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| 1949 |
Giacomo 'Yago / Yargo' Cusumano was a member of the Genovese Family.
Born October 24, 1903 in NYC to Giuseppe Cusumano (33y) and Vincenza Romeo (21y). Father born in Sciacca, in the province of Agrigento, Sicily.
Father operated a Saloon.
At time of birth the family resided at 118 Elizabeth St, Manhattan.
Elizabeth Street was at that time home to a noticeable Sciacchitani community. It is possible that Cusumano associated closely with other Sciacchitani Members of the Genovese Family who also lived on Elizabeth St., such as Vincenzo 'Jimmy Dimino' Genoroso (1895-1981).
By 1910 the family resided at 128 Elizabeth St.
By 1920 the family resided at 130 Elizabeth St.
By the 1920s he started using James as a first name.
First arrested on May 25, 1922 for attempted burglary. Charge later dismissed.
On August 18, 1924 arrested in Jersey City for robbery.
Six days later he was again arrested for robbery. This time in Brooklyn.
On October 25, 1925 arrested for possession of Opium. Fined $50.00.
On March 15 1927 arrested for possession of Opium. Fined $50.00.
On August 28, 1928 he was arrested in Erie, Pa on route to Detroit with 400 ounces of Opium and 25 ounces of Morphine in his car
He was subsequently sentenced to 3 years in the Federal penitentiary of Atlanta.
On June 12th 1930 his younger brother Salvatore (1906-1951) was arrested in central Buffalo with a loaded gun in his car. Salvatore was sentenced to 6 months in Erie County Penitentiary.
On February 17, 1932 arrested in Manhattan for assault. Charge later discharged.
The time for Cusumano's induction into the Genovese Family is not known, possibly he was a member by the mid 1930s. In 1961 and FBI CI advised:
"JAMES CUSAMANO was a member of the Mulberry Street mob under VITO GENOVESE, as early as 1939. This group was engaged in the illegal sale of narcotics."
On July 12, 1933 arrested with four others for "consorting with known criminals". Also arrested were Fred Pallachi (39y) of 285 Mott street, who has been arrested fifteen times since 1910 and served a term in Sing Sing; Alfred Consentino (32y) of 32 Spring street, arrested seven times; James McGuire of Miami, Fla; Jerry Curreri of 90 Mulberry street. Cusumano gave his address as 355 Broome street.
On April 4, 1940 sentenced to 5 years in USP Leavenworth for violation of Harrison Narcotics Tax Act.
By 1942 resided at 103 Eldridge St in Manhattan. He would live there for the rest of his life.
On July 11, 1949 questioned and released in Washington DC by the Federal Narcotics Bureau.
During the mid 1950s he owned a lunchonette at 305 Broome St.
An Federal Bureau of Narcotics report from the mid 1950s states that "[James Cusumano is] an important smuggler and wholesale distributor of heroin on the Lower East Side of NYC, Maintains organization for smuggling and for distribution."
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| S. Granello |
In late 1956 an FBI CI reported that Cusumano associated with Genovese Family Soldier Salvatore Granello (1923-1970). During the 1950s and 1960s Granello received considerable amount of interest from the FBI. In the mid 1960s an FBI CI advised that Granello was a member of the crew of Capodecina Vincenzo Generoso.
"JAMES CUSAMANO also known as Jimmy Yargo
During December, 1956, [informant] advised that JIMMY YAGO was one of the individuals attended meetings at the home of SALVATORE GRANELLO.
...
[informant] advised during the period December 22, 1956, through December 28, 1956, that at various meetings held in the home of SALVATORE GRANELLO some of the persons
attending these meetings at GRANELLO's home were JIMMY YAGO, true name JAMES CUSAMANO, JOE FRANCO, and CARLIE DI PIETRO."
Joe Franco was a Capodecina in the Gambino Family that controlled a partition of that family’s Little Italy membership.
On June 15, 1957 arrested in Manhattan for vagrancy.
On June 5, 1959 interviewed by FBI Agents:
"JAMES CUSUMANO, 103 Eldridge Street, New York City, was interviewed on June 5, 1959, by SAS THOMAS F. MC QUEENEY and PHILIP J. BRITT. CUSUMANO advised that ne was born October 24, 1903, at New York City, and has resided at this address during the past sixteen years.
He stated that he resides with his mother and his wife, FLORENCE. He stated that he has been unemployed for many years and that his means of support is his wife, FLORENCE, who is a beautician. CUSUMANO stated that he last journeyed to Italy in approximately 1938, for the purpose of visiting his mother's relatives and to the best of his recollection, remained for a period of approximately two months.
He stated that he served four or five years imprisonment for having violated the Federal Narcotics Laws and was released in January, 1944. He stated that he has had no narcotic interests since that time. He stated that he does not indulge in gambling and that he occupies most of his time relaxing in his home or loitering on the street corners in the vicinity of his residence. He stated that he does not believe that there is a Mafia or syndicate existing in the United States. He stated the only knowledge he has concerning the Mafia is information he acquired from reading various newspapers.
He stated he has no knowledge concerning the Apalachin, New York meeting and that he was not familiar with any of the individuals who were alleged to have attended this meeting. Mr. CUSUMANO stated that he believes in keeping to himself and has made it a long standing policy not to furnish information to anyone."
He died one month later on July 7, 1959 in New York City.
In 1963 he was posthumously identified as an LCN Member by an FBI CI:
"On January 30, 1963, [informant] advised that JIMMY CUSAMANO, also known as Yargo, is a member of the CARLO GAMBINO or VITO GENOVESE "families"."
