Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero: A Machiavellian Mess

Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero was one of the original founding members of the Profaci/Colombo Family of Brooklyn. He was a longtime member who eventually rose to “consigliere” status under boss Joe Profaci.

But after Profaci's death, new boss Giuseppe Magliocco demoted him back to soldier status. Things just got worse for Charlie the Sidge soon after, especially when he came to depend on the then-secret informant, Gregory Scarpa Sr.

Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero was born in 1904 in Villabate, Sicily. After emigrating to America in 1920, he would reside in Brooklyn for the rest of his life.

He had two sons named Frank (Cisco) and Benjamin (Benny the Sidge) who would join him in the life. Both would eventually become formally inducted members of the Colombo Family.

Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero

He also had a grandson named Richard (Ditty), who was Frank’s boy, and later also became associated with the borgata.

One of the original founding members of the Profaci/Colombo Family of Brooklyn, LoCicero was a longtime member who would eventually rise to “consigliere” status until his demotion back to a mere “soldier.”

His activities included policy, shylocking, strong-arm tactics and murder, extortion, securities theft, and the fencing of stolen goods.

His limited criminal arrest record included:

1925 - gun possession

1925 - murder (first degree)

1928 - vagrancy

1938 - gun possession (8 months jail)

1964 - income tax evasion

His 1964 arrest was for evading paying taxes on $53,000 in income he derived from 1957 to 1960.

He also was known to have held a partnership in a large retail furniture store in Brooklyn that was later destroyed by fire.

It was thought by authorities that this incident had been an arson orchestrated by LoCicero to collect on the insurance policy. And subsequently, he was also investigated for the “bust out” or fraudulent bankruptcy of the business as well.

True Nature Revealed

LoCicero had been a contemporary of boss Joe Profaci, Underboss Joe Magliocco, Salvatore Mussachio, and other top members of the Family.

With the death of Profaci, LoCicero seems to have expanded his ambitions and designs for the Family’s top post - and his true nature would soon unfold.

He gave nominal respect to Magliocco when in his company but did his best to usurp him behind his back.

LoCicero’s duplicity was soon clearly evident with his secret backing of the Gallo brothers in their attempts to wrest the Family from the Profaci/Magliocco combine.

His treachery would eventually catch up with him.

Magliocco “aced” him out of the hierarchy altogether, “knocking him down” to soldier status. This only made LoCicero angrier, fueling his jealousies and envy against the borgata powers that be.

One of the young soldiers in his crew, who he’d come to depend upon, was Gregory Scarpa Sr., the infamous FBI informant who worked undercover for decades providing key information against the Family.

This unknown fact at the time also helped to undermine LoCicero’s power and Machiavellian machinations.

The End of the Line

By 1968, having fallen into disfavor and no longer trusted by the Family hierarchy, Joseph Colombo, the current boss at the time, would order Charlie the Sidge’s death.

LoCicero was caught short in his favorite neighborhood luncheonette in the Borough Park section one afternoon while sitting at the counter sipping a milkshake when gunmen walked in with a Tommy gun and sprayed a burst of fire in his direction.

In 1965, Charlie’s grand-nephew Richard LoCicero, who was 20 years old and a messenger for a Wall Street firm, was arrested for the theft of over $370,000 in securities after falsely claiming he was waylaid by thieves and robbed.

He “flipped” becoming an informant testifying before a grand jury and agreeing to become the star witness against six mob associates in a 1967 trial, which included his father and uncle - Family soldiers Frank and Benny LoCicero.

On April 5, 1967, Richard was found murdered, laying face down in a Brooklyn driveway.

He had been stabbed numerous times and his stomach ripped wide open. His murder only added to police and underworld speculation that “Charlie the Sidge’s” murder may have been in retaliation for the murder of his nephew.

It was thought that Charlie had a hand in Richard's killing and the young man's father had sought revenge against “The Sidge.”

Whatever the true circumstances surrounding Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero’s machine-gun killing, it was a classic gangland hit, and the newspapers had a field day with it.

Nobody was ever brought to justice as was typical of mob murders years back. And I must say that it was a “piece of work,” reminiscent of a 1920s-style underworld execution.

Just another fabled tale of Brooklyn Mafia intrigue.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero: A Machiavellian Mess

You May Also Enjoy

Colombo Family Soldier Nicholas Mainello: Joe’s Trusty Aide

Salvatore (Charlie Lemons) Mineo

Capo Frank (Papa Dick) Fusco

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Calogero (Charlie the Sidge) LoCicero: A Machiavellian Mess

Unlock The Door to the Underworld

Purchase Subscription

You May Also Enjoy

Colombo Family Soldier Nicholas Mainello: Joe’s Trusty Aide

Salvatore (Charlie Lemons) Mineo

Capo Frank (Papa Dick) Fusco

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?