Robert (Bobby) Ross

Bobby Ross was a Colombo associate who became a close associate of a fast-rising hood who would one day serve as “Acting Boss” over the Colombo Family. His name was Victor (Little Vic) Orena. The two men quickly became fast friends and future partners in several different rackets and business ventures together.

Robert (Bobby) Ross was born to Jewish parents in New York City around 1938. By the 1970s, he was residing in an upscale area of Queens County known as Forest Hills.

Ross listed his residence as a two-family home located at 69-63 Alderton Street in the Rego Park section of the neighborhood. Nearby towns included Kew Gardens, Corona, Woodhaven, and Middle Village.

Starting as a young man, Bobby Ross quickly gained a reputation as a tough street kid and an up-and-coming hoodlum. He gravitated early on to the hoodlum element, specifically, key members and associates of the Joseph Colombo Family of Cosa Nostra. By the late 1960s, the New York City Police Department carried Bobby Ross on the records as a “criminal associate” of the Colombo mob.

Bobby Ross under arrest.

In 1977, he was arrested with several other Colombo hoods for using strong-arm tactics to “break a strike” and picket line. It had been set up by members of Teamsters Local #810 at the Hudson-Berlind Corporation in Hicksville, Long Island. Bobby was later indicted by a Nassau County Grand Jury on second-degree murder charges after the burly hood repeatedly struck a dissenting twenty-one-year-old union member in the head with a pick-ax during this incident.

The victim, Peter Kramer, was a forklift operator and member of Local #810 who, with others, was picketing their place of employment at the Hudson-Berlin Company for unfair labor practices. Bobby Ross and his fellow strike-breakers attempted to disrupt the strike by driving their vehicles across the picket line into the loading docks of the company’s plant.

The Nassau County District Attorney said Ross repeatedly hit Kramer over the head with a heavy wooden pick-ax handle causing his death. In his defense, Ross stated that Kramer had stoned his vehicle and that he only acted in self-defense.

However, a Mineola jury later found him guilty of criminally negligent homicide. Ross served two years and seven months in an Upstate New York Prison on this conviction.

Federal authorities say that Bobby Ross was a close associate of another fast-rising hood who would one day serve as “Acting Boss” over the entire Colombo Family. Upon first meeting the Brooklyn-born Victor (Little Vic) Orena , the two young men quickly became fast friends and future partners in several different rackets and business ventures together.

A Storied Career

Throughout his criminal career, Bobby Ross was reputedly suspected by law enforcement of engaging in such activities as shylocking, gambling, strong-arm work, shakedowns and labor extortion, frauds, and other such mob mayhem. He was an often-seen presence around Orena and other top mob figures. Although of Jewish ethnicity, Ross was considered a “key player” of Orena’s crew.

In July 1985, Ross was among five men indicted by the Suffolk County Rackets Squad for operating a massive multimillion-dollar loansharking ring throughout Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. Arrested along with him was none other than his buddy Vic Orena.

Vic Orena

Suffolk County District Attorney Patrick Henry described Orena as the overall “boss” of the usury operation and an alleged “capo” in the Colombo Family. Also nabbed were three other Orena crew members: Charles Lombardo, Philip Yovanovich, and Oscar Albenga. The men were all charged with varying counts of conspiracy, criminal usury, possession of usurious loan records, and illegally collecting loans.

Called the loanshark ring’s coordinator and “bookkeeper,” Ross was held on the highest bail at $100,000 after a treasure trove of usury records was seized from his home. Orena was held on $75,000 bail. The others were all held on lesser amounts.

District Attorney Henry accused the men of lending money to struggling businessmen and bar and restaurant owners in need of quick funds at interest rates from 2% or 3% weekly, aggregating from 102% to 156% annually.

Henry said when the high rates took their toll, all available assets were seized by the "sharks" and the businesses were bankrupted.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Robert (Bobby) Ross

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You May Also Enjoy

Colombo Family Soldier Nicholas Mainello: Joe’s Trusty Aide

Salvatore (Charlie Lemons) Mineo

Capo Frank (Papa Dick) Fusco

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