Charles Majuri

Carlo Majuri also known as "Charlie Big Ears" (born December 28, 1940) is a New Jersey mobster and Caporegime within the DeCavalcante crime family, which he attempted to gain control of in the 1990s.

Early life & crimes

Born in Linden, New Jersey, Majuri became involved in the DeCavalcante crime family as a teenager. His father, Frank Majuri, was once the Underboss of the DeCavalcantes, and later longtime "Consigliere". The younger Majuri's criminal record would eventually include illegal gambling, larceny, stolen property, and bookmaking, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

DeCavalcante captain

At some point between the early and late 1970s, Majuri is to have become inducted into the DeCavalcante crime family, but toward the early 1980s and longtime and infamous Mob boss, Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante retired, Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi, the longtime "Underboss", substently promoted Majuri to the rank of "Caporegime" or Captain of the family in the Newark faction.

On the Ruling Panel

By the 1990s, the DeCavalcante boss, Giovanni Riggi, became imprisoned and the family was under the limited control of "acting boss" Giacomo "Jake" Amari. When Amari died of stomach cancer, several factions within the family began maneuvering for power. To prevent open conflict, the imprisoned Riggi decided to create a panel of high-ranking members to oversee the family unofficially. This panel included Capos Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo, Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo (no relation), and Charles Majuri, with the longtime "Consigliere", Stefano "Steve the Truck Driver" Vitabile to contribute in any conflicts of the DeCavalcante crime family.

Murder & conspiracy

Despite this promotion, Majuri somehow disliked his position as it would only serve the family more than serve him alone. According to Jerry Capeci and US law enforcement, Majuri conspired with his Newark faction of North Jersey to murder his rivals of the Elizabeth faction, Girolamo Palermo and Vincent Palermo (the two were not related). Reportedly, both the Palermos heard of the murder-plot, and sent two soldiers, Anthony Capo and James "Jimmy" Gallo, to murder Majuri outside his house. Vincent Palermo was reportedly the main conspirator behind the plot, as he was eager to control Majuri's racketeering and union operations in Newark, New Jersey.

His attempted murder

According to one of the hitmen, Anthony Capo, who later turned government witness, he and James Gallo were to shoot Majuri as he walked out the door from his home, but at some point, both of them had gotten cold feet, as they sat in a car outside his house for hours before eventually driving away from the house. They didn't managed to murder Majuri, as they reportedly flew down to Florida to report to Vincent Palermo that they had failed. In the end, the Palermos somehow agreed to spare his life, as there were already enough problems within the DeCavalcante crime family at the time. The Ruling Panel kept running the family throughout the late 1990s.

Indictment and trial

In 2000, Majuri was indicted on 19 counts of bookmaking, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and labor racketeering, and on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder. Following his indictment, Majuri was officially excluded by the State of New Jersey from any of its casinos. In 2006 Majuri was convicted and sent to prison. As of April 2008, Charles Majuri is still incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto in Western Pennsylvania. His projected release date is April 28, 2009.

References

*Smith, Greg B. "Made Men: The True Rise and Fall Story of a New Jersey Mob Family". Berkley Publishing Group, 2003. ISBN 0-425-18551-6

External links

* [http://www.ganglandnews.com/column202.htm This Week in Gangland: Apalachin] by Jerry Capeci
* [http://ganglandnews.com/column358.htm This Week in Gangland: The Gang's All Here] by Jerry Capeci
* [http://www.ganglandnews.com/column183.htm This Week in Gangland: Gallo's Humor] by Jerry Capeci
* [http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ge/exclusion/majuri_c.htm Charles Manjuri - N.J. Excluded Person]
* [http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator Website]