Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro: Veteran Bonanno Family Soldier

A longtime Bonanno soldier with deep mafia roots, Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro built a criminal career spanning bookmaking, extortion, and policy rackets. From arson schemes to the notorious Bonanno War, his life was steeped in mob intrigue -- until he vanished from the spotlight.

Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro was born in 1915 in Brooklyn. A longtime veteran Bonanno Family soldier, he resided on Sutter Ave. in East New York for years. Asaro was a multigenerational mafioso. His father, grandfather, and uncle before him had been members of the Castellammare del Golfo Cosca, where the family hailed from.

In fact, his son Vincent and his namesake grandson Jerry would, in later years, be sponsored for Family membership.

Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro

He was originally active in Brooklyn's East New York, Brownsville, and Ridgewood sections. Asaro was also active in Ozone Park in Queens, where he relocated after getting married. He later moved to 241 W. Broadway in the Long Beach, Long Island area where he would reside for many years.

In 1962, Asaro was in a very bad three-car accident in Ozone Park that resulted in one driver dying.

Asaro was involved in bookmaking, policy, strong-arm enforcer, extortion, and suspected narcotics.

He was a very active hoodlum, racking up arrests over the years for operating a still, policy, bookmaking, arson, and grand larceny. He was convicted for 60 days for operating a still, bookmaking (twice), and policy.

He owned the Astro Fence Co. of Island Park.

In 1952, he was nabbed for the arson of the Lee-Anne Dress Shop in Ozone Park, which he owned, to collect on the fire insurance policy.

In 1936, Asaro was arrested for operating a 750-gallon still in W. Islip and again in 1952 for operating a still in North Babylon with seven other men, including his brother Michael Asaro and a young Vincent (Jimmy Red) Caserta of the Genovese crew.

In 1949, Asaro was among seven Bonanno associates arrested in a raid on the Petri Printing Plant on Wyckoff St. in Ridgewood, Brooklyn. The group was charged with operating a $5,000,000-a-year policy ring (the Italian lottery.) Law enforcement confiscated policy slips, printing plates, and six cars used by the ring. Asaro was a controlling figure in this operation.

With the Bonanno War, he was suspected of active involvement and sided with the Gaspare DiGregorio and Paul Sciacca rebel faction. Asaro found himself under multiple subpoenas for Brooklyn and Nassau County grand juries.

In 1970, he was one of 46 top mob figures from all five Families brought before a grand jury probing the mob in general and the war in particular. Others involved in the probe included Aniello Dellacroce, Philip Rastelli , Paul Sciacca, Natale Evola, Benny Aloi, Dominick Scialo, and Anthony Crisci, among other top figures.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eugene Gold eventually charged all 46 in a sweeping indictment for criminal contempt of court.

By the mid-late 70s, Asaro had slowed down and may have retired. He faded from view. Perhaps he was tired of all the intrigue from recent years. There is no record of his death.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro: Veteran Bonanno Family Soldier

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Girolamo (Jerry) Asaro: Veteran Bonanno Family Soldier

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Giuseppe (Joe) Bonanno: Infamous and Controversial Cosa Nostra Boss

Joe Bonanno’s Personal “Arizona” Regime

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