarpa Sr. died in prison from AIDS–related complications. • Carmine Sessa — former consigliere. In the early 1990s, Sessa met with the Genovese, Lucchese and Gambino crime families and pledged his loyalty to imprisoned Colombo boss Carmine Persico, who opposed Victor Orena at the time. He testified against former FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio in October 2007. • Michael "Mickey" Souza — born in 1968. In December 2006, he was arrested alongside 12 other mobsters from the Colombo and Gambino crime families on charges of robbery, assault, weapon possession, loansharking, gambling and drug dealing, as part of an 8-month investigation by the DEA. He and his older brother were accused of planning Hector Pagan's murder, a Bonanno crime family associate, over a financial dispute. Souza allegedly purchased a gun silencer, however he never managed to use it on Pagan due to his arrest. It is believed he became an informer around 2007. • Frank "Frankie Blue Eyes" Sparaco — former soldier. He was a part of the Persico faction during the early 1990s. In 1993, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for participating in 5 murders. While in prison, he scammed former U.S. House of Representatives member John LeBoutillier of $800,000. In 2009, he officially agreed to cooperate with the government. Associates • John Franzese Jr. — John Franzese Jr. wanted a way out of his life and was approached by the FBI with a proposition that he become an informant and he accepted. One part of the agreement he made with the FBI prior to testifying was that he would not profit from his story as a mafia figure. He was allegedly also responsible for his father John "Sonny" Franzese's fourth parole violation, but was accepted back into his confidence after denying the allegations in tears, saying, "I would never do that, no matter what kind of trouble I had." In 2005, Franzese Jr. wore a wire around his father. John Franzese Jr. testified twice against his father, the last time his father attempted to have him killed; he later lived under witness protection. In 2010, Franzese Jr. admitted that he received $50,000 from the FBI as a cooperating witness. With the help of Franzese Jr.'s testimony, his father was sentenced on January 14, 2011, to eight years in prison for extorting two Manhattan strip clubs, running a loanshark operation and extorting a pizzeria on Long Island. He is the first son of a New York mobster to turn state's evidence and testify against his father. • Kenny "Kenji" Gallo — former associate of the Los Angeles and Colombo crime families. Gallo first met Jerry Zimmerman while he was active in the porn industry, who introduced him to underboss Sonny Franzese. He later became acquainted with Teddy Persico Jr., the nephew of Colombo boss Carmine Persico. He cooperated in 1996 • Joseph "Joe Pesh" Luparelli — former associate and bodyguard to Joseph Yacovelli. He served as one of the drivers in the April 1972 murder of Joe Gallo. Some time after the Gallo murder, he believed the Gallo-murder participants were planning to have him murdered. He flew to California to meet with FBI agents. Albert A. Seedman requested that Luparelli should be brought to New York. He was accused of harbouring Joseph Russo, following a 1970 murder in New Jersey. • Salvatore "Crazy Sal" Polisi — former associate of the Colombo and Gambino crime families. He was active in hijacking, illegal gambling and robbery. ==Factions and territories==

The Colombo family operates primarily in the New York City area, as well as in New Jersey, New England, Florida, Nevada, and California. • New York – The family operate primarily in Brooklyn, Long Island and Staten Island, as well as Queens and Manhattan. • New Jersey – The family is active in New Jersey, although it has the least significant presence of the crime families operating in the state. • Connecticut – The family established a presence in New Haven in the 1950s. The Connecticut faction became defunct in the 1980s. • Massachusetts – The family operates in the Boston suburb of Somerville. • Florida – The family operates in South Florida, including Broward County. • Nevada – The family operates in Las Vegas. • California – The family operates in Los Angeles. Crews • Garfield Boys – was an Italian American street gang that operated in South Brooklyn sections of Red Hook and Gowanus. The gang was headed by future Colombo boss Carmine Persico from the 1950s to the early 1970s. == Activities ==

The Colombo family is involved in illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, labor racketeering, cigarette smuggling, hijacking, pornography, bankruptcy and mail fraud, tax evasion, counterfeiting, and narcotics trafficking. Controlled unions • N.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters The Colombo and Genovese families ran the Council from 1991 to 1996, extorting huge amounts of money from several N.Y.C. District Council of Carpenters union locals. Colombo capos Thomas Petrizzo and Vincent "Jimmy" Angellino controlled Council President Frederick Devine. The two crime families illegally used the Council to create hundreds of "no show" absentee jobs for their associates. In 1998, government witnesses Sammy Gravano and Vincent Cafaro testified against Devine. He was found guilty of embezzling union funds and sentenced to 15 months in prison. == List of murders committed by the Colombo crime family ==