YOUR TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Earlier today I put out a notice that I would take some time and answer your questions, and just as I suspected we quickly received the questions, so here we are.  With that let's begin.

Q1: Via Michael DeMeo- "Will you do an episode on Tommy Pitera?

A:  Absolutey, it's just a matter of this is such a huge genre that I have a tendency to try and mix it up a bit so we aren't always discussing the same types.

Q2: Via Robert Wilkins- "Was "Mad" Sam DeStefano formally inducted into the "Outfit" or was he just an associate?

A:  Well, as you know Mad Sam was a nutcase in many ways.  He didn't ice pick people's balls for no reason.  He was more serial killer than gangster, however he was highly sought after by the upper echelon for his "job skills."  He was not an inducted member.  He was a high up associate, and hit man, loanshark and etc.  The Outfit never made him because they thought he was too "crazy."  They thought he was too reckless and they couldn't control him which is why he was never "made."

Q3:  Via The True Crime Page- "What's your opinion of Al Capone?

A: This will certainly start some shit.  I'm not a fan.  It's not to detract from Al's abilities or his balls.  He was a tough guy who didn't mince words, and he would get nasty when he needed to.  The one thing I think that gets lost in books is that people assume he was the "capo di tutti capi," (boss of all bosses) and that simply wasn't the case.  He ran Chicago but he took orders from New York, at least in terms of certain things.  He had his own power, and at one point had the ears of the commission, but you also have to understand that the Midwest is an entire other world compared to New York.  He had the backing of New York but any assertion he ran the entire mob isn't true.  He will always have his place in history, but was he Lucky Luciano or Vinnie the Chin? No.  Smart, but he drove New York nuts because he couldn't stay off newspapers.

Q 4: Via  Joseph Valerius- Who killed Tommy DeSimone? I believe it was Jimmy Burke but the general public seems to think it was John Gotti, which is bullshit.

A: Your assumption is accurate.  John Gotti had nothing to do with Tommy DeSimone's murder.  It was Jimmy Burke.  The idea that Jimmy didn't know, or that he was eating in a diner with Henry Hill when he found out, is absolutely false.  Jimmy Burke shot Tommy in the head himself.  He didn't have a choice.  Jimmy was feared, and he knew it was either Tommy or him, and Jimmy did what he did when there was a problem.  He disposed of the problem.  Tommy was invited around to a house where he was to meet Jimmy.  Jimmy didn't hesitate.  He pulled out a gun and put Tommy away.  Tommy fully trusted Jimmy that's why it lends itself to the truth.  Tommy would have been lulled by Jimmy.

Q5: Via Darran Vizard- Did Neil Dellacroce plan to make a move on Carlo Gambino at any point?

A:  I don't believe so, but maybe you were referring to Castellano?  In either case, I don't believe so.  He might have been swayed to go along with the hit on Castellano but I highly doubt it.  Neil was insanely smart and deadly, but he lived the code was a 24-7 gangster.

Q6: Via Mike Devine- How much do you figure the Snakes wife Mrs. Persico gets a month from the Capo's?

A: lol.  The safe answer is zero right?  I would imagine she sees nothing personally. I doubt anyone comes over with a bag of money. I am sure Carmine ensured she was taken care of when he went away. Especially between her son and husband.

Q7: Via Sigurjon Gunnarsson- What is the biggest mistake Castellano made?

A: He was greedy.  He choked off his own men to the point where they couldn't earn a dime.  He failed to give the men he was ordering to murder on his behest respect.  He loathed street guys.  Paul was never a street guy.  He wasn't a tough guy.  However considering all of those things, the biggest mistake he made was being a giant hypocrite.  He had his own cousins selling drugs, in Jersey, took massive profits yet wanted to chastize others for the same thing.  Greed was his biggest mistake.

Q8:  Via Luis Angel Marquez-Coriano- Whose in charge in Philly?

A: Joey Merlino is the boss.  However Philadelphia right now is split into four factions in an effort to insulate.  The four guys who are leading the mob there with a crew under them is: Joey Merlino, Joe Pungitore, Philip Narducci and Joe Ligambi.

Q9: Via Jim Gerran- You said John Gotti never killed anyone, what happened with James McBratney? So Trump's mentor Roy Cohn didn't get him only two years for a hit(like that movie made it seem?)

A: I don't believe I said John Gotti never killed anyone.  If I did, then I could see your confusion.  As far as McBratney, John did time for that hit, but it was Raplh Galione who actually pulled the trigger. What is interesting is that Anthony Senter's uncle Robert Senter(DeMeo crew associate) helped McBratney kidnap Carlo Gambino's nephew Manny Gambino.  McBratney was the one only killed, and Senter continued to work with Roy DeMeo.  Very Strange.  As far as Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, I'm not sure which movie you are talking about.

Q 10: Via Messenger J. Thorpe- Top three gangsters of all time. Reasons?

A: 1. Carlo Gambino, not only was treacherous, but highly elusive.  He took over by intelligence, power, and being a real sneaky guy.  He never did any real time and died at his summer home.  You can't ask for anything better in that life.   2.  Vincent Gigante- He was crafty and was able to stay out of prison most of his life(without the exception of some early stuff) and he knew how to make serious money.  3. Anthony Salerno, is perhaps one of my favorites.  He made close to $400 million dollars a year.  He was the brains behind a lot of rackets.  He never left his neighborhood, and took it on the chin literally in the commission case, when he wasn't actually the boss.  He accepted his fate, and went away for the rest of his life for "this thing."  You have to marvel at that.  I know there are some I didn't bring up, but to me, those three are in a league of their own.

I hope you enjoyed the ten in ten.  Hopefully we can do this more often...