The Vario Crew
Encyclopedia
The Vario Crew is a group operating within the Lucchese crime family
. It was once controlled by powerful Capo
Paul Vario
from the early 1950s into the early 1980s, when Vario and Jimmy Burke were betrayed by Henry Hill. Hill betrayed the crew by testifying against many members and his life-story became the plot of the 1990 crime film
Goodfellas
. Today the crew is still active, but less influential than before and is currently led by Domenico Cutaia
.
Jimmy "The Gent" Burke, was a close ally to Paul Vario. Burke ran a crew of hijackers that would pay off truck drivers and then unload the goods at a warehouse controlled by Paul Vario. Another ally to Vario was John Dioguardi
, a Lucchese family capo who controlled unions in the New York City. In the 1970s, when Paul Vario and Jimmy Burke were imprisoned, a majority of Vario's bookmaking operation were taken over by his Russian
Jewish associate Martin Krugman.
After Robert "Bobby" Germaine Jr., the son of Henry Hill's drug partner, became an informant, Hill was monitored. In 1980, Hill was arrested for drug dealing and looking at several life-sentences he became an informant. Henry Hill's testimony led to 50 convictions. Jimmy Burke was given 20 years for fixing sporting events and a life sentence when the authorities convicted him for murdering scam-artist Richard Eaton. Paul Vario was given a 12½-year sentence during the KENRAC trial.
metropolitan area, these are some of the former headquarters and hangouts.
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...
. It was once controlled by powerful Capo
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...
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...
from the early 1950s into the early 1980s, when Vario and Jimmy Burke were betrayed by Henry Hill. Hill betrayed the crew by testifying against many members and his life-story became the plot of the 1990 crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
Goodfellas
Goodfellas
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
. Today the crew is still active, but less influential than before and is currently led by Domenico Cutaia
Domenico Cutaia
Domenico "Danny" Cutaia is a Brooklyn mafioso and a caporegime in the Lucchese crime family.-Background:...
.
Paul Vario's power
Paul Vario received money from members of his crew and local criminals; Vario would take a cut and pass on the rest to the Boss. Vario's crew was involved in hijacking cargo shipments from JFK Airport. His crew also ran several loansharking and bookmaking operations in Brooklyn.Jimmy "The Gent" Burke, was a close ally to Paul Vario. Burke ran a crew of hijackers that would pay off truck drivers and then unload the goods at a warehouse controlled by Paul Vario. Another ally to Vario was John Dioguardi
John Dioguardi
Giovanni Ignazio Dioguardi, also known as "John Dioguardi" and "Johnny Dio" , was an Italian-American organized crime figure and a labor racketeer...
, a Lucchese family capo who controlled unions in the New York City. In the 1970s, when Paul Vario and Jimmy Burke were imprisoned, a majority of Vario's bookmaking operation were taken over by his Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
Jewish associate Martin Krugman.
Henry Hill's drug organization
Two of Vario's crew members, Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke, began dealing in heroin, cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines. Hill ran his criminal enterprise with his wife Karen, William Arico, Anthony Perla, Rocco Perla, Robin Cooperman and Judith Wicks. In early 1979, Burke and Hill began selling heroin.After Robert "Bobby" Germaine Jr., the son of Henry Hill's drug partner, became an informant, Hill was monitored. In 1980, Hill was arrested for drug dealing and looking at several life-sentences he became an informant. Henry Hill's testimony led to 50 convictions. Jimmy Burke was given 20 years for fixing sporting events and a life sentence when the authorities convicted him for murdering scam-artist Richard Eaton. Paul Vario was given a 12½-year sentence during the KENRAC trial.
Capos of the Vario crew
- 1950s–1988 – Paul VarioPaul VarioPaul 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...
— served as Consigliere in 1970s; in 1984 he received a 12-years prison sentenced, died on May 3, 1988.- Acting 1970–1988 – Vito "Tuddy" Vario — younger brother to Paul Vario
- 1988–1991 – Alphonse "Little Al" D'ArcoAlphonse D'ArcoAlphonse "Little Al" D'Arco , also known as "The Professor", is a New York mobster who became the acting boss of Lucchese crime family. He was the first boss, acting or otherwise, of a New York crime family to become a government witness....
— served as Street Boss from May 1990 to January 1991 then became the Acting Boss. He became a government witness on September 21, 1991. - 1991–present – Domenico "Danny" CutaiaDomenico CutaiaDomenico "Danny" Cutaia is a Brooklyn mafioso and a caporegime in the Lucchese crime family.-Background:...
— currently imprisoned, with a release date of November 21, 2012.
Past members and associates of the crew
List of past members and associates who are retired, deceased or have been murdered.
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Former headquarters and hangouts
The crew operates throughout the New York CityNew 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...
metropolitan area, these are some of the former headquarters and hangouts.
- Robert's LoungeRobert's LoungeRobert's Lounge was a saloon that was owned by Lucchese crime family associate James 'Jimmy the Gent' Burke. Robert's Lounge was located at 114-45 Lefferts Boulevard in South Ozone Park, Queens, near the John F. Kennedy International Airport Air Cargo Center...
– was the former headquarters of Jimmy Burke's crew, located on Lefferts Boulevard and Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park, QueensSouth Ozone Park, QueensSouth Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens. It was originally developed as low-cost housing in the early 1900s. Adjacently north of JFK Airport, its boundaries extend from the Aqueduct Racetrack westward to the Van Wyck Expressway.Its main...
.
- The Bamboo Lounge – was a former hangout, located on Rockaway ParkwayRockaway ParkwayRockaway Parkway is a major commercial street in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.Canarsie High School, as well as a firehouse and several homes and businesses are on Rockaway Parkway. The Rockaway Parkway station is the southern terminus of the BMT Canarsie Line...
& Avenue N in Canarsie, BrooklynCanarsie, BrooklynCanarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
.
- The Suite – was a former hangout, owned by Henry HillHenry Hill (mobster)Henry Hill is a former American mobster, Lucchese crime family associate, and FBI informant whose life story was documented in the book Wiseguy, written by crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi, and in the 1990 Martin Scorsese film, Goodfellas, in which Hill was played by Ray Liotta.-Early life:Henry...
located on Queens BoulevardQueens BoulevardQueens Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens connecting communities from Midtown Manhattan to Jamaica...
near Forest Hills, QueensForest Hills, QueensForest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...
.
- The Lefferts Bar –
- Others: Euclid Taxi Cab Company in Brownsville, BrooklynBrownsville, BrooklynBrownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
, Bargain Auto Junkyard and Kew Motor Inn
Government informants and witnesses
- Alphonse "Little Al" D'ArcoAlphonse D'ArcoAlphonse "Little Al" D'Arco , also known as "The Professor", is a New York mobster who became the acting boss of Lucchese crime family. He was the first boss, acting or otherwise, of a New York crime family to become a government witness....
– became a witness on September 21, 1991 - Henry Hill – associate, became a witness in 1980
- Anthony DeSimone – associate, murdered in February 1984
- Richard Bilello – associate, murdered on October 28, 1974
- Peter Gruenwald – associate, became a witness in 1978, died in 1979
- Theresa FerraraTheresa FerraraTheresa Ferrara an Italian-American born in the Five Towns area of Long Island, New York. She worked with Lucchese crime family associates, and eventually became an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation . Ferrara was a distant relative of New Orleans crime family boss Carlos Marcello...
– she became a government informant and disappeared on February 10, 1979
In popular culture
- The 1990 film GoodfellasGoodfellasGoodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
is based on the Vario Crew and the life story of crew associate Henry Hill.