Frank Piccolo

Frank Piccolo (1923 - September 19, 1981) was a "caporegime" in the Gambino crime family in Bridgeport, Connecticut who became involved in a famous extortion case with singer Wayne Newton.

Newton turned to Piccolo for help with threats he was receiving from other organized crime figures in his effort to purchase the now-demolished Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. [Floyd Abrams, "Speaking Freely", published by Viking Press, Pages 94-110.] Piccolo and his cousin Guido Penosi were charged with conspiring to extort money and 'valuable rights' from Newton and entertainer Lola Falana. [New York Times, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905E5DA1338F930A25755C0A967948260 The Region; 2 Allegedly in Mobs Accused of Extortion] , June 13, 1981.] When the National Broadcasting Company broke the story, Newton sued them and lost. Piccolo was central in the libel case [New York Times, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DEFD7143CF932A25751C1A960948260 Deliberations Started in Wayne Newton Case] , December 11, 1986.]

Piccolo was reportedly killed on the orders of Paul Castellano, then Gambino family boss. [ [http://www.thesmokinggun.com/gravano/gravano4.html FBI document registered in court case against Sammy Gravano] ] Piccolo was killed because he had become embroiled in a power struggle with Connecticut's Genovese crime family. This feud threatened lucrative constructions rackets the Gambino family held with the Genovese family. [Jerry Capeci, [http://www.ganglandnews.com/column76.htm Gang Land Goes to the Emailbag] , GangLandNews.com.]

ee also

*Floyd Abrams and the Wayne Newton case
*Guido Penosi
*Wayne Newton

References