“When Mike Yannotti failed to kill Sammy Karkis, I was pissed off. But Nicky actually did me a favor by stopping the hit. If it had gone through, there’s a good chance I could have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and I might still be locked up. And by the time I was in a position to kill Sammy myself, other circumstances intervened and I didn’t. I know that he has a young daughter today and I feel good about that.
“When I look back at it, I realize how many times I came close to becoming a murderer. And each time a matter of inches—or with Burzo a fraction of an inch—resulted in my victim’s wounds being non-fatal.
“And it wasn’t just the shootings. In 1984 when we blew up the cars in the garage of that house Vic Amuso’s nephew was staying in, nobody inside got killed. What about the night I was driving the Mercedes shell and being chased by the cops? I ran every traffic light and made it through all those intersections doing over a hundred miles an hour and nobody died or even got hurt. But if they had—especially some innocent motorists—I’d have been responsible.
“So yeah, I was damn lucky. I know it and I thank God for it every day.
“If you think joining the Mob means you’re entering a life of honor, you’d better think again. It ain’t like what you might see on television or in the movies. That’s right, in today’s Mob, that old saying about honor among thieves is a lot of bullshit, trust me.
“Let’s take the leadership. When I was a kid, I thought the bosses walked on water. They were legends in the neighborhood. But when I was in prison, several of them were in there with me. I even shared a cell with a couple. I’m telling you straight that most of the Mob icons I met behind bars didn’t match their street reputations. When it came to winning their criminal cases, they were willing to throw anybody and everybody under the bus to beat the rap. Real standup guys.
“It’s very important that you understand this. In today’s Mob, the money and loyalty go from the bottom up. They don’t come back down to the guys on the street. If you get pinched and have to do some time, don’t count on your crime family to take care of your real family.
“Look what they did to Fat Sal. He was loyal and one hell of an earner. They forgot about him for two years while he was locked up. And then when they were worried about Sal flipping, they sent him fifty fuckin’ bucks for his commissary! He kicked a lot of money up to these guys and that’s how they thanked him. That shows the definition of loyalty from the bosses’ perspective.
“So if you take the organized-crime route, the people you’ll be associating with won’t be true friends. The bosses will use you to make themselves rich and do their dirty work. They’ll pick your bones clean. And in the life you’re only as good as your last earn. So if you stop producing, you’ll become expendable.
“You’ll also be in jeopardy if you become too good at your job. If the boss thinks you’ve become a threat to him, that you have designs on his job and the ability to do it, you’re probably not long for this world.
“And if you fall out of favor with your boss and have to go, one or more of your peers will likely be assigned to eliminate you. The guy you’ve committed crimes and socialized with for years will have dinner with you one night and put a couple in your head the next.
“I’m currently doing organized-crime-related volunteer work. I help law-enforcement agencies by educating their investigators on how the Mob operates. I also counsel at-risk youths who are at a crossroads in their lives. I tell them the same things I’m telling you here.
“There is no honor or glory in being a gangster and the retirement options suck. If you want to dance at your daughter’s wedding or be at the ceremony when your grandson graduates from high school, you’d better choose another line of work.
“I know that many of you I’m trying to reach will think I’m full of shit. You know better, right? The crew you’ll hook up with won’t have any Nicky Corozzos or Mike Yannottis. Even if it does, you’re too smart and tough to be taken advantage of. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. The only trouble is I can’t go back there to sign the papers.
“Seriously though, one time when my father visited me while I was in state prison, he said there are only two options for organized-crime guys: prison or death on the street. He asked me why I thought I’d be the exception to the rule. I didn’t answer him, but in my mind I thought I was too smart and tough to end up back behind bars or dead. Yeah, right.
“Jail cells, cemeteries, landfills, and sometimes the trunks of abandoned cars usually end up as the homes of guys who thought they were too smart and tough. I wasn’t, they weren’t, and you aren’t. The life is like making a deal with the devil. Don’t do it.
“Having said all that, I don’t know how many of you wannabe wiseguys will have second thoughts. But let me be perfectly clear. If even one young man—just one—is willing to accept the truth and change the course he’s on, I will have made a difference.”
Index
129 Mott Street 53
Alvino, Todd 30–32, 34, 37–39, 234
“America’s Most Wanted” 242
Amuso, Vittorio “Vic” 23–24
Anthony Gerbino 41
Aparo, Sammy “Meatballs” 54
Arena, Robert 76–77, 125, 130, 132, 134, 135–136, 136–138, 139–140, 142–145, 154, 162, 198, 234, 237
Aronwald, William 75
Attica 103
Auto Crime Task Force 40
Bamboo Lounge 37
Barrett, Tommy 182
Bilotti, Tommy 42
blackjack 58–59
Bolino, Mike 120, 130, 136–138, 140
Bonano family 157
Bracchi, Sal “Sally the Lip” 23
Brooklyn House of Detention 98–100, 108, 176, 177
Brooklyn, New York 1, 3, 5, 9–11, 12, 22, 31, 36–37, 124, 129, 132
Bullhead City, Arizona 87
Burzo, Ralph 3–4, 83–88, 96
Cacace, Joel 75–76
Callahan, Michael 175, 177, 178, 180
Carbonaro, Thomas “Huck” 210–213
Carini, Eddie 75
Carini, Vincent 75
car theft 7–8, 14–17
Casso, Anthony “Gaspipe” 23–24, 28–29, 73
Castellano, Paul, ix, 16, 33–34, 42, 80
Clinton Correctional Facility 103
Colombo family 41, 74, 122, 157, 203
Colombo War 115
Conte, Georgie 82
Corozzo, Joseph, Jr. “Jo Jo” 12, 19–20, 146–149, 150
Corozzo, Joseph, Sr., 20–21, 24–25, 177
Corozzo, Nicholas “Nicky”, ix–x 7, 9, 67, 69–71, 117, 119–120, 122, 143, 154–155, 180, 245, 246
aquitted 72
arrest and 169–171
as Gambino leader 236–237
attempted shooting of 26–27
crew and 21, 38, 41, 48, 166–167
crew problem and 69–70
gambling and 10
gangster mode and 13
illegal gambling and 242
indictments and 39, 229–230, 240–243
loyalty and 93–95, 122–123, 126–127, 182–183
murder and 141, 214–215
Sammy Karkis and 119
sentencing of 243
shakedown and 238–239
sit-downs with 28–29
Corozzo, Rocco 7, 26
craps 53–57
credit card fraud 24–26, 48–49
Cullotta, ix
Cutaia, Domenico “Danny” 76, 140, 143, 144, 154, 162, 164, 168
Cutolo, William, Jr. “Billy” 120, 121, 123–125, 129–130, 131–132, 136, 203–210
Cutolo, William “Wild Bill” 120, 122, 124, 129, 131–132, 136, 138, 143, 154, 161–162, 164–165, 166–168, 171, 198, 201–210
cyber-bookmakers 66–67
D’Amico, John “Jackie the Nose” 115, 117, 236
D’Angelo, Joseph
“Little Joey” 231
DeMeo, Roy 14, 83
DeMeo, Sal 160–161, 182, 193, 200
DiDonato, Amelia Macchiarole 29
DiDonato, Andrew 4, 5
arson and 23–24
as a citizen 222–226, 227–228
as a fugitive 87–88, 149, 150, 171–172, 173–174
as cooperating witness 178–181, 185–187
bank robbing and 157–161, 173–174
brother-in-law and 89, 133–134, 155–156, 245
carpet cleaning and 133
car stealing 14–17, 39–40
Corozzo crew and 19
counterfeiting and 125–126
court trials and 92–99, 96–98
credit card fraud and 48–49
divorce and 123
drug dealers and 18–19
early crimes 5–8, 9–10
fake ID and 163–164
fatherhood and 77–78
fencing and 71, 121
first shooting 20–21
horse betting and 50–51, 69–71
in court 182
insurance fraud and 47
lessons learned and 244–250
loansharking and 41–42
marijuana and 5–8, 49–50, 130, 134, 136–137, 153–154, 164, 172–173
marriage and 95–96
Marriott and 134–135
Nicky Corozzo, introduction to 11–13
parole and 127–129, 132, 147–149, 216–222
perjury and 98
police and 10, 36–37, 88–89, 174–176
pot dealers and 35
praying and 159
prison and 98, 102–116, 177–178, 181–182, 183–184, 188, 190–191, 193–194, 197–198, 200–201, 213, 214–219
Ralph Burzo and 83–88
rebuildable cars and 46–48
reputation and 45, 49
Robert Arena’s murder and 145–146, 154–155
shooting and 27–28
stealing car parts 8
testifying and 192–193, 232–237
the hole and 111
witness intimidation and 39–41
witness protection and 197–198, 200–201, 216, 219, 223–224
work release and 117–121
DiDonato, Andrew Dominick, Jr., 88, 92, 119, 219
DiDonato, Dina 44–45, 83–85, 92, 114–115, 123, 191–192, 219
DiDonato, Patrina 5, 22–23, 45, 118, 128–129, 152–153, 185, 187
DiDonato, Vincent 22–23, 87–88, 93
DiLeonardo, Michael “Mikey Scars” 91, 212
DiMaria, Leonard “Lenny” 11–13, 39, 42, 94, 117, 166–168, 169–170
Disney World 163
Dono, Tommy 141, 147, 150, 188
Downstate Correctional Facility 102–103
Dragonetti, Vincent 12, 39, 90, 144, 171
Edgecombe Correctional Facility 116, 117–118
Elmira Correctional Facility 105
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 125, 128, 169–170, 174, 176, 206, 212, 230
Fishkill, New York 103
Florida 24–26, 146, 163, 169
Gambino, Carlo, ix
Gambino crime family 12, 39, 46, 92, 95, 117, 141, 153, 167, 169, 178, 210, 231, 234, 245
Genovese crime family 22, 114, 151, 157, 182
Gerbino, Anthony 14–15, 24, 27, 29, 32, 36, 38, 39, 44, 86–87, 90, 95, 97
Geritano, Benny 141, 147, 150, 188
Girard, Vince 176, 178
Goodfellas 37
Gotti, John, ix, 39, 42, 51, 72, 80, 82, 116, 117, 169, 194, 210
Gotti, John A., Jr., viii, 79, 91, 117, 167, 171, 173, 230, 232–237
Gotti, Peter 210, 228
Gravano, Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” 42, 73, 74, 194, 210, 228
Great Meadow Correctional Facility 103
Gregory Hotel 124, 132
Hawkins, Yusef 98–99
Hill, Henry 37
horse betting 50–51, 68–69
Hudson Correctional Facility 113
insurance fraud 47–48
Jacona, Joey 114
Jamaica 50
Karkis, Samuel “Sammy” 4, 85, 89–91, 95, 96–98, 101, 118–119, 155, 246
labor unions 46
Las Vegas 65–67
Lattanzi, Albert 16, 18, 24, 27, 29–30
Laughlin, Nevada 87
Lichtman, Jeffrey 232
loansharking 41–42
LoCascio, Frank “Frankie Loc” 217
Lucchese crime family 17, 23, 26, 29–32, 37, 48, 73, 76, 105, 130
Lynskey, Timothy 178
Macchiarole, John 1
Macchiarole, murders of Genovese family 1
Macchiarole, Pasqual “Paddy Mac” 1, 22, 23
Madison Square Garden 89
Mafia. See Mob, The Maione, Louis 170
Mangiavillano, Salvatore “Fat Sal” 151, 210–213, 228–229, 247
Maranga, Thomas 142, 234, 237
Mariani, Louis “Louie Black” 231
Marino, Danny 178
Marriott Hotels 134
Marshals Service 223
Mazzarese, Paul 157–161, 193
Meats Supreme 33
Metropolitan Correction Center 124
Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC), 178
Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn 108
Miraglia, Joe 158–161, 182, 193
Mob, The
Commission 81
counterfeiting and 125
drugs and 80–81, 170–171
gambling and 52–67
induction to 79
internal theft and 71
jury tampering and 72–73
labor unions and 46
legends and 190–191
life and death 156
loyalty and 180, 191, 229
nepotism and 69
protocol and 73
Mormando, Nicholas “Nicky Cowboy” 211
Muri, Joe 175, 177
National Auto Theft Bureau 47
New York Police Department (NYPD), 53, 128, 174, 206
Nicky the Blonde 182, 193
numbers 63–65
NYPD detectives 128
Off Track Betting (OTB), 50, 53, 62–63, 65, 69
O’Keefe, Patty 104–105, 110–111, 112–113
Olive Garden 224
Operation Touchback 240
Ossining, New York 103
Otisville, New York 180, 181
Otto, Theodore 212
Pagano, Danny 114, 120
Pape, George H., 73–74
Persico, Carmine “The Snake” 41, 75, 203
Persico, Danny 188–189
Persico, Theodore “Teddy” 74–75, 105, 188
Placido, Tony “Tough Tony” 138, 139–140
poker 58
prison
corruption and 106–107
extortion and 106–107
homosexuality in 106–108
race betting 62–63
Raiola, Sandra 3–4, 90
Rappaport, Ed 88, 92–93
Reagan, Ronald 54
rebuildable cars 46–48
Riker’s Island 98, 101, 108
Ruggiano, Anthony “Fat Andy” 94
Russo, Andrew 190
San Diego, California 133
Scanlon, Tom 174–175, 216
Scarpa, Greg “The Grim Reaper” 157
Scheindlin, Judge Shira 232, 239
Scuderi, Tommy 158–161, 182, 193
Secret Service 54
shylocking. See loansharking Sifton, Judge Charles P., 192–193
Sing Sing 103, 108
Slate, Ridson N., 194, 197
Sliwa, Curtis 115–116, 229–230
Smith, Frank 74–75
sports-betting 52–53, 59–62
Stasio, Phil “Fat Philly” 106, 110, 112–113
Staten Island, New York 132, 160
Testa, Patty 15
Urgitano, Joey 105, 110–111, 112–113
U.S. Marshals S
ervice 194–197
Witness Protection Program, viii, 188, 193, 194–197, 207
Yannotti, Michael “Mikey Y” 29, 38, 39–40, 74, 86–87, 95, 97, 120, 161–163, 173, 175, 182, 231, 246
car stealing and 16
demolition derby and 36–37
evidence and 28
Florida and 24–26
fundraiser for 238–239
introduction to 10–11
Mercedes and 32–34
mob friendships and 40, 43
murder and 141, 143–144, 154, 155–156, 167–168, 214–215
rivalry and 74, 115, 118–119
Sammy Karkis and 90
trial of 232–237
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LIVING TO TELL ABOUT IT
What do you do when the law wants you behind bars and the New York crime families want you buried?
That was the life-and-death dilemma confronting Andrew DiDonato, who began his criminal career at age 14 under the watchful eyes of the local Mob.
By the time he was 17, the infamous Gambino family made DiDonato an associate of the Nicholas Corozzo crew. For the next 14 years, he was a loyal street soldier, immersed in dangerous and profitable criminal activities: burglary, forgery, extortion, loan sharking, car theft, bank robbery, counterfeiting, drug dealing, credit-card and insurance fraud, witness tampering, weapons possession, and attempted murder.
He was also involved in the underworld gambling operations, which took in millions dealing dice and cards, booking sports and horses, and running numbers. Between these pages you’ll find the most in-depth look at Mob gambling ever published.
At age 31, DiDonato ran afoul of both the law and his friends, turning him into a hunted man on two fronts. After 17 months on the run, the law caught him first.