Louis Daidone
Encyclopedia
Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone (born February 23, 1946) is a New York mobster and former acting boss of the Lucchese crime family
.
in a home on Cross Bay Boulevard
earning him the nickname "Louis Crossbay". He is a paternal blood relative of Philadelphia crime family
mobster Albert Daidone.
In the early 1980s, Daidone became a made man
, or soldier, in the Lucchese family, working with the Brooklyn
faction of the family. Daidone soon gained a reputation as a tough enforcer and "sidewalk soldier" who was involved in loansharking, extortion
and drug trafficking activities. He worked under consigliere
/Brooklyn faction boss, Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari
and was close to capos Vittorio "Vic" Amuso
and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
, who dominated the Brooklyn faction. Daidone owned a bagel
shop, "Bagels on the Bay" in Howard Beach, Queens
, that he used as a headquarters for his crew. Daidone's crew was involved in loansharking, extortion, racketeering, narcotics distribution, and murder.
In 1985, Lucchese boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
was convicted of racketeering in the Mafia Commission
trial and sentenced to life in prison. Corallo's acting boss was Anthony "Buddy" Luongo, but he disappeared in December 1986, possibly murdered by family rivals. With Furnari and Casso's approval, Corallo made Amuso the new Lucchese boss. Amuso then promoted Casso, his closest advisor, to underboss and Daidone to capo in the Queens wing
On March 25, 1988, Daidone and his associates robbed an armored truck belonging to the Rapid Armored Truck Company in New York. The Lucchese family netted $1.2 million from this heist.
By the mid 1980s, Daidone had become a top aide to Amuso and Casso. During this period, Amuso became increasingly concerned about potential rivals and government informants within the family. He soon started a bloody purge of possible suspects, using Daidone to help him.
In February 1989, Amuso and Casso ordered Daidone to murder Lucchese soldier Thomas Gilmore, a car thief working for the Lucchese family. They had received information from New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
, who were both being bribed by Casso, that Gilmore was a government informant. Daidone and two associates hid inside Gilmore's Richmond Hill, Queens
apartment to await his return. Under Daidone's supervision, the two associates ambushed Gilmore as he returned to his apartment and shot him three times in the head. There is no proof that Gilmore was ever working for a government agency.
In 1990, both Amuso and Casso became fugitives to avoid federal indictment for racketeering. During this period, they communicated orders to the Lucchese family using messengers. In August 1990, Amuso and Casso ordered Daidone to murder Lucchese mobster Bruno Facciolo. Eppolito and Caracappa had told Amuso that Facciolo was helping California
authorities in an investigation of a Lucchese-linked homicide
. Daidone asked Facciolo to formally introduce him to a member of another crime family at a garage in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
.
When Daidone and Facciolo arrived at the garage, Facciolo saw the men waiting for him and tried to run away. Daidone dragged Facciolo back to the garage, then held him down while the other mobsters stabbed and shot him in both eyes. One week later, Facciolo's body was recovered from the trunk of his car. The police found a dead canary
in his mouth, the Cosa Nostra sign of an informant. In 1991 Amuso was finally captured and later that year convicted of racketeering charges and in 1992 was sentenced to life imprisonment
.
After receiving a life sentence to prison in 1992, Amuso chose Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede
as new acting boss, Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
as underboss and Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino
as consigliere. The powerful Bronx faction, led by Crea, was now sharing control of the family with Amuso. In 1993, the newly captured Casso, Lastorini, and other Brooklyn faction members were indicted on racketeering charges. After Lastorini went to prison, Amuso promoted the imprisoned Daidone to consigliere. In 1996, Daidone was released from prison.
In 1998, DeFede was indicted on nine counts of racketeering and received five years in prison after pleading guilty. Amuso now promoted Crea to acting boss. In 2000, Crea was indicted on charges of extortion and racketeering and sentenced to five years in prison. Amuso now promoted Daidone to acting boss.
Amuso soon began pressuring Daidone to murder DeFede after his release from prison. Amuso believed that DeFede had been underestimating the profits from his rackets to avoid paying more tribute to Amuso. DeFede found out about Amuso's plan and in February 2002, immediately after his release from prison, DeFede became a government witness. His information on labor racketeering, extortion activities, and unsolved murders allowed the government to build a strong racketeering case against Daidone.
In March 2003, Daidone was indicted again for racketeering, loan-sharking, gambling and other crimes. In one of the crimes, a Brooklyn landlord was assaulted on Daidone's orders because the landlord ignored a request by Daidone to lower the volume on his home music system.
On July 1, 2004, after being convicted on the 2002 charges of loansharking and conspiracy to murder in the Gilmore and Facciolo murders, Daidone was sentenced to life in prison.
As of March, 2011, Daidone is incarcerated at the high-security United States Penitentiary (USP) in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. He has no release date.
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...
.
Sidewalk soldier
Daidone was born in Broad Channel, QueensBroad Channel, Queens
Broad Channel is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It occupies the southern portion of Rulers Bar Hassock , which is the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay. The neighborhood stands on Big Egg Marsh, an area of fill approximately 20 blocks long and 4 blocks wide...
in a home on Cross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main north–south road in Howard Beach, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. In the south, it originates in The Rockaways, runs over the Cross Bay Bridge into Broad Channel and then over the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge into Howard Beach...
earning him the nickname "Louis Crossbay". He is a paternal blood relative of Philadelphia crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
mobster Albert Daidone.
In the early 1980s, Daidone 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...
, or soldier, in the Lucchese family, working with the 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...
faction of the family. Daidone soon gained a reputation as a tough enforcer and "sidewalk soldier" who was involved in loansharking, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and drug trafficking activities. He worked under consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
/Brooklyn faction boss, Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari
Christopher Furnari
Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari, Sr. is a Lucchese crime family mobster serving life in prison. During the 1980s, Furnari served as the family consigliere until his 1986 racketeering conviction.-Early years:...
and was close to capos Vittorio "Vic" Amuso
Victor Amuso
Vittorio "Little Vic" Amuso is a New York mobster and, as of 2011, the reputed Boss of the Lucchese crime family. Amuso is currently serving life at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, Texas on murder and racketeering charges....
and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso
Anthony Casso
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso is a former New York City mobster who served as underboss and acting boss of the Lucchese crime family until he was arrested in 1993, becoming a cooperating witness for the Federal Government...
, who dominated the Brooklyn faction. Daidone owned a bagel
Bagel
A bagel is a bread product, traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, which is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior...
shop, "Bagels on the Bay" in Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park, the south by Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th...
, that he used as a headquarters for his crew. Daidone's crew was involved in loansharking, extortion, racketeering, narcotics distribution, and murder.
In 1985, Lucchese boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo
Anthony Corallo
Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo was a New York City mobster and boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Early life:...
was convicted of racketeering in the Mafia Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
trial and sentenced to life in prison. Corallo's acting boss was Anthony "Buddy" Luongo, but he disappeared in December 1986, possibly murdered by family rivals. With Furnari and Casso's approval, Corallo made Amuso the new Lucchese boss. Amuso then promoted Casso, his closest advisor, to underboss and Daidone to capo in the Queens wing
On March 25, 1988, Daidone and his associates robbed an armored truck belonging to the Rapid Armored Truck Company in New York. The Lucchese family netted $1.2 million from this heist.
Gilmore and Facciolo murders
In February 1989, Amuso and Casso ordered Daidone to murder Lucchese soldier Thomas Gilmore, a car thief working for the Lucchese family. They had received information from New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa
Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa are two former New York Police Department police detectives who worked on behalf of the New York Mafia while they committed various illegal activities...
, who were both being bribed by Casso, that Gilmore was a government informant. Daidone and two associates hid inside Gilmore's Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
apartment to await his return. Under Daidone's supervision, the two associates ambushed Gilmore as he returned to his apartment and shot him three times in the head. There is no proof that Gilmore was ever working for a government agency.
In 1990, both Amuso and Casso became fugitives to avoid federal indictment for racketeering. During this period, they communicated orders to the Lucchese family using messengers. In August 1990, Amuso and Casso ordered Daidone to murder Lucchese mobster Bruno Facciolo. Eppolito and Caracappa had told Amuso that Facciolo was helping California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
authorities in an investigation of a Lucchese-linked homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
. Daidone asked Facciolo to formally introduce him to a member of another crime family at a garage in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst 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...
.
When Daidone and Facciolo arrived at the garage, Facciolo saw the men waiting for him and tried to run away. Daidone dragged Facciolo back to the garage, then held him down while the other mobsters stabbed and shot him in both eyes. One week later, Facciolo's body was recovered from the trunk of his car. The police found a dead canary
Domestic Canary
The Domestic Canary, often simply known as the canary, is a domesticated form of the wild Canary, a small songbird in the finch family originating from the Macaronesian Islands ....
in his mouth, the Cosa Nostra sign of an informant. In 1991 Amuso was finally captured and later that year convicted of racketeering charges and in 1992 was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
.
Brooklyn rivalry
On May 1, 1992, Daidone and three other Lucchese mobsters were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery in the 1988 armored truck robbery. Daidone was sentenced to five years in prison. The stolen money was never recovered.After receiving a life sentence to prison in 1992, Amuso chose Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede
Joseph DeFede
Joseph "Little Joe" DeFede is a New York City mobster and former acting boss of the Lucchese crime family who eventually turned informant.-Early years:...
as new acting boss, Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
Steven Crea
Steven L. Crea , also known as "Wonderboy", or "Herbie", is a New York mobster heavily involved in labor racketeering who eventually became the acting boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Rise to power:...
as underboss and Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino
Frank Lastorino
Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino is a New York City mobster and former Consigliere of the Lucchese crime family.-Lucchese hitman:Raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Lastorino soon joined the Lucchese crime family under Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo in extortion, loansharking and illegal gambling operations...
as consigliere. The powerful Bronx faction, led by Crea, was now sharing control of the family with Amuso. In 1993, the newly captured Casso, Lastorini, and other Brooklyn faction members were indicted on racketeering charges. After Lastorini went to prison, Amuso promoted the imprisoned Daidone to consigliere. In 1996, Daidone was released from prison.
Consigliere to acting boss
During the 1990s, the Lucchese family underwent several leadership changes as more of the top leadership was sent to prison. Throughout this period as consigliere, Daidone supervised the enforcement and intimidation actions within the family, and continued to run extortion, loansharking, drug trafficking and murder activities in Queens. Daidone began working with Caridi in large extortion operations around New York City.In 1998, DeFede was indicted on nine counts of racketeering and received five years in prison after pleading guilty. Amuso now promoted Crea to acting boss. In 2000, Crea was indicted on charges of extortion and racketeering and sentenced to five years in prison. Amuso now promoted Daidone to acting boss.
Amuso soon began pressuring Daidone to murder DeFede after his release from prison. Amuso believed that DeFede had been underestimating the profits from his rackets to avoid paying more tribute to Amuso. DeFede found out about Amuso's plan and in February 2002, immediately after his release from prison, DeFede became a government witness. His information on labor racketeering, extortion activities, and unsolved murders allowed the government to build a strong racketeering case against Daidone.
Prison
On November 15, 2002, Daidone was indicted for racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in the 1989 Gilmore and 1990 Facciolo murders. During a search of Daidone's home, authorities recovered mob-related business records, $70,000 in cash, and some marijuana. Testifying against Daidone were D'Arco, DeFede, and Frank Gioia, Jr., all of whom had become government witnesses.In March 2003, Daidone was indicted again for racketeering, loan-sharking, gambling and other crimes. In one of the crimes, a Brooklyn landlord was assaulted on Daidone's orders because the landlord ignored a request by Daidone to lower the volume on his home music system.
On July 1, 2004, after being convicted on the 2002 charges of loansharking and conspiracy to murder in the Gilmore and Facciolo murders, Daidone was sentenced to life in prison.
As of March, 2011, Daidone is incarcerated at the high-security United States Penitentiary (USP) in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. He has no release date.
Further reading
- King of the Godfathers: Joseph Massino and the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family by Anthony DeStefano