Anthony Corallo
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo (February 12, 1913 – August 23, 2000) was a New York City
mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family
.
section of East Harlem
. He would get his nickname, "Tony Ducks" by ducking subpoenas. Tony was recruited into the 107th Street Gang during the 1920s and arrested, for grand larceny
, and released in 1935 while the family was under Tommy Gagliano
. Corallo was recruited by Tommy Lucchese
to join Johnny Dio, the leader of labor racketeering operations in the Garment district. When the family was turned over to Tommy Lucchese
, Tony Ducks became a prominent figure in the family. Lucchese thought highly of Corallo and appointed him caporegime
by 1943, while Corallo was still in his early 30's. Corallo with Johnny Dio went on to control five Teamsters Union locals, the Painters and Decorators Union, the Conduit Workers Union and the United Textile Workers earning the family millions.
. His main business was Labor extortion and racketeering in the late 1940s, where he would do business with Jimmy Hoffa
. He had close ties to the Painters and Decorators Union, the Conduit Workers Union, and the United Textile Workers. All of which proved successful, having executive positions in these unions to show for his efforts. The thing he was best at, though, was maneuvering the control of legitimate businesses toward personal for his own profit. Corallo was, however, called before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management
to answer some questions about $70,000 US dollars stolen from the Teamsters Union local 239 by using names of dead mob members. Like many other mobsters, Corallo pleaded the Fifth Amendment
many times during his two-hour interrogation. After Lucchese's death, Corallo was to be put in charge, but that had to be put on hold, however, due to a two-year prison term Corallo received in 1968. This for attempting to bribe New York Supreme Court Justice James "Vinny" Keogh and Assistant US Attorney Elliot Kahaner in an attempt to get a reduced prison term on a Lucchese family member. While the Commission awaited his release, Carmine Tramunti
was selected as interim boss. It has been speculated by former law enforcement and Mafia historians that Corallo was promoted immediately upon his release in 1970 and that Tramunti was only an "Acting" or "Front" Boss for the last few years of his reign before being jailed in 1973 allegedly leaving Corallo to take over as official Boss. One of Corallo's first moves was to take over gravel
distribution in various areas of New York such as Long Island. In owning major gravel companies in his territories or areas of influence, Corallo increased the Lucchese crime family
's influence in the construction industry and with the unions involved. The garbage industry would be next on his list. With the help of a union official named Bernie Adelstein, the front business would be called Private Sanitation Industry Association. Next with the help of Lucchese capo Paul Vario
and his crew, Corallo would gain power at John F. Kennedy International Airport
.
(RICO), as had other bosses of the Five Families
and other high ranking members of organized crime. A microphone and recorder was planted inside Corallo's car where he often talked to his driver about many family-related items. That is what would bring him down. Corallo owned a million-dollar home in the village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
. The FBI and New York City Police came there on February 25, 1985, with an arrest warrant for Corallo. The next day a federal grand jury
indicted Corallo and the other New York crime family bosses. Corallo was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in prison. In 2000, Anthony Corallo died at a medical center for federal prisoners.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
.
Early life
Corallo grew up in an ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
section of East Harlem
Italian Harlem
Italian Harlem was the name that was given to East Harlem in the New York City borough of Manhattan, when it was largely inhabited by an Italian American population....
. He would get his nickname, "Tony Ducks" by ducking subpoenas. Tony was recruited into the 107th Street Gang during the 1920s and arrested, for grand larceny
Grand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
, and released in 1935 while the family was under Tommy Gagliano
Tommy Gagliano
Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano was an American gangster who founded the Lucchese crime family, one of the powerful "Five Families" of New York City, and served as its low-profile Boss for over two decades...
. Corallo was recruited by Tommy Lucchese
Tommy Lucchese
Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese , also known as "Tom Brown" or "Three-Finger Brown", was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City...
to join Johnny Dio, the leader of labor racketeering operations in the Garment district. When the family was turned over to Tommy Lucchese
Tommy Lucchese
Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese , also known as "Tom Brown" or "Three-Finger Brown", was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City...
, Tony Ducks became a prominent figure in the family. Lucchese thought highly of Corallo and appointed him caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
by 1943, while Corallo was still in his early 30's. Corallo with Johnny Dio went on to control five Teamsters Union locals, the Painters and Decorators Union, the Conduit Workers Union and the United Textile Workers earning the family millions.
Rise to power
After he was appointed capo, he moved his base of operations to QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. His main business was Labor extortion and racketeering in the late 1940s, where he would do business with Jimmy Hoffa
Jimmy Hoffa
James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader....
. He had close ties to the Painters and Decorators Union, the Conduit Workers Union, and the United Textile Workers. All of which proved successful, having executive positions in these unions to show for his efforts. The thing he was best at, though, was maneuvering the control of legitimate businesses toward personal for his own profit. Corallo was, however, called before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management
United States Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management
The United States Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management was a select committee created by the United States Senate on January 30, 1957, and dissolved on March 31, 1960...
to answer some questions about $70,000 US dollars stolen from the Teamsters Union local 239 by using names of dead mob members. Like many other mobsters, Corallo pleaded the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
many times during his two-hour interrogation. After Lucchese's death, Corallo was to be put in charge, but that had to be put on hold, however, due to a two-year prison term Corallo received in 1968. This for attempting to bribe New York Supreme Court Justice James "Vinny" Keogh and Assistant US Attorney Elliot Kahaner in an attempt to get a reduced prison term on a Lucchese family member. While the Commission awaited his release, Carmine Tramunti
Carmine Tramunti
Carmine "Mr. Gribbs" Tramunti was a New York mobster who was the boss of the Lucchese crime family. Tramunti helped build the massive French Connection heroin smuggling ring.-Operating in Harlem:...
was selected as interim boss. It has been speculated by former law enforcement and Mafia historians that Corallo was promoted immediately upon his release in 1970 and that Tramunti was only an "Acting" or "Front" Boss for the last few years of his reign before being jailed in 1973 allegedly leaving Corallo to take over as official Boss. One of Corallo's first moves was to take over gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
distribution in various areas of New York such as Long Island. In owning major gravel companies in his territories or areas of influence, Corallo increased the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
's influence in the construction industry and with the unions involved. The garbage industry would be next on his list. With the help of a union official named Bernie Adelstein, the front business would be called Private Sanitation Industry Association. Next with the help of Lucchese capo Paul Vario
Paul Vario
Paul Vario was a caporegime of a crew in the Lucchese crime family. In the 1970s Vario held the position of consigliere in the family but later resigned. In 1980, longtime associate Henry Hill became a government witness and testified against Vario and members of his crew...
and his crew, Corallo would gain power at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
.
Downfall
Corallo would eventually become a victim of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ActRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO), as had other bosses of the Five Families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
and other high ranking members of organized crime. A microphone and recorder was planted inside Corallo's car where he often talked to his driver about many family-related items. That is what would bring him down. Corallo owned a million-dollar home in the village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Oyster Bay Cove, New York
The Village of Oyster Bay Cove is a village located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 2,197 at the 2010 census...
. The FBI and New York City Police came there on February 25, 1985, with an arrest warrant for Corallo. The next day a federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
indicted Corallo and the other New York crime family bosses. Corallo was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in prison. In 2000, Anthony Corallo died at a medical center for federal prisoners.