Victor (Vic) Panica: A Dangerously Deceptive Life

Victor (Vic) Panica was known in the underworld and by law enforcement as a contract killer and an “enforcer” who had performed several murders on orders from the hierarchy.

Victor (Vic) Panica was born in 1924. He resided for many years 146-22 35th Avenue in Flushing, Queens as well as the Whitestone and Malba sections of Queens at 141-17 11th Ave.

Victor Panica

The FBI and FNB listed him as a longtime veteran and inducted soldier in the Lucchese Family.

FBI # 3986567, NYCPD # B-219169

Vic was a deceptively looking dangerous guy. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing a mere 145 pounds soaking wet with a 6-inch scar running across his neck from his left ear, Panica was reputed to have done much “work” for the family.

He was known in the underworld and by law enforcement as a contract killer and an “enforcer” who had performed several murders on orders from the hierarchy. Law enforcement also suspected that he was able to avoid prosecution on more than one occasion by murdering potential witnesses.

His activities included large-scale narcotics (heroin) import and distribution, strong-arm, extortion, and murder.

His associates included his brother Michael (Butchie), Andimo and Michael Pappadio (his cousins,) Nicholas (The Baron) Bonina, Vincent (Bruno) Mauro, Michael Altimari, Frank DeSimone, Albert Pierro, and Nicholas Christopher.

Narcotics is the Name of the Game

In 1961, Panica was indicted and convicted for narcotics trafficking over a period of several years, since at least 1959. He served 5 years in prison.

In 1972, after several months of surveillance, agents watched as Panica and Nick Christopher placed a large suitcase in the trunk of a Cadillac in Palisades, New Jersey after leaving the home of another suspected heroin dealer named Albert Pierro. With the agents following, the pair began driving towards Manhattan.

When agents attempted to stop them, Panica and Christopher led the police on a car chase. But they dumped the car under a bridge in the Bronx and fled on foot.

Panica went into a bar, ordered a drink, and claimed he had been there for an hour. The cops arrested both Panica and Christopher.

Police ended up seizing 44 pounds of heroin, $150,000 in cash, and a .25 caliber gun from the Cadillac’s trunk.

Later, police returned to Pierro’s home in New Jersey. They seized another 42 pounds of heroin, worth an estimated street value of $16,000,000, as well as two more guns.

Cops found the heroin cleverly packaged and placed in a carton under four bottles of French champagne.

Authorities described Panica as a “middle to upper level” member of the “Tramunti underworld Family” and a “major financier for many illicit enterprises, primarily narcotics.”

Victor Panica was convicted and got 20 years plus 6 years “special” parole afterward. He died in 2005.

Victor (Vic) Panica: A Dangerously Deceptive Life

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Victor (Vic) Panica: A Dangerously Deceptive Life

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