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Ralph Scopo

January 01, 1970

Ralph "Little Ralphie" Scopo Sr. (November 21, 1928 – March 9, 1993) was a New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who became a powerful labor racketeer. He was the father of Colombo mobsters Joseph Scopo and Ralph Scopo Jr., and the grandfather of Joseph Scopo Jr. and Ralph Scopo III.[1]

Concrete Club edit

Scopo was the president of the Cement and Concrete Workers District Council of the Laborers' International Union of North America from 1977 to April 1985.[2] During this time, Scopo used his position to extort money from cement contractors in New York in return for large construction contracts and labor peace. Contracts between $2 million and $15 million were reserved for a club of contractors called the "Concrete Club", which were selected by The Commission.[3] In return, the contractors gave a two percent kickback of the contract value to The Commission.[3][4] Although Scopo was only a low-ranking soldier, his membership in the Concrete Club allowed him more influence than some capos in the Colombo family.

In a recorded conversation[2] with a non-club contractor, Scopo was heard explaining:[3]

Scopo: ... The concrete's gotta be twelve million?
Contractor: Yeah. Why can't I do the concrete?
Scopo: You can't do it. Over two million you can't do it. It's under two million, hey, me, I tell you go ahead and do it.
Contractor: Who do I gotta go see? Tell me who I gotta go see?
Scopo: You gotta see every Family. And they're gonna tell you, "no." So don't even bother.
Contractor: And if Tommy goes and talks to them?
Scopo: They'll tell you no. No matter who talks. I know they'll tell you no. I went through this not once, a hundred times. I can't get it for myself. How could I get it for somebody else?

The Cosa Nostra's control over the cement companies was backed up by violence. In a recorded conversation[2] with contractor James Costigan, Scopo explained how the Concrete Club "protected" contractors:[3]

Scopo: If I tell you stories about Contractors that you know, that's supposed to get hurt, that I protected ...
Costigan: Why would any, they get hurt?
Scopo: Well, we ... for doin' what they're not supposed to be doin'.

In another recording in April 1984, Scopo tells an associate that the Gambino crime family had murdered capo Roy DeMeo because they feared DeMeo might become a government witness and testify against them.[5]

Racketeering convictions edit

In 1980, the FBI initiated Operation Genus against all five of the New York Cosa Nostra families, an effort that would result in the infamous Mafia Commission trial. As part of this investigation, agents placed a remote listening device in Scopo's car.[6]

On February 25, 1985, Scopo and other high-ranking Cosa Nostra leaders were indicted on federal racketeering charges.[7] Scopo was specifically charged with extorting $326,000 from a concrete supplier. As a result of the indictment, Scopo was forced to resign from the District Council.[3] Along with the other defendants, Scopo pleaded not guilty on July 1, 1985, in what would become known as the Mafia Commission Trial.[8] On November 14, 1985, the trial was interrupted when Scopo complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital. However, he was able to return to the trial the next day.[9]

Prison edit

On November 19, 1986, Scopo was convicted in the Commission Trial of racketeering for carrying out the orders of the Mafia Commission.[4] On January 13, 1987, Scopo was sentenced to 100 years in prison without an option for parole and fined $240,000.[10] Two months later, on March 21, 1987, the remaining leadership of the Concrete Workers District Council resigned, to be replaced by a court-appointed trustee.[11] After Scopo's conviction, his son Joseph became the new capo for his father's crew and later family underboss.

On July 17, 1987, Scopo was convicted of federal extortion charges in connection with the Colombo Trial (which was separate from the Commission Trial).[12]

On March 9, 1993, Ralph Scopo Sr. died of natural causes while serving his sentence at United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg.[13] On October 20, 1993, his son Joseph Scopo was murdered by loyalists of Colombo boss Carmine Persico.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "25 Years Later, Jailed Mafia Boss Allegedly Still Runs Cement Workers Union". Mafia Today. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Colombo Jury Hears Tape of '83 Conversation About Payments". The New York Times. December 21, 1985.
  3. ^ a b c d e Goldstock, Ronald (1990). Corruption and racketeering in the New York City construction industry: final report to Governor Mario M. Cuomo. New York: New York University Press. p. 79. ISBN 0-8147-3034-5.
  4. ^ a b Lubasch, Arnold H. (November 20, 1986). "U.S. Jury Convicts Eight As Members of Mob Commission". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Capeci, Jerry (2004). The complete idiot's guide to the Mafia (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books. p. 14. ISBN 1-59257-305-3.
  6. ^ Busting the mob: United States. New York: New York University Press. 1996. p. 80. ISBN 0-8147-4230-0.
  7. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (February 27, 1985). "U.S. Indictment Says 9 Governed New York Mafia". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "11 Plead Not Guilty to Ruling Organized Crime in New York". The New York Times. July 2, 1985.
  9. ^ "Illness Interrupts Racketeering Trial" The New York Times November 14, 1985
  10. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (January 14, 1987). "Judge Sentences 8 Mafia Leaders to Prison Term". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Raab, Selwyn (March 22, 1987). "The Government Goes to Work on "Corrupt' Unions". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (July 18, 1987). "2 Convicted of Racketeering In Mafia Construction Case". The New York Times.
  13. ^ a b James, George (October 2, 1993). "Man Tied to Crime Family Is Shot to Death in Queens". The New York Times.

Further reading edit

  • Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
  • Davis, John H. Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-06-016357-7
  • Goldstock, Ronald. Corruption and Racketeering in the New York City Construction Industry: Final Report of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. New York: NYU Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8147-3034-5
  • Jacobs, James B., Christopher Panarella and Jay Worthington. Busting the Mob: The United States vs. Cosa Nostra. New York: NYU Press, 1994. ISBN 0-8147-4230-0
  • Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5
  • Raab, Selwyn. The Five Families: The Rise, Decline & Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empire. New York: St. Martins Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-30094-8

External links edit

  • New York Times: Jury Is Told Crime Families Control Concrete Business by Ronald Smothers

January 01, 1970
ralph, scopo, ralph, little, ralphie, scopo, november, 1928, march, 1993, york, mobster, with, colombo, crime, family, became, powerful, labor, racketeer, father, colombo, mobsters, joseph, scopo, grandfather, joseph, scopo, contents, concrete, club, racketeer. Ralph Little Ralphie Scopo Sr November 21 1928 March 9 1993 was a New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who became a powerful labor racketeer He was the father of Colombo mobsters Joseph Scopo and Ralph Scopo Jr and the grandfather of Joseph Scopo Jr and Ralph Scopo III 1 Contents 1 Concrete Club 2 Racketeering convictions 3 Prison 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksConcrete Club editScopo was the president of the Cement and Concrete Workers District Council of the Laborers International Union of North America from 1977 to April 1985 2 During this time Scopo used his position to extort money from cement contractors in New York in return for large construction contracts and labor peace Contracts between 2 million and 15 million were reserved for a club of contractors called the Concrete Club which were selected by The Commission 3 In return the contractors gave a two percent kickback of the contract value to The Commission 3 4 Although Scopo was only a low ranking soldier his membership in the Concrete Club allowed him more influence than some capos in the Colombo family In a recorded conversation 2 with a non club contractor Scopo was heard explaining 3 Scopo The concrete s gotta be twelve million Contractor Yeah Why can t I do the concrete Scopo You can t do it Over two million you can t do it It s under two million hey me I tell you go ahead and do it Contractor Who do I gotta go see Tell me who I gotta go see Scopo You gotta see every Family And they re gonna tell you no So don t even bother Contractor And if Tommy goes and talks to them Scopo They ll tell you no No matter who talks I know they ll tell you no I went through this not once a hundred times I can t get it for myself How could I get it for somebody else The Cosa Nostra s control over the cement companies was backed up by violence In a recorded conversation 2 with contractor James Costigan Scopo explained how the Concrete Club protected contractors 3 Scopo If I tell you stories about Contractors that you know that s supposed to get hurt that I protected Costigan Why would any they get hurt Scopo Well we for doin what they re not supposed to be doin In another recording in April 1984 Scopo tells an associate that the Gambino crime family had murdered capo Roy DeMeo because they feared DeMeo might become a government witness and testify against them 5 Racketeering convictions editIn 1980 the FBI initiated Operation Genus against all five of the New York Cosa Nostra families an effort that would result in the infamous Mafia Commission trial As part of this investigation agents placed a remote listening device in Scopo s car 6 On February 25 1985 Scopo and other high ranking Cosa Nostra leaders were indicted on federal racketeering charges 7 Scopo was specifically charged with extorting 326 000 from a concrete supplier As a result of the indictment Scopo was forced to resign from the District Council 3 Along with the other defendants Scopo pleaded not guilty on July 1 1985 in what would become known as the Mafia Commission Trial 8 On November 14 1985 the trial was interrupted when Scopo complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital However he was able to return to the trial the next day 9 Prison editOn November 19 1986 Scopo was convicted in the Commission Trial of racketeering for carrying out the orders of the Mafia Commission 4 On January 13 1987 Scopo was sentenced to 100 years in prison without an option for parole and fined 240 000 10 Two months later on March 21 1987 the remaining leadership of the Concrete Workers District Council resigned to be replaced by a court appointed trustee 11 After Scopo s conviction his son Joseph became the new capo for his father s crew and later family underboss On July 17 1987 Scopo was convicted of federal extortion charges in connection with the Colombo Trial which was separate from the Commission Trial 12 On March 9 1993 Ralph Scopo Sr died of natural causes while serving his sentence at United States Penitentiary Lewisburg 13 On October 20 1993 his son Joseph Scopo was murdered by loyalists of Colombo boss Carmine Persico 13 References edit 25 Years Later Jailed Mafia Boss Allegedly Still Runs Cement Workers Union Mafia Today Archived from the original on 28 January 2013 Retrieved 17 October 2011 a b c Colombo Jury Hears Tape of 83 Conversation About Payments The New York Times December 21 1985 a b c d e Goldstock Ronald 1990 Corruption and racketeering in the New York City construction industry final report to Governor Mario M Cuomo New York New York University Press p 79 ISBN 0 8147 3034 5 a b Lubasch Arnold H November 20 1986 U S Jury Convicts Eight As Members of Mob Commission The New York Times Capeci Jerry 2004 The complete idiot s guide to the Mafia 2nd ed Indianapolis IN Alpha Books p 14 ISBN 1 59257 305 3 Busting the mob United States New York New York University Press 1996 p 80 ISBN 0 8147 4230 0 Lubasch Arnold H February 27 1985 U S Indictment Says 9 Governed New York Mafia The New York Times 11 Plead Not Guilty to Ruling Organized Crime in New York The New York Times July 2 1985 Illness Interrupts Racketeering Trial The New York Times November 14 1985 Lubasch Arnold H January 14 1987 Judge Sentences 8 Mafia Leaders to Prison Term The New York Times Raab Selwyn March 22 1987 The Government Goes to Work on Corrupt Unions The New York Times Lubasch Arnold H July 18 1987 2 Convicted of Racketeering In Mafia Construction Case The New York Times a b James George October 2 1993 Man Tied to Crime Family Is Shot to Death in Queens The New York Times Further reading editCapeci Jerry The Complete Idiot s Guide to the Mafia Indianapolis Alpha Books 2002 ISBN 0 02 864225 2 Davis John H Mafia Dynasty The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family New York HarperCollins 1993 ISBN 0 06 016357 7 Goldstock Ronald Corruption and Racketeering in the New York City Construction Industry Final Report of the New York State Organized Crime Task Force New York NYU Press 1990 ISBN 0 8147 3034 5 Jacobs James B Christopher Panarella and Jay Worthington Busting the Mob The United States vs Cosa Nostra New York NYU Press 1994 ISBN 0 8147 4230 0 Jacobs James B Coleen Friel and Robert Radick Gotham Unbound How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime New York NYU Press 1999 ISBN 0 8147 4247 5 Raab Selwyn The Five Families The Rise Decline amp Resurgence of America s Most Powerful Mafia Empire New York St Martins Press 2005 ISBN 0 312 30094 8External links editNew York Times Jury Is Told Crime Families Control Concrete Business by Ronald Smothers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph Scopo amp oldid 1215372573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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