Gennaro Langella
Encyclopedia
Gennaro Adriano Langella (born 1939) also known as "Gerry Lang", is a member of the Colombo crime family
who eventually became underboss
and acting boss.
, Italy
. He grew up in Brooklyn
and was a close associate of future mob boss Carmine Persico
. It is believed that Langella secretly became a "made man
" in the Colombo family during a time when the New York crime families were not accepting new members. Langella is the father of reputed Colombo soldier Vincent Langella. Crime writer Selwyn Raab
described Langella as:
." When travelling in some neighbouring states, he had to go to the police and inform them that he knew karate and that his hands, per se, were to be known as 'lethal weapons' when he was charged with assault and the judge asked him if it the attack was intentional or not. While Persico served prison time during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Langella doubled as Underboss and even as Acting boss while Persico went into hiding to avoid federal indictments. Langella supervised various labor rackets for the family, including their stake in "Concrete Club", and exerted control over various labor unions, including Laborers Local 6A. As acting boss, his consigliere was Ralph (Little Ralphie) Scopo Jr., the son of murdered Colombo crime family capo Ralph Scopo Sr.
charges in the Colombo case. On February 28, 1985, Colombo, Persico, and other mob leaders were indicted in the Mafia Commission case.
In March 1985, Langella was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Colombo case. On November 20, 1986, Langella was convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial
along with Persico and other top Cosa Nostra leaders in New York. On January 14, 1987, Langella was sentenced to 65 years in prison.
As of November 2011, Langella is imprisoned in the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri
. His projected release date is September 2, 2052, effectively a life sentence.
Colombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
who eventually became underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
and acting boss.
Background
Langella was born in 1939 to first generation immigrants from CampaniaCampania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He grew up in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and was a close associate of future mob boss Carmine Persico
Carmine Persico
Carmine John Persico, Jr. also known as "Junior", "The Snake" and "Immortal", has been the de-facto boss of the Colombo crime family since the early 1970s. Persico has overseen gang wars, murders, and major rackets, most of the time from prison. He has been serving life imprisonment without...
. It is believed that Langella secretly became a "made man
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
" in the Colombo family during a time when the New York crime families were not accepting new members. Langella is the father of reputed Colombo soldier Vincent Langella. Crime writer Selwyn Raab
Selwyn Raab
-Books:*Justice in the Back Room*Mob Lawyer*Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires -References:...
described Langella as:
"...a ruthless arrogant loan shark and drug trafficker. His speech was peppered with expletives. He was considered a vain clotheshorseClotheshorseA clotheshorse or clothes horse, sometimes called a clothes rack, drying horse, winterdyke, clothes maiden, drying rack, Frostick, or airer, refers to a frame upon which clothes are hung after washing to enable them to dry...
and unlike more contemporary Hollywood gangster attire he favored double breasted blazers, sporty open collar shirts and wrap around sunglasses. He was a regular patron of the Casa Sorta restaurant in Bensonhurst, BrooklynBensonhurst, BrooklynBensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
where he would hold meetings with associates".
Colombo family
Langella quickly rose up through the ranks of the crime family. Gennaro received the nickname "Gerry Lang" from Carmine Persico because of his conspiracy of "knowing karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
." When travelling in some neighbouring states, he had to go to the police and inform them that he knew karate and that his hands, per se, were to be known as 'lethal weapons' when he was charged with assault and the judge asked him if it the attack was intentional or not. While Persico served prison time during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Langella doubled as Underboss and even as Acting boss while Persico went into hiding to avoid federal indictments. Langella supervised various labor rackets for the family, including their stake in "Concrete Club", and exerted control over various labor unions, including Laborers Local 6A. As acting boss, his consigliere was Ralph (Little Ralphie) Scopo Jr., the son of murdered Colombo crime family capo Ralph Scopo Sr.
Prison
On October 24, 1984, Langella, Persico, and other Colombo mobsters were indicted on RICO racketeering and extortionRacketeer 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...
charges in the Colombo case. On February 28, 1985, Colombo, Persico, and other mob leaders were indicted in the Mafia Commission case.
In March 1985, Langella was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Colombo case. On November 20, 1986, Langella was convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial
Mafia Commission Trial
The Mafia Commission Trial was a criminal trial in New York City, USA. Using evidence obtained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, eleven organized crime figures, including the heads of New York's so-called "Five Families," were indicted by United States Attorney Rudolph Giuliani under the...
along with Persico and other top Cosa Nostra leaders in New York. On January 14, 1987, Langella was sentenced to 65 years in prison.
As of November 2011, Langella is imprisoned in the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. His projected release date is September 2, 2052, effectively a life sentence.