- Frank Gioia, Jr.
Anthony R. Gioia, (born 1959), aka Superman and Tony Stalonie, was a New York mobster serving as a soldier for the
Lucchese crime family who eventually became a government witness.Early years
Born in
Little Italy in the Bronx , Gioia grew up to be a tough guy. His father,Thomas Gioia was amade man , or full member, of the Lucchese family operating in the Little Italy. Gioia's grandfather wasAnthony Gioia , a bookie connected to the Luccheses, who operated a gambling parlor and social club on Grand Street. One of Gioia's uncles was future family underbossAngelo Gioia . Gioia was also the cousin ofGenovese crime family soldier Alexander "Black Alex" Morelli. Several other relatives were also connected to either the Luccheses or theColombo crime family . It is unknown if he is a relative ofLucchese crime family capoJames "Socko" Lanza .When Gioia was 8, one of his uncles was shot 11 times, and stuffed in the trunk of a car. The murder of a relative did not deter him from entering a life of crime. As a teenager, Gioia began committing acts of violence to prove himself, and engaging in robberies and loansharking.
At age 18, Gioia was ordered to shoot a club bouncer who had been disrespectful to a Lucchese
wiseguy . Gioia approached the man ,holding an umbrella to hide the firearm, and shot him in the leg. Goia then shoved the gun into the bouncer's mouth and promised to kill him next time he acted out of place. Gioia began selling guns and drugs, includingUzi s submachine guns andAK-47 assault rifles. Along the way, he picked up a black belt inkarate .In October 1991, at age 32, Gioia was sponsored into the Lucchese family by George "Georgie Neck" Zappola. However, since Zappola was a fugitive at the time, George "Georgie Goggles" Conte filled in for him at the secret ceremony held in Howard Beach, Queens. Presiding over the induction ceremony was consigliere
Frank Lastorino .Arrest and Cooperation
In 1992, Gioia and his captain, Frank "Frankie Bones" Papagni, murdered Lucchese wiseguy Frank "Frankie the Blond" Mariconda because Mariconda had made sexual advances at Papagni's girlfriend.
As a made man of the Lucchese family, Gioia set up a major
narcotics trafficking operation based in New York andBoston . In June 1992, Gioia was arrested on an illegal gun charge inBrooklyn . In 1993, Gioia and Boston drug dealer Valentin "Float" Becerril started selling large quantities ofheroin that Gioia obtained from his New York suppliers. In 1995, Gioia was convicted of drug trafficking and received a prison sentence. At the same time, Gioia learned from his cousin,Vincent Salanardi , that Papagni planned to kill Goia's father over a money dispute.His upcoming prison sentence and Papagani's murder plot convinced Gioia to contact the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and offer to cooperate. Both Gioias were delivered to theUnited States Marshals Service and placed in the federalWitness Protection Program and his name was changed to Frank Jr. . Later on, Salanardi would also become a cooperating witness.Testimony Against the Mob
Gioia soon became a valuable cooperating witness for the government, possibly eclipsing the importance of witnesses such as
Salvatore Gravano andAlphonse D'Arco . In 1998, in his first court case, Gioia testified against Lucchese associates Michael "Baldy Mike" Spinelli (who would later be inducted into the family in a prison ceremony) and his brother Robert Spinelli. The two brothers were charged with trying to kill the sister of Lucchese informantPeter Chiodo .In another case, Gioia testified against a former drug partner of his, Lucchese soldier
Ralph Cuomo , the proprietor ofRay's Pizza on Prince Street. Gioia indicated that Cuomo was making heroin deals inside the pizzeria. Gioia also testified that Cuomo introduced Gioia toGambino crime family acting bossJohn Gotti, Jr. in 1992 at the Little Italy social club of Gambino captain Joseph "Joe Butch" Corrao. Gioia would later testify about a plot hatched by former underboss Casso, consigliere Lastorino, and other high ranking Luccheses to kill Gotti, Jr.The Convicted
Over the years, Gioia has helped to convict over 60 mobsters in several trials. He has addressed many FBI organized crime events around the country.
Among those convicted due to Gioia's testimony include acting bosses of the Lucchese family Louis "Louie Crossbay" Daidone and Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede, Lucchese capos
Carmine Avellino , Anthony "Bowat" Baratta, Conte, Zapolla, Papagni, and soldiers Cuomo,Jody Calabrese ,Frank Galione ,Frank Giacobbe , Nicholas "Fat Nicky" DiCostanza, andRocco Vitulli .Among other organized crime figures implicated by Gioia included Gambino capos Louis "Big Lou" Vallario,
Greg DePalma, Sr. ,Michael DiLeonardo and Gambino soldiersFrank Fappiano andFrank Smith, Jr. , the latter a Colombo family associate and former future brother-in-law [http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_230.html] .External links
* [http://www.americanmafia.com/News/9-23-99_Mobster_Helps.html American Mafia.com: Mobster helps prosecutors in trial of alleged cop killer]
* [http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/Gioia.html Gangsters Incorporated: Anthony R. Gioia]
* [http://www.ganglandnews.com/column74.htm This Week in Gangland: Lucchese Class of '91] by Jerry Capeci
* [http://www.ganglandnews.com/column103.htm This Week in Gangland: Testifying Against Gotti, Jr.] by Jerry Capeci
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