Sammy Gravano, the former underboss of the Gambino crime family who admitted to participation in 19 murders, said that Lucchese mobsters Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso and Vic Amuso were far worse than he ever was. Gravano claimed the pair wrecked the Lucchese family by killing people for absurd reasons, including a contractor who was murdered after failing to deliver windows made in Europe. He described them as sick individuals who terrified everyone around them and killed without justification. Santo “Tony” Giodano was a rising star in the Bonanno crime family who served as the getaway driver in the 1979 murder of Carmine Galante.
In 1981, he took part in the infamous “Three Captains” hit, but was struck by friendly fire during the ambush and left paralyzed. Just two years later, in 1983, he died in a plane crash while flying one of his own aircraft. Former Bonanno associate Frank Fiorino said Giodano did not come off as a gangster and had what one person described as “presidential qualities. ”
Fiorino recalled that Giodano owned a mechanic shop and was well liked among both Italian and Italian-American factions.
He said Giodano’s life changed after a violent confrontation with a man known as Mike the Boxer, who punched him in the eye. Months later, the man was found killed in his basement apartment, which Fiorino described as Giodano’s “Michael Corleone moment. ” Fiorino said Giodano could have become boss of the Bonanno family if he had not died. Dominick Cicale, a former Bonanno captain, said his first meeting with Vincent “Vinnie Gorgeous” Basciano took place in 1999 at the Manhattan Grill, after Cicale was released from prison.
Cicale said his initial impression of Basciano was that he was just a good-looking man, unaware at the time of his reputation. Cicale also discussed Anthony “Bruno” Indelicato, saying Bruno never spoke about his father’s murder, accepted it as part of the life, and held no open resentment toward Joe Massino. Cicale said the two men had different mindsets: Bruno was more accepting and forgiving, while Basciano would have taken it personally if his own father had been killed. Cicale claimed that Massino’s testimony that Basciano made himself acting boss was incorrect, adding that Basciano was loyal and would never act without Massino’s permission.
Cicale also described Basciano as old school, saying he led by example and would not ask anyone to do something he had not done himself. Fiorino also shared memories of Cesare Bonventre, a young Bonanno captain who was murdered in 1984. He said Bonventre was known for his style, imported cars, and expensive taste. Regarding the motive for Bonventre’s murder, Fiorino said it reportedly involved an extortion dispute with Tony Ayella over drug sales.
He said Salvatore Vitale may have actually shot Bonventre, and that the victim fought over the steering wheel before being shot again and placed in a trunk. Fiorino added that Joe Massino later suggested Rusty Rastelli also wanted to kill Bonventre’s relative, but claimed he said no.