Al Bruno was a caporegime in the Springfield, Massachusetts faction of the Genovese Crime Family. Over the years, Bruno would become extremely close to both Sam Cufari, the then capo over the Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts area as well as Frank (Frankie Skyball) Scibelli, who took over Cufari’s spot after his death in 1983. From that time forward, Bruno quickly rose up into the ranks and was considered the new “acting capo” of the regime under Scibelli.
Throughout the years, Bruno made it his business to ingratiate himself more and more into the community, both in legitimate business and among the area’s local businessmen, politicians, and perceived power brokers.
But as we’ve seen time and time again throughout Cosa Nostra history, jealousy and greed sometimes rears its ugly head in the most violent of ways. And in “Big Al” Bruno’s case, he was the one on the receiving end of that violence.