Anthony "Tony" Mirra (July 18, 1927 – February 18, 1982) was an American mobster , soldier and later caporegime for the Bonanno crime family . He is well known for being the individual who introduced FBI Special Agent Joseph "Donnie Brasco" Pistone into the Bonanno family.
23-698: Mirra was born to Albert Mirra and Millie Embarrato in Manhattan. He was the nephew of Bonanno family caporegime Alfred Embarrato and cousins with street soldier Joseph D'Amico , capo Richard Cantarella , capo Frank Cantarella, and Bonanno family capo Paul Cantarella. Mirra was born in the poverty-stricken Lower East Side at Knickerbocker Village where he lived in the same apartment building as Embarrato, Richard Cantarella and D'Amico. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics lists his address of residence at 115 Madison Street (Manhattan) in Lower East Side, New York . Mirra
46-528: A Mafia crime family A caporegime or capodecina , usually shortened to capo or informally referred to as "captain", "skipper" or "lieutenant", is a leadership position in the Mafia (both the Sicilian Mafia and Italian-American Mafia ). A capo is a " made member " of an Italian crime family who heads a regime or "crew" of soldiers and has major status and influence in the organization. Caporegime
69-457: A half years. When Mirra got out of jail, Brasco had since become close with Ruggiero and was working under him. Mirra argued that Brasco belonged to him, not Ruggiero. Mirra took the issue right to the top and had several meetings over the situation. In the end, Ruggiero won. After the sudden death of his capo, Michael Zaffarano, Mirra took over the Bonanno family pornography empire and worked under
92-609: A major split in the membership. Philip Giaccone , Dominick Trinchera and Alphonse Indelicato opposed Rastelli and began plotting his downfall. However, Rastelli heard about the plot and instead arranged an ambush for the three conspirators. On May 5, 1981, the day of the ambush, Rastelli loyalist Dominick Napolitano asked Embarrato to come down to The Motion Lounge for a "sitdown". At the meeting, Napolitano placed two of his sidewalk soldiers next to Embarrato. The mobsters then waited until Napolitano received confirmation that Giaccone, Trichera, and Indelicato were dead. Later describing
115-484: A parking garage in Lower Manhattan. Embarrato and Cantarella were waiting in a getaway car. The pair went to the parking garage, climbed into Mirra's car, and drove up to a locked security gate. D'Amico later described in a testimony, "He took out his key, put it in the box, but he didn't get a chance to turn the box... I shot him at close range several times on the side of his head." Caporegime From Misplaced Pages,
138-569: Is an Italian word, used to signify the head of a family in Sicily . In general, the term indicates the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate who commands a crew of soldiers and reports directly to the don ( boss ) or an underboss or street boss. The shortened version " capo " has also been used to refer to certain high-ranking members of Latin American drug cartels . Sources [ edit ] Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to
161-490: The Bonanno family. Pistone was working as an associate for the Colombo family at the time. Mirra introduced Pistone to "Lefty" Ruggiero and offered him a job handling his slot-machine route. Pistone went under the name "Donnie Brasco" and posed as a jewel thief. In 1977, Mirra fled New York after being indicted for drug trafficking. The FBI caught up with him three months later and he was sent to federal prison again for eight and
184-3821: The Mafia . Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2 . Pistone, Joseph D. Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia . Pan Books, 1989. ISBN 9780330305747 . Pileggi, Nicholas. Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family . Simon & Schuster, 1985. ISBN 9780671447342 . v t e Italian-American Mafia List of Mafia crime families Mafia bibliography Families Five Families of New York City Bonanno Calabrian group Motion Lounge crew New Springville Boys Sicilian group Colombo Colombo Gambino Baltimore Crew Ozone Park Boys Genovese 116th Street Crew Broadway Mob Greenwich Village Crew New Jersey faction Springfield faction Lucchese Brooklyn faction New Jersey faction Tanglewood Boys East Coast Buffalo DeCavalcante (Northern New Jersey) Patriarca (New England) ( Angiulo's Boston crew ) Philadelphia ( 10th & Oregon Crew ) Midwestern/Western Chicago Detroit Kansas City Los Angeles Mostly defunct Bufalino (Northeastern Pennsylvania) Cleveland Colorado Dallas Genna (Chicago) Lanzetta (Philadelphia) Morello (Italian Harlem) D'Aquila (Little Italy, Manhattan) New Orleans Milwaukee Pittsburgh Rochester Rockford San Francisco San Jose St. Louis Trafficante (Tampa) Structure Chain of command The Commission Boss Underboss Consigliere Caporegime Soldato Associate Members ( made men ) List of Italian-American mobsters List of Italian-American mobsters by organization Terms Initiation ritual Made man Bagman Black Hand Black Hand in Chicago Vendetta Capo dei capi (boss of bosses) Mustache Pete Omertà One-way ride Sixth Family Zips Events Meetings Atlantic City Conference (1929) Havana Conference (1946) Apalachin meeting (1957) Palermo Mafia summit (1957) Hearings Kefauver Committee (1950–1951) Valachi hearings (1963) Wars Mafia–Camorra War (1914–1917) Castellammarese War (1929–1931) Trials Pizza Connection Trial (1985–1987) Mafia Commission Trial (1985–1986) Closely related and affiliated organizations Active Camorra Colacurcio Organization Commisso 'ndrina Cotroni crime family Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan Inzerillo Mafia clan Jewish Mafia Luppino crime family Musitano crime family 'Ndrangheta Papalia crime family Philadelphia Greek Mob Rizzuto crime family Sacra Corona Unita Sicilian Mafia Siderno Group Stidda Velentzas Organization Defunct Broadway Mob Bugs and Meyer Mob Bumpy Johnson gang New York Camorra The Corporation The Council Dutch Schultz Mob East Harlem Purple Gang Five Points Gang Forty-Two Gang Italian-American National Union Maceo Organization Marat Balagula gang Murder, Inc. National Crime Syndicate New Springville Boys Rudaj Organization South Brooklyn Boys Tanglewood Boys Unione Corse Westies Winter Hill Gang Other topics Government operations Collaborations between
207-1408: The Sicilian Mafia Trials 1960s Sicilian Mafia trials Maxi Trial (1986–1992) Pizza Connection Trial (1985–1986) Related American Cosa Nostra Anonima sarda Article 41-bis prison regime Banda della Comasina Banda della Magliana Basilischi Beati Paoli Camorra Corsican mafia Unione Corse Garduña Italian brigandage (19th century) Sicilian brigandage and rebels (20th century) Mala del Brenta 'Ndrangheta Sacra Corona Unita Stidda Stuppagghiari Vendicatori American Cosa Nostra Organized crime in Italy Mafia bibliography Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caporegime&oldid=1220443947 " Categories : Organized crime members by role American Mafia Sicilian Mafia Italian words and phrases Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata Articles lacking in-text citations from April 2024 All articles lacking in-text citations Albert Embarrato Alfred "Al Walker" Embarrato (November 12, 1909 – February 21, 2001), also known as " Alfred Scalisi " a.k.a." Aldo Elvorado ",
230-656: The Toyland Social Club to Nicholas Marangello that he was joining the opposition. On May 5, 1981, the day of the executions, Napolitano called Mirra's uncle, Albert Embarrato , and told him to come down to The Motion Lounge for a "sit down". At the sit down, Napolitano had two of his soldiers flank Embarrato on either side until Napolitano received confirmation that the executions were followed through. Napolitano would later tell Pistone, "When he (Albert) heard that, he turned ash white. He thought we were going to hit him too. But I just reamed at him about Tony, told him Tony
253-2763: The United States government and Italian Mafia Operation Family Secrets Operation Old Bridge Operation Solare Operation Underworld Operation Wasteland Crimes French Connection Hired Truck Program Lufthansa heist Saint Valentine's Day Massacre Rochester bombings Related articles Barrel murder Buster from Chicago Cement shoes Shotgun Man [REDACTED] Category v t e Sicilian Mafia Chain of command Commission (Cupola) Interprovincial Commission Capo dei capi Family ( Cosca ) Boss ( Capomandamento ) Underboss (Sottocapo) Consigliere Capodecina ( Caporegime ) Soldato (Soldier) Codes and terms Made man Mandamento Omertà Faida Pizzo Pizzino Clans Corleonesi Galatolo Greco Minore Motisi Inzerillo Cuntrera-Caruana Graviano Mandamenti Agrigento Province Agrigento Santa Elisabetta Porto Empedocle Canicattì Cianciana Ribera Sambuca di Sicilia Casteltermini Palma di Montechiaro Campobello di Licata Caltanissetta Province Gela Vallelunga Pratameno Riesi Mussomeli Palermo Porta Nuova Brancaccio Pagliarelli Palermo Province Camporeale Corleone Cinisi Bagheria Trabia Belmonte Mezzagno San Mauro Castelverde Trapani Province Castelvetrano Trapani Mazara del Vallo Alcamo Other Mistretta Sud Siracusa Members List of Sicilian Mafia members List of Sicilian Mafia members by city Meetings Grand Hotel et des Palmes Mafia meeting Wars First Mafia War (1962–1963) Second Mafia War (1981–1984) Massacres and bombings Portella della Ginestra massacre (1947) Ciaculli bombing (1963) Viale Lazio massacre (1969) Circonvallazione massacre (1982) Via Carini massacre (1982) Via Federico Pipitone massacre (1983) Train 904 bombing (1984) Pizzolungo bombing (1985) Capaci bombing (1992) Via D'Amelio bombing (1992) Via dei Georgofili bombing (1993) Via Palestro massacre (1993) Antimafia Sangiorgi report (1898-1900) Italian Antimafia Commission ( members ) Direzione Investigativa Antimafia State-Mafia Pact Addiopizzo Pentito List of victims of
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#1732916351159276-456: The establishment's back room or basement. The coin collection route produced $ 2,000 a week, and he would open the machines with a key he carried and give the store owner his cut of the profits (at least $ 25). Mirra was involved in "strong arm" schemes and extorted from several bars and restaurants. The owners "fee" was $ 5,000 a week in protection money and if they defaulted an angry Mirra would follow up with threats and violence. In 1979, following
299-441: The firing line for initially allowing the infiltration. Mirra, Embarrato's nephew, went into hiding. Joseph Massino ordered Embarrato and Mirra's two cousins Joseph D'Amico and Richard Cantarella , to find and kill him. On February 18, 1982, D'Amico, lured him to a parking garage in Lower Manhattan. Embarrato and Cantarella were waiting in a getaway car. The pair went to the parking garage, climbed into Mirra's car, and drove up to
322-507: The 💕 Rank in the Sicilian Mafia and Italian-American Mafia [REDACTED] This article includes a list of references , related reading , or external links , but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations . Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2024 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) [REDACTED] Structure of
345-450: The meeting to Joseph D. Pistone , posing as mobster Donnie Brasco, Napolitano said, "When [he] Alfred heard that, he turned ash white. He thought we were going to hit him too. But I just reamed at him about Tony, told him Tony was no good; and that he [Alfred] better recognize that and act right himself." Embarrato agreed. In mid-1981, when Pistone was revealed as an FBI agent, "Sonny Black" Napolitano, "Lefty" Ruggiero, and Mirra were all on
368-507: The other Post foremen quickly agreed to take a salary cut so that Embarrato could keep his job. In 1990, District Attorney Robert Morgenthau began an extensive investigation of mob control at the New York newspapers, including the Post. Three years later, Embarrato was indicted on charges related to this investigation. In the late 1970s, Philip Rastelli became the boss of the Bonanno family, causing
391-487: The powerful Sicilian capo Cesare Bonventre . Mirra also muscled in on several Little Italy, Manhattan, restaurants and bars. He was involved in a vending machine operation that dealt in slot machines , peanut vending machines, video arcade machines and pinball machines that were distributed all over New York City. He had them installed in stores, luncheonettes, social clubs and after-hours establishments. The slot machines, since they were illegal, would be installed in
414-406: The takeover of Philip Rastelli as leader of the Bonanno family, the family divided into two rival factions. The "Red" Team led by capos Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato , Dominick Trinchera and Philip Giaccone , and the "Black" Team led by Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano and Joseph Massino . The day before Giaccone, Trinchera and Indelicato were to be ambushed and executed, Mirra announced at
437-482: Was an American mobster who became a caporegime of the Bonanno crime family and a powerful labor figure at The New York Post distribution plant. Born on the Lower East Side, Manhattan to first generation immigrants Salvatore Embarrato and Mary from Adrano , Italy Embarrato lived at Knickerbocker Village , on Monroe St. He was married to a woman named Constance and father of three children. One of Embarrato's neighbors
460-509: Was his nephew, Anthony Mirra , who became a widely feared soldier in the Bonanno family. Embarrato was employed at the New York Post from the 1960s to 1990s as a general foreman for the paper's distribution plant. When real estate owner Peter Kalikow bought the Post in 1988, his managers noted that Embarrato did no visible work and naively tried to fire him. When word of Embrrato's firing spread,
483-468: Was involved in extortion , gambling and drug trafficking . On July 10, 1962, Mirra was convicted of drug trafficking and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Mirra remained a recluse from his fellow mobsters including his own relatives, which included Richard Cantarella, and eventually even became estranged from his uncle Alfred. Mirra was the first contact FBI agent Joseph Pistone made in his undercover operation, which led to his infiltration of
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#1732916351159506-497: Was no good; and that he (Albert) better recognize that and act right himself." Embarrato agreed. In mid-1981, when Pistone was revealed as an FBI agent, " Sonny Black " Napolitano, "Lefty" Ruggiero , and Mirra were all in the firing line for initially allowing the infiltration. Mirra went into hiding. Joseph Massino ordered Mirra's uncle Alfred Embarrato and Mirra's two cousins, Richard Cantarella and Joseph D'Amico , to find and kill him. On February 18, 1982, D'Amico lured him to
529-572: Was once a good friend of Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero ; Mirra owned the Bus Stop Luncheonette in Little Italy, Manhattan not far from Ruggiero's bar . His relatives D'Amico, Embarrato and Cantarella became involved in major racketeering schemes at The New York Post distribution center behind their housing complex, but Mirra moved on to more successful and prosperous racketeering endeavours. Mirra worked for Bonanno capo Michael Zaffarano, and
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