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| M. Catalano 1970 |
Michael Catalano was a member of the Gambino Family. He was a close associate of Gambino Family Underboss Neil Dellacroce.
Born February 7, 1918 in NYC to Giorgio Catalano (27y) and Lucia Fortunato (24y).
Father born in Martone, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria. Mother born in Miglionico, Provincia di Matera, Basilicata.
At time of birth the family resided at 284 Mulberry St.
In 1940 claimed employment at Standard Fruit and Ss Co. At the time he resided at 284 Mulberry St.
In 1950 he resided at 139 Mulberry St.
In 1954 arrested by the NYPD for criminally receiving stolen property.
On April 10, 1955 charged with Bank Robbery of the Chase Manhattan Bank branch on Roosevelt Ave, in Queens. The robbery that occurred four days earlier. Also charged was 'Big Frank' Cocchiaro, a member of the DeCavalcante family. The charges were later dismissed.
"0n 10/1/55 MICHAEL VINCENT CATALANO, advised SAS NICHOLAS DUNBAR and ARTHUR P, DUFFY that he met FRANK COCCHIARO about 1947 or 1948, both were working at the Palladium Dance Hall, Catalano advised that he knew at one time that Cocchiaro had worked on the docks for Gran-colombiana, He stated that he knew that FRANK COCCHIARO had trouble with his waterfront pass, and had to leave his job then. He has not seen too much of Frank since they were both arrested in 1/55, in Bklyn, NY. He stated, Cocchiaro was wholly innocent of any wrong doing and he blames himself for getting Cocchiaro in any difficulties, and at that time neither of them had any intention to hold up a bank."
In 1956 arrested by the NYPD for carrying a loaded pistol.
By 1958 he was an inducted member of the Gambino Family. His first Captain would have been Armand 'Tommy' Rava, a Close associate of Dellacroce. By that time he had moved to 248 Mulberry St, directly opposite The Ravenite Social Club at 247 Mulberry St. Dellacroce's headquarter. Dellacroce lived at 232 Mulberry St.
Rava headed a large Crew; among the soldiers in the Crew was Neil Dellacroce, Mike Catalano, Mike Caiazzo, Carmine Fatico, Anthony Ruggiano, Anthony Guerrieri and others.
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| Dellacroce 1970 |
After Rava was murdered in about 1958, Dellacroce was promoted to head the Decina and Catalano reported to him.
On february 11, 1959 one of fourteen individuals arrested by FBI Agents for the armed hijacking of a truck load of cigarettes. At the time he was an organizer for Ironworkers Local 40.
On May 12, 1960 interviewed by FBI agents:
"MICHAEL CATALANO was interviewed at his apartment located at 248 Mulberry Street, New York Clty. He advised that ANIELLO DELLACROCE is the godfather to his son and that he has known DELLACROCE all of his life due to the fact that they were both born and raised in the same neighborhood.
CATALANO said that due to the close proximity of their residence, he sees DELLACROCE several times a week on the street.”
From the mid 1960's Dellacroce and his crew was under increasing FBI surveillance.
"On July 21, 1967 an FBI CI gave information on Dellacroce's crew members: "[informant] advised that [redacted]. He noted that CATALANO is a very shrewed, clever individual who is highly regarded by DELLACROCE."
On May 20, 1958 the FBI conducted surveillance and observed Dellacroce and Catalano on Mulberry St:
"[subject] proseded North at Mulberry Street, while CATALANO remained in front of Ferrara's Pastry Shop. MIKE CIRILLI, who usually hangs out at Aniello Dellacroce's Social Club, was observed speaking to CATALANO on Mulberry Street near Grand Street.
...
While the unknown man was in the shoe shining parlor, ANIELLO DELLACROCE and MIKE CATALANO were seen conversing in the vicinity of Prince Street and Mulberry Street. In addition, at 4:15 PH, two unknown subjects entered the Ravenite Social Club."
In 1969 listed by the USDOJ Manhattan Strike Force as a Gambino Family Member.
On December 17, 1969 FBI Agents arrested Catalano and Dellacroce on charges of tax fraud they found five loaded handguns in his apartment on 248 Mulberry St.
"MICHAEL VINCENT CATALANO, subject in captioned case, was also arrested on 12/17/69, with NY File 166-2217. Five loaded handguns were found in CATALANOs apartment incidental to his arrest, and a separate Federal indictment is expected to be handed down on CATALANO, a convicted felon, regarding these unregistered handguns found in his apartment.
CATALANO is a member of the CARLO GAMBINO "family" of LCN, and is under ANIELLO DELLACROCE."
In 1970 arrested three times for gambling and was fined a total of $60 after pleading guilty to loitering for the purpose of gambling.
On August 28, 1970 Catalano, Dellacroce and Philadelphia Boss Angelo Bruno was charged with contempt of Court. The grand jury questioned all three about a mob takeover of the gambling casino of the Hispanola Hotel in Santo Domingo, to which they either lied or refused to answer.
Dellacroce was also asked the following questions about Bonanno Family Soldier Anthony Leone:
"Did you not warn Leone that he was talking too much and causing friction within the ‘family’?
Did you not tell Leone to keep his mouth shut, to stop criticizing others within the ‘family’?
Did you not tell Leone you had been asked to straighten him out and that if he didn’t, he would be discussed by the commission and
the borgotta?"
On October 16, 1970 Catalano plead guilty to weapons possession and was sentenced to one year in prison.
On January 17, 1972 Catalano pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charge of contempt and was sentenced to 90 days in prison.
On January 26, 1973 Catalano was found guilty of aiding Dellacroce to commit tax fraud and sentenced to two years in prison. The Daily News noted that Catalano had to rush over to his hysterical wife to try to calm her after the jury convicted him and Dellacroce who was sentenced to five years for tax fraud.
After his prison sentence Catalano's stature in LCN may have fallen as a FBI CW reported on July 24, 1973:
“[redacted] advised that he recently Heard a rumor to the effect that MIKE CATALANO was just thrown out of LCN. He stated that NEIL DELLACROCE, who was CATALANO's mentor, is presently in jail serving time at Rikers Island and that the word is that MIKE CATALANO could have taken all the blame for DELLACROCE and in this way taking DELLACROCE off the hook and as MIKE was going to jail anyway, it would not have made any difference to him. This is supposedly the reason he was thrown out."
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| Late 1980s outside The Ravenite |
During the late 1980s Catalano was photographed by the FBI standing outside the Ravenite Social Club.
He died 15 May, 1998 in the Bronx.
