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Stefano Vitabile
Encyclopedia
Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile, (born 1935 Englishtown, New Jersey
), is a New Jersey mobster and former consigliere
of the DeCavalcante crime family
.
in the crew of John Riggi
. In 1976, family boss Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante
retired to Florida and Riggi succeeded him as boss. Riggi then designated Vitabile as his consigliere
and Girolamo "Jimmy Dumps" Palermo
as underboss
. The DeCavalcante family would be under this steady leadership for the next fifteen years. However, the late 1980s brought law enforcement investigations that would shake up the family throughout the 1990s.
In July 1990, Riggi was convicted of racketeering and conspiracy
and sentenced to prison for 15 years. Still in charge of the family, Riggi named Gaetano "Corky" Vastola
as his acting boss and Vitabile remained as consigliere. However, in 1991, Vastola was convicted of extortion
and went to prison. DeCalvalcante replaced Vastola with John "Johnny Boy" D'Amato
, the longtime underboss of the DeCavalcante family. D'Amato was angry at LaRusso due to a disagreement and ordered his murder. Mobster Anthony Capo
and two associates shot LaRasso. The body was never recovered.
In 1992, Vitabile ordered the murder of acting boss D'Amato due to D'Amato's alleged bisexuality
. D'Amato girlfriend had reported to Capo that D'Amato frequented sex clubs and was having relations with men. When informed of this, Vitabile ordered D'Amato's execution. Since Cosa Nostra
rule forbade the killing of a boss without permission of the Mafia Commission
, and D'Amato was friends with Gambino crime family
boss John Gotti
, Vitabile had to act secretly. Capo and a mob associate picked up D'Amato at the girlfriend's house in Brooklyn
and shot D'Amato in the car. The body was never recovered.
as acting boss. However, in 1995 Amari became disabled due to stomach cancer
and could no longer run the family. With Riggi's approval, Vitabile re-structured the family leadership to have three caporegimes on a Ruling Panel to make the day-to-day decisions on the family. These capos were Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
, Charles "Big Ears" Majuri, and Girolamo Palermo. Vitabile remained as consigliere.
and Palermo.
Later in 2000, Palermo became a government witness and testified against Vitabile. In June 2003, based on testimony from Palermo and government witness Anthony Capo
, Vitabile was convicted a sweeping racketeering conspiracy that included the LaRussa and D'Amato murders, extortion and stock fraud. In June 2006, Vitabile was sentenced to life in prison.
In September 2008, Vitabile's racketeering conviction was overturned by a federal appeals panel, which ordered a new trial. The government promised to appeal the decision.
As of June 2010, Stefano Vitabile is being held at the FCI Allenwood Medium Allenwood PA his release date is November 11–24-2013 .
Englishtown, New Jersey
Englishtown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,847....
), is a New Jersey mobster and former consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
of the DeCavalcante crime family
DeCavalcante crime family
The DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
.
Early years
In the early 1970s, Vitabile was a soldierSoldato
A Soldato is the lowest level of the formal Mafia hierarchy, both in America and in Sicily. However, a soldier is much greater in rank and prestige than any ordinary associate of the crime family. In order to become a soldier, the primary requisite for an associate is to become a made man...
in the crew of John Riggi
Giovanni Riggi
Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi is a New Jersey mobster and member of the DeCavalcante crime family since the 1940s, before the family had acquired its name. Riggi was the leader of the "Elizabeth crew" in the family when he was a Caporegime. He had been the acting boss during the 1970s and has...
. In 1976, family boss Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante
Sam DeCavalcante
Simone Rizzo "Sam" DeCavalcante , known as "Sam the Plumber", was a member of the New Jersey Mafia. Claiming descent from the Italian royal family, DeCavalcante was nicknamed "The Count"...
retired to Florida and Riggi succeeded him as boss. Riggi then designated Vitabile as his consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
and Girolamo "Jimmy Dumps" Palermo
Girolamo Palermo
Girolamo "Jimmy Dumps" Palermo is the longtime underboss of the DeCavalcante crime family in Elizabeth, New Jersey, under the imprisoned boss Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi.-Murdering Al Colicchio:...
as underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
. The DeCavalcante family would be under this steady leadership for the next fifteen years. However, the late 1980s brought law enforcement investigations that would shake up the family throughout the 1990s.
In July 1990, Riggi was convicted of racketeering and conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
and sentenced to prison for 15 years. Still in charge of the family, Riggi named Gaetano "Corky" Vastola
Gaetano Vastola (gangster)
Gaetano "Corky" Vastola is a New Jersey mobster who became an underboss for the DeCavalcante crime family in New Jersey.-Record mogul:In 1946, Vastola was arrested for burglary in New York City...
as his acting boss and Vitabile remained as consigliere. However, in 1991, Vastola was convicted of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and went to prison. DeCalvalcante replaced Vastola with John "Johnny Boy" D'Amato
John D'Amato
John "Johnny Boy" D'Amato was a New Jersey mobster and former Acting boss of the DeCavalcante crime family. After being recruited by Gambino crime family Boss John Gotti to take over the family, and amidst rumors that he was homosexual, D'Amato was murdered in January 1992.- Captain :After being...
Mob murders
In November 1991, Vitabile was involved in the murder of Louis LaRassoLouis LaRasso
Louis "Fat Lou" LaRasso was a New Jersey mobster and the longtime official Underboss of the DeCavalcante crime family.- Apalachin meeting :...
, the longtime underboss of the DeCavalcante family. D'Amato was angry at LaRusso due to a disagreement and ordered his murder. Mobster Anthony Capo
Anthony Capo
Anthony "Tony" Capo is a hitman in the DeCavalcante crime family who became a government witness.- Made Man :A resident of South Beach, Staten Island, Capo became an associate of the DeCavalcante crime family during the early 1980s under powerful Elizabeth, New Jersey faction leader Giovanni...
and two associates shot LaRasso. The body was never recovered.
In 1992, Vitabile ordered the murder of acting boss D'Amato due to D'Amato's alleged bisexuality
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
. D'Amato girlfriend had reported to Capo that D'Amato frequented sex clubs and was having relations with men. When informed of this, Vitabile ordered D'Amato's execution. Since Cosa Nostra
American Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
rule forbade the killing of a boss without permission of the Mafia Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
, and D'Amato was friends with Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino 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 group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
boss John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
, Vitabile had to act secretly. Capo and a mob associate picked up D'Amato at the girlfriend's house in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and shot D'Amato in the car. The body was never recovered.
Family restructuring
After D'Amato's death, Riggi appointed Jake AmariGiacomo Amari
Giacomo "Jake" Amari was the powerful Underboss and later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family.- Background :According to the testimony provided by Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, the later Acting Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family, Amari was a prominent and ruthless captain before being...
as acting boss. However, in 1995 Amari became disabled due to stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
and could no longer run the family. With Riggi's approval, Vitabile re-structured the family leadership to have three caporegimes on a Ruling Panel to make the day-to-day decisions on the family. These capos were Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo
Vincent Palermo
Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo is a former de facto boss of the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family who eventually became a government witness. Fictional mob boss Tony Soprano is said to be loosely based on Palermo.-Background:...
, Charles "Big Ears" Majuri, and Girolamo Palermo. Vitabile remained as consigliere.
Current status
In 2000, Vitabile reportedly became acting boss, running the family along with Joseph MirandaJoseph Miranda
Joseph "Joe" Miranda is an American mobster and member of the New Jersey-based DeCavalcante crime family. A longtime "soldier" to Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante and later boss Giovanni Riggi, he became acting Underboss for Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo following the imprisonment of many...
and Palermo.
Later in 2000, Palermo became a government witness and testified against Vitabile. In June 2003, based on testimony from Palermo and government witness Anthony Capo
Anthony Capo
Anthony "Tony" Capo is a hitman in the DeCavalcante crime family who became a government witness.- Made Man :A resident of South Beach, Staten Island, Capo became an associate of the DeCavalcante crime family during the early 1980s under powerful Elizabeth, New Jersey faction leader Giovanni...
, Vitabile was convicted a sweeping racketeering conspiracy that included the LaRussa and D'Amato murders, extortion and stock fraud. In June 2006, Vitabile was sentenced to life in prison.
In September 2008, Vitabile's racketeering conviction was overturned by a federal appeals panel, which ordered a new trial. The government promised to appeal the decision.
As of June 2010, Stefano Vitabile is being held at the FCI Allenwood Medium Allenwood PA his release date is November 11–24-2013 .
External links
- American Mafia: The 'Sopranos' Trial Part One: New Jersey Mob Boss Whacked for Gay Behavior by James Ridgway de Szigethy
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs. Riggi, et al.
- New York Daily News: CANARY HELPS CONVICT 3 N.J. MOBSTERS By ROBERT GEARTY
- New York Daily News: WISEGUY GETS LIFE FOR HIT ON GAY MOB BOSS BY THOMAS ZAMBITO
- New York Times: Racketeering Convictions Rejected for 3 in Mob Case By JOHN ELIGON