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{{short description|American mobster}}
{{use American English|date=January 2020}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}
{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox criminal
|name=Dominick Napolitano
|name = Dominick Napolitano
|other_names = Sonny Black
|image=DonnieBrascoAndSonnyBlack.jpg|right|thumb|280px
|image = SonnyBlack.jpg
|caption=Napolitano (right) and Donnie Brasco
|caption = Napolitano c. 1980
|birth_date={{birth date|1930|6|16|mf=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1930|6|16|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Greenpoint, Brooklyn|Greenpoint]], [[Brooklyn]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1981|8|17|1930|6|16|mf=y}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1981|8|17|1930|6|16|mf=y}}
|death_place=[[Flatlands, Brooklyn]]
|death_place = New York City, U.S.
| disappeared_date = August 17, 1981
| body_discovered = August 12, 1982<br />[[Arlington, Staten Island]], U.S.
| death_cause = [[Gunshot Wound]]
| allegiance = [[Bonanno crime family]]
| occupation = [[Mobster]]
}}
}}


'''Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano''' (born June 16, 1930 in [[Greenpoint, Brooklyn]] &ndash; died August 17, 1981 [[Flatlands, Brooklyn]]) was a [[caporegime]] in the [[Bonanno crime family]]. He is well known for allowing [[FBI]] agent [[Joseph "Donnie Brasco" Pistone]] to become an associate in his crew and nearly getting him [[Made man|made]].
'''Dominick Napolitano''' (June 16, 1930 – August 17, 1981), also known as '''Sonny Black''', was an [[American Mafia]] [[caporegime]] in the [[Bonanno crime family]]. He is known for unwittingly allowing [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Joseph D. Pistone]] to become an associate in his crew and nearly having him become a "made man."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalcrimesyndicate.com/on-this-day-in-1981-dominick-napolitano-was-killed/?amp=1 | title=On This Day in 1981 Dominick Napolitano was Killed Aged 51 - the NCS | date=August 17, 2015 }}</ref>


==Biography==
== Early life ==
{{singlesource|section|date=November 2023}}
Napolitano's parents were immigrants from [[Naples]], [[Italy]]. Napolitano was born with blond hair, but by his forties it had turned a gunmetal white-silver color. To hide the color, he dyed it black. Earning him the nickname "Sonny Black". He was a close friend of future Bonanno crime family boss [[Joseph Massino]], and incarcerated boss [[Phillip Rastelli]], who knew Napolitano before he went to prison. He was close to Carmine Napolitano (May 30, 1943 - February 15, 1999), a cousin and fellow Bonanno mobster.
Napolitano's grandparents were immigrants from [[Naples]], Italy. Napolitano was born with blond hair, but by his forties it had turned a gunmetal white-silver color. To hide the color, he dyed it black, earning him the nickname "Sonny Black".


He was a close friend of future Bonanno crime family boss [[Joseph Massino]]; incarcerated boss [[Philip Rastelli]] knew Napolitano before he went to prison. He was close to Carmine Napolitano (May 30, 1943 – February 15, 1999), a cousin and fellow Bonanno mobster. Like his sons Peter Napolitano (November 17, 1957 – June 29, 1994), Aniello Napolitano and Rocco Napolitano who were born and raised in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]]; he was also raised there.<ref name="Williamsburg mafia">{{cite web |title=Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano – Made Famous in "Donnie Brasco" |url=https://americanmafiahistory.com/sonny-black/ |website=American Magic History |date=November 18, 2012 |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Sons [[Peter Napolitano]] (November 17, 1957-June 29, 1994), [[Aniello Napolitano]] and [[Rocco Napolitano]] were born and raised in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]]. Napolitano was a womanizer who cheated with his long-time mistress, Judith Fields. It is unknown who Napolitano was married to at the time of his murder. It has been widely reported that Napolitano has a son with Judith Fields named Anthoni Meuir, who has proven to be elusive when an attempt was made to contact him regarding his relationship with Napolitano.


Napolitano was a sturdy 5'7" man who weighed about 170 pounds with powerfully developed chest and arms. On his right forearm was a tattoo of a black panther. He was swarthy, with hair dyed jet black. His face was fleshy with rings under his brown eyes that made him look, depending on the mood, either tired or menacing. He was not a heavy drinker and only indulged at times with fine [[France|French]] liquor. He had dead straight hair, a square jaw and a Roman nose. Napolitano controlled [[Greenpoint, Brooklyn]] and from 1979 to 1980 he operated in [[Pasco County, Florida]] out of [[Holiday, Florida]] after negotiating control of the territory with [[Santo Trafficante Jr.]]. At that time, Napolitano set his sights on operating a major bookmaking operation in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].
Napolitano controlled [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]], and from 1979–80, he operated in [[Pasco County, Florida]], and from [[Holiday, Florida]], after negotiating control of the territory with [[Santo Trafficante, Jr.]] At that time, Napolitano set his sights on operating a major bookmaking operation in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].{{fact|date=December 2020}}


== Caporegime ==
Napolitano was an avid [[racing pigeon]] and [[homing pigeon]] enthusiast. He kept his collection of birds on the roof of his apartment and social club [[The Motion Lounge]]. The brilliantly colored pigeons had pedigree bloodlines that descended from prize pigeons in [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Russia]]. Napolitano would win as much as $3000 racing his pigeons. Pistone said that Napolitano loved going to his pigeon coop to think. He wrote, "Sometimes when we were up on the roof with the pigeons, Sonny would lean on the railing and look out over the rooftops of the neighbourhood where he had lived all his life. I wondered what he was thinking about."
{{unreferencedsect|date=December 2020}}
Napolitano rose to prominence in 1973 as a soldier for [[Michael Sabella]] and was promoted to capo, replacing his mentor after the gangland execution of the powerful rival capo [[Carmine Galante|Carmine "The Cigar" Galante]]. Sabella was demoted and Napolitano took over the crew. He became a trusted confidant of the imprisoned mobster Phillip "Rusty" Rastelli who took over leadership permanently again. But when Rastelli took over, it caused the Bonannos to split into two factions, one loyal to Rastelli, the other attempting to overthrow him in favor of the [[Zips|Sicilian]] faction, led by [[Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato]].


Napolitano owned the Wither's Italian-American [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] Club at 415 Graham Avenue in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]], and also [[The Motion Lounge]] at 420 Graham Avenue. He later ran an illegal casino in [[Pasco County, Florida]], and owned a tennis club and night club called ''The King's Court Bottle Club'' in [[Holiday, Florida]].
Napolitano would say to Pistone, "The whole thing is how strong you are and how much power you got and how fucking mean you are - that's what makes you rise in the mob. Every day is a fucking struggle, because you dont know who's looking to knock you off, especially when you become a captain or boss. Every day somebody's looking to dispose of you and take your position. You always got to be on your toes. Every fucking day is a scam day to keep your power and position." Napolitano would repeat this theme over and over again to Pistone in conversations up on the roof with his pigeons.


Napolitano's headquarters were in the heart of Williamsburg's Italian neighborhood. His crew, involved in burglary, [[extortion]], robbery, bank robbery, [[loansharking]], [[Truck hijacking|hijacking]], [[bookmaking]], casino operations and drug trafficking, were one of the most successful crews in the Bonanno family. Napolitano's crew included Bonanno street soldiers [[Benjamin Ruggiero|Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero]], [[Nicholas Santora]], [[Louis Attanasio]], John Cersani, Jerome Asaro, Anthony Francomano, Sandro Asaro, John Faraci, Daniel Mangelli, Robert Lino, [[Frank Lino]], Richard Riccardi, Joseph Grimaldi, Nicholas Accardi, Peter Rosa, [[Patrick DeFilippo]], Michael Mancuso, Vito Grimaldi, [[Anthony Urso]], James Tartaglione, [[Joseph Cammarano]], [[John Zancocchio]], Edward Barberra, Frankie Fish, Bobby Badheart, Bobby Smash and his previous capo Michael Sabella, [[Joseph Puma]], Steven Maruca, Salvatore Farrugia, Anthony Pesiri, [[Antonio Tomasulo]], Anthony Rabito, [[Raymond Wean]], Frank DiStefano, Salvatore D'Ottavio, [[James Episcopa]] and [[Donnie Brasco]].
===Caporegime===
Napolitano rose to prominence in 1973 as a soldier for [[Michael Sabella]] and was promoted to capo, replacing his mentor after the gangland execution of the powerful rival capo [[Carmine Galante|Carmine "The Cigar" Galante]]. Sabella was demoted and Napolitano took over the crew. He became a trusted confidante of the imprisoned mobster Phillip Rastelli who took over leadership permanently again. But when Rastelli took over, it caused the Bonannos to split into two factions, one loyal to Rastelli, the other attempting to overthrow him in favor of the [[Zips|Sicilian]]-faction, led by [[Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato]].
[[File:SonnyBlack.jpg‎|right|thumb|350px|Sonny Black.]]


== Operation Donnie Brasco ==
Napolitano and Joseph Massino, who were loyal to Rastelli, were chiefly responsible for helping to end the struggle by killing three capos opposed to Rastelli; Alphonse Indelicato, [[Dominick Trinchera]] and [[Philip Giaccone]]. Napolitano owned the Wither's Italian-American War Veterans Club at 415 Graham Street in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]] and also [[The Motion Lounge]] at 420 Graham Street. He later ran an illegal casino in [[Pasco County, Florida]] and owned a tennis club and night club called ''The King's Court Bottle Club'' in [[Holiday, Florida]].
Napolitano assigned associate [[Donnie Brasco]] in September 1981{{fact|date=April 2024}}, whom he hoped to make a [[made man]], to kill [[Bruno Indelicato]], who had previously evaded death when he missed the meeting when the three capos were killed in May 1981.<ref name="king112">DeStefano 2007, pp. 112, 117</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/05/nyregion/undercover-agent-describes-discussions-of-mob-murders.html|title=UNDERCOVER AGENT DESCRIBES DISCUSSIONS OF MOB MURDERS|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 5, 1982}}</ref> "Brasco", however, was an undercover FBI agent named [[Joseph D. Pistone|Joseph Pistone]]; shortly after the hit was ordered, Pistone's assignment was ended, and Napolitano was informed of their infiltration.


In 1981, Napolitano and Joseph Massino, who were loyal to Rastelli, were chiefly responsible for helping to end the struggle by killing three capos opposed to Rastelli: Alphonse Indelicato, [[Dominick Trinchera]] and [[Philip Giaccone]]. Already skeptical of Napolitano's support of "Brasco",<ref name="King 118">DeStefano 2007, pp. 118–120</ref> Massino was deeply disturbed by the breach of security when he learned of the agent's true identity. [[Salvatore Vitale]] would later testify that this was the reason Massino decided to murder Napolitano as well; as he would later quote Massino, "I have to give him a receipt for the Donnie Brasco situation."<ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Bloody B'klyn Rubout - Says Massino OKd '81 mob hit|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/bloody-b-klyn-rubout-massino-okd-81-mob-hit-article-1.657391|access-date=2012-12-21|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=2004-06-30}}</ref><ref name="King of the Godfathers">{{cite book |title=King of the Godfathers |page=106 |chapter=Up on the Roof}}</ref>
When in Holiday, Florida, Napolitano took up the sport of tennis with Joseph Pistone and was a doubles partner of Bonanno mobster [[John Cersani]]. Although he was a lousy tennis player, he enjoyed playing at [[King's Court]]. Pistone would later say, "On the court he would run around and yell, 'I'm going to kill you' between strokes". Napolitano would [[arm wrestle]] Pistone, but always lost. Napolitano, who was a [[Weight training|weight lifter]], constantly challenged Pistone, who was the only guy that Napolitano couldn't beat.


== Death ==
Napolitano's headquarters were in the heart of Williamsburg's Italian neighborhood. His crew, involved in burglary, [[extortion]], robbery, bank robbery, [[loansharking]], [[Truck hijacking|hijacking]], [[bookmaking]], casino operations and drug trafficking, were one of the most successful crews in the Bonanno family. Napolitano's crew included Bonanno street soldiers [[Benjamin_Ruggiero|Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero]], [[Nicholas Santora]], [[Louis Attanasio]], [[John Cersani]], Jerome Asaro, Sandro Asaro, John Faraci, Daniel Mangelli, Robert Lino, [[Frank Lino]], Richard Riccardi, Joseph Grimaldi, Nicholas Accardi, Peter Rosa, [[Patrick DeFillipo]], Michael Mancuso, Vito Grimaldi, [[Anthony Urso]], James Tartaglione, [[Joseph Cammarano]], [[John Zancocchio]], [[Edward Barberra]], Frankie Fish, Bobby Badheart, Bobby Smash and his previous capo Michael Sabella, [[Joseph Puma]], Steven Maruca, Salvatore Farrugia, Anthony Pesiri, [[Antonio Tomasulo]], Anthony Rabito, [[Raymond Wean]], Frank DiStefano, Salvatore D'Ottavio, [[James Episcopa]] and Donnie Brasco.
On August 17, 1981, Napolitano was summoned to a meeting in Bonanno associate Ron Filocomo's home in [[Eltingville, Staten Island|Eltingville]], Staten Island, which was the home of Filocomo's parents. Anticipating that he would be killed, Napolitano gave his jewelry to his favorite bartender, who worked below his apartment at the [[The Motion Lounge|Motion Lounge]], along with the keys to his apartment so that his pet pigeons could be cared for.


Bonanno capo [[Frank Lino]] and Steven Canone drove Napolitano to the Filocomo's house. The three men were greeted at the door by [[Frank Coppa]], who told them the conference was to be held in the basement. As Napolitano descended the basement stairs, Coppa slammed the basement door shut, signaling for Lino to shove Napolitano down the stairs, as two killers; Robert Lino Sr (Frank Lino's cousin) and Filocomo were waiting at the foot of the stairwell. Napolitano was pushed down the staircase and was shot and grazed by Lino Sr.<ref name="FF617">Raab, pp. 617-620</ref> When his gun failed to fire a subsequent shot, Napolitano told them "Hit me one more time and make it good", to which Filocomo responded by firing several .38 caliber rounds, killing him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raab |first=Selwyn |title=Five families: the rise, decline, and resurgence of America's most powerful Mafia empires |date=2005 |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |isbn=978-0-312-30094-4 |location=New York |page=618}}</ref>
===Reputation===
Napolitano was unusually tough and savvy, even for a mafia capo. Although he was a stone-cold gangster, he ran his crew in a laid back style. Pistone would say, "Dominick was more observant and disciplined than his old capo [[Michael Sabella]] and had a watchful eye... In mob circles he had an excellent reputation for personal loyalty to his sidewalk soldiers.... He would kill you in a minute if you crossed him." Napolitano was a fine marksman with small caliber-pistols which made him an efficient killer.


Napolitano's girlfriend, Judy, later contacted Pistone and told him that, shortly before his death, Napolitano had told her that he bore no ill will towards Pistone, knowing that Pistone was only doing his job, and that if anyone was responsible for taking him down, he was glad it was Pistone. She said that Napolitano really loved Pistone and was upset when he found out he was an agent. Napolitano could not believe that Pistone was an agent because of the "things we had done together, the conversations we'd had, the feelings we'd had."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/7g1dFLyDIg4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210319181753/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g1dFLyDIg4&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g1dFLyDIg4| title = PART 2: Sit Down with the REAL Donnie Brasco (Joe Pistone) and Michael Franzese | website=[[YouTube]]| date = March 19, 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In restaurants or in public, he was a gentleman and never flamboyant or brazen. He always carried his own suitcases when travelling, which was not traditionally done by other capos. Pistone said that Napolitano was not a 24-hour gangster, meaning that you could talk to him about other things besides the mafia. Unlike other mobsters who only wanted to talk about illegal activities and mafia business. When working, Napolitano was respected and feared, but when hanging out with Pistone, they would go out to dinner, have coffee and just "shoot the breeze" like two friends.


In August, FBI surveillance noticed workmen dismantling Napolitano's pigeon coops atop the Motion Lounge. On August 12, 1982, a body was found at South Avenue and Bridge Street in [[Arlington, Staten Island]]; the corpse's hands were severed and the face was so badly decomposed that dental records were required to verify the identity. The FBI announced that it had found the corpse of Napolitano.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BcPAL4rXbcgC&q=August+12%2C+1982+Dominick+Napolitano+found&pg=PT426|title=Donnie Brasco|last=Pistone|first=Joseph D.|date=1997-02-01|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-1-101-15406-9|language=en}}</ref>
===Operation Donnie Brasco===
When Joseph Pistone infiltrated the mafia, he became attached to the crew that Napolitano ran and the two developed a close relationship. Pistone was one of the few people that Napolitano trusted and relied upon. Pistone even spent nights sleeping over at Napolitano's apartment. He regarded Pistone so highly that he planned to nominate him to be "made" (inducted into the mafia), and began to use the formal introduction "a friend of ours" (a code meaning a made man) when introducing Pistone to other mafiosi. By becoming Napolitano's [[right hand man]], Pistone gained respect in the Bonanno family.


In 2003, Bonanno boss Joseph Massino was arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, with the case centering on the murder of Napolitano. At Massino's trial, prosecutors claimed that Napolitano was killed by his associates for allowing his crew to be compromised, and that his hands had been removed as a warning to other mobsters to follow the rule about proper introductions (the implication being the association between shaking hands and being introduced to someone). Massino was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rashbaum|first=William|title=Reputed Boss Of Mob Family Is Indicted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/nyregion/reputed-boss-of-mob-family-is-indicted.html|access-date=2012-03-25|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2003-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Top Bonanno Charged In '81 Mobster Rubout|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/top-bonanno-charged-81-mobster-rubout-article-1.664832|access-date=2012-12-24|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=2003-01-10}}</ref>
Pistone's undercover operation ended after six years, when Napolitano ordered Pistone to murder another mobster, originally [[Phillip Giaccone]] while he was in [[Miami, Florida]]. Later, after the decision was made to murder Giaconne at the same time as Indelicato and Trinchera, Pistone was given the task of murdering Indelicato's son, [[Anthony Indelicato|Bruno]]. Two days later, FBI agents came to The Motion Lounge to inform him that his associate of six years was an agent. . <ref name="King of the Godfathers">{{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink=Anthony M. Destefano |coauthors= |editor= |title=King of the Godfathers |origdate= |origmonth= |edition= |publisher= |location= |isbn= |pages=106 |chapter=Up on the Roof|year= }}</ref>


In 2006, Frank Lino and Frank Coppa turned state's evidence, providing authorities with the details of Napolitano's murder.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article435582.ece | location=London | work=The Times | first=James | last=Bone | title=Mafia film sequel is played out in court | date=May 29, 2004}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Although the FBI were reasonably sure that the body found in Staten Island was Napolitano's, one discrepancy existed: Lino claimed that he and Filocomo shot Napolitano with .38 caliber revolvers and that he himself had fired more than once. But the corpse had only one bullet wound, apparently made by a .45 caliber pistol. Coppa later said that Napolitano "died like a man".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=dCMosWa6XRgC&dq=frank+lino+died+like+a+man&pg=PA247 King of the Godfathers - Anthony M. DeStefano - Google Books]</ref> Napolitano was buried in [[Calvary Cemetery, Queens]]. About Napolitano's fate, Pistone had stated, "My intention in all of this was to put people in jail, not get them killed",<ref>{{cite news|last=McPhee|first=Michele|title=After 20 years, ex-agent applauds mob bust|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708182438/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|access-date=2012-04-19|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=2003-01-19}}</ref> and that he was sorry for Napolitano's murder.<ref>Hendley, Nate. American Gangsters, Then and Now — An Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 21 December, 2020. [https://books.google.com/books?id=yQqSToDPO5sC&q=%22glad+it%22 Page 193]. "I was sorry it was Sonny. I was glad it wasn't me," wrote Pistone.</ref>
===Death===
Shortly thereafter, the order came down to kill Napolitano for allowing such a breach in mafia security. Rather than turn state's evidence and enter the witness protection program, Napolitano accepted his fate. Shortly before his death, Napolitano told his girlfriend Judy that he bore no ill will towards Pistone, knowing that Pistone was only doing his job, and that if anyone was responsible for taking him down, he was glad that it was Pistone.


== In popular culture ==
On August 17, 1981, he was asked to come to a meeting in the basement of Bonanno associate Ron Filocomo's home in [[Flatlands, Brooklyn]]. Knowing he would be killed, Napolitano gave his jewelry to his favorite bartender who worked below his apartment at The Motion Lounge, along with the keys to his apartment, so that his pet pigeons could be cared for. He was shot to death in Filocomo's basement by Filocomo and Bonanno captain [[Frank Lino]] using .38 revolvers. In August, FBI surveillance agents noticed workmen dismantling Napolitano's pigeon coops atop the Motion Lounge.
* In the 1997 film ''[[Donnie Brasco (film)|Donnie Brasco]]'', Dominick Napolitano was portrayed by [[Michael Madsen]].


==See also==
On August 12, 1982, a body was found at South Avenue and Bridge Street in Arlington, [[Staten Island, New York]]; the corpse's hands were severed and the face was so badly decomposed that dental records were required to verify the identity. The FBI announced that it had found the corpse of Dominick Napolitano. However, in 2000, the FBI publicly revealed that it had long doubted whether the corpse was correctly identified.
*[[List of solved missing person cases: pre-2000|List of solved missing person cases]]


== References ==
Napolitano's killer Frank Lino, had turned state's evidence, providing authorities with the details of his murder. <ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article435582.ece</ref> Although the FBI were reasonably sure that the body found in Staten Island was Napolitano, one discrepancy existed: while Lino claimed that he and Filocomo shot Napolitano with .38 caliber revolvers, and that he himself fired more than once, the corpse only had one bullet wound, which was apparently made by a .45 caliber pistol. Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano was buried in [[Calvary Cemetery, Queens]].
{{Reflist}}


== Further reading ==
In 2003, Bonanno boss Joseph Massino was arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, with the case centering around the murder of Napolitano. At Massino's trial, prosecutors claimed that Napolitano was killed by his associates for allowing his crew to become compromised, and that his hands had been removed as a warning to other mobsters to follow the rule about proper introductions (the association of shaking hands with being introduced to someone). Massino was convicted in 2004.
* Crittle, Simon, ''The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino'' Berkley (March 7, 2006) {{ISBN|978-0-425-20939-4}}
* DeStefano, Anthony. ''The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family''. California: Citadel, 2006.
* Morton, James, ''East End Gangland & Gangland International Omnibus'' Chapter: "Florida"
* Pistone, Joseph, ''[[Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia]]''. Random House Value Publishing (February 1990) {{ISBN|978-5-552-53129-5}}
* Pistone, Joseph D.; & Brandt, Charles (2007). ''Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business'', Running Press. {{ISBN|978-0-7624-2707-9}}.
* Raab, Selwyn. ''Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires''. New York: St. Martin Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0-312-30094-4}}


== External links ==
==Popular culture==
* ''[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/nyregion/23mob.html?pagewanted=print&position= An Archetypal Mob Trial: It's Just Like in the Movies]'', ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 23, 2004.
The 1997 film ''[[Donnie Brasco (film)|Donnie Brasco]]'' features "Sonny Black", played by [[Michael Madsen]]. For dramatic purposes, many of Sonny Black's character traits, and most of his relationship with Pistone, was combined with other real-life Bonanno mobsters [[Anthony Mirra]] and [[Benjamin Ruggiero]], who in the film is played by [[Al Pacino]].
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Napolitano&GSfn=Dominick+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=6273263& Dominick (Sonny Black) Napolitano] at [[Find a Grave]]


{{Bonanno crime family}}
A notable parallel is towards the end of the film when Ruggiero is summoned to what he knows will be his execution for allowing Pistone into the mafia (in reality, Ruggiero was arrested by the FBI). He leaves his personal effects in a drawer for his wife, echoing Napolitano's final actions shortly before he was murdered. Ruggiero's sentiments of how if it was going to be anyone that sunk him, he was glad it was Pistone; is a direct paraphrase of the real Sonny Black's last words.
{{American Mafia}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Crittle, Simon, ''The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino'' Berkley (March 7, 2006) ISBN 0425209393
*DeStefano, Anthony. ''The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family''. California: Citadel, 2006.
*Morton, James, ''East End Gangland & Gangland International Omnibus'' Chapter: "Florida"
*Pistone, Joseph, ''[[Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia]]''. Random House Value Publishing (February 1990) ISBN 5552531299
*Pistone, Joseph D.; & Brandt, Charles (2007). ''Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business'', Running Press. ISBN 0-7624-2707-8.

==External links==
*''[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/nyregion/23mob.html?pagewanted=print&position= An Archetypal Mob Trial: It's Just Like in the Movies]'', The [[New York Times]], May 23, 2004.
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Napolitano&GSfn=Dominick+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=6273263& Dominick (Sonny Black) Napolitano] at [[Find A Grave]]


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[[Category:1930 births]]
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[[Category:1980s missing person cases]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
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[[Category:American mobsters of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Bonanno crime family]]
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[[Category:Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Queens)]]
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[[Category:Murdered American mobsters of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Criminals from New York City]]
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[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Missing person cases in New York City]]
[[Category:Murdered American gangsters of Italian descent]]
[[Category:People from Holiday, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Williamsburg, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People murdered by the Bonanno crime family]]
[[Category:People murdered by the Bonanno crime family]]
[[Category:People murdered in New York City]]

[[ja:ドミニク・ナポリターノ]]
[[pl:Sonny Napolitano]]
[[ro:Dominic Napolitano]]
[[fr:Dominic Napolitano]]

Latest revision as of 22:00, 26 September 2024

Dominick Napolitano
Napolitano c. 1980
Born(1930-06-16)June 16, 1930
New York City, U.S.
DisappearedAugust 17, 1981
DiedAugust 17, 1981(1981-08-17) (aged 51)
New York City, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot Wound
Body discoveredAugust 12, 1982
Arlington, Staten Island, U.S.
Other namesSonny Black
OccupationMobster
AllegianceBonanno crime family

Dominick Napolitano (June 16, 1930 – August 17, 1981), also known as Sonny Black, was an American Mafia caporegime in the Bonanno crime family. He is known for unwittingly allowing FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone to become an associate in his crew and nearly having him become a "made man."[1]

Early life

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Napolitano's grandparents were immigrants from Naples, Italy. Napolitano was born with blond hair, but by his forties it had turned a gunmetal white-silver color. To hide the color, he dyed it black, earning him the nickname "Sonny Black".

He was a close friend of future Bonanno crime family boss Joseph Massino; incarcerated boss Philip Rastelli knew Napolitano before he went to prison. He was close to Carmine Napolitano (May 30, 1943 – February 15, 1999), a cousin and fellow Bonanno mobster. Like his sons Peter Napolitano (November 17, 1957 – June 29, 1994), Aniello Napolitano and Rocco Napolitano who were born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; he was also raised there.[2][additional citation(s) needed]

Napolitano controlled Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and from 1979–80, he operated in Pasco County, Florida, and from Holiday, Florida, after negotiating control of the territory with Santo Trafficante, Jr. At that time, Napolitano set his sights on operating a major bookmaking operation in Orlando.[citation needed]

Caporegime

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Napolitano rose to prominence in 1973 as a soldier for Michael Sabella and was promoted to capo, replacing his mentor after the gangland execution of the powerful rival capo Carmine "The Cigar" Galante. Sabella was demoted and Napolitano took over the crew. He became a trusted confidant of the imprisoned mobster Phillip "Rusty" Rastelli who took over leadership permanently again. But when Rastelli took over, it caused the Bonannos to split into two factions, one loyal to Rastelli, the other attempting to overthrow him in favor of the Sicilian faction, led by Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato.

Napolitano owned the Wither's Italian-American Veterans of Foreign Wars Club at 415 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and also The Motion Lounge at 420 Graham Avenue. He later ran an illegal casino in Pasco County, Florida, and owned a tennis club and night club called The King's Court Bottle Club in Holiday, Florida.

Napolitano's headquarters were in the heart of Williamsburg's Italian neighborhood. His crew, involved in burglary, extortion, robbery, bank robbery, loansharking, hijacking, bookmaking, casino operations and drug trafficking, were one of the most successful crews in the Bonanno family. Napolitano's crew included Bonanno street soldiers Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero, Nicholas Santora, Louis Attanasio, John Cersani, Jerome Asaro, Anthony Francomano, Sandro Asaro, John Faraci, Daniel Mangelli, Robert Lino, Frank Lino, Richard Riccardi, Joseph Grimaldi, Nicholas Accardi, Peter Rosa, Patrick DeFilippo, Michael Mancuso, Vito Grimaldi, Anthony Urso, James Tartaglione, Joseph Cammarano, John Zancocchio, Edward Barberra, Frankie Fish, Bobby Badheart, Bobby Smash and his previous capo Michael Sabella, Joseph Puma, Steven Maruca, Salvatore Farrugia, Anthony Pesiri, Antonio Tomasulo, Anthony Rabito, Raymond Wean, Frank DiStefano, Salvatore D'Ottavio, James Episcopa and Donnie Brasco.

Operation Donnie Brasco

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Napolitano assigned associate Donnie Brasco in September 1981[citation needed], whom he hoped to make a made man, to kill Bruno Indelicato, who had previously evaded death when he missed the meeting when the three capos were killed in May 1981.[3][4] "Brasco", however, was an undercover FBI agent named Joseph Pistone; shortly after the hit was ordered, Pistone's assignment was ended, and Napolitano was informed of their infiltration.

In 1981, Napolitano and Joseph Massino, who were loyal to Rastelli, were chiefly responsible for helping to end the struggle by killing three capos opposed to Rastelli: Alphonse Indelicato, Dominick Trinchera and Philip Giaccone. Already skeptical of Napolitano's support of "Brasco",[5] Massino was deeply disturbed by the breach of security when he learned of the agent's true identity. Salvatore Vitale would later testify that this was the reason Massino decided to murder Napolitano as well; as he would later quote Massino, "I have to give him a receipt for the Donnie Brasco situation."[6][7]

Death

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On August 17, 1981, Napolitano was summoned to a meeting in Bonanno associate Ron Filocomo's home in Eltingville, Staten Island, which was the home of Filocomo's parents. Anticipating that he would be killed, Napolitano gave his jewelry to his favorite bartender, who worked below his apartment at the Motion Lounge, along with the keys to his apartment so that his pet pigeons could be cared for.

Bonanno capo Frank Lino and Steven Canone drove Napolitano to the Filocomo's house. The three men were greeted at the door by Frank Coppa, who told them the conference was to be held in the basement. As Napolitano descended the basement stairs, Coppa slammed the basement door shut, signaling for Lino to shove Napolitano down the stairs, as two killers; Robert Lino Sr (Frank Lino's cousin) and Filocomo were waiting at the foot of the stairwell. Napolitano was pushed down the staircase and was shot and grazed by Lino Sr.[8] When his gun failed to fire a subsequent shot, Napolitano told them "Hit me one more time and make it good", to which Filocomo responded by firing several .38 caliber rounds, killing him.[9]

Napolitano's girlfriend, Judy, later contacted Pistone and told him that, shortly before his death, Napolitano had told her that he bore no ill will towards Pistone, knowing that Pistone was only doing his job, and that if anyone was responsible for taking him down, he was glad it was Pistone. She said that Napolitano really loved Pistone and was upset when he found out he was an agent. Napolitano could not believe that Pistone was an agent because of the "things we had done together, the conversations we'd had, the feelings we'd had."[10]

In August, FBI surveillance noticed workmen dismantling Napolitano's pigeon coops atop the Motion Lounge. On August 12, 1982, a body was found at South Avenue and Bridge Street in Arlington, Staten Island; the corpse's hands were severed and the face was so badly decomposed that dental records were required to verify the identity. The FBI announced that it had found the corpse of Napolitano.[11]

In 2003, Bonanno boss Joseph Massino was arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, with the case centering on the murder of Napolitano. At Massino's trial, prosecutors claimed that Napolitano was killed by his associates for allowing his crew to be compromised, and that his hands had been removed as a warning to other mobsters to follow the rule about proper introductions (the implication being the association between shaking hands and being introduced to someone). Massino was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to life imprisonment.[12][13]

In 2006, Frank Lino and Frank Coppa turned state's evidence, providing authorities with the details of Napolitano's murder.[14] Although the FBI were reasonably sure that the body found in Staten Island was Napolitano's, one discrepancy existed: Lino claimed that he and Filocomo shot Napolitano with .38 caliber revolvers and that he himself had fired more than once. But the corpse had only one bullet wound, apparently made by a .45 caliber pistol. Coppa later said that Napolitano "died like a man".[15] Napolitano was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens. About Napolitano's fate, Pistone had stated, "My intention in all of this was to put people in jail, not get them killed",[16] and that he was sorry for Napolitano's murder.[17]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "On This Day in 1981 Dominick Napolitano was Killed Aged 51 - the NCS". August 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano – Made Famous in "Donnie Brasco"". American Magic History. November 18, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. ^ DeStefano 2007, pp. 112, 117
  4. ^ "UNDERCOVER AGENT DESCRIBES DISCUSSIONS OF MOB MURDERS". The New York Times. August 5, 1982.
  5. ^ DeStefano 2007, pp. 118–120
  6. ^ Marzulli, John (June 30, 2004). "Bloody B'klyn Rubout - Says Massino OKd '81 mob hit". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  7. ^ "Up on the Roof". King of the Godfathers. p. 106.
  8. ^ Raab, pp. 617-620
  9. ^ Raab, Selwyn (2005). Five families: the rise, decline, and resurgence of America's most powerful Mafia empires. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 618. ISBN 978-0-312-30094-4.
  10. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "PART 2: Sit Down with the REAL Donnie Brasco (Joe Pistone) and Michael Franzese". YouTube. March 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Pistone, Joseph D. (February 1, 1997). Donnie Brasco. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-15406-9.
  12. ^ Rashbaum, William (January 10, 2003). "Reputed Boss Of Mob Family Is Indicted". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  13. ^ Marzulli, John (January 10, 2003). "Top Bonanno Charged In '81 Mobster Rubout". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  14. ^ Bone, James (May 29, 2004). "Mafia film sequel is played out in court". The Times. London.[dead link‍]
  15. ^ King of the Godfathers - Anthony M. DeStefano - Google Books
  16. ^ McPhee, Michele (January 19, 2003). "After 20 years, ex-agent applauds mob bust". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  17. ^ Hendley, Nate. American Gangsters, Then and Now — An Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 21 December, 2020. Page 193. "I was sorry it was Sonny. I was glad it wasn't me," wrote Pistone.

Further reading

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  • Crittle, Simon, The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino Berkley (March 7, 2006) ISBN 978-0-425-20939-4
  • DeStefano, Anthony. The Last Godfather: Joey Massino & the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family. California: Citadel, 2006.
  • Morton, James, East End Gangland & Gangland International Omnibus Chapter: "Florida"
  • Pistone, Joseph, Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. Random House Value Publishing (February 1990) ISBN 978-5-552-53129-5
  • Pistone, Joseph D.; & Brandt, Charles (2007). Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, Running Press. ISBN 978-0-7624-2707-9.
  • Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: St. Martin Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-312-30094-4
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