Joe Gernie was one of those mob guys whose story has fallen through the cracks of mob history. Not only was he described as an “important figure” in narcotics trafficking and union racketeering on the NY-NJ waterfront for the Genovese mob, but he was also known as a dangerous strong arm working under Genovese capo, then underboss, Anthony (Tony Bender) Strollo.
In fact, authorities described Gernie as a “professional strong-arm man and suspected killer for the mafia.” The Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) also tagged him as an associate of Vincent (Vinny Bruno) Mauro, one of the Genovese mob’s most ruthless killers, who also happened to be a soldier in Strollo’s crew.
Gernie had an interesting career full of mob mayhem and murder, but his story doesn’t have a happy ending. But sometimes, what goes around comes around, even if you’re six feet under.