Francesco (Frank) Bonomo – Robbery and Murder

Renegade loanshark Max (The Weasel) Lowenstein claimed to have been kidnapped and beaten in a dispute with Frank Bonomo. During the 1970s , he led a group of young hoodlums alleged to perform armed robberies and possibly a homicide at Bonomo’s behest.

Francesco (Frank) Bonomo was born in 1901 in Castellammare del Golfo (Trapani province,) Sicily. He immigrated to America as an adolescent with his family, settling in North Brooklyn. He was raised and lived in the Bushwick, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint sections and resided at 77 Powers St., in Bushwick.

In approximately 1960, he relocated to 75 Nottingham Ave., in Valley Stream. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1948 .

Francesco Bonomo

Bonomo was a low-key member who was active primarily as a “shylock”, thefts, and a fence (receiver-distributor) of stolen goods.

He hung around the Bonanno stronghold section of Knickerbocker Ave., in Brooklyn, and was an associate of Mike Adamo, Mike Casale, Rosario (Sally Burns) Morale, and Steve Menna.

Over the years, he served several times as a driver and bodyguard to superiors such as Frank Mari and Adamo (Smitty) D’Angelo.

In fact, he was the driver of Frank Mari on the day Mari disappeared with Adamo never to be seen from again. Bonomo was questioned by the FBI in this regard and ultimately subpoenaed before several local and federal grand juries.

Bonomo was a virtual unknown until the early to mid-1960s when the federal government started the big push to investigate La Cosa Nostra.

He was caught on a “bug” planted in capo Frank LaBruzzo’s garment firm office and was recorded weekly for over a year in conversation with LaBruzzo discussing mob business.

This brought much-unwanted attention to the conservative, low-key Bonomo and led to many law enforcement problems.

Over the years, Bonomo answered to several caporegimes including Frank LaBruzzo, John Morale, and Tommy D’Angelo, and in later years, Angelo Salvo of New Jersey. The strife in the Family often dictated which capo Bonomo was assigned to.

His arrest record is somewhat blurred.

From the 1920s on, he was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon (knife), possession of stolen goods, and contempt of court.

He was the owner and operator of a garment contracting firm, D & S Sportswear Co., on Troutman St., in Bushwick for a number of years. And the LaBruzzo bug indicated an affiliation with the American Cloak & Suit Manufacturers Assn.

Bonomo may have been a bit of a “strong-arm” man.

Renegade loanshark Max (The Weasel) Lownstein claimed to have been kidnapped and beaten in a dispute with Bonomo. During the 1970s, he led a group of young hoodlums alleged to perform armed robberies and possibly a homicide at Bonomo’s behest.

By the late 1960s, Bonomo was in his late 60s and claimed to be inactive, collecting social security checks, and hanging with his “compare” along Knickerbocker Ave., playing cards and enjoying an occasional cup of espresso.

Frank Bonomo

He started spending time in Florida where he would ultimately retire and passed away in 1987.

In retrospect, Bonomo was said to be a moderate earner and happy to operate his shylock “book.” He had a few loyal associates “around” him who occasionally would pay him a “pizzo” off their earnings and scores made.

Bonomo was alleged to have been inducted by the late 1930s. A loyal and low-key “Soldato” in the tradition of the Castellammrese.

As a sad post-script, his son Anthony, one of two sons, who operated the loansharking racket with his father, was shot and killed in Elmhurst in 1962. Frank had been grooming him for the future.

So, although Frank seemed to have evaded serious problems with the law and the street all his life, he still paid a heavy price with the loss of his son...just another fabled tale about “The Life!”

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Francesco (Frank) Bonomo – Robbery and Murder

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Francesco (Frank) Bonomo – Robbery and Murder

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