Anthony Riggiano Jr. , a former associate of the Gambino crime family, sat down to reflect on the young mobsters he grew up around who were destined for bigger things in the underworld, even before John Gotti’s imprisonment. According to Riggiano, certain men stood out early for their leadership, their earning power, or their key relationships with powerful figures. The first name that came to Riggiano’s mind was Nikki Carrazza.
Riggiano said he knew the Carrazza brothers his entire life, as they were under his father, Anthony “Fat Andy” Riggiano. As teenagers, Nikki was the clear leader of the crew, and he was the one who brought the other young guys around, including his brother JoJo and Lenny. Riggiano described Nikki as his father’s favorite, a charismatic but stern and vicious figure who simply had “that quality” that marked him for success. Riggiano noted that Nikki was capable of putting together a massive crew after being made, and it was clear he was going places.
The other standout was John Gotti. Riggiano recalled that his father often said only three things could happen to Gotti: he would get a hundred years, get shot in the head, or become the boss. Riggiano noted that Gotti and Nikki Carrazza came from the same neighborhood and actually had major beefs as kids, even putting their hands on each other. They mended fences as they got older.
When Gotti became boss, Nikki reportedly feared he would be killed, but Gotti instead recognized his potential and eventually made him a captain. Riggiano contrasted the rise of the Carrazza brothers. Nikki climbed through his own ability and charisma. JoJo, by contrast, was laid-back and a massive earner with a big crew around him.
JoJo’s ascent was driven largely by his close friendship with Pete Gotti. JoJo was made when John became boss out of respect for the late Neil Dellacroce, but he was made acting captain when Pete Gotti took control. Pete later promoted JoJo to consigliere. Another figure who rose through relationships was Dominic “Skinny Dom” Pizzonia.
Riggiano mentioned that Pizzonia performed “work” to become a made member, including involvement in the murder of Riggiano’s brother-in-law and the murder of Joe Butch’s cousin alongside Joe Watts. However, his rise to captain came through his associations. Riggiano revealed that Pizzonia was Pete Gotti’s best man at his wedding, a detail not many people know. When Pete made JoJo an official captain, JoJo chose Pizzonia as acting captain instead of Ronnie One-Arm, which upset Ronnie.
Ronnie One-Arm’s son, Al O’Toole, was another rising star during this era. Riggiano explained that when he went to prison in 1996, Al and his peers were just kids. By the time he came out eight years later, they were all made members. Al became a made member on the strength of his father, who was a captain.
But his real value was as a major earner. Al had a lot of good people around him, including the Rocforte brothers, and he briefly became an acting captain when his father got into trouble. However, Riggiano said Al took a bad plea deal and was subsequently shelved by the Carrazzas. Still, Riggiano described Al as a “switched on” and smart individual who made a ton of money.
Riggiano also touched on the rise of the Sicilian crew in Brooklyn, specifically Frank Cali and Dominic Cefalù. He said Dominic Cefalù was the last man John Gotti straightened out before going to prison. Riggiano didn’t know them well because they operated in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, areas he rarely frequented, preferring Ozone Park and the Ravenite. He knew them primarily through their reputation as major heroin traffickers with a “treacherous” and dangerous crew.
The Gambinos always had connections back to Sicily, and Riggiano noted that at one point made men from Italy were recognized in the U. S. , until Carlo Gambino changed that policy. Richard Martino was another earner mentioned.
Riggiano knew of him through the phone card and payphone schemes that were a massive swindle at the time. Joe Watts had a huge phone card business with Martino, and Riggiano himself got his cards from Watts. He also noted that the Arnone and Fiumara crews did business in the same sector. Martino made a fortune, with Riggiano citing a quote from Gotti acknowledging Martino was sharp.
Similarly, Andrew Campos and the crew around Frankie Loc made millions by inventing the 900-number telephone porn industry. They brought it to “Tori” and his father, Frankie, and they all made millions. Riggiano said they were all with Frankie Lo, and the crew took down a lot of money. Riggiano also touched on the Colombo family, mentioning Ali Boy Persico, Carmine Persico’s son, who became the boss.
Riggiano knew Ali Boy well and said he was capable in his own right, having many people killed. He recalled the last time he saw Ali Boy was at Plaza Suite, the club Sammy “The Bull” Gravano owned in Brooklyn, where Ali Boy wore an Oakland Raiders jacket. Riggiano also mentioned Joey Scopo and a man called Frankie Foot, who carried out a hit on a Staten Island club owner on Ali Boy’s orders. Reflecting on all these men, Riggiano said that everyone he associated with who ascended to higher stature had a connection or an “in.
” But he stressed that men like Nikki and Lenny stood out because of how they behaved and how people catered to them. While a family name like Persico helped, Riggiano insisted that Ali Boy was intelligent and had what it took to do what needed to be done. Riggiano also provided an update on his own upcoming book. Titled “Reformed Gangster: My Life Inside the Gambino Crime Family,” the book is almost ready to go to print.
He was meeting with his author and manager that day. Those interested can register on his website, anthonyriggiano. com, and the first 100 people will receive copies when it’s ready.