Joseph Massino
Mafia boss who became the first New York don to cooperate.
Last updated
Massino was the first boss of a New York Mafia family to become a government witness while still holding that position.[1]
Key facts and history
He was inducted into the Bonanno family on June 14, 1977.[2] Massino agreed to cooperate with prosecutors after his conviction to avoid the death penalty.[3] He died on September 14, 2023, at age 80 in Glen Cove, Long Island.[4] In 1960, Massino wed Josephine Vitale, whom he had first met in 1956, and the couple raised three daughters.[5]
Following Philip Rastelli's death on June 24, 1991, Massino had Vitale convene a meeting of the family's captains, who then acclaimed him as the new boss.[6] Massino directed that the criminal organization he led be called the Massino family instead of the Bonanno family.[7]
What the cited sources add
A 2011 New York Post article reported that Massino testified his life of crime began at age 12 when he robbed homing pigeons.[8] The same article stated Massino helped end infighting with the "Three Captains" murders and described the ambush.[8] The article also reported Massino said he did not need to be boss and could have been wealthy legitimately.[9]
References
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Marzulli, "Joseph Massino, ex-Bonanno crime boss turned mob rat, gave feds $7 million he hid in his attic", New York Daily News, 2011-04-14; DeStefano 2007, pp. 314–315; Raab, p. 687; DeStefano 2007, pp. 314–315; Raab, p. 688.; Braun, "This Mob Shot Its Brains Out", Los Angeles Times, 2001-05-04; Raab, pp. 596–597 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: DeStefano, "Bonanno Crime Family", tonydestefano.com; Lamothe; Humphreys, p. 87 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: DeStefano 2007, pp. 314–315; Glaberson, "Judge Objects to Ashcroft Bid for a Mobster's Execution", The New York Times, 2004-11-13; "'Last don' faces execution", The Guardian, 2004-11-13 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Turncoat Bonanno Boss Confidential: Joe Massino Lived As ‘Ralph Rogers,’ Enjoyed Food, Casinos In Cleveland Before Dying In Glen Cove Scott Burnstein, GangsterR; DeStefano, "Joseph Massino, 80, low-key Mafia boss turned fed witness, has died", Newsday, 2023-09-21 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: DeStefano 2007, pp. 42–43; Crittle, pp. 49–51; Crittle, p. 211; Crittle, pp. 136–137; DeStefano 2007, pp. 42–43 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Narvaez, "Philip Rastelli, 73, A Reputed Leader Of a Crime Family", New York Times, June 27, 1991; Raab, pp. 633–635, 637 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Joseph Massino" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Crittle, p. 168; DeStefano 2007, pp. 17, 177; Raab, pp. 639–640; Crittle, p. 168; Marzulli, "Yes, we have no Bonannos First mob family to change names in 40 years! They call 'em the Massinos now", New York Daily News, 2003-10-20 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Mitchel Maddux, "Nomerta! Mafia boss a squealer", New York Post, 2011-04-13. facts only, no text reused. nypost.com
- Mitchel Maddux, "Gotti's plan to whack me", New York Post, 2011-04-19. facts only, no text reused. nypost.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Joseph Massino (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Joseph Massino (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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