Casella's Restaurant in Hoboken - the quintessential mob headquarters, meeting place and hangout
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meeting place and hangout
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CASELLA's RESTAURANT
Of all the licensed beverage establishments in the state, Casella's
Restaurant in Hoboken was perhaps the quintessential mob headquarters,
meeting place and hangout. Casella's is to the New Jersey arm of the
Genovese crime family what the more famous Ravenite Social Club in New York's
Little Italy is to the Gambino/Gotti family. Ironically, it was at Casella's
that Louis "Bobby" Manna discussed murdering John Gotti on behalf of the
Genovese family.)
In testimony at the public hearing, FBI Special Agent Robert Lenehan
described Casella's as "a safe haven, a secure stronghold where (Manna)
could meet his criminal associates and direct his criminal operations on
behalf of the Genovese family." Manna has now been convicted on federal
racketeering and conspiracy charges and has been sentenced to 80 years in
prison. At the time of his conviction, he was the consigliere (counselor) -
the third ranking member - of the Genovese crime family, one of the most
powerful families in the nation. Casella's was owned by Martin "Motts"
Casella, a longtime associate of Manna who was convicted with him and who
has since died in federal prison.
. . .
In 1977, Manna was released from a state prison where he had been confined
for five years for civil contempt for his refusal to answer questions
regarding organized crime before this Commission. Shortly after his release,
he began to reclaim control of the rackets he had lost while incarcerated.
By 1980, Manna had become consigliere of the Genovese family. In the words
of FBI Agent Lenehan, Manna heldone of the three most powerful positions in
any LCN (La Cosa Nostra) family, responsible for advising the boss,
controlling thecapos, one of the chain of command who could authorize
murders and make the major decisions of the family - in the thin air of
conclaves of bosses, Commission meetings, making and breaking bosses, the
LCN boardroom.
. . .
Q. Did you ever have a sit-down at Casella's Restaurant?
A. Yeah, I had a sit-down with a customer that they had taken from me by one
of his controllers, Bobby Manna's
controllers, and went there with Freddie Salerno in a sit-down and they gave
him back.
Q.Who was the subject of that?
A. Petey Cap. Petey Cap is with Bobby Manna and he's
in the gambling business, and he had
stolen one of my runners.
Q. How was that dispute resolved?
A. It was ruled in my favor and Bobby told Petey
Cap, make sure that he got back to me.
Q. Is Petey Cap, Petey Caporino?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you know Alfred Salerno, Freddie Salerno?
A. Yes.
Q. What position in what family was he?
A. Bruno/Scarfo family, he was a soldier.
Q. He was murdered in 1980. Do you know why?
A. Well, supposedly Freddie Salerno and Tony Bananas
did (killed) Angelo Bruno, and also
over a giant number package in Jersey City, two million dollars a day,
numbers.
Q. How much a day?
A. Two million.
. . .
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The REAL New Jersey Mafia
La Cosa Nostra -- Official State of New Jersey report
http://www.MafiaNJ.com/newjerseymafia/
Hudson County Facts
Essential, but often overlooked information about Hudson County, NJ
http://www.HudsonCountyFacts.com/hudsoncounty/
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