RUBY TELEPHONES JOE ‘THE WOP’ CATALDO

COLOMBO FAMILY MAFIA UNDERBOSS

By A. J. Weberman

JOE COLOMBO WOUNDED IN COLUMBUS CIRCLE ON COLUMBUS DAY

In 1962 Geraldo (Jerry) Catena, the successor to Vito Genovese in

the New York Mafia, arranged for Louie Jacobs to fund an attempt by Joe

(the Wop) Cataldo – a New York gangster to gain

control of the Finger Lakes track. [Emprise notes,

Sports Illustrated story, 5-29-72] Cataldo owned

Chandler’s Restaurant on East 49th Street in Manhattan.

On July 7, 1963, a call was placed from Jack Ruby’s

home telephone to Gloversville, New York. George

Senator, seen on the left with attorney Melvin Belli, a

close associate of Ruby’s during the summer of 1963,

was originally from Gloversville and this led some researchers to believe

that this call was placed by him. When the FBI investigated this call the

Bureau found that the telephone number in Gloversville belonged to Joe

“The Wop” Cataldo, who the Bureau described as “a top New York

hoodlum.” The Warren Commission, however, was more interested in

George Senator and in its report stated: “It is difficult to know with complete

certainty whether Senator had any foreknowledge of the shooting of

Oswald.” A few days before the FBI traced the toll call, FBI informant

number “KY-4003-C-TE” advised that Jack Ruby obtained talent for his

Dallas club through Joe “The Wop” Cataldo during the late 1950’s. The only

acts Cataldo booked were gangsters who would “do a number” on anyone

who did not come with the vigorish on his usurious loans.

On December 11, 1963, Joe Cataldo was exhibited a photograph of

Ruby by the FBI. He denied any relationship at any time with Ruby. In May

1968 Drew Pearson reported on Senator George Smathers Hearings into

loan sharking: “Deputy Inspector Louis C. Cottell of the New York City

Police Department identified New York loan sharks as Salvadore

Bonnanno, Joe Cataldo and Carmine Lombardozzi.” [Nevada Daily Mail

May 13, 1968 – Google News Archives] Joe The Wop’s sons, Joseph Jr,

and Dominik were Mafia members. Little Dom not only was the brother of

Colombo crime family mobster Joseph Cataldo but he was also the in-law

of mob boss Albert Anastasia.

In late 1973 Dominick Cataldo approached Anthony Bruno and

offered $3,000 for New York State Supreme Court Judge William C.

Brennan in a first degree robbery case pending before the appeals court

judge. Bruno went to Brennan who, after looking into the matter, told Bruno

he would accept the $3,000. Cataldo gave the money to Bruno, who gave it

to Brennan. In February 1974 Brennan suppressed identification evidence

linking Cataldo to the robbery, which led to dismissal of the indictment.

After the dismissal, Brennan told Bruno, “[D]on’t let them kid you that they

didn’t need me on this, they did.” [http://openjurist.org/798/f2d/581]

On September 10, 1987 two men walked into a Queens barbershop

and murdered Vito Scaglione, 36 years old, who had ties to organized-

crime figures and was suspected of being involved in narcotics trafficking.

(Ironically “scag” is slang for heroin) Mr. Scaglione was convicted in 1981 in

Federal District Court in Brooklyn on a charge of providing an unlicensed 9-

millimeter semiautomatic pistol and a silencer to an undercover Federal

informer. Mr. Scaglione’s brother-in-law, Dominick Cataldo, who, the

authorities described as an important figure in the Colombo crime family,

was also convicted in the case. After pleading guilty, Mr. Scaglione was

placed on probation. Mr. Cataldo was sentenced to eight years in a Federal

prison.

On February 29, 1980, Joe “the wop” Cataldo, who was described as

a New York City loan shark, was accused of participating in a million dollar

plot to sabotage the “Black Tuna” drug smuggling trial in Miami, Florida.

This alleged plot involved plans to assassinate trial USDC Judge James

Lawrence King, pay off key government witnesses, and otherwise disrupt

the trial. [FBI NY-1639-2396, NY44-974-152; NY 24016-655; NY 44-1639-

1556; 44-1639 4p teletype 11.28.63 Dallas to Albany]

JOHN GOTTI AND DOMINICK CATALDO

In July 1980 Mafia hitman Gerard Pappa was shot to death in

Brooklyn by a Colombo hit squad. It was for revenge of carrying out the

murder of suspected Colombo crime family stool pigeon Ralph Spero. He

was murdered by Dominick Cataldo and his nephew Nicholas and Joseph

Cataldo Jr., the sons of Colombo crime family Mafioso Joseph “the wop”

Cataldo. Knowing how hard Gerard would be to kill, that

he was always armed, very fast and very game, they

were hiding in the luncheonette’s rear kitchen when he

arrived. They approached him from behind and shot him

in the head with a sawed-off shotgun, literally blowing his

head to pieces. He was killed instantly. Sammy Gravano

would later speak of feeling great sadness and remorse

for the lost of his childhood friend. Genovese crime family mob boss

Vincent Gigante was suspected of handing down the murder contract, but

was acquitted of his alleged involvement in the murder in 1997.

In the mid-1980’s Carmine Persico, Hugh McIntosh, Gennaro

Langella, John DeRoss, Anthony Scarpati, Alphonse Persico, Andrew

Russo and Dominic Cataldo were convicted of various offenses arising

from their participation in the affairs of the Colombo Family racketeering

enterprise. All eight appellants were convicted of conspiracy to violate

provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

(“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) (1982), and seven of the appellants were

convicted of substantive RICO violations, id. § 1962(c). In addition, the

majority of appellants were convicted of various substantive offenses that

also were charged as predicate racketeering acts. Dominic or “Little Dom”

died in 2003.

The Warren Commission turned a blind eye to Ruby’s Mafia

connections. Ruby was in touch with some of the most notorious gangsters

in America. You just don’t call these guys to shoot the shit.

PAPPA

, .. --. ---::---F0-302 (Rev • . :t:DERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGAT

•

On

....... 12/11/63 ... "'\"";.

Date _______ ___::_-' ___ _ •

ASSOCIATES AND E!-1PLOYEES OF RUBY

1.

Joseph Cataldo, 58 West lDth Street, was 1ntervie'\'1ed December 10, 1963·. A photot:;raph of Jack Leon Ruby was exhibited to Cataldo. He said that he had never seen Ruby at any time and had never heard of him until the day Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald.

He denied any relat1onsh.ip at any time with Ruby. He po1nted out t hat he does not operate as a booking agent, although he has in the past managed small night clubs in the Greem'lich Village Section of tllanha ttan, Nevr York.

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TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

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DIRECTOR, FBI (44-24016) . /

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SAC, NIN ~~RK ~44-!D;e.) ~pl · JACK LEON RUBY, aka; LEE HARVEY OSWALD -VICTIM CIVIL RIGHTS .

ReNYtel to the Bureau, 12/6/63, ~le relationship between JOSEPH CA -and RUBY. .

Photograph or RUBY was exhibited to JOSEPH CATALDO, 12/10/63. He denied any personal or business relationship at any t~e with RUBY.

~302 .follows.

~-Bureau -2 - Dallas (44-1639) 2 - New York

(1-92-1120)

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'1'0: SAC., DALLAS (44-1639)

FROM:

SUBJECT:

SAC., NEW YORK (44-974)

JACK LEON RUBY aka; LEE HARVEY ·OSWALD - VICTIM CR

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ReNYairtel to Bureau and Dallas., 12/1~63~ concerning possible relatioHship between-JOSEPH CATALDO (New.York top hoodlum) and RUBY. .

-··· ~

Enclosed ror Dallas are 25 copies JJ.t .. FD-302 .. eoncerni~g ~nterv1ew with JOSEPH CATA~~ ·

._., .. 7 Reference is made to Dallas teletype to Albany~

~ ~l/28/63., 1:45 p.m. and NYtel to the Bureau., 12/3/63., . "11:Q7 ~ !tm • ., concerning toll calls to and :f'rom telephones

-.llit 'ed to RUBY's home and business.

En_c.losed are 25 copies or an insert reflecting , credit an~rirninal checks and review of riles or NYO of persons in telephonic contact with RUBY.

2- Dallas (44-1639){Encl. 50) '1 - New York {44-974) --. 's JJR:pcs -~~ . -<~ :r

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