Ettore Coco
Encyclopedia
Ettore "Eddie" Coco was a New York City
mobster who served as acting boss of the Lucchese crime family
in 1967.
in a group known as "The Combination". The members of the group acted as boxing promoter's and were accused of fixing matches. During this time Coco met Rocky Graziano
an amateur boxer fighting in New York City's Lower East Side
. He helped Grazino start a professional boxing career and throughout the following years was viewed as a somewhat manager. In the late 1940s, Coco was suspected of placing wagers and taking bets on fights while Graziano was accused of taking bribes, these accusations continued until Graziano retired in 1952.
In 1953, Coco was arrested in Florida for murdering a Miami
car-wash operator and was sentenced to life
in 1955. While imprisoned during the McClellan hearings he was identified as a Capo in Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese
's crime family
.
sentence. He stayed in Florida and was under government surveillances. In July 1967, family boss Tom Lucchese died and Coco became a candidate to become the new boss. He served as acting boss in 1967. In late 1967, Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
went to Florida and meet with Coco. He later step down as acting boss and Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti
became the new boss. Coco continued to operate as a capo
under Tramunti, with criminal activities in New York and Florida that kept him under strict government watch.
on extortion and loansharking charges. During the trial, witness Joel Whitice testified that he borrowed money in the late 1960s from James Falco. He made payments to Falco, Coco and Nash, and described Coco as the leader of a loan-sharking ring. Coco was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison on loan-sharking and extortion.
By the late 1980s Coco was considered a semi-retired mobster living in Florida
. He served as Consigliere for the Lucchese family in 1986 when Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
, Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro
and Christopher "Christie Trick" Furnari
were all on trial in the Commission Case
. Coco later resigned and continued to operate in New York and Florida. In 1986 Coco created a bingo operation as a way for him and other mobsters to launder
illegal money gained from their illegal crimes. The mobsters used Bingo World, a company with bingo halls in various states, as a way to launder money. Coco and Chicago Outfit
members Dominic "Big Dom" Cortina
and Donald Angelini
became silent partners in the company. The new owner Stephen Paskind served as the front owner of the company; while claiming he controlled 84 percent he actually only had 42 percent. Izaak Silber soon joined in the bingo operation after asking Coco for permission. In 1991 everyone who was involved in the bingo scam was arrested. Coco died while awaiting trial in December 1991.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mobster who served as acting boss of the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
in 1967.
Boxing promoter
In the 1940s, Eddie Coco worked with James Plumeri, Frank Palermo, Harry Segal and Felix Bocchicchio for soldier Frankie CarboFrankie Carbo
Paul John Carbo better known as "Frankie Carbo" was a New York City Mafia soldier in the Lucchese crime family, who operated as a boxing promoter and a gunman with Murder, Inc....
in a group known as "The Combination". The members of the group acted as boxing promoter's and were accused of fixing matches. During this time Coco met Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
an amateur boxer fighting in New York City's Lower East Side
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
. He helped Grazino start a professional boxing career and throughout the following years was viewed as a somewhat manager. In the late 1940s, Coco was suspected of placing wagers and taking bets on fights while Graziano was accused of taking bribes, these accusations continued until Graziano retired in 1952.
In 1953, Coco was arrested in Florida for murdering a Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
car-wash operator and was sentenced to life
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
in 1955. While imprisoned during the McClellan hearings he was identified as a Capo in Gaetano "Tommy Brown" Lucchese
Tommy Lucchese
Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese , also known as "Tom Brown" or "Three-Finger Brown", was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City...
's crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
.
Acting boss
In 1965, Coco was released from prison after serving ten years on his lifeLife imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
sentence. He stayed in Florida and was under government surveillances. In July 1967, family boss Tom Lucchese died and Coco became a candidate to become the new boss. He served as acting boss in 1967. In late 1967, Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
Anthony Corallo
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
went to Florida and meet with Coco. He later step down as acting boss and Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti
Carmine Tramunti
Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti was a New York mobster who was the boss of the Lucchese crime family. Tramunti helped build the massive French Connection heroin smuggling ring.-Operating in Harlem:...
became the new boss. Coco continued to operate as a capo
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
under Tramunti, with criminal activities in New York and Florida that kept him under strict government watch.
Florida operations
In 1972, Coco along with his brother-in-law James Michael Falco and Louis "Louis Nash" Nakaladski were indicted in MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
on extortion and loansharking charges. During the trial, witness Joel Whitice testified that he borrowed money in the late 1960s from James Falco. He made payments to Falco, Coco and Nash, and described Coco as the leader of a loan-sharking ring. Coco was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in prison on loan-sharking and extortion.
By the late 1980s Coco was considered a semi-retired mobster living in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He served as Consigliere for the Lucchese family in 1986 when Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
Anthony Corallo
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
, Salvatore "Tom Mix" Santoro
Salvatore Santoro
Salvatore T. "Tom Mix" Santoro, Sr. served as Underboss in the Lucchese crime family during the 1980s before being convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 100 years in federal prison.-Early life:...
and Christopher "Christie Trick" Furnari
Christopher Furnari
Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari, Sr. is a Lucchese crime family mobster serving life in prison. During the 1980s, Furnari served as the family consigliere until his 1986 racketeering conviction.-Early years:...
were all on trial in the Commission Case
Mafia Commission Trial
The Mafia Commission Trial was a criminal trial in New York City, USA. Using evidence obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, eleven organized crime figures, including the heads of New York's so-called "Five Families," were indicted by United States Attorney Rudolph Giuliani under the...
. Coco later resigned and continued to operate in New York and Florida. In 1986 Coco created a bingo operation as a way for him and other mobsters to launder
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
illegal money gained from their illegal crimes. The mobsters used Bingo World, a company with bingo halls in various states, as a way to launder money. Coco and Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
members Dominic "Big Dom" Cortina
Dominic Cortina
Dominic Cortina was a Chicago mobster and high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization, who oversaw gambling. His nicknames were "Big Dom", "Large", and "the Hat."-Chicago Outfit career:...
and Donald Angelini
Donald Angelini
Donald "The Wizard of Odds" Angelini was a mobster with the Chicago Outfit criminal organization who specialized in gambling operations....
became silent partners in the company. The new owner Stephen Paskind served as the front owner of the company; while claiming he controlled 84 percent he actually only had 42 percent. Izaak Silber soon joined in the bingo operation after asking Coco for permission. In 1991 everyone who was involved in the bingo scam was arrested. Coco died while awaiting trial in December 1991.