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Born in 1943, Tino Fiumara, who is known to his close pals as "T", would come to be the criminal overlord for his homestate. In his wake he would blaze a violent trail, along with his smart and would be known for his legendary death stare. Fiumara came up from under Jerry Catena of the Genovese family and South Orange, NJ. Fiumara would rise to the role as a trusted aide, all the while being groomed and prepared for the role as boss. This was during the 1960s and besides Catena, Fiumara was making important connections with Ironbound/Down Neck mobster Mikey Coppolla and Johnny Digillio. In addition, Fiumara and Coppolla made their bones, proving their criminal worth, when in 1969 they had a Patterson, NJ bookmaker murdered. Fiumara would also be linked to several other murders during the 1960s. All of this would become known nearly two decades later during a parole hearing. Besides Catena and crew, Fiumara was friendly with legendary Philadelphia mobster Anthony "Tony Bananas" Caponigro. In fact New Jersey State Police were pegging Caponigro and Fiumara as rising criminal standouts in 1970, along with Louis "Bobby" Manna". When one of Caponigro's soldiers was murdered, Fiumara was blamed and the friendship turned sour. Caponigro crewmember and close Fiumara associate, Dominick "Lolly" Luciano, warned Fiumara of the contract. Fiumara was said to have sought alliances with fellow Genovese mobsters Pete LaPlaca. Luciano would be murdered on Valentines Day 1971 by the fiercely independent Campisi Crew and the matter was dropped. Fiumara then began to consolidate his power and by the mid 1970s, with a retiring Catena, was seen as the Garden State rackets king. He then began to delegate and placed Johnny DiGillio as head of the Jersey waterfront. Coppolla was also involved with this racket and had his hands heavily tied in with gambling. Fiumara, through Carmen Franco, began to squeeze garbage haulers through the control over the Carter's Association. It was said that for every yard of garbage bound for dumps located in Kearney/Newark area, $1.00 was extracted and kicked up to Fiumara and his crew. These funds eventually making their way across the Hudson and into the hands of the likes of Benny Lombardo, "Fat Tony" Salerno and Vincent Gigante. In the late 1970s the FBI came in and set up what would become "Operation Alpha". The feds established an undercover front through a trucking company known as Alamo Transportation. This would nab Fiumara and others in 1979. In addition he would be found guilty of additional extortion charges in Manhattan. All together, beginning in 1980, Fiumara started serving a twenty five year sentence. Control of the Jersey rackets fell under the eyes of Genovese crew consigliere Bobby Manna. However, Fiumara still carried weight and would give orders from behind bars. Prior to his conviction, he elevated Louis "Streaky" Gatto and Peter Grecco as acting capos, having them oversee the criminal action found in Bergen County. The docks would be overseen by Coppolla and DiGillio. In 1988 DiGillio went missing and hasn't been seen since. It is almost certain that Coppolla and Fiumara played a hand in his fate. However a few other theories do exist. First there was Genovese boss Vincent Gigante and Gambino leader John Gotti, their rivalry was deadly and not very well known. However it was believed that Gigante heard of DiGillio's relationship with Gotti and his possible tipping him off of future Gigante led attempts against the life of the Gambino boss. Another theory involved DiGillio's possible recent charge of loansharking, which was said to have been multiple counts and if convicted carried a very long sentence. A third theory, although never proven, was that DiGillio's greed over the docks had gotten the best of him. It was said Coppolla farmed out a hit to the "Hoboken Twins"-Augie and Gerry Virgilito, with assistance by Louis Aurrichio, to do away with DiGillio. The hit was said to have taken place in Carlsdadt, New Jersey. DiGillo hasn't been seen since 1988. In 1994, Fiumara, much to the protest of federal prosecutors, came back to the Garden State. Manna had been convicted of a double murder conspiracy and won't ever see the light of day as a free man. Fiumara was back on top . However in 1998 he was convicted of parole violations, having been discovered being shuttled back and forth across the Hudson River while being hidden in the trunk of a car. The tactic had enabled him to meet with high ranking fellow Genovese mobsters and other gangsters. Upon his release in 2002 Fiumara was hit with charges that he had been in contact with fellow Genovese mobster and fugitive crime soldier Mikey Coppolla. Fiumara is expected to be sentenced at the end of June 2003. Many speculate that if Fiumara can get a clean run and not be hindered by the federal government, that he is a boss waiting in the wings. He is 62 years old and resides Farmingdale, Long Island. |