October 4–11, 2001

news|underworld

Yankee Doodle Gangsters

Even the mob wants a piece of bin Laden.

by Jim Barry

In a bizarre footnote to the Sept. 11 terror attacks on America, members of the Philadelphia Mafia have been proudly waving the red, white and blue, proclaiming their patriotism and loudly denouncing the bloodiest terrorist assault in history. Reputed Philadelphia crime boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi reportedly told friends that he was outraged by the hijacked plane attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "It’s terrible what happened to thousands of innocent people," Ligambi reportedly said. "I can’t believe the FBI is still wasting its time following us around instead of finding those animals responsible for this terrible thing."

In an interview this past weekend, one mob associate told City Paper that he wanted to put together a crew to "whack Osama bin Laden." He said, "we could hunt him down and kill him. Do this country a favor and at the same time get the $5 million reward."

The mob associate, a long-time Democrat, said he was impressed with the way President Bush was handling this crisis and expressed particular admiration for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. "Rumsfeld," he said, "that’s one serious dude. He means business, and he’s got ice water in his veins. You know he’ll do whatever has to be done. He’s hardcore. He’s our kind of guy."

Several days after the hijacked planes demolished the World Trade Center, smashed a hole in the Pentagon and crashed in Western Pennsylvania, killing more than 6,000, the Inquirer featured a photograph of South Philadelphia variety-store worker Joe Curro and mentioned that Curro was giving away American flags to patriotic neighbors.

Members of the Philadelphia Police Organized Crime squad recognized Curro’s photo in the story because they claim that Joe "Crutch" Curro is a made member of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra. Several neighbors of Curro’s store interviewed by City Paper refused to give their names, but all of them defended the store owner as a nice guy who serves good coffee every morning. Said one, "Joe Crutch is a hardworking guy. He’s always in there early in the morning, and he makes very, very good coffee."

Curro refused comment.But a source closet to him said "Joe is an honorable guy, and those allegations just aren’t true. Everybody really like him. He’s a great guy." Joe Curro first came to the attention of the police in a 1976 FBI wiretap at Frank’s Cabana Steaks in South Philadelphia — a base of operations for mob capo Frank Sindone. The wiretap captured a number of high-ranking mobsters planning a crap game. At the time they worked for Mafia boss Angelo Bruno. The FBI affidavit describing the recorded conversations named a number of Bruno associates, including Joe Curro.

Several years later, on May 27, 1981, Curro’s aunt, Jenette Curro was gunned down inside a South Philadelphia restaurant with her dinner companion, Greek mob leader Stevie Bouras. The gunmen singled out Bouras and Curro, but did not harm the other people at the table — alleged mob soldier Raymond "Long John" Martorano and Philadelphia radio personality Jerry Blavat. Curro and Ligambi’s patriotism is not unusual according to one mob insider. "Just ’cause we hate the government doesn’t mean we hate our country. We’re Americans too."

In an interview years ago, mob-soldier-turned-informant Nick "The Crow" Caramandi told a reporter that "when you take the oath to join the Mafia, you promise not to commit treason against the U.S. That’s why made guys can’t get involved in counterfeiting, because that’s like attacking our own country. Of course, that doesn’t mean somebody who is with you [an associate] can’t do it and give you a cut. But a made guy can’t do that himself."

A police source familiar with the mob offered a different explanation for the Yankee Doodle gangsters. "Mobsters are all about making money, but they’re not about betraying their country. That kind of crime would make it impossible for them to function, and they don’t want to overthrow the U.S. government — just avoid it. Like the rest of us, it would be impossible for them to operate in a totally lawless environment. So there are very practical reasons for their patriotism."