According to the feds, 83-year old Peter Limone was the official boss of the New England Mafia also known as the Patriarca crime family until his death last month.
The veteran wiseguy is believed to have taken over as boss sometime in 2009 after the retirement of his predecessor Luigi Manocchio. It is unclear however just how involved Limone had been within the Cosa Nostra family the last couple of years and some mafia experts believed he was at least semi-retired and perhaps acting more in an advisory capacity. When Limone took the reins it signaled a shift in the crime families power base from Providence to Boston. That trend is likely to continue if acting boss Carmen “The Cheeseman” Dinunzio is officially named as the families new boss.
“Carmen DiNunzio”
Carmen who most likely got his nickname at least in part because of his fresh cheese shop in Boston’s North End has steadily made his way through the ranks of the organization. Shortly after Limone took over as the boss in 2009 he was arrested on racketeering charges and promoted Carmen’s brother Anthony DiNunzio to the acting boss. Carmen moved up the ladder along with his brother moving up from captain to become the family, new underboss. But later that year he pleads guilty to corruption charges and was sentenced to six years in prison. His brother Anthony’s run was also cut short when he plead guilty to racketeering and extortion charges in 2012 and was also sent to prison for a six-year stretch.
According to reports when Carmen was released from prison in 2015 he took back control of the families Boston faction and became the new acting boss of the Patriarca family. The Cheeseman is believed to be in control of the families day to day operations and is the most likely candidate to officially take control. But a case can certainly be made for longtime Rhode Island mobster Matthew Guglielmetti to also become the new boss of the family. Guglielmetti a second-generation mobster with a solid reputation on the streets is believed to currently hold the rank of underboss and controls the Providence faction of the mafia in New England. He was released from prison back in 2014 after doing an 11 year stretch on drug charges.
Guglielmetti has been a key player in various aspects of the crime family for some time and certainly has the mob pedigree that makes him worthy of the top spot. But it seems unlikely that Guglielmetti would make a push to become boss if it meant causing any turbulence in the already beleaguered crime family. With the Boston faction becoming the power within the organization it seems that Carmen DiNunzio has the easier path to the top spot and with the family currently trying to stabilize and rebuild itself it certainly doesn’t need any new tensions arising. But with Limone now gone there is a vacancy atop the organized crime family and someone is sure to fill that void in an official capacity sooner rather than later.
I doubt we see any move here from Matty as it seems like things have just fallen into place for DiNunzio and he is poised to become new boss officially (he was pretty much boss already from what has been reported anyway). Now question is for how long!
Based on girth, not long. Lol
Well the women always say its about the girth more then the length!
My wife is screwed either way 🙁
I personally think Matty G would be great boss material, guy has so much respect on the streets up and down the coast, real gangster.
Not really i bitch slapped the dude just last month in front of all his italian pals and he begged me to stop. Gave tye punk a break !
Methodically New England Mob or as I prefer Patriarch family have been retooling the family….Anthony D…crew has added couple made guys and new associates…Anthony and Carmen are 100% stand up guys..who have helped keeping the family together as stabilization took place…Matty G..in Federal Hill providence is formidable legitimate Tough guy with leadership skills and experience and is keeping things in order and I believe matty G is fine in his powerful position in Rhode island….And I expect good relationships between Boston and Rhode island with Carmen in top and brother Anthony a capo and Matty G….Street boss in Providence
The patriarcas defintely have a seemingly stable heirarchy, and seem set for the future.
I like how they typically split the underboss and boss. One coming from Providence and other Boston or vice versa. Smart on their part if a bust comes good chance half off the top leadership still in place. Prevents a power vaccum.
Yeah it’s ironic that people keep asking who’s left in these families as if to say that nothing is left yet they’re still making new guys. The induction of new members is what will ensure that they are able to carry on. It’s when they stop inducting people or run out of potential recruits that they die out. Just think about what would happen if a military branch quit enlisting or nobody joined anymore.
The quality of new recruits has gone way down though. 1) Fewer and fewer Italian have emigrated to America over the last century. 2) Second generation Italian immigrants have grown up with more money and less discrimination than their parents, meaning they have access to more attractive opportunities than joining a decimated 21st century crime family, and 3) As we all know, the creed of omerta has completely eroded among second generation gangsters.
What are you talking about dude!!! Plenty of Italian Americans to fill the ranks,
Sammy Gravano
Joe Messino
Angelo Leonardo
Henry Hill
Jimmy Frattiano
Just to name a few…no worries anyway, the American Mob is in good capable hands as I’ve demonstrated above.
While what you guys say is true, there are almost 18 million Italian Americans. Out of those, there are probably thousands of criminals anyways, because even though many of these a Italian American a kids live comfortably, some are too bored, and/or too dumb to do something else. Some just don’t like the average working life or school. So if you are a criminal and can’t live a working life anyways, and you are of Italian descent, might as well join the mafia rather than an ordinary street gang. Alot of the white/italian kid gang bangers who ruin their lives by not going to school and spend some years in jail will eventually reach their 30’s and 40’s. They will then only have a few choices; work a menial job with hard labor and little/mediocre pay such as in a factory/fast food/construction, warehouse and so on, live off welfare in some shady area, or try and somewhat salvage their life by joining organized crime, where they can make more money. Most of these guys will choose to live https://discord.gg/4ZyUnE6
a by working the menial jobs, but there are a few that would go down another path.There is very little place for 30-40 year old Italian American kids in Street gangs. You have to remember also that the mafia does not need, nor really want thousands upon thousands of members. Some tight knit families are comfortable with a few dozen members, usually related by family(new Orleans, Milwaukee for example) while other, extremely powerful families, would have maybe a couple hundred made members, like some new York families today, and the Chicago outfit in the past. They can also have a large group of non Italians, and lesser known street gangs to use as muscle and sell drugs.
I agree that the quality of recruits have gone down, I agree that a lot of that is due to less “real Italians” as I call them coming to America, but what I somewhat disagree with is that their decline is due to better opportunities. There have been several LCN members who came from well-to-do families and still choose the life. Believe it or not the Mafia is in some of those guys’ blood. Like Franco said a lot of people just don’t want to live a normal life working on the clock or going to school. After working my ass off for 10 hours today I can’t blame them. The thrill of getting over is too tempting to resist for a lot of people. Now grant it, more legitimate opportunities to make money does mean less quality recruits for the Mafia, but I think there will always be enterprising gangsters who shun the honest living for a life of crime in La Cosa Nostra. And one last note, just because times are good now doesn’t mean we can’t find ourselves in another Great Depression. 😉
Wonder how many made guys are left on the streets currently in both Boston and providence combined.. it’s never been a particularly large family to my knowledge, but crazy to see in 2017 a rebuild of a family
Well, theres always been enough italians to fend off the irish gangs like the winter hill gang, even though theres a shit ton of irish in boston. Funnily enough, many high ranking members of the winter hill gang were italian or atleast part italian like johnny martorano and steven flemmi. The north end of boston still has quite abit of italian influence, its a very unique little italy. Same goes to federal hill, atwell avenue over in providence. In my opinion, the east coast families have slightly improved compared to 10 years ago, and have stabilized, and will be good for quite some time.
I don’t know if I’d call it fending them off.. it was a pretty toe to toe scenario there for a while in the bulger days (granted he may have had a bit of help from the Feds)…
As it stands now I wouldn’t even say the Irish have anything close to an organized group in Boston (I’ve spent some time there) and I think anyone flying the westies banner in NYC is prob a wannabe, Hell’s Kitchen is not what it was 30 years ago. As far as philly, k and a weren’t entirely Irish, pollacks etc too I believe. I’m not sure if they’re still active or not. The west end gang is still alive and well though.
I’m not sure I’d say any American mafia family is any better off now than ten years ago. Can you support that claim? Some have functional administrations, which everyone with access to google can find out the names of. I wouldn’t say they’re doing too well.
The middle 2000’s were awful for the mafia, I’d say it was worse than now. People were ratting left and right, big people like Massino. The mob , a the I Gambino’s in particular, was recovering from the Gotti days, and only recently have families had a strong and more stable heirarchy, like the Gambino’s with cefalu and Cali, and the Genoveses with Bellino and his ruling panel. Outside from the smaller, dying out families that have little chance if recovering, I’d say the bigger families like the 5 families (particularly Gambino and Genovese, even the bonannos are slightly more stable better than 10 years ago.), and other east coast syndicates like the patriarcas and philly have been regrouping, flying under the radar, and haven’t suffered as many punishing busts like they were back in the early to mid 2000’s. The mid west families are more or less the same, but I’d still say that the new leadership such as Solly d and jack giacalone will be good for the family. Organized crime squads from the FBI have dwindled in numbers and are focusing more on terrorism and Street gangs, and new scams involving the internet are doing good along with the mafia staples of extortion and loansharking are still doing good. We have to remember that the extortion isn’t like the old days when people used to threaten the owners. Many mob earners can pass as legit business men and own many businesses, and can use their smarts to manipulate, and therefore extort businesses in other ways by cutting their supplies, swaying away customers, and loaning money that eventually own a piece of the business. So I’d say most families are have caught their breath a bit after being winded in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Also, I’m aware that the west end gang is present but I was under the impression that they are quite small, albeit with decent connections to montreals ports on the streets Lawrence.
You have done a really great job at explaining how the American Mafia is doing much better than they were a decade ago. I couldn’t have explained it better if I tried. As far as Irish organized crime goes, I think it’s that Irish gangsters tend to build temporary gangs vs dynasties like the Mafia. They don’t have the rituals and ceremonies and have no plans to ensure the gang carries on into the next generation. With groups like the Mafia the titles are all passed on to successive leaders. I haven’t seen such a desire to build something so continuous with Irish gangsters. Just my thoughts.
Thank you amico, I agree.
I agree with you on the organization structure especially between the Italians and the Irish.
Italians always looked at themselves like the Roman Empire. The outlook on structure is much more practical with longevity in place.
Boston was the only city left in the USA that had something like an Irish Mafia in The Winter Hill crew. Even if half the bosses were Italian haha. Hells Kitchen is literally a upscale yuppy neighborhood now. Being Irish myself I still have to admit we haven’t had proper Organized Crime groups outside of Boston since the 30’s. Once LCN was formed the Irish started fading away. Of course they all just became Cops and Firemen lol…The Westies even at their height were an out of control undisciplined group of killers and lunatics… They had a great opportunity with the Gambinos to really make some real money and fly under their banner. The only requirement was that murders from then on needed to be approved and sanctioned from Gambino leaders first. That’s basically all they had to do but of course they continued killing guys in broad daylight whenever they felt like it. They began to self destruct rapidly and the Italians washed their hands of them quickly. Boston still had housing projects filled with Irish into the 90’s. They had strength in numbers and Whiteys government assistance helped out as well. The Patriarcha’s courted Martorano for years to join up but he was basically a boss in Winterhill and didn’t have to kick a bunch of his money upstairs or take orders from anyone. That movie Black Mass is pure fiction the way it portrays Whitey berating Martorano in public like that. None of those guys would talk to him like that. He was a stone killer and on almost equal footing within that gang..No one fucked with that guy!!
I’ll give it to the Irish, alot of them are tough guys and I have respect for some of those guys, but ya the movie black mass had alot of bullshit, even Kevin weeks admitted it. Another false scene was when they were beating up one of the angiulo bros. That was completely false, it never happened, and would have probably led to having Bulger killed. Even mentioning the name angiulo in public could have gotten you killed if you werent in good standing with them. There was never really any real war between the Irish and Italians during that time, because both sides would have lost alot of guys and money, but the Patriarca’s were not to be fucked with, especially during that time. Odds are they would have one, unless maybe Bulger’s government dickhead friends cracked down big time on the patriarcas.
I agree with you on the paddy boys.. tough as fukn bulls.. some of my good friends are Irish from Queens New York. They will back you up 100%.
Yea the movie was fine to watch for pure entertainment but for those of is who know the story or read the book its hard not to get annoyed at the bullshit. The Winter Hill crew had various enterprises going with different Wiseguys from The North End. Whitey was ratting those guys out but that was his own treachery. He did it to his own guys also. Him and Flemmi. They were definitely a tough group but not on par with LCN as a whole. You’re also absolutely right that there is no way Whitey would have done that to any of the Anguillo’s or any other Made guys for that matter. The movie was actually irresponsible for portraying that scene that way. As if they would just casually kidnap and beat any of the Anguillo brothers is ridiculous… they’re showing it as a true story but totally making shit up that was way off the mark. Not just embellishment but a complete fabrication. I just figure there is plenty of action and drama in the real life events so no need to spread lies that the average people will actually believe…
The Winter Hill Gang was really nothing until Bulger went to bed with the FBI. They were a street gang before and a street gang after.
One thing you have to credit the Italians is that their mindset is like the Roman Empire and that they see themselves as Roman soldiers.
The funny thing about Flemmi and Motorano is that they didn’t trust their own kind! So they went to bed with the Irish.
Another big difference is that the Italians had their various Mafia type groups already going in Italy long before they came over here so there was a tradition and culture to carry on wherever they emigrated to. The Irish had no such tradition back home prior to coming over here. The built various gangs and OC groups while being a despised ethnic group and being treated like second class citizens. Basically once they had fully assimilated into American culture they left the gangster life behind them. There really wasn’t any established tradition to pass down to the next generation like the Italians had. So all the Micks just basically took over all the Police and Fire Departments in the big cities haha. Its true though. They had tough gangsters but they were a flash in the pan… it was more like a phase for those first generations that came over here to survive…. Thats what made the Mafia a different sort of thing all together…
History definitely has its fair share of colorful Irish-American gangsters though.
It definitely does. There were plenty of tough Irish gangsters but it was more out of poverty and what not. They didnt have that whole tradition of the Mafia back home like the Italians did. The Italians had already grown up with various Mafia groups back there before they immigrated to the USA. They had a template already in place and then made whatever changes they felt necessary and so LCN was born in America. Ireland has its fair share of Organized Crime but its based more on Religion and Politics with England. Some of those groups justified there Mob like tactics as necessary to raise funds for their causes. Lets just say that conflict is mostly over for years now but a few of those groups have not left their money making ways behind..They are receiving a lot of flack on both sides for this from the public.
I’m sure money played a part with them two. Why get made start from bottom paying tribute when they were top guys where they were at.
Right so getting made you got to kick up.. some of the crews in New York take little back. They have no problem with their guys “eating”
And you need to be like this ..can’t be too greedy with the guys below you.
Exactly my point about Johhny Martorano and Flemmi. Why get made and instantly be at Soldier status. Gotta report to your Capo, kick money upstairs, and technically get permission for any big moves you wanna make. Granted The Winterhill Mob was no Patriarcha Family but it was big enough and strong enough for those guys to get plenty rich. Them already being at the top of that organization makes a good case for staying put even if it didn’t have the allure of being a Made Guy in a proper LCN Family…Any other city forget about it but with the unique environment of Boston it seems like the smart play.
Flemmi was a cry baby psychopath. Basically just a serial killer. Matorano was a genuine tough guy and stand up guy, and I guess he isn’t technically a rat. Salemme too. The hill and the angiulos were pretty intertwined back then. Winter hill still exists but southie and Somerville are very very different places now.
Patriarch family also has made men in Connecticut…
.not just Boston and Providence….People forgot Connecticut is divided into half’s….eastern side patriarch and west of new haven is new York family territory…..So Connecticut still has made men and associates in New England AKA…patriarch family….some famous names in past Billy the Wild Guy Grasso….Salvatore Butchi DaQuillo and many more
Gambinos and genovese have crews there if I’m not mistaken, just not sure what kind of shape they’re in.
I’m not sure if CT is considered open territory or if there’s any agreements as to how it’s divided amongst the families.
Also, on that note, what’s the current state of the commission? Massino said it basically doesn’t exist. Who even sits on the commission at this point? What level of communication is their amongst the American LCN?
I know more about the current state of Canadian Italian OC, but I’m not sure about the current state of the American commission.
New Haven is open back in the day had patriarch and Genovese and columbo ,gambino soldiers like Salvatore midge Annunziato…Ralph whitey Troppiano…Billy wild guy Grasso all from different families..but currently I can’t drop names but Patriarch family is still active in Hartford Middletown and Newhaven and New York soldiers in Stamford Waterbury and other western Connecticut areas
Interesting, haven’t heard of some of those names and will def look into them. Thanks
After seeing upper management of the mafia rat on each other I doubt it would be a wise move to have the commission operating . I mean everything has to be considerably low-key and secretive within each family.. to avoid rats dropping dimes about meetings.
I agree. If some top guys flip they’ll be sure to reveal every decision made at those meetings. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sitting boss wear a wire to a Commission meeting in this day and age. You just never know.
I figure they must have some type of system in place to deal with Family beefs and money making arrangements between Families. Its probably much less formal and on an as needed basis as apposed to any regular schedule. Probably many guys know little about it either. Only those that need to know for business reasons…
I think the system you speak of are called sit downs. At least for the beefs. And for money making schemes wiseguys from different families partner up all the time.
So are you saying that they settle all beefs and work out plans between families by having sit downs as needed? You may be right. I just suspect there is something in place much less formal than The Commission but more organized then just sit downs.
You could be right. I don’t know what exactly they are currently doing I’m just going off of past events. If there’s a beef between members/associates from 2 different families, they typically have a sit down to settle it before things get out of hand. Sometimes the families skip the formalities altogether and decide a guy needs to go. When you have 5 different crime families in one city, it’s hard not to imagine some sort of entity to keep the peace and decide who gets what.
I don’t doubt that they want it to appear that there is no Commission Especially after The Commission Case. At the same time the whole concept of The Commission was a huge part of the formation of The American Mafia. I’m sure these days nobody wants to be seen as part of that giant Conspiracy by the Feds. I think it was Massino who said there was no more Commission. He is notoriously full of shit and unreliable. You figure with five families still in NYC plus other Families still operating across the US, there has to be some type of system in place to settle disputes. Even with some Families completely defunct and the remaining ones reduced in size and power, still enough guys running around that disputes would inevitably arise. It would just be chaos like in the past without some ultimate authority to lay down the rules for everyone involved. Maybe not a formal body like The Commission was but low key group to settle shit??? Who knows, maybe it is every family for themselves haha…