Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano: Dyed in the Wool East Harlem Hood

A biography on Genovese Family soldier Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano was a Genovese Family soldier who participated in more than one notorious murders.

Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano was born on August 28, 1928, in East Harlem to Daniel and Antaintti (nee Dimasi ) Pagano.

He had an older brother, Pasquale (Patsy) Pagano, also a member, who disappeared in 1974 in a Lupara Bianco “white death” killing.

Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano

He resided for years at 323 East 115th Street in Harlem. He later relocated to 287 Rt. 306 in Pomona, NY, and Travis Hill Rd., in Albany. Eventually, he moved to Ramapo in Rockland County.

Pagano also had several sons, one of whom, "Jimmy," at 20 years old, was shot to death under mysterious circumstances in 1973. Another son named Danny would follow his dad into the life.

Joey was built small. At 5 feet 8 inches and 140 pounds with a slender build, he was not a physically imposing figure. But his small stature belied his ability as an enforcer and capable mafioso.

Pagano was a dyed-in-the-wool East Harlem hood, typically operating within that area for years.

Among his favorite haunts were Santoro's Bar and Grill and Lizzie's Clam House at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 116th Street, both in Harlem.

He actually listed his employment as being the manager of Lizzie's.

FBI # 4674260, NYCPD # B-246200

By the early-1950s, he and his brother were already key Genovese associates working under the infamous Joe Valachi. By the late 1950s, they had both been formally inducted into the ranks.

Pagano was a key influential soldier who controlled many rackets and operations over the years for the Family. I don’t believe he ever rose above a “soldier” rank but that’s completely immaterial to the true power he had.

His racket activities included heroin trafficking, shylocking, crap games, policy and bookmaking, jukeboxes/vending machines, extortion, strong-arm enforcer, bankruptcy fraud, stock thefts and fraud, and business infiltration and frauds.

His mob associate resume reads like a who’s who of the NY underworld. They included:

• Joseph (Joe Cago) Valachi • Fiore (Fury) Siano • Vito Genovese • Anthony (Tony Bender) Strollo • Vincent (Vinny Bruno) Mauro • John (Johnny the Bug) Stoppelli • Louis (Louie Dome) Pacella • Joseph Ragone • Vincent (Vinny Basile) Pacelli • Joseph (Joe Babes) Bendinelli • Peter Castellana • Gondolfo Sciandra • Frank (Frankie Butch) Gugliemini • Paul (Paulie Ham) Correale • Archilles Abbamonte • Louis (Louie Beans) Foceri • Vincent (Vinny Beans) Foceri • Alexander (Al Ross) Rosato

Many of the above were drug merchants.

Pagano was very familiar with most of the better and lesser-known LCN members in the Harlem and downtown NY area.

A Textbook Mob Operation

He participated in the shooting murder of narcotics informant Eugene Giannini, a soldier of the Lucchese Family, in the early 1950s in Harlem. This killing gained him and his brother formal entry into the ranks of the Genovese.

He was also known to have participated in the strangling killing of Steve Franse in Greenwich Village at the behest of Vito Genovese.

In 1953, Pagano got caught up in a federal heroin sales conspiracy case. He was indicted, convicted, and served a seven-year stretch at Milan, Michigan.

In 1961, Pagano was the central figure in an elaborate and massive “bust out” fraud of a large wholesale meat distributor in New York. Over several short days, more than $1,200,000 in assets were drained from the company's coffers, driving the firm into bankruptcy.

Joey, along with Gambino member Petey Castellana, and several other men were indicted and convicted. Pagano received the stiffest sentence- five years in federal prison.

It was a “textbook” mob operation and drew much publicity, exposing the underworld’s infiltration into legitimate business.

Also in 1961, Pagano was charged with possession of stolen bonds.

His criminal record dates to 1946 for attempted robbery, vagrancy, assault and robbery, conspiracy, narcotics, bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy, and tax evasion.

In later years, Joey would go on to oversee Genovese operations up in the Bronx, Westchester, and in Rockland counties where he had relocated such as Monsey, Nanuet, Port Chester, etc.

He also figured into the midtown Manhattan restaurant killing of Irwin Schiff, a conman and secret FBI informant, who was a close associate of his.

In the late-1980s, he was named as the “behind the scenes” power in the infiltration of nursing homes and the over-billing potential of medical fraud.

Joey Pagano died very young on March 15, 1989, at age 61.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano: Dyed in the Wool East Harlem Hood

Dive Deeper into the Underworld

The Joseph Pagano Regime Chart

The Brothers Schlitten: Bronx Racket Kingpins

Notorious Corona Gambler – Genovese Soldier Ralph Serpico

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Not enough quota to unlock this post

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Joseph Luco (Joey) Pagano: Dyed in the Wool East Harlem Hood

Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Button Guys of The New York Mafia...There's Only One!

Tour the Underworld with Button Guys

Dive Deeper into the Underworld

The Joseph Pagano Regime Chart

The Brothers Schlitten: Bronx Racket Kingpins

Notorious Corona Gambler – Genovese Soldier Ralph Serpico

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Not enough quota to unlock this post

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?