Michael Dellacagna

Michael Dellacagna was a low-key soldier in the Lucchese Family, active in the gambling rackets and possibly serving in the regime of either Paul Vario or Christopher Furnari.

Michael (Mike the Hammer) Dellacagna - aka Mike Hammer - was born on December 17, 1918, in Brooklyn. He was a lifelong resident of Kings County, residing at 1047 Remsen Ave. He resided and operated over the years in Park Slope, Gravesend, Coney Island, Canarsie, and the Mill Basin areas.

Dellacagna was a documented “soldier” in the Lucchese Family and seems to have kept a low profile, operating locally.

In 1943, Dellacagna was one of four men arrested in a stolen car after a patrolman became suspicious and stopped the car. The other arrestees included Louis Bruno, Andrew Gerbino, and Carmine Colombo.

The arresting officer also found two guns in the car, a .38 revolver and a 9mm Luger. All four were charged with grand larceny auto and violation of the Sullivan Law (two guns.)

In 1974, after an undercover investigation by the Brooklyn Rackets Squad, detectives raided a “high stakes” dice game at 6320 Avenue N., in the Mill Basin section. They arrested 30 gamblers and confiscated over $21,000 in cash, dice, and various gambling equipment.

Among the 30 arrested were 5 who stood out from the crowd named by authorities as inducted members, soldiers, or captains, and all regarded as top echelon Mafia figures. All were charged with “maintenance” of a gambling establishment, promoting gambling, and possession of gaming devices.

Brooklyn D.A. Eugene Gold listed the mob figures as Daniel Fatico , a soldier in the Gambino Family; Peter Palmeri, a capo in the Gambino Family; Leo Grillo of the Lucchese Family; Michael Franzese of the Colombo Family and an uncle of Sonny Franzese (this was not his son Michael;) and our guy Michael Dellacagna.

Executing a search warrant at 3 a.m., the early morning raiders broke through a front security door with a battering ram and had to smash through two other doors to reach a basement social club where the dice were rolling.

Among others arrested in the raid were mob figures Frank LoCicero (Colombo associate,) Hyman Greenspan (Paul Vario associate,) and John Castore (Gambino soldier.) No disposition was given, but these charges were misdemeanors, so I suspect all got off with fines and/or probation.

Dellacagna was probably in a Brooklyn regime. Christopher Furnari or Paul Vario were the two most prominent crew heads operating in that area. So, most likely, Dellacagna was in one of those two crews.

He seems to have kept a relatively low profile in later years and may have been inactive by that time. Michael (Mike the Hammer) Dellacagna died relatively young on April 24, 1987, at 69 years of age.

Until next time..."The Other Guy!"

Michael Dellacagna

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Michael Dellacagna

Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Button Guys of The New York Mafia...There's Only One!

Tour the Underworld with Button Guys

Dive Deeper into the Underworld

BG Presents: Jimmy Doyle Plumeri Documentary

The Joseph (Joe Beck) DiPalermo Regime: “The Prince Street Crew”

Stephen Oddo: The Undertaker

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