Lawrence (Larry) Quartiero

Lawrence Quartiero was a Genovese Family associate who figured prominently in several interlocking 1950s-era major narcotics cases, which were among the most important cases against the Italian underworld for that period.

Lawrence (Larry) Quartiero was born on May 24, 1922, on New York’s West Side. He resided for many years at 410 W.54 St., NYC. In later years, he relocated to the Jackson Heights, Queens area. He also frequented the waterfront dock area, around 9th and 10th Ave.

Lawrence Quartiero

His activities were alleged to include narcotics, burglary, cargo (pier) theft, fencing stolen goods, and race-fixing. He was a member of the International Longshoremen Assn. (ILA), which gave Quartiero access to the docks helping him to facilitate heroin smuggling by merchant seamen he would hire to carry packages of narcotics through customs.

FBI # 2117032, NYCPD # B-194107

Quartiero's arrest record dates to 1940 and includes petty larceny, unlawful entry, felony assault, gambling, burglary, and narcotics law violation (sentenced to 5 years in 1956.)

He numbered among his associates Anthony (Tony Bender) Strollo, Vincent (Vinny Bruno) Mauro, Steve Armone, Pasquale Pagano, and John Malizia.

Quartiero figured prominently in several interlocking 1950s-era major narcotics cases, which were among the most important cases against the Italian underworld for that period. It included the likes of Vito Genovese, John (Big John) Ormento, Carmine (Lilo) Galante, Joseph (Joe Beck) DiPalermo, and many other top mafiosi and hoodlums. After lengthy, well-publicized trials, most were convicted and sentenced to long prison terms, with Genovese receiving 15 years.

After their convictions, various defendants appealing their Second Circuit Court conviction in 1957 included Giacomo Reina, Joseph Valachi, Pasquale Moccio, Pasquale Pagano, Lawrence Quartiero, Eugenio Giannini, Joseph Pagano, Salvatore Shillitani....and the Frenchmen Joseph Orsini, Salas, and LaFitte.

They were convicted after a jury trial for “conspiracy to import and sell heroin” smuggled in from France during the early-mid 1950s period. Quartiero was specifically associated with Patty Pagano and Patty Moccio in the conspiracy.

Quartiero was alleged by trial testimony to have repeatedly met a merchant seaman by the name of Salas and driven him to and from several meetings with co-conspirators. Quartiero also had paid Salas for his successful ferrying of 10 pounds of heroin from Le Harve, France to the American docks on Manhattan’s Westside, later extracting the drug shipment and delivering it to the mafiosi in a midtown bar.

He was suspected of being associated with the Genovese mob and was said to also have been active as a jewelry and fur thief.

In 1983, he was one of several men indicted for a race-fixing conspiracy at Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceway. The men were accused of drugging horses in a betting scheme at the harness tracks.

The alleged ring leader was John Malizia of Westbury, Long Island, a previously convicted race fixer, having been convicted in a mob-connected race fix scheme in 1967.

They were convicted and sentenced to three years, but the convictions were reversed on appeal.

Lawrence (Larry) Quartiero is believed to have died on February 16, 1987. He was 63 years old.

Until next time..."The Other Guy."

Lawrence (Larry) Quartiero

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