The Jersey Crew

Infobox Criminal organization
name =New Jersey Crew


caption =
founded on =1920s
founding location =flagicon|US Newark, New Jersey
founded by =Lucchese crime family
years active =1920s-present
territory =Various neighbourhoods over North Jersey
ethnic makeup =Italian, Italian-American
membership est =20 - 30 made members, 50 associates approx
criminal activities =Racketeering, conspiracy, loansharking, money laundering, murder,narcotics,gambling, extortion,
allies =Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo, and Genovese crime families
rivals =Various gangs over NJ, including their allies

The Jersey Crew is a powerful faction of the Lucchese crime family, that operates and controls illegal activities like drug trafficking, labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling, money laundering, and murder, in the Northern New Jersey area.

Crew's early history

The Jersey Crew was allegedly being recognized as a criminal organization upon the foundation of the Commission in 1931, after the murders of the two most powerful Mob bosses in New York City, Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. The crew were eventually recognized as bootleggers under Gaetano "Tom" Reina in the early 1920s, as they worked throughout the Prohibition with smuggling of alcohol, extortion and illegal gambling. Their origins can be traced back to when members of both Masseria and Maranzano families, together with the organization of what would later become the DeCavalcante crime family, founded their own crew in New Jersey to help with the importion of alcohol and liquor into New York City. After the meeting in Atlantic City in 1931, when Thomas Gagliano and Tommy Lucchese were chosen as bosses of the old Reina crime family, the New Jersey Crew came under the wings of the Bronx faction leaders.

Expanding the crew

Toward the 1940s and early 1950s, the New Jersey Crew expanded their operations through their legitimate businesses. The crew had since 1931 been under the control of Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese, the Underboss of the Gagliano crime family, and the crew kept operating from Bergen County through Essex, Morris, Passaic and Union counties, all the way to Sussex County. Upon the death of longtime Boss Thomas Gagliano, Tommy Lucchese was soon installed as boss of the family, which was renamed the Lucchese crime family. The crew were then headed by several of their high-ranking members, like prominent NJ mobsters Stefano Badami and Filippo "Phil" Amari, for several years. But toward the mid 1950s, Badami was murdered, as well as Filippo "Phil" Amari stepped down due to rivalry between the Newark and Elizabeth factions, in an attempt to reorganize everything. It was then decided that the Elizabeth faction was to form its own family, later known as the DeCavalcante crime family, and the Jersey Crew was to stay as a faction of the Lucchese crime family. Right upon the succession of Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo, who was chosen because of his friendship with Lucchese "caporegime" Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo and was put in charge of the crews entire illegal gambling and loansharking operation in Newark, the crew had a new unofficial leader.

Accetturo in charge

Toward the late 1960s, the crew were unofficially headed by Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo, because Accetturo wasn't yet inducted into the Lucchese crime family, due to "closed books". The Jersey Crew then came to control the entire Newark area, with loansharking, illegal gambling, narcotics, money laundering and extortion operations. Reportedly, with Accetturo in charge of the crew, they handed something between $70,000 and $80,000 a year to Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese. Upon Lucchese's death in 1967, and several years of different "acting bosses" as Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti and Ettore "Eddie" Coco, until the year of 1973, when Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was released from prison, and quickly installed as boss. Corallo, a longtime friend of Accetturo, quickly inducted Accetturo and his second in commands Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta and Martin Taccetta into the Lucchese crime family, so they could officially control the entire New Jersey area.

Accetturo & Taccetta

During the early 1970s, Accetturo relocated to Miami, Florida to avoid prosecution for his illegal gambling and loansharking business in Newark, and Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta was soon promoted by Accetturo to run the day-to-day activities. Accetturo even created illegal operations in Florida where he could lay low from law enforcement. Taccetta soon expanded Accetturo's former operations in New Jersey, as the crew grew stronger and several members of the Lucchese crime family in New York, where sent to aid the moneymakers over the bridge, as Taccetta developed an operation that soon controlled the entire New Jersey area. From arson and burglary, to loansharking and extortion, to illegal gambling and drug trafficking, the Jersey Crew soon made millions of dollars in profit, and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars back to Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo in New York City for years. Both Accetturo and Taccetta soon became the most powerful mobsters in New Jersey. Accetturo would then suffer from several indictments, following the State of New Jersey try to extradite Accetturo, but failed due to his poor health. Accetturo later relocated his business interests to Miami and Hollywood, Florida, but still remainder the official boss of New Jersey. Michael Taccetta was chosen once again to run the Northern New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family, during the mid 1970s. Toward the late 1970s, the crew allegedly earned something between $700,000 and $800,000 in profit every year.

Operating in Philly

Toward the year of 1980, the longtime Don of the Philadelphia crime family, Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno, was shot and killed on March 12, resulting in a huge power vacuum between prominent Bruno members Philip Testa and Nicodemo Scarfo, both fighting for the total control of the Bruno crime family. Accetturo and Taccetta on the other hand, used their situation to establish a new foothold in Philadelphia, as a part of the Jersey Crew, with illegal gambling and loansharking operations. Unfortunately, because of the bad relations between the two factions in Philadelphia's crime family, as well as both Taccetta and Accetturo taking advantage of the situation, the relationship between Philadelphia and the New York Families, especially the Luccheses, eventually turned worse after than before the murder of Angelo Bruno, which led to all cooperation between the families, completely terminated. It was around this time that prominent Bruno member, Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio, as well as many others, defected to the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family to make more profit and to avoid being killed.

21 months in trial

During the early 1980s, US law enforcement started an operation to determinate all organized crime activities in the North Jersey area, as a four-year-long investigation was finally announced, and indictments were brought up toward 20 members of Jersey Crew. Accetturo was brought from Florida, the Taccetta brothers were arrested in Newark, New Jersey, and 17 other known members were put on trial for 76 RICO predicates, which included loansharking, extortion, racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, arson and thefts, as well as murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In late 1986 and early 1987, the trial first began. During the trial, former member of the Philadelphia crime family, Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio went on to fire his lawyer and represent himself during the entire trial. Although not popular with Accetturo and Taccetta, DiNorscio is reportedly to have charmed the jury, as the trial ended in 1988, with acquitting on all 20 defendants. The prosecutors were stunned, as the New Jersey Crew went right back where they left off.

New Jersey rivalry

As the trial ended with all defendants acquitted in 1988, the athorities eventually managed to split up the Jersey Crew, as Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta grew jealous on Anthony Accetturo, Jr. who was said to take over for Anthony "Tumac" Acceturo on his eventual retirement. The Taccetta brothers reportedly claimed war on Accetturo, who had escaped to Miami, Florida to avoid being killed. Although the war never gotten to a point of massive shooting in the streets, the two factions were close at killing and destroy each other completely in late 1988. But the crew had other problems, as the Lucchese crime family was given new leadership, when Vittorio "Vic" Amuso stepped up after Corallo.

New York rivalry

Toward the year of 1989, the Jersey Crew's war position had eventually declined, as the two factions were more interested about making money than who was in charge. The new leaders were reportedly Michael Taccetta and Martin Taccetta, who operated through their legitimate business, "Taccetta Group Enterprises", which was under control by the Lucchese crime family. Through the company, the Jersey Crew were able to launder money and pay their tribute to the heads of the Luccheses in New York, but as Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987, and his protegé Anthony "Buddy" Luongo was found murdered earlier, the new bosses Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, known for their brutal use of violence, questioned the profit they received from the Jersey Crew. Apparently, both Accetturo and Taccetta had skimmed of the profit, and only sent a $50,000-a-year payment to the new leaders from the Brooklyn, New York faction. When they demanded 50% of the crew's total profit, both Taccetta and Accetturo reportedly refused, portraying themselves as hard-working money machines that were only having a bad year. Amuso and Casso on the other hand saw this as an act of weakness, and gave the order to "Whack Jersey", meaning that the entire North Jersey faction should be eliminated. Summoned to a meeting in Brooklyn, New York with Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, the entire North Jersey faction, who were fearful of being massacred, went into hiding, disrupting their illegal activities. Over the next 12 months, most of the New Jersey crew members came back to the family. Amuso is to have portrayed Accetturo as a distrustful servant who was betraying his boss, as Taccetta reportedly is to have sent messages to Amuso in Brooklyn, asking for a contract to be placed on Accetturo's life, so Taccetta could control the entire New Jersey faction.

Arrests & trials

Upon the murder-contract Taccetta had put on his life, Accetturo had been placed under federal protection, as he was extradited from North Carolina to New Jersey. During this time, Accetturo had little power of the Jersey Crew, as Amuso had reportedly stripped his rank and demoted him to soldier. The Taccetta brothers also had problems, as their longtime rival Thomas Ricciardi was ready to step up and take control over the North Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family in the early 1990s, but as everything looked to bring a new war to the streets, Accetturo, the Taccetta brothers and Ricciardi were put on trial for racketeering, loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. As the entire crew's administration was put on trial in 1992, Ricciardi decided to defect to the government and turn state's evidence in the beginning of the trial, and eventually testify against Martin and Michael Taccetta. Although Michael Taccetta was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993, his brother Martin was acquitted on the murder charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison, as he can be paroled in 2016. Ricciardi went into the Witness Protection Program, and revealed that the RICO case in 1988 ended the way it did because the jury had been rigged.

Current position

Although the Jersey Crew is much weakened due to increased law enforcement and internal rivalry, Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta, at age 60, is reported as the official boss of the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family, however, he's serving a prison term without the possibility of parole. Upon his release, Martin Taccetta is reportedly ready to take over as the Boss of Northern New Jersey. The crew is estimated to have between 20 to 30 made members, and twice as many associates. Still, after prosecution, the Jersey Crew remains a strong faction of the Lucchese crime family, operating with illegal activities mostly in Newark, New Jersey.

Capos of the Jersey Crew

* 1920–1930 — Gaetano "Tom" Reina (murdered February 26, 1930 during the Castellammarese War by the Masseria faction.)
* 1930–1953 — Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese (reportedly received profits from the Jersey Crew as "Underboss" until he stepped up as Boss in 1953.)
* 1953–1960 — Stefano Badami and Filippo "Phil" Amari (Badami and Amari of Elizabeth and Newark went on to control the crew, but after certain powerstruggels and the Elizabeth faction formed its own family, later known as the DeCavalcante crime family, the Lucchese crime family allegedly put Accetturo in charge in the early 1960s.)
* 1960–1980 — Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo (allegedly in charge of the crew at his early 20s, but when relocating to Florida during the 1970s and 1980s, his position went to become only official.)
* 1980–1993 — Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta (fully in charge of the Jersey Crew from the early 1980s and toward his conviction in 1993. Remains the official leader of the New Jersey faction.)
* 1993–2005 — Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta and Martin Taccetta remained the official leaders of the Jersey Crew throughout the 1990s.)
* 2005–present — Martin "Marty" Taccetta (released in 2005 due to lack of evidence in his trial, plus wrongfully accused in the murder charge in Mike Taccetta's trial in 1993. Currently running the crew's day-to-day activities.)

Other known associates

*Gaetano "Tom" Reina
*Joseph "Joey" Sodano
*Anthony "Tumac" Accetturo
*Michael "Mad Dog" Taccetta
*Martin "Marty" Taccetta
*Giovanni "John" Stanfa
*Thomas "Tommy Boy" Ricciardi
*Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio
*Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
*Vincent "Jimmy" Craparotta
*Gaetano "Corky" Vastola
*Anthony "Tony" DeVingo
*Ruggerio "Richie Boot" Boiardo
*Ralph "Ralphie" Natale
*Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese
*Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
*Joseph "Joey" Merlino
*Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi
*Vittorio "Vic" Amuso
*Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno
*Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante

See also

*Lucchese crime family
*Gambino crime family
*Philadelphia crime family
*DeCavalcante crime family
*Find Me Guilty
*The Sopranos
*RICO Act
*Newark, New Jersey

Popular culture

*The 2006 Sidney Lumet film "Find Me Guilty" chronicles the 2-year trial of Accetturo, the Taccetta brothers and the other family members. Vin Diesel stars as Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio who defends himself.
*The Jersey Crew is accordingly to Crime Library, the main inspiration of the DiMeo crime family in the HBO TV-show "The Sopranos". Michael Taccetta is probably the inspiration to the leading role of Tony Soprano, as other real-life Jersey crew members can be recognized on the screen. [ [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/family_epics/lucchese1/8.html The Lucchese Family] ]

References

Further reading

*Raab, Selwyn. "The Five Families: The Rise, Decline & Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empire". New York: St. Martins Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-36181-5
*Rudolph, Robert C. "The Boys from New Jersey: How the Mob Beat the Feds". New York: William Morrow and Company Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-813-52154-8

External links

*http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/family_epics/lucchese1/5.html
*http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/mafiosi_20020410sl.html
*http://members.fortunecity.com/sosdie/mob/family/lucchese/newjersey.htm
*http://members.fortunecity.com/sosdie/mob/family/newjersey/newark.htm
*http://www.nj.com/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/ledger/index.ssf?/sopranos/stories/mafiosi_20030723sl_ricciardi.html