Adolfo M. Bruno (1945 - 2003)

Born 24 Nov 1945 in Bracigliano, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Died 23 Nov 2003 at age 57 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Adolfo M. Bruno, called "Al" or "Big Al," is born 24 November 1945 in Bracigliano, Italy, the son of Nunziante Bruno and Luisa Pennino.^[1]

Al emigrates when he is ten years old and settles in Springfield, Massachusetts.^[1] His father and a sister, Elena, appear on the manifest of the SS Constitution, arriving in the Port of New York on 27 June 1955.^[2] Adolfo appears with two of his siblings, Cristina and Francesco, on a flight manifest of the Linee Aeree Italiane, arriving in New York on 18 October 1955.^[3]

One brother and four sisters also live in the Springfield area, at Al's death in 2003. Another brother has died by this time.^[1]

Al marries Anna Chechile.^[1][4] They have four sons: Anthony M. (1966), Michael, Victor C. (1971), and Frank. Al also has a son, Joseph, with Mindy Sullivan.^[5]

Anthony is born 13 July 1966.^[6]

Victor C. is born 2 September 1971.^[7]

Al is first named among indicted bookmakers and mobsters in 1976.^[8] Al is convicted on gambling and conspiracy charges in March 1976, following a raid the previous year. Around this time, his long-time second in command, Amedeo Santaniello, emigrates to Springfield from Bracigliano.

In the 1980s, Al is second in command in the Springfield Crew to Frankie "Skyball" Scibelli.^[8]

Al lives in Feeding Hills while he runs an illegal, interstate gambling ring which extends into Connecticut and New York.

In 1984, Al Bruno is tied to Carlo M. Mastrototaro of Shrewsbury, MA, the second in command to Raymond Patriarca, in a bookmaking operation. Al, his lieutenant, Anthony Liquori, 45 (b. 1939), and Amedeo Santaniello, 46 (b. 1938), of Springfield, an intermediary and courier between Bruno and Liquori, are charged.^[9]

New York extradites Bruno, Liquori, and Santaniello in 1985. Also extradited at this time is Paul Pizzuto, 38, of Pittsfield. A co-conspirator, Rick Songini, 30, is still at large.^[10]In 1987, Al Bruno pleads guilty to racketeering charges and is sentenced to five years in federal prison.^[11][12][13]

In 1996, Al is found guilty again, of crossing state lines for illegal gambling, and he and Frank Scibelli are both sentenced to 15 months.^[8]

According to Al's son, Victor, Big Al Bruno never learns to read or write.^[14]

"Big Al" Bruno is a made member of the Genovese crime family, of which the Springfield, Massachusetts crew is a part.^[15][16]

In 1998, after his release from prison, Scibelli steps down from leadership, Bruno is passed over and Anthony DeLevo is made captain.^[8]

Some time in the late Nineties, Al has a falling out with Amedeo. Santaniello leaves the area and lives in Florida until after Bruno's death.

In 2002, the FBI warns Al of a plot against his life.^[8]

Death of Al Bruno

Al is killed on 23 November 2003, leaving the Mt. Carmel Social Club. He is shot by Frankie Roche, who was paid by the Geas brothers to kill the captain of the Springfield Crew.^[17][18] The hit is placed on Al by his one-time protege, Anthony Arillotta, who has permission from the Genovese crime family.^[19][20] Genovese acting boss Arthur Nigro told Felix Tranghese to take care of Bruno. However, the hit was supposed to be a "lupara bianca," performed in secret, and the body hidden.^[8] Al was 57.^[14]

Big Al is survived by his wife. His obituary remembers him as charitable pillar of the community. He is buried in the Springfield Street Cemetery, in the Feeding Hills section of Agawam.^[1]

His son, Anthony, is married to Paula Impoco.^[6][21]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Obituary: Adolfo M. Bruno. Published 3 December 2003 in The Republican (Springfield, MA) Final Edition. Westfield Plus Section. P. WP10.
2. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994P-F95V-S?cc=1923888&wc=MFK6-9Z9%3A1030314701 : 21 May 2014), > image 1401 of 1494; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94P-J99T-6?cc=1923888&wc=MFK6-CWL%3A1030321701 : 21 May 2014), > image 354 of 1633; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZR5-NX6 : 4 December 2014), Anna Chechile in entry for Adolfo Bruno, 23 Nov 2003; from "Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Springfield , Massachusetts, death certificate number , Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Health Services, Boston.
5. ↑ Interview with SB 28 May 2017.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLHT-6RK : 22 May 2014), Anthoney M Bruno, Residence, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
7. ↑ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLHT-6TH : 22 May 2014), Victor C Bruno, Residence, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5} Amoruso, David. “The Bruno Hit: How the Genovese Springfield Crew Killed Itself.” Published 4 April 2011. https://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-bruno-hit-how-the-genovese Accessed 22 May 2017.
9. ↑ “State man tied to N.Y. gambling takeover try.” Greenfield Recorder. Published 4 December 1984. P. 6. Accessed via http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html on 21 May 2017.
10. ↑ “N.Y. seeks extradition of 5 on gaming charges.” in the Greenfield Recorder on 24 January 1985. P. 8.
11. ↑ “Federal jury indicts seven in connection with numbers operation.” Page 7. Accessed via http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html on 21 May 2017.
12. ↑ Claffey, Kevin. “Gambling ‘Liaison’ Pleads In Federal Case.” Published 28 February 1989 in The Republican (Springfield, MA; published as Union-News). Springfield Edition. P. 14.
13. ↑ Bazinet, Kenneth R. “Reputed Mafia leaders get jail sentences.” Published 10 December 1987 by UPI. http://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/12/10/Reputed-Mafia-leaders-get-jail-sentences/3904566110800/ Accessed online 28 May 2017.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Press, A. (2003, Nov 30). Alleged mob boss is laid to rest. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. b01.. Retrieved from http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/obit/1116866AA9063A50-1116866AA9063A50?p=OBIT
15. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. “Read The FBI’s John Bologna Documents.” Published 23 May 2017. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/fbi_john_bologna_documents.html
16. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. "Reputed Longmeadow mobster makes second bid for pretrial release" Published 14 December 2016. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/12/reputed_longmeadow_mobster_mak.html Accessed 9 May 2017.
17. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. “Springfield Mafia landscape barren after murder and criminal prosecutions.” Published 12 December 2011. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/springfield_mafia_landscape_ba.html Accessed 16 May 2017.
18. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. “New guard, old guard took mobster Al Bruno down.” Published 8 December 2015. P. A001.
19. ↑ Barry, Stephanie. “Audacious homecoming.” Published in The Republican (Springfield, MA) on 8 May 2017. P. A001.
20. ↑ Burstein, Scott. “Barry reveals another power player in modern day Springfield mob.” Published 19 August 2015. http://gangsterreport.com/barry-reveals-another-power-player-in-modern-day-springfield-mob/ Accessed 9 May 2017.
21. ↑ Obituary: Joyce A. Impoco. Published 26 February 2005 in The Republican. P. B05.