Robert (DiB) DiBernardo – “King of Porn”

Robert DiBernardo was close to and served under senior capo Ettore Zappi , with whom DiBernardo would eventually gain prominence and great wealth operating several pornographic firms and dirty book distributors under Zappi’s auspices.

Robert (DiB) DiBernardo was born in 1937 in Brooklyn. By the mid-1960s, he had migrated out to 370 Fifth Avenue in Cedarhurst in Nassau’s South Shore. He later moved to a waterfront property at 1101 Harbor Rd. in Hewlett Harbor.

His activities included pornography rackets, extortion, and labor-union racketeering.

During the early 1960s, he was identified as an associate member of the DeCavalcante Family, serving under captain Frank (Frankie Coch) Cocchiaro.

He was either misidentified by law enforcement or had later switched alliance to the Gambino mob. By the late-1970s, he was identified by federal law enforcement as a formally inducted Gambino “soldier”.

He was close to, and served under, senior capo Ettore Zappi, where DiBernardo would eventually gain prominence and great wealth operating several pornographic firms and dirty book distributors under Zappi’s auspices.

Side Note: By the mid-1960s, the porno racket profits were burgeoning. So much so, that besides backing “DiB”, Zappi and Gambino involved themselves more directly by utilizing Zappi’s son Tony as their point man. Tony was eventually indicted in California on pornography charges.

Frank Cocchiaro and Ettore Zappi

Top convicted sex film producer Theodore (Teddy) Rothstein of Oceanside, Long Island, was alleged to be DiBernardo’s partner in a maze of corporations that controlled the production and distribution of books, films, and peep show operations along the Times Square sex district.

Star Distributors, Ltd., was said to be the most notorious of these companies.

DiBernardo was listed as its vice president and principal financier. Star was described in Senate testimony as the national distributor of paperback sex books.

It was said he benefitted and profited from this national distribution.

In 1970, the SIC alleged that he controlled a maze of nine sex-related New York City firms that had grown tremendously, and gave as an example, a $1,000,000 purchase of seven Philadelphia area books stores in Pennsylvania.

His criminal record included obscenity charges (3 times) and conspiracy,

In 1981, he was one of 24 indicted in the “Operation Miporn” investigation, a nationwide crackdown on the porno rackets.

“DiB” DiBernardo’s many criminal associates have included:

• Sam DeCavalcante - NJ Family Boss.

• Gaetano (Corky) Vastola - DeCavalcante soldier.

• Frank (Big Frankie) Cocchiaro - DeCavalcante captain.

• Joseph (Joe Bikini) Brocchini - top pornographer and murdered Lucchese soldier.

• Ettore (Terry) Zappi - senior capo, advisor, and intimate of Carlo Gambino.

• Anthony (Tony) Zappi - Terry’s son, Teamster official, and crew soldier.

• Frank (Frankie Dap) Dapolito - former Teamster official, acting capo, and closest Zappi aide.

• Natale (Big Chris) Richichi - Zappi crew member and later capo.

• Paul Castellano - no intro needed.

• Salvatore (Sammy) Gravano

Sam DeCavalcante, Gaetano Vastola, and Anthony Zappi

After Terry Zappi’s relocation and semi-retirement to Florida, DiBernardo was transferred directly under Castellano, where he thrived.

Unfortunately, after Paulie’s death, Gotti allowed the heavy-handed, greedy, and jealous Gravano to “oversee” DiBernardo and his activities for the Family.......a fatal move!

“Clocking” his money, overall wealth, and Family influence, Gravano badmouthed and maneuvered to set “DiB” up for the kill, so as to later “inherit” his rackets and its subsequent revenue..... the rest is well-recorded mob history.

Sammy the Rat

Suckering DiBernardo to visit Gravano’s Brooklyn construction office for a discussion, Family associate Joe Peruta walked up behind the unsuspecting DiB and shot him right in the head, killing him instantly!

Sammy grabbed the unions and other rackets DiBernardo had previously overseen, and that was that!

......The year was 1986!

Never known as a vicious guy, more the businessman-type hood, Robert (DiB) Di Bernardo died at the young age of 49, simply because of the raw unbridled greed and degeneracy of future “Master Rat” Sammy Gravano!...... who later bought his freedom despite admitting to 19 murders by turning informant on others........that’s the real crime..... disgusting!

Robert (DiB) DiBernardo – “King of Porn”

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Robert (DiB) DiBernardo – “King of Porn”

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You May Also Enjoy

Racketeer Snapshot: Connecticut’s Frank (The Cigar) Piccolo

The Anthony Strollo Regime of NY/NJ

The Day Charlie (the Bug) Workman Saved a Horse

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