Michael (Mimi) Sabella

Michael (Mimi) Sabella was longtime member and a “capo di decina” since approximately the late-1950s. He originally came up under Giovanni (John) Bonventre, who is said to have been his sponsor, a Family power, and uncle of Joseph Bonanno.

Michael (Mimi) Sabella was born in 1910 in NYC to Sicilian parents. He grew up in the Little Italy section of Manhattan. He was active in NYC's Little Italy section, Brooklyn, and the Miami area of South Florida.

Sabella was a longtime member and a “capo di decina” since approximately the late-1950s. He originally came up under Giovanni (John) Bonventre, who is said to have been his sponsor, a Family power, and uncle of Joseph Bonanno.

FBI #4989684

Sabella lived in downtown NY, Brooklyn, and eventually moved to 84 Boyd Street in the Long Beach area of Long Island (his home and car were registered to someone else).

He was primarily engaged, over the years, in the gambling rackets, shylocking, and the fencing of stolen jewels and property.

He was also suspected of being active in the heroin trade for which he had an arrest.

Sabella held ownership interests in a Miami boat company and clothing store.

In the early 1970s, Sabella converted a building he owned at Mulberry and Hester Streets into a small cafe. It did so well that he expanded into several more storefronts, upgrading the decor and cuisine, naming the restaurant CaSabella (in Italian meaning “Here’s Sabella” - a play on his surname).

CaSabella became wildly popular, serving excellent food for decades and doubled as his base of operations.

In later years, Sabella would also run a high-stakes dice game in an upstairs lounge area.

Sabella was a top figure in the Bonanno Family for many years.

During the Bonanno War of the mid-1960s, Sabella switched sides several times after he got word of a murder contract on him.

With the murder of his close friend Michael Consolo, he was so wary that he often would stay close to his home, not venturing out into the city.

With word of a murder contract on his head, during this tumultuous period, Sabella utilized Paul Vario , a Lucchese capo and close friend as a “rabbi”, negotiating at the highest levels in several Families to transfer Sabella to the Lucchese Family for his safety.

But Sabella eventually chose to stay put and maintained his Bonanno status.

By the mid-1970s, with Carmine Galante's release from federal prison, former underboss (and close friend of Sabella), Sabella’s star rose, being named a “Capo” again.

Sabella became one of several favored “key” Galante Family leaders, heading one of the largest crews.

Among Mike’s soldiers were Benjamin (Lefty) Ruggiero, Sonny Esposito, Joe Puma, Tony Mirra, Steve Maruca, and Willy Dara, a distant cousin who Sabella was said to have sponsored to membership in approximately 1950 (he became a top-echelon confidential informant several years later).

Sabella was active for over 50 years in the mob.

He had arrests for homicide (twice), gun possession, assault and robbery, vagrancy, and sale of heroin.....and the kind of record his bosses like -- “no convictions”!

With his mentor's execution, having been one of Lilo’s close associates, Sabella was one of several Capos demoted back to “soldier” status (some others being Nicky Marangello and Moe Presinzano.)

The Donnie Brasco investigation also gave Sabella some problems.

He was indicted in Milwaukee with Family Boss Frank (Frankie Bal) Balistrieri in an extortion conspiracy case.

Mike was luckily cleared of the charges.

By this time, Mike was getting older. Between Galante getting killed and his demotion, and realizing his luck in beating the RICO case, the “Brasco Fiasco” as he called it, Mike wisely chose to slow down.

He sold his beloved restaurant and retired to his Long Beach home.

He quietly lived out his days, dying at age 79 in 1989 from complications of diabetes..... having never served a day in jail!

“A charmed mob career if there ever was one”!

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Michael (Mimi) Sabella

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