The Everything Mafia Book (48 page)

Jimmy “the Hammer” Massaro—November 23 , 1975
“The Hammer” got himself caught up in an escalating war in the Rochester family. Following an intensive investigation, six men, including the boss of the family, were convicted of Massaro’s murder. This event is chronicled in the hard-to-find cult mafia book,
The Hammer Conspiracies
.

Joe Barboza—February 12, 1976
Known as “the Animal,” this Portuguese mobster testified against members of the New England Mafia, including boss Ray Patriarca. He was relocated to San Francisco, but the old boys back in Beantown found out where he was living. Barboza was paid a visit by Patriarca family member J.R. Russo. Only Russo left alive.

Frank Bompensiero—February 10, 1977
Frank angered the leadership of the Los Angeles family by criticizing their ineptitude. The head of the San Diego branch, the Bomp was killed while talking in a phone booth. It later came out that he was an FBI informant.

Charles “Chuckie” Nicoletti—March 29 , 197
Nicoletti was an alleged figure in the JFK assassination according to some sources. But he definitely was a Chicago Outfit hit man who was responsible for over twenty murders. Nicoletti made waves in the Chicago underworld; he was shot in the head and his car set on fire.

Danny Greene—October 6, 197
Greene was an Irish gangland figure in Cleveland who was fighting with the local Mafia over control of rackets in town, following the death of Ohio boss John Scal-ish. The resulting war was characterized by car bombs, many of which failed. This time the bomb succeeded.

August Palmisano—June 30, 1978
Milwaukee boss Frank Balistrieri ran a tight ship. So when word came through the grapevine that there was an informer working with the police, Balistrieri put out the order. Taking a page from the Cleveland war, Palmisano was killed by a car bomb.

Carmine Galante—July 12, 1979
Bonanno crime family boss Carmine Galante was killed while eating at an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. The now-famous murder scene photo shows Galante still clutching his cigar between his teeth.

Phil “Chicken Man” Testa—March 15, 1981
When Bruce Springsteen sung about the Chicken Man getting blown up, he was referring to the murder of Philly mob boss Phil Testa. After Angelo Bruno’s murder the year before, the Philly family was thrown into upheaval. Following Chicken Man’s demise, Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo took over.

Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme and William “Wild Guy” Grasso—June 16, 1989
This day was a pivotal one in the history of organized crime in New England. The body of mobster William Grasso was found along the banks of the Connecticut River with one bullet in his head. Later that day, Frank Salemme was ambushed at a pancake house, but he survived to become the boss of the New England family.

Henry “Hank the Bear” Smurra—November 23 , 1991
Smurra was part of the Persico faction of the Colombo crime family. He was sitting in his car in front of a doughnut shop in Brooklyn when he was taken out by gunmen loyal to Victor Orena. It was the first casualty in the Colombo war; it resulted in twelve deaths.

Michael “Mickey Chang” Ciancaglini—August 5, 1993
As a war between Sicilian John Stanfa and young upstart Skinny Joey Merlino was playing out on the streets of Philadelphia, both sides were gearing up to take out the head of the other faction. While walking down a South Philly street, Joey Merlino was shot in the buttocks, but Mickey Chang was hit in the chest and died on the street.