Robert Grey Reynolds Jr. - William J. Lupo Rochester, New York Cosa Nostra Figure

William J. Lupo

Rochester, NewYork

Cosa NostraFigure

Published by Robert GreyReynolds Jr. at Smashwords

Copyright 2018 by RobertGrey Reynolds Jr.

On Wednesday, February 18, 1970 thebody of Rochester, New York Cosa Nostra figure William J. Lupo (May12, 1927-1970) was found inside of a station wagon. Lupo, 42, asuburban Penfield resident, was discovered inside the auto. It wasparked on a quiet street in Rochesters northeast section. Onlyrecently the station wagon had been equipped with atelephone.

Three bullets had been firedinto Lupos brain from behind. A fourth slug had penetrated thevictims back. Detective Captain James J. Cavoti (1913-2000) of theRochester Police surmised, there are toomany motives.

Recently separated from his wife,Lupos ex, Jean, had filed a complaint against him the week before.She claimed hed threatened to kill her.

In December 1969 Lupos nextdoor neighbor, Salvatore Sam Frank Gingello (1939-1978), 30, reported a theft of$130,000 from his home. Police investigators informed Gingello thatthe money had been recovered from Rochester-area gamblers. It wasowed to a Las Vegas casino.

Lupo, a well-dressed mobster, wasreportedly a friend of Mafioso Frank Valenti (1911-2008) ReputedlyValenti was the Rochester leader of the Magaddino family crimesyndicate. From 1964-1972 he was active as a mob boss in upstateMonroe County, New York.

For more than forty yearsRochester, New York was part of Stefano theUndertaker Magaddinos (1891-1974) Buffalocrime family. By the late 1960s Frank and Costenze Valenti hadstarted an independent underworld organization. Rochester was amongthe criminal factions that broke away from Magaddino dominance withthe Valenti brothers.

In August 1958 Frank JosephValenti/Valente (June 19, 1912-October 1, 1997) and his brotherCostenze Stanley Valenti (1926-2001) and five other men were jailedfor refusing to testify before a New York State Commission. Thecommittee was investigating the November 14, 1957 mobster meetingat Apalachin, New York. The Mafiosi had convened at the home oflocal businessman Joseph Barbara (1905-1959).

Frank Valenti was the son of DonatoValente (1876-) and Maria Ferrucci (1875-1959), both Italians bybirth. Donato was a blacksmith in the optical industry whoimmigrated to the United States in 1908. The Valentis lived at 34Scranton Street in Rochester during Frank Valentis youth. He wasthe youngest of six children. His siblings were Filomena FrancesValenti (1901-1958), Louise Valenti Smith (1906-1990), Rose AnnValenti Slusser (1911-1952), Frank Joseph Valenti (1912-1997) andCostenze.

On Thursday, May 14, 1959 Patrick E.Pat Provenzano (1901-1977), President of Batavia Downs Harness RaceTrack in Rochester, New York, denied having talked with FrankValenti. Appearing before the investigating commission Provenzanodenied he had spoken with either Valenti or his brotherCostenze

. According to state investigationmember/lawyer Goodman A. Sarachan (1899-) of 86 Mayflower Drive,Rochester, Provenzano had appeared voluntarily. His testimony wasdescribed as informal. The witness said that he came forward todeny speaking with either of the Valentis. Sarachan confirmedProvenzano hadnt been subpoenaed.

On Wednesday, May 13, 1959 FrankValenti was released from jail on a court order. His bail was$15,000. It was rumored that Valenti had been questioned aboutcalls between himself and Provenzano. Costenze P. Valenti remainedjailed in New York City. Jailed on August 22, 1958 for refusing toanswer questions, Costenze regularly waxed floors to alleviateboredom. On March 17, 1959 the Associated Press reported hiswillingness to testify before the New York investigativecommittee.

In September 1965 New York MobsterFrank Valenti petitioned the New York State Liquor Authority toobtain clearance to work in a licensed establishment that soldalcoholic beverages. The application sought a certificate of goodconduct following the applicants felony conviction.

The hoodlum specified as his desiredemployer the Esquire Restaurant at 137 Chestnut Street inRochester. The eatery, owned by Donald J. Camardo (1913-1995), hadoffered Valenti a job. Frank Valentis lawyer, Samuel John SamDigaetano (1922-1977), confirmed this on Wednesday night, September8, 1965. A state liquor authority spokesman said, we areinvestigating the application thoroughly. The organizationthoroughly scrutinized Valentis movements in Rochester, Pittsburghand wherever he has traveled. Digaetano claimed that his clientneeded no references to support his employmentapplication.

Reportedly Valenti had given the nameof former Pittsburgh assistant Police Superintendent LawrenceJoseph Maloney (1910-1969) as someone who would attest to hischaracter. Maloney was indicted in the fall of 1964, soon afterValenti had returned to Rochester. Internal Revenue Service agentsaccused Maloney of cheating the government of $114,000. Between1958 and 1963 Maloneys estimated income was approximately$250,000.

In June 1965 Maloney was acquitted ofsix charges to which he had entered pleas of not guilty. Manygovernment witnesses had offered testimony. They confirmed havingpaid Maloney large amounts to evade gambling raids. PittsburghMayor Joseph M. Joe Barr (1906-1982) fired Maloney a week later forconduct unbecoming an officer.

At the time he was the second rankingmember of the Pittsburgh Police Department. Maloney, the mayorinformed reporters, admitted he was a heavy gambler. Frank Valentionce bragged that the Pittsburgh Police Department operated moreefficiently than Rochesters. His attorney DiGaetano denied havingheard Valenti mention Maloney.

Before returning to Rochester in 1964to face an income tax evasion charge Valenti had spent a courtordered three-year exile in Pittsburgh. He was forced to leave NewYork because he violated an election law.

On Saturday evening, October 10, 1959,William Lupo was involved in a two-car auto accident that killed aRochester woman instantly. The collision occurred at North andWilkins Streets at approximately 11:15 p.m. The coroners officerevealed the victims name as Elizabeth Hill, 54, of 233 Avenue D.Patrolman Gregory J. Valeri (1928-2007) reported she died ofinternal injuries. An autopsy was scheduled at the morgue on Sundaymorning.

Four persons were injured in the mishapthat happened at an uncontrolled intersection. The injuriesincluded the victims husband, George W. Hill, 58, a headlaceration, William Lupo, 32, of 1132 Plank Road, left leg bruises,Williams brother, Michael, 42, of Culver Parkway, broken rightshoulder, and the Lupos brother-in-law, Peter Randazzo, 40, of 675Five Mile Line Road, Webster, rib and leg injuries.

William Lupo was driving a car in whichMichael Lupo and Randazzo were passengers. Hill was the secondmotorist involved. He was driving east on Wilkins Street while Lupowas driving north on North Street. The Lupo car slammed directlyinto the right side of Hills auto.

William Lupo was released followingtreatment. George Hill, Randazzo and Michael Lupo were reported ingood condition. The force of impact spun Hills car around so thatit careened into a light pole at Wilkins and North. A front seatpassenger, Elizabeth Hill was catapulted from her car into WilkinsStreet.

Prior to impact Lupos car skiddedabout twenty-nine feet on North Street. William Lupo told lawenforcement that he was traveling to North Park Lanes, 711 RidgeRoad East, the Hills. He was on his way back from a function at St.Johns Church on Ridge Road.

If Elizabeth Hills death was ruled atraffic fatality, it became the eighth of 1959 in Rochester. In1958 there were eight traffic deaths for the same period of theyear. A St. Stanislaus Church priest administered the last rites toElizabeth Hill. A Northside Hospital doctor pronounced her dead at11:30 p.m.

In November 1960 William Lupo, 33, wasone of two men charged with passing and possessing counterfeit $20bills. Taken into custody with James J. Cannarozzo, 24, the menwere charged because Cannarozzo wasnt wearing a weddingring.