Zips
Encyclopedia
Zips is a slang term often used as a derogatory slur by Italian American
and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian and Italian mafiosi. The name is said to have originated from mobsters' inability to understand the faster-speaking Sicilian dialects, which appeared to "zip" by.
Other theories include pejorative uses such as Sicilians' preference for silent, homemade zip guns. Ironically, the older Sicilian mafiosi of pre-Prohibition known as "Mustache Pete
s" (who eventually were deposed by American-born mobsters during the Castellammarese War
) were also referred to as "zips".
's Five Families
. The Pizza Connection
, a heroin drug trafficking operation involving Bonanno crime family
capo Salvatore Catalano and Sicilian mafioso Gaetano Badalamenti
, was largely organized by Zips.
However, younger Sicilian mafiosi, comparable to their Irish counterparts the Westies, soon became known for their reckless and undisciplined behavior causing unwanted attention to New York's crime families. The Zips had no problem murdering people long considered off-limits by the American Mafia, such as police officers, judges, women and children. Despite their actions, the group was tolerated as they were able to earn millions for the crime families, specifically the Bonanno
and Gambino crime families
as both Carmine Galante
and Carlo Gambino
often used Zips for narcotics and murder. Galante's two personal bodyguards, Cesare Bonventre
and Baldo Amato, were Zips.
Many Italian-American mobsters distrusted the Zips, as Bonanno soldier Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero
explained in a conversation to then undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone: "Lots of people hate him [Galante]... There's only a few people he's close to. And that's mainly the Zips... Those guys are always with him. He brought them over from Sicily, and he uses them for different pieces of work and for dealing all that junk [drugs]. They're as mean as he is. You can't trust those bastard Zips. Nobody can. Except the Old Man." On another occasion, Ruggiero told Pistone, "They hate the American people. They hate the American wiseguys."
The Zips were effective because they were unknown in the country and had no police records. They hung out mainly by themselves in the Knickerbocker Avenue area. Bonanno soldier Anthony Mirra
said to Pistone, "The Zips are clannish and secretive. They are the meanest killers in the business".
base in the Middle East
, where it would be processed into heroin, before being shipped to New York for distribution.
Supplying support services and specific areas for distribution, New York's crime families collected a percentage of income from drug dealers while keeping themselves distanced from federal prosecution. By the late 1970s, Galante had been bringing in large numbers of Zips for the rapidly growing heroin distribution market (which had been peaking at $10 million a year). Ironically, Galante's Zip' bodyguards were party to his murder. Galante was murdered for keeping all the heroin trafficking profits for himself.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian and Italian mafiosi. The name is said to have originated from mobsters' inability to understand the faster-speaking Sicilian dialects, which appeared to "zip" by.
Other theories include pejorative uses such as Sicilians' preference for silent, homemade zip guns. Ironically, the older Sicilian mafiosi of pre-Prohibition known as "Mustache Pete
Mustache Pete
Mustache Petes was the name given to members of the Sicilian Mafia who came to the United States as adults in the early 1900s.-History:...
s" (who eventually were deposed by American-born mobsters during the Castellammarese War
Castellammarese War
The Castellammarese War was a bloody power struggle for control of the Italian-American Mafia between partisans of Joe "The Boss" Masseria and those of Salvatore Maranzano. It was so called because Maranzano was based in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily...
) were also referred to as "zips".
Arrival in the United States
With increasing violence and government presence in Italy, Sicilians and Neapolitans alike found positions in the growing drug trafficking market of New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Five Families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
. The Pizza Connection
Pizza Connection Trial
The Pizza Connection Trial was one of the longest criminal jury trials on record in the district of Manhattan. It took place between October 24, 1985 and March 2, 1987-Scope of the trial:...
, a heroin drug trafficking operation involving Bonanno crime family
Bonanno crime family
The Bonanno 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 ....
capo Salvatore Catalano and Sicilian mafioso Gaetano Badalamenti
Gaetano Badalamenti
Gaetano Badalamenti was a powerful member of the Sicilian Mafia. Don Tano Badalamenti was the capofamiglia of his hometown Cinisi, Sicily, and headed the Sicilian Mafia Commission in the 1970s...
, was largely organized by Zips.
However, younger Sicilian mafiosi, comparable to their Irish counterparts the Westies, soon became known for their reckless and undisciplined behavior causing unwanted attention to New York's crime families. The Zips had no problem murdering people long considered off-limits by the American Mafia, such as police officers, judges, women and children. Despite their actions, the group was tolerated as they were able to earn millions for the crime families, specifically the Bonanno
Bonanno crime family
The Bonanno 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 ....
and Gambino crime families
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...
as both Carmine Galante
Carmine Galante
Carmine Galante, also known as "Lilo" and "Cigar" was a mobster and acting boss of the Bonanno crime family...
and Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino
"Don" Carlo Gambino, was a Sicilian mafioso who became Boss of the Gambino crime family, that still bears his name today. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention he unexpectedly seized control of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino was known for being low-key and secretive...
often used Zips for narcotics and murder. Galante's two personal bodyguards, Cesare Bonventre
Cesare Bonventre
Cesare "The Tall Guy" Bonventre was a Sicilian mobster and caporegime for the New York Bonanno crime family.-Early life:...
and Baldo Amato, were Zips.
Many Italian-American mobsters distrusted the Zips, as Bonanno soldier Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero
Benjamin Ruggiero
Benjamin Ruggiero, also known as "Lefty," "Lefty Guns," "Lefty Two Guns" , was a soldier in the Bonanno crime family. He is well known for his friendship and mentorship of FBI undercover agent Joseph "Donnie Brasco" Pistone. Ruggiero was an old school Cosa Nostra mobster who knew how Mafia...
explained in a conversation to then undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone: "Lots of people hate him [Galante]... There's only a few people he's close to. And that's mainly the Zips... Those guys are always with him. He brought them over from Sicily, and he uses them for different pieces of work and for dealing all that junk [drugs]. They're as mean as he is. You can't trust those bastard Zips. Nobody can. Except the Old Man." On another occasion, Ruggiero told Pistone, "They hate the American people. They hate the American wiseguys."
The Zips were effective because they were unknown in the country and had no police records. They hung out mainly by themselves in the Knickerbocker Avenue area. Bonanno soldier Anthony Mirra
Anthony Mirra
Anthony "Tony" Mirra was an Italian-American mobster and soldier for the Bonanno crime family...
said to Pistone, "The Zips are clannish and secretive. They are the meanest killers in the business".
The Pizza Connection
With Galante's cooperation, as well as support from Sicilian mafiosi, the Zips' influence and power in New York's underworld grew. Eventually they were able to arrange a working relationship between American and Sicilian mafiosi to begin large scale drug trafficking operations to distribute heroin into the United States; Sicilian mafiosi would purchase the morphineMorphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
base in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where it would be processed into heroin, before being shipped to New York for distribution.
Supplying support services and specific areas for distribution, New York's crime families collected a percentage of income from drug dealers while keeping themselves distanced from federal prosecution. By the late 1970s, Galante had been bringing in large numbers of Zips for the rapidly growing heroin distribution market (which had been peaking at $10 million a year). Ironically, Galante's Zip' bodyguards were party to his murder. Galante was murdered for keeping all the heroin trafficking profits for himself.
Further reading
- Sterling, Claire. Octopus: The Long Reach of the International Sicilian Mafia. 1990.