Joe Profaci
Joe Profaci was a Colombo Faimly boss who was one of the most business savvy and powerful Mafia members ever in the entire United States.
Formulated from the ashes of early mob strife in the South Brooklyn area, what became known as the Profaci Family arguably had its origins among several underworld factions vying for power. Francesco (Frankie Yale) Ioele, an early Camorra boss, Michael (The Sweetheart) Abbatemarco, his number two, and Sicilian Giuseppe (The Clutch Hand) Peraino were just a few of several powers who clashed for supremacy. With the culmination of the Castellammarese War, Salvatore DiBella was said to have led the borgata until Giuseppe (Joe) Profaci, whose Family had been prominent Mafiosi (The Zubbio) back in Villabate, Sicily on the outskirts of Palermo proper, became the recognized power in the Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Coney Island, Flatbush, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn. Profaci had sided with Maranzano and the Castellammrese in the war.
Over the next 30 years, his Family would expand in vast power over other sections of Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and Long Island. He also had a regime in New Jersey and varied members in Manhattan, Westchester, Connecticut, and Florida. Profaci’s tremendous power expanded with his childrens’ and nieces’ marriages to those of the Detroit Family bosses Joseph Zerilli and William Tocco and a niece’s marriage to Joseph Bonanno’s son. This solidified the Family’s power!
The Profaci Family, who numbered about 150 strong with over 1000 associates, specialized in gambling, shylocking, hijacking and cargo theft, and business infiltration on a tremendous scale as evidenced by Profaci holdings such as Alpine Wine & Liquors Inc., Arrow Linen Supply Co., Mamma Mia Packing Co., Santuzza Oil Co., Mama Mia Imports Inc., Sunshine Edible Oils, Corp…multi-million dollar firms that they or their successors, (Colavita Olive Oil Company and Roma Foods Inc.) still operate to this day!
In 1959, a rebel faction headed by the Gallo brothers led a revolt within the Family. And over the next 35 years, two more internal Family wars would claim scores of lives, marring, and vastly weakening, the strength and resources of this borgata. With Profaci’s death in 1962 and a short interim leadership by Giuseppe Magliocco, capo Joseph Colombo would rise to be Family boss by 1964. Colombo further expanded the Family’s influence, wealth, and power until his attempted assassination in 1971.
After a few interim acting bosses, Carmine Persico would rise to power and lead for the next 40 years backed by a supporting cast of such mob luminaries as the notorious underboss John (Sonny) Franzese, Alphonse (Allie Boy) Persico, Sebastiano (Buster) Aloi, his son Vincent Aloi, and Salvatore (Sally Pro) Profaci – son of the borgata’s founding father.
What follows below is a list of in-depth biographies for many of their more interesting members and associates.
Joe Profaci was a Colombo Faimly boss who was one of the most business savvy and powerful Mafia members ever in the entire United States.
Giuseppe (Joe Malyoke) Magliocco had a very well-known name, but little was really ever known about his personal life or mafia career.
Joe Colombo was the boss of the Colombo Family until a bullet struck him down. Was it the work of Gallo or a secret organization?
Junior Persico was born and reared in the South Brooklyn area and was a tough Italian street kid who joined a street gang in the early 1950s.
Lawrence Abbandando was originally affiliated with the Profaci/Colombo Family in the crew of top capodecina John (Sonny) Franzese.
Benny Aloi was a Colombo Family member active in policy with his father for many years. He was also a prominent loanshark.
Sebastiano Aloi was a very, very, well-respected mafioso of the first order who was instrumental in the formation of the Colombo Family.
Vincenzo Aloi served in the borgata as a top capo and its “acting boss” after the shooting of Colombo in 1971.
Sam Andolino was a Profaci confidante who was primarily active in the gambling and bookmaking rackets for the Colombo Family.
Louis Arcuri was a veteran Colombo associate who was very active in the streets and a “dyed in the wool” thief and trickster.
Tony the Gawk Augello was an intimidating Colombo soldier who got himself into a bind with Carmine Persico's son, Little Allie Boy.
William Bacino was a Colombo associate “with” Family soldier and close aide to Vincent (Peg Leg Jimmy) Giordano, a top loanshark.
Salvatore Beldaio was a KG in New York City for years and was first publicly identified as an associate of the Joseph Colombo Family in 1969.
Michael Belvedere was active as a trickster who, over the years, planned and participated in several high-profile robberies.
An associate of the Colombo Family, Arthur Berk was involved in bookmaking and shylocking under the control of Sonny Franzese.
Cassandros Bonasera was an original, old-line veteran mafioso to his core and among the first wave of members of “The Honored Society” to hit the shores of America.
Nicholas Botta was an associate of mob boss Sonny Franzese and was active in horse and sports bookmaking.
Little Joey Brancato was reputed to have been a veteran soldier and “acting captain” for the John (Sonny) Franzese regime.
Frank Carione was a garbage racketeer in the Colombo mob Family. He served as president of the Suffolk Cartmen’s Association.
Big Leo Carlino served as a shadowy caporegime for the Profaci Family active as a garment center racketeer.
Fat Patty Catalano was a long-time “associate” in the Profaci Family who was officially inducted and quickly elevated to “capo” status.
Button Guys of The New York Mafia brings you mafia history you never knew existed. Uncover the mysteries of the mafia, its inner workings, and its influence on the world at large through deep-dive biographies and in-depth stories about well-known and little-known mobsters and mob families across the globe!