Jerry Balzano a reputed soldier in the New Jersey mafia is back in prison after confronting a driver in a road rage incident according to a NY Daily News report.
Balzano who is currently on supervised release from a previous racketeering conspiracy conviction attacked a driver with a profanity-laced assault after the driver apparently did something he didn’t agree with. His arrest was part of the sweeping indictments by the feds against the mafia back in 2011 which included over 100 alleged mobsters and associates. He was convicted for theft of a tax refund check and attempting to sell contraband cigarettes and sentenced to almost two years. Balzone is now facing a state harassment case and is headed for a violation of supervised release hearing sometime next month in meantime he is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
“Jerry Balzano”
The incident was captured by the other driver’s dashcam including audio of Balzone’s profanity-laced tirade and can be viewed in the NY Daily News article here. In the video, you can see the alleged DeCavalcante crime family soldier in front of the other driver traveling in the opposite lane before slowing down and getting out of his car. He approaches the other drivers care to say “You want to play f—— games, you little c———, You want to cut me off like a tough guy?” The incident ends when another driver stops and gets Balzano back into his car and he drives away. According to the report, the angry Cosa Nostra wiseguy didn’t even have a valid license to drive a car in first place.
This will be the second time that Balzano violates the conditions of his supervised release according to the feds. The first time he admitted to having a firearm and ammo but lied to a probation officer at the time saying the weapon belonged to someone else. He was sentenced to four additional months behind bars for that violation. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto upon seeing the video immediately ordered Balzano detained until his hearing.
Damn, dude has some serious anger issues and that is definitely some out of control road rage. Looks like he most like assaulted the guy physically as well so can pretty much guarantee that if so he is headed back to the can for an extended stay once again.
even the most vicious individulals know when to pick their battles , back to the can for something that he could have shrugged off .
This is likely why this dumbass resorted to stealing tax refunds and selling cigarettes. Clearly not a smart guy at all. The inbreeding of mafia.
The most notorious and successful crime bosses started out like this guy. He’s a mere soldier if not an associate. Soldiers and associates are expected to do ANYTHING to make money. Now what’s embarrassing is when a boss is still pulling small time scams (think Joseph Merlino).
Good point. But I look at Michael Franzese, before defecting of course. As a mere associate he was earning 20,000-30,000 ever week with his fake repair company. Then as a soldier made 2-3 million a week from his gasoline scam. Now he was a rare one. Most are like this guy and Gotti, stealing anything possible. Generally speaking, Jersey ain’t exactly well regarded.
They may not be well regarded, but they’re still around which is a major achievement for an American Mafia family in this day and age. Some are bigger earners than others. I’m sure even Michael Franzese was surrounded by small timers. But even John Gotti was making big bucks before he became boss, as evidenced by the money he would gamble away.
Gotti was always losing his money. He could have been filthy rich if he did not gamble on anything and everything.
Well, he became filthy rich when he became boss and I believe that his family still lives off the fruits of his criminal labor. John Gotti Jr. said that John Gotti would get on members of the Gambino family for saving up their money. He didn’t want Gambino members stacking up. Another reason to not like his sorry ass.
Maybe. John jr has stated he’s in big debt, Victoria’s exhusband made a lot of money. I would imagine government seized a lot.
John Gotti Jr. might be in big debt but I highly doubt he’s broke.
he was rich even with his gambling but he could have become even richer if he wanted to. Just how the life goes he was a street guy gotti was a good capo not a boss
I agree I believe that John Gotti should have stayed a captain.
One problem. His ego wouldn’t allow it. Also, constantly disobeyed Big Paul and his mentor Dellacroce. Delt drugs, a rat in his crew (willie boy, polosi,) unsactioned hits. I wouldn’t call that a good captain. Bottom Line, he was poison. You don’t peacock around town, always talking, breaking every rule.
Yeah but the rat Wilfred Johnson was whacked. I don’t know about the other rat. But you’re right John Gotti was an awful disaster. He was only notorious because he beat 3 cases in a row and fit the public’s image of what a gangster should look like. He was far from a Mafia legend. Vito Rizzuto was a legend. Gaetano Lucchese was a legend. Or how about Gaetano Gagliano? He led the Luccheses for 20 years and there’s only one photo of him. And people aren’t even sure if that’s actually him! Now that’s low key.
Sal polosi is alive and now does commentary on every mafia show. He also wrote that awful movie the Sinatra club.
I agree, those were legends. Carlo as well. Gigante was pretty legendary. 79-96 led with almost no jail time and some thought he was crazy. I bet if not for peter sarvino he’d have avoided jail.
I agree Vincent Gigante was another legend.
Paul was cancer he did himself john was wrong in what he did but Paul was a shocking boss greedy killed a capo a good guy just so he could make more with the chin. That was the final straw which turned people against Paul. He could have saved himself all he had to do was put anyone but his gofer (tommy Bilotti) forward as acting boss anyone but him John would not have had the support
As for gotti himself drugs Paul had massive drug dealers around him all the time he had zips around him he even encouraged it they are giving him a big cut the whole time the whole family had guys dealing. He was well liked and a good earner (even with the gambling) stand up guy and a real street guy as a capo.
He was very flashy but people dont realize how many of these guys were like that it was the 80s half the mafia were exactly like him difference is they were not the leader Awful boss let gravano manipulate him caused press and feds to come even harder after him was too anti government at times the no plea deal thing was stupid and spoke too much. Willie boy was hard to tell that was a shock to everyone he was a rat sal is so insignificant don’t even really consider him a gotti crew member battsia is a rat they should have seen coming that prosucter in the first case diana really screwed him and the feds
True. He also gladly took cash from Gotti and ruggerio,likely knowing it was drug money. They are all hypocrites until someone is busted, then they all the sudden want to quote the rules. Paul was greedy, and I think it was good call. I also think he might have flipped. He had never done jail time for too long, had grandkids. I could see him being s rat to avoid prison.
If Paul Castellano became a rat he would have been the only Commission member to do so. All the others took their 100 year sentences like real men. I don’t think that the government was offering deals like that to bosses at that time. I agree one of the worst things that he did was have one of his own captains whacked just to make more money with the Genoveses. The treachery in the Mafia is one of the main excuses mobsters use for flipping. Although why did Henry Hill rat on his father figure Paul Vario when it was James Burke he claims who made him flip? And why did John Rubeo turn on Pasquale Parrello who was so good to him? I have more respect for the rats who are at least honest: That they flipped to keep from going to prison.
he might have been willing but I don’t think feds would have given him a deal or he would have the balls to actually approach the feds it was a different era the commission was still deeply feared a lot of people would never rat out of fear they would kill them by the late 90s so many guys had flipped that the fear went away but that time in the mid 80s the fear was still there looking back now cant even imagine what the reaction on the streets would have been if he had flipped they would have gone crazy Massimo caused a psychological damage to a lot of guys when he flipped in 2005 imagine the reaction in 1985
But there were other rats before 1985. Joseph Valachi, Frank Bompensiero, Aladena Frattiano, and then the Cleveland underboss Angelo Lonardo that everyone seems to be forgetting about. An underboss flipping before Salvatore Gravano!
yes but no one major valachi testified once he was important because he showed the mafia actually existed. Bompensiro was just an informer always been informers since it began he was not wearing a wire or anything still a rat but was never going to testify. Rats dident hurt them badly till the 80s Is my point
As for Frantino and Angelo they are not New York those familys were collapsing in the 70s I am not surprised both of those familys by the 90s did not really exist New York was where the power was so when guys like Al D`arco and gravano flipped most powerful mobsters in the country it showed the life as everyone knew it was over five familys would no longer dominate. The commission trial that I think had the biggest impact on them once the commission went the fear started to disappear guys who should have never been leaders ended up In top positions it showed that everyone on the streets were vulnerable even the bosses guys like Leonetti would have never flipped if of the commission was still strong
The Los Angeles and Cleveland crime families are for the most part extinct mostly because there just wasn’t enough members to keep them alive and replace jailed and dying mobsters. New York and Chicago wouldn’t allow them to grow. The 5 New York families are still around because there are plenty of mobsters to replace outgoing members. They are still currently inducting new guys the Bonannos are said to have inducted several people lately.
Yes that is the main reason attrition and poor leadership plus the commission blocking guys getting made all helped destroy those family’s.
They are still inducting guys Bonanno family inducted 12 guys last year. All five family’s have been inducing guys in recent years that has not stopped last I heard about any of other five family’s was that the westside have closed there books for now O’Nofrio wanted to put someone up but books at the moment are closed . They also still making guys in Boston and Philly
i give you 3 words ‘ veterans and friends’ .. that was the first BIG mistake paul made, creating a social club where all capos and important soldiers had to go and pay homage to him
agreed it was one of the first of many mistakes he made as boss
This is what they are all like sure there is exceptions but the majority of guys are like this always been like this since the it started they have short tempers they are wiseguys its what they do. Majority of these guys are middle class but with there lifestyles they live and lawyer fees they are always broke half the mafia is constantly hustling. I also have to say from what I have heard about this guy people say he is a smart and respected
This is not something you should be judging that family on either this is normal stuff in the life. Like the stagno bust should not be seen as a representation of that family either there was three made guys the rest were kids who were hanging with the stagnos kid who is a nobody anyway. That family is true though not highly regarded but they are not seen as a joke either I mean they are under the Gambino family if they were that weak they would move in on them and bring them in. I remember a few years ago at that meeting with Ligambi joey scoops nicky skins john Gambino truccherio danny marino all those guys the meeting was about the lucheses and Jersey moving in on his crew rackets
Hey guys check this out. This just happened in Sicily. Remember when the American Mafia used to be this badass? Here goes:
Sicilian police in the province of Catania on Wednesday seized six companies and carried out the arrests of 14 alleged affiliates of the Cosa Nostra held responsible for illegal waste trafficking, extortion and robbery committed with Mafia methods.
Squads of police in an anti-Mafia operation dubbed “Pyramids” confiscated six companies involved with waste disposal and their corporate assets for a value of 50 million euros, and arrested 14 suspected affiliates of the Santapaola Mafia family of Cosa Nostra based in Catania.
According to investigators, two of the suspects, entrepreneurs Antonino Paratore, 70, and his son Carmelo, 36, used their Cosa Nostra clout to control the waste disposal business and allegedly illegally disposed of tons of waste from all over Italy, forcing and bribing public officials to grant permits and revoke permits of competitors.
catania is a notorious city (with beautiful surroundings!). has always been in the shadow of palermo in terms of coverage, but this is a major commercial hub on the island, the CN presence is inevitable. santapaola family was/is closely connected to the corleonesi, they arranged a lot of ‘work’ for them and opposed the old palermitan regime.
I did time with this dude in NJ in 2006 or 07. Good dude. Always fed me good.
This just goes to show that LCN still has a lot of unknown members. I read a book about the DeCavalcante family (Made Men) and never heard of Jerry Balzano, the Stagnos or Luigi Oliveri either. And I’ve been reading about LCN for years and years.
balzano is a well known guy he is hardly unknown he got busted in 2011 with New York. Olveri was less known but jerry is very visible
Yeah sure he’s very visible now but I don’t remember one news article mentioning his name in 2011. And even so, I’ve been reading about the LCN since 2002 so even if I heard about him in 2011 that still says that LCN still has plenty of unknown members.
There unknown to most people because they have not been indicted so not been in the press but the feds know who all these guys are and they are the guys who they really care about
My point is that jerry is a well known guy around and people have told me he is smart guy
Smart? Why is he a soldier at 54? Still broke?
Getting arrested over a mere traffic anger? Seems kinda of silly to me. Yes, there are soldiers that old, but in jersey? I know you won’t agree cuz I’ve posted here long enough. 🙂
How do you know he’s broke? Are you his accountant? Do you do his taxes? Do you live with him?
Context clues, which are abundant. First, two people posted here who know him personally. Both stated he was broke. Two, he’s stealing income tax checks.(not something successful gangster due) its nickel and dime stuff. Three, he’s 54 and a soldier in Jersey. If he was earning, he would be captain or higher at that age. So maybe I’m wrong, but it sure seems to be true. It’s a better assumption than him being wealthy.
Well I highly doubt he’s wealthy, but probably not broke either. I mean, $15,000 (the amount of the refund check) is a pretty good score for a day’s work. I would think less of him for passing it up.
I guess I didn’t read the dollar amount . Everything that I’ve read about the mafia indicate soldiers are generally broke
It says the dollar amount in the actual article. There are a lot of brokesters in the Mafia. I like what Jerry Capeci said about loansharking: Not all Mafiosi have money, but many do, and even those who don’t, know where to get it.
Well jersey guys have it rough. Because they are known as the minor leagues, guys who can’t get made in NYC try in jersey. But the main reason is all five families have huge stakes in…….wait for it…..jersey! Any major racket is likely held by one of the five. Jersey gets the scraps. There’s too many wise guys chasing the same nickel. Because they can’t over step the five families.
Guess I missed that part. My bad
True half the mafia is broke they might actually be earning well compared to most people but there expenses and the lifestyle they lead plus lawyer costs they are broke a lot of the time
Interestingly enough, I remember a long time member saying in NYC, the average soldier makes about 50,000 annually. I imagine that puts jersey around 35,000. Might as well get a real job at those rates. Especially considering the huge risk.
Get a real job, and work your ass off? Then what’s the point of being a wiseguy? The whole point is to avoid real work lol. That’s why they get no-show jobs, so they can get paid while staying in bed lol. Plus, as a wiseguy you never know when you’re going to come across the score of your lifetime.
Its a lot harder to get made capo in that family than in New York there is only four maybe 5 crews in the whole family you have to have the connections these positions are rarely based on ability sure it helps if your an earner but normally if your friends with the right people or from a crew the leadership likes. He has also been in prison recently
He’s not broke well not that I have been told just a being a wiseguy running whatever scam as for this arrest it is silly but he just lost his temper these guys do it all the time. I am not saying the guy is genius just that from what people tell me he is no idiot either
I respect your opinion I knew you would disagree we agree on most have different views on certain things but that’s OK we are discuss we are not all going to have the same opinions on certain things
Good points! Less crews means less captains. Didn’t think about that.
Well, that’s what I meant. Unknown to readers like us.
I am surprised an article like this has attracted 39 comments lol .. there is nothing wrong with some anger/aggression when your trying to be a wiseguy but there has to be a time and a place to do it.. so stupid.
Well if you paid attention a lot of these comments are not even about this guy. But with that being said fresh Mafia news in America is extremely rare these days, even if it’s as ridiculous as this.
i have read the comments and I wouldn’t say it is ridiculous news, this kind of gives you an idea who the mob is attracting to its ranks, well atleast in jersey anyway.
Every organization, company, etc has its dumbasses, I know because I’ve worked with them all of my life. The mob isn’t any different.
Forgetaboutit
And they wonder why their market share is reduced year after year…forget about it…