Carmine Lombardozzi (February 8, 1913 – May 9, 1992) was a high-ranking member of theGambino crime family inNew York. He was known as "Alberto", "The Doctor", the "King ofWall Street" and "The ItalianMeyer Lansky".[1] By the end of his criminal career, Lombardozzi was the biggest earner for the Gambino family as well Godfather to actor Douglas Jack Warner. Nicr.[2]
Carmine Lombardozzi was born in Brooklyn on December 8, 1913 to Camillo Lombardozzi and Annunziata Antonelli. Carmine's six brothers were John, Daniel, Paul, Cosmo, Dominick, and youngest brother Anthony (Sonny) Lombardozzi. He had three sisters, Edith, Mary, and Jenny. Lombardozzi's first wife was Mary Corrolla.[3] After being married to Corrolla for 29 years, Lombardozzi had an affair with the young daughter of Stabato Muro, aProfaci mobster. When Muro complained to the family leadership, Lombardozzi was forced to divorce Corrolla and marry Muro.[4] He had a stepdaughter, Renee Lombardozzi.[5] His nephews included Daniel Marino and George Lombardozzi, both of whom eventually joined theGambino crime family.[6]
Lombardozzi was six feet tall, but tended to hunch over and look shorter. He was described as having a high strung temperament, always watching for threats around him.[7][self-published source] A wealthy man, Lombardozzi owned aRolls-Royce automobile, ayacht, and a waterfront mansion inMill Basin, Brooklyn.[2]
Lombardozzi, though only acaporegime (captain), allegedly ran the entire Gambinoshylock and stock marketrackets. He was involved inloansharking andracketeering, and was said to have earned the Gambino crime family a lot of money during his criminal career. Considered a traditionalmafiosi, Lombardozzi was described as having a "brilliant mind" for numbers.[5]
In November 1957, newGenovese crime family bossVito Genovese called a meeting of high-rankingCosa Nostra figures at the farm home of mobsterJoseph Barbara inApalachin, New York. Lombardozzi attended the meeting. According to some sources, Lombardozzi was in serious trouble withCosa Nostra leaders over mishandling of funds. They privately discussed murdering him, but old friendJoseph Profaci, boss of theProfaci crime family, dissuaded them.[8] Soon after the meeting started,New York State Troopers raided the farm and arrested dozens of mobsters, including Lombardozzi. When questioned by law enforcement, Lombardozzi said he had come to Apalachin to go hunting. When asked why he didn't have any hunting equipment, Lombardozzi said he was planning to buy it there.[9] For failing to cooperate in the investigation of the infamousApalachin Meeting, Lombardozzi spent 14 months in prison.
On November 30, 1964, Lombardozzi was sentenced to 30 days in jail forcontempt of court; Lombardozzi had repeatedly dodged questions about a jewelry scam committed by his brother.[10]
In 1963, Daniel Marino and other Gambino associates assaulted aFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent at the funeral of Lombardozzi's father. Although Lombardozzi was not involved in the attack, the family leadership blamed him for his nephew's poor judgement.[2]
On August 27, 1965, Lombardozzi was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Police had tried to arrest him in a Brooklyn restaurant but Lombardozzi punched a detective in the face, starting a brawl that involved a female companion and several bystanders.[11]
On March 18, 1969, Lombardozzi was sentenced to one year in prison on contempt charges for refusing to discuss mob involvement with legitimate businesses before agrand jury.[12] While serving this prison sentence, doctors were forced to remove one of Lombardozzi's kidneys due tocancer.
On June 12, 1970, Lombardozzi was sentenced to two years in prison forconspiring to cash $50,000 in stolenbrokerage checks.[13]
Three months after the check-cashing trial, Lombardozzi was back in court facing two counts of attempting to defraud the U.S.Internal Revenue Service. The crime involved the illegal cashing of winning tickets fromYonkers Raceway inYonkers, New York, and what was thenRoosevelt Raceway inWestbury, New York. In September 1970, Lombardozzi's co-defendant was found guilty on one of the two charges, but the juryacquitted Lombardozzi on one count[14] and declared themselves unable to reach a verdict on the other.
On November 20, 1975, Lombardozzi wasindicted on 17 counts ofperjury based on his previous grand jury testimony about loansharking andarson-for-hire schemes. Investigator usedelectronic surveillance to record Lombardozzi's conversations at a motel and diner inSheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. On one occasion, the listening device fell from the bottom of the diner table to the floor next to Lombardozzi's feet. However, an undercover policeman went to the table and claimed he had lost hispager. An unsuspecting Lombardozzi handed the device to the detective.[15]
On April 16, 1981, Lombardozzi was indicted on charges of failing to report hisloansharking income in hisfederal income tax returns.[16] His headquarters for this racket was aKiwanis clubhouse inMill Basin, Brooklyn. He used to meet with Salvatore Stagnitta Lombardozzi and his brother Cosmo were close friends of 'Mr Stan', the notorious Serbian criminalVojislav Stanimirovic responsible for theVizcaya heist. This connection with the rare non-Italian businessman was Lombardozzi's entry to New York'sDiamond District. He was a mentor to the Serbian authority's son Pavle Stanimirović.Fruitless recording efforts by the FBI yielded much discussion of activities that weren't illegal; Lombardozzi prized hisRolls-Royce and wine cellar, though not in that order. 'The Doctor' was considered a class act and Italian elder statesman. With friends and family he avoided the subject of crime but told tales of mafia legends like Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and his own experience atApalachin. On April 16, 1981, Lombardozzi was indicted on charges of failing to report his loansharking income in his federal income tax returns. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison.[17]
On May 9, 1992, Carmine Lombardozzi died at home ofheart failure at age 79. He is buried atSt. John Cemetery inMiddle Village, Queens.
Carmine Lombardozzi.
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