and his replacement, Anthony ‘TG’ Graziano, was indicted for murder, drug trafficking, extortion and illegal gambling.
Joey was, himself, indicted again in January 2003 and amongst the charges lurked seven murders: Alphonse ‘Sonny Red’ Indelicato, Philip ‘Lucky Phil’ Giaconne, Dominick ‘Big Trin’ Trinchera, Dominick ‘Sonny Black’ Napolitano, Tony Mirra, Cesar Bonventre and Gabriel Infanti. Things began to go very wrong when eight Bonanno men decided to give evidence for the prosecution, including Salvatore Vitale, his loyal associate of so many years. Massino had been best man at his wedding and was godfather to one of Vitale’s sons.
In July 2004, he was found guilty on all counts and faced at least life or possibly execution. To the Mob world’s horror, it was announced in February 2005 that Joey Massino had turned and was cooperating with the authorities, the first Mafia boss to do so.
As a result of his cooperation he succeeded in escaping the death penalty, instead being sentenced to life. He also admitted ordering the killing of Bonanno capo Gerlando Sciascia, waiving his right to appeal his conviction for the seven other murders.
Meanwhile the Mafia reeled.
Part Two: Other American Killers
Fung Jing Toy, ‘Little Pete’
It must have been quite a sight back in the late 1800s – Fung Jing Toy, better known as Little Pete, processing through San Francisco’s Chinatown, one minder walking in front of him, one at his side and one behind him. Accompanying them was a trusted servant carrying a jewel case and Pete’s toilet articles so that he could maintain his appearance. Alongside Little Pete was his interpreter, for, bizarrely, this Chinaman spoke no Chinese and could only bark his orders to his henchmen by way of a third party. Hovering in the shadows were half a dozen boo how doy , ‘hatchet men’, who would bury a hatchet in the head of anyone who so much as approached the little man. He took no chances, Little Pete. At night, he and his family slept in a windowless room behind a heavily built door that was both barred and bolted. As an added security measure, a vicious dog was chained on either side of the door to deter break-ins.
Little Pete himself was quite a sight. On his fingers he wore several of the numerous, expensive diamond rings he possessed and which he would change several times a day. As a protection against assassins, he wore a coat of chain mail over one of the 40 suits he owned, none of which he wore two days in succession. If his hat looked a little strange and uncomfortable, it was because inside it lay a protective thin sheet of metal, curved to the shape of his head. From under his hat grew a glossy queue – a pigtail – of which he was extremely proud. In fact he was so proud of it that every morning he would spend at least two hours brushing, combing and oiling it.
Although responsible for the deaths of at least 50 men, Little Pete was a cultured man. He played the zither and wrote comedies in his spare time which he had translated into Chinese and staged at the Jackson Street Theatre. It was never a problem getting them put on – he owned the theatre after all. Little Pete had reason to be cautious as he went about his business in Chinatown for he was, at the time, the most powerful Chinaman on the entire Pacific Coast. He ruled his own gang or Tong, the SumYops, with a rod of steel and exercised control over a number of other Tongs that were allied with his. The world of the Tongs was a violent one and careers were often short-lived, especially careers such as Little Pete’s.
The first Chinese immigrants arrived in America in 1820, but until the California Gold Rush in 1848, fewer than 1,000 had settled in the United States. The Goldrush, however, provided plenty of work for them as labourers for the gold prospectors who had flooded into California. By 1852, 25,000 Chinese had arrived and by 1880 more than 100,000 Chinese immigrants had
Joey was, himself, indicted again in January 2003 and amongst the charges lurked seven murders: Alphonse ‘Sonny Red’ Indelicato, Philip ‘Lucky Phil’ Giaconne, Dominick ‘Big Trin’ Trinchera, Dominick ‘Sonny Black’ Napolitano, Tony Mirra, Cesar Bonventre and Gabriel Infanti. Things began to go very wrong when eight Bonanno men decided to give evidence for the prosecution, including Salvatore Vitale, his loyal associate of so many years. Massino had been best man at his wedding and was godfather to one of Vitale’s sons.
In July 2004, he was found guilty on all counts and faced at least life or possibly execution. To the Mob world’s horror, it was announced in February 2005 that Joey Massino had turned and was cooperating with the authorities, the first Mafia boss to do so.
As a result of his cooperation he succeeded in escaping the death penalty, instead being sentenced to life. He also admitted ordering the killing of Bonanno capo Gerlando Sciascia, waiving his right to appeal his conviction for the seven other murders.
Meanwhile the Mafia reeled.
Part Two: Other American Killers
Fung Jing Toy, ‘Little Pete’
It must have been quite a sight back in the late 1800s – Fung Jing Toy, better known as Little Pete, processing through San Francisco’s Chinatown, one minder walking in front of him, one at his side and one behind him. Accompanying them was a trusted servant carrying a jewel case and Pete’s toilet articles so that he could maintain his appearance. Alongside Little Pete was his interpreter, for, bizarrely, this Chinaman spoke no Chinese and could only bark his orders to his henchmen by way of a third party. Hovering in the shadows were half a dozen boo how doy , ‘hatchet men’, who would bury a hatchet in the head of anyone who so much as approached the little man. He took no chances, Little Pete. At night, he and his family slept in a windowless room behind a heavily built door that was both barred and bolted. As an added security measure, a vicious dog was chained on either side of the door to deter break-ins.
Little Pete himself was quite a sight. On his fingers he wore several of the numerous, expensive diamond rings he possessed and which he would change several times a day. As a protection against assassins, he wore a coat of chain mail over one of the 40 suits he owned, none of which he wore two days in succession. If his hat looked a little strange and uncomfortable, it was because inside it lay a protective thin sheet of metal, curved to the shape of his head. From under his hat grew a glossy queue – a pigtail – of which he was extremely proud. In fact he was so proud of it that every morning he would spend at least two hours brushing, combing and oiling it.
Although responsible for the deaths of at least 50 men, Little Pete was a cultured man. He played the zither and wrote comedies in his spare time which he had translated into Chinese and staged at the Jackson Street Theatre. It was never a problem getting them put on – he owned the theatre after all. Little Pete had reason to be cautious as he went about his business in Chinatown for he was, at the time, the most powerful Chinaman on the entire Pacific Coast. He ruled his own gang or Tong, the SumYops, with a rod of steel and exercised control over a number of other Tongs that were allied with his. The world of the Tongs was a violent one and careers were often short-lived, especially careers such as Little Pete’s.
The first Chinese immigrants arrived in America in 1820, but until the California Gold Rush in 1848, fewer than 1,000 had settled in the United States. The Goldrush, however, provided plenty of work for them as labourers for the gold prospectors who had flooded into California. By 1852, 25,000 Chinese had arrived and by 1880 more than 100,000 Chinese immigrants had
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