Frank (Frankie T) Mari

It seems that Frank Mari and Michael Adamo made a “power play” for the leadership, seizing it without the official sanction of the Commission.

Francesco (Frankie T) Mari - aka "Frank Russo" - was born in 1926 in the town of Scilla in Reggio, Calabria. His family immigrated when Frank was a baby to the Lower East Side of Manhattan where he grew up at 124 and 68 Forsythe St.

Francesco (Frankie T) Mari

As an adult, he resided at 20 Monroe St. before relocating out to 3 Hillsdale Drive in Nassau County’s Searingtown neighborhood.

FBI # 4371934, NYPD # 233493

Mari was known to be a meticulously sharp dresser, standing 5-foot 7-inches tall and weighing 185-pounds with brown hair and eyes and a medium build. Government records listed him as a schizophrenic.

His record dates from 1945 when he was 19 years old and includes arrests for felonious assault, petty larceny, possessing a gun (twice - served one 3 month term,), vagrancy (3 times,) grand larceny, suspicion of murder (twice,) and conspiracy to sell heroin.

He frequented the entire lower East Side including the CIA Club at 72 Forsythe St., Vivere Bar at 192 Second Ave., Sugar Bowl Bar at 305 Broome St., and around Mulberry and Mott Streets. He was also active in the Brooklyn area. Mari was never known to be legitimately employed.

He was close friends and an associate of Anthony Lisi, Frank (Chow) Mancino, Angelo (Little Angie) Tuminaro, Carmine Galante, Salvatore Giglio, Michael Adamo , Cosmo (Carlie) DiPietro (his brother-in-law,) Paul Sciacca , and Anthony DiPasqua.

Mari was active in policy, extortion, shylocking, narcotics, and was considered a top enforcer for the Family.

Considered by the FBN to be a large-scale narcotics trafficker, he had obtained his supply from Tuminaro and DiPasqua who in turn dealt with the Cotroni gang in Canada.

A Top Enforcer

Mari was inducted by the mid-1950s as a soldier, operating within an unknown regime until he was catapulted to an Acting Boss position toward the end of the “Banana War.” He was considered a top enforcer during the war and was suspect in several gang war hits, including the murder of Samuel (Hank) Perrone on a Brooklyn Street corner.

Mari was machine gunned himself and seriously wounded during the two-year conflict. When Paul Sciacca was selected to head the Family, he elevated Mari to either the underboss or acting boss position.

By 1969, the Bonanno Family was still unsettled with turbulent undercurrents and dissension lurking between many members. It seems that Mari and Adamo made a “power play” for the leadership, seizing it without the official sanction of the Commission.

One day they both were picked up by soldier and driver Frank Bonomo for a prearranged mob meeting, being dropped off by Bonomo at the designated spot. They never returned.

After four days missing, their wives called in a missing person report to the police department. That was in 1969 - 52 years ago! I don’t think they’re coming back!

Just another mob tale in the Big Apple. Mari was 42 years old.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Frank (Frankie T) Mari

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Frank (Frankie T) Mari

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

Dominick Trinchera and the Three Capos Murder

Sereno (Bobby T) Tartamella

Matteo (Matty) Valvo

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