(Bonanno Crime Family)

Early Life:

Dominick Napolitano was born on June 16, 1930 and raised in Brooklyn, a borough that has historically been a fertile ground for organized crime. Growing up in a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood, he was exposed to the Mafia culture from a young age. His early years were relatively typical for a young man in Brooklyn during that era, marked by family ties, community bonds, and a gradual immersion into the world of organized crime.

Napolitano was born with blond hair, but by his forties it had turned a gunmetal white-silver color. To hide the color, he dyed it black, earning him the nickname "Sonny Black". Napolitano's entry into the Mafia was not a sudden leap but a gradual process. He began his criminal career with small-time activities, gaining the attention of local mobsters with his resourcefulness and willingness to take risks. By the 1950s, Napolitano had firmly entrenched himself in the underworld, aligning himself with the likes of Joseph Massino, Philip Rastelli and with the Bonanno crime family, one of the infamous Five Families that dominated organized crime in New York City.

Ascension Through the Ranks:

Napolitano's rise through the Mafia ranks was a testament to his keen understanding of the criminal world and his ability to navigate its treacherous waters. Known for his intelligence, street smarts, and ruthless efficiency, he became a made man in the Bonanno family. By the 1970s, he had ascended to the position of capo, or captain, overseeing his own crew of soldiers and associates.

As a capo, Sonny Black was involved in various illegal enterprises, including loan sharking, hijacking, robbery, extortion, gambling, and drug trafficking. He was known for his leadership skills and his ability to maintain discipline within his crew. His crew was one of the most successful crews in the Bonanno family. Despite his criminal activities, Napolitano was also recognized for his charismatic personality and his ability to form strong personal bonds with those around him.

Napolitano owned the Wither's Italian-American Veterans of Foreign Wars Club at 415 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and also The Motion Lounge at 420 Graham Avenue. He later ran an illegal casino in Pasco County, Florida, and owned a tennis club and night club called The King's Court Bottle Club in Holiday, Florida.

The Donnie Brasco Operation:

One of the most significant and ultimately tragic episodes in Dominick Napolitano's life was his involvement with Joseph Pistone, an undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the Mafia under the alias Donnie Brasco. The Donnie Brasco operation, which began in 1976, aimed to penetrate the Mafia's inner circles and gather crucial intelligence regarding truck hijackings.

Pistone's infiltration was a masterstroke of undercover work. He gradually won the trust of various Mafia members, eventually becoming close to Benny "Lefty" Ruggerio and Sonny Black. Napolitano took Brasco under his wing, treating him as a trusted associate and involving him in numerous criminal activities. The relationship between Sonny Black and Donnie Brasco became the cornerstone of the FBI's operation, providing invaluable insights into the workings of the Mafia.

As Sonny Black continued to rise in the Bonanno family, his loyalty to his associates and his commitment to the Mafia's code of conduct remained unwavering. He was known for his sense of honor and his adherence to the Mafia's principles, even as the world around him became increasingly treacherous. Napolitano's leadership style was characterized by a combination of respect, fear, and genuine camaraderie.

His loyalty was tested when internal strife and power struggles within the Bonanno family escalated between the Rastelli loyalists and those who were in favor of a fresh, new Sicilian faction, led by Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato. The family's leadership was in turmoil, with various factions vying for control. Amidst this chaos, Sonny Black assigned associate Donnie Brasco in September 1981, whom he hoped to make a made man, to kill Bruno Indelicato, who had previously evaded death when he missed the meeting of the Three Capos in May 1981.

Unraveling of the Donnie Brasco Operation:

The Donnie Brasco operation eventually led to one of the most significant blows to the American Mafia in history. In 1981, after nearly six years of undercover work, Joseph Pistone's true identity was revealed. The FBI decided to end the operation, fearing for Pistone's life as his cover was at risk of being blown.

The revelation of Donnie Brasco's true identity sent shockwaves through the Mafia. The Bonanno family, in particular, was deeply affected, as it had been the primary target of the operation. The betrayal by someone they had trusted so deeply was a severe blow to their pride and their operations. For Sonny Black, the consequences were particularly dire.

Downfall and Death:

When the Mafia discovered that Donnie Brasco was an undercover agent, the repercussions were swift and brutal. In the world of organized crime, betrayal is met with the harshest of punishments. As the capo who had vouched for Brasco and brought him into the inner circles of the Bonanno family, Sonny Black was held responsible.

Despite his loyalty and long-standing service to the Mafia, Napolitano could not escape the code of retribution. On August 17, 1981, he was summoned to a meeting at Bonanno associate Ron Filocomo's home in Eltingville, Staten Island, knowing full well that it was likely a death sentence. True to the Mafia's code, he accepted his fate without resistance, demonstrating his adherence to the very principles that would lead to his demise.

Bonanno capo Frank Lino and Steven Canone drove Napolitano to the Filocomo's house. The three men were greeted at the door by Frank Coppa, who told them the conference was to be held in the basement. As Napolitano descended the basement stairs, Coppa slammed the basement door shut, signaling for Lino to shove Napolitano down the stairs, as two killers; Robert Lino Sr (Frank Lino's cousin) and Filocomo were waiting at the foot of the stairwell. Napolitano was pushed down the staircase and was shot and grazed by Lino Sr. When his gun failed to fire a subsequent shot, Napolitano told them "Hit me one more time and make it good", to which Filocomo responded by firing several .38 caliber rounds, killing him. His body was later discovered in a landfill, a grim reminder of the consequences of betrayal and the unforgiving nature of organized crime.

In 2003, Bonanno boss Joseph Massino was arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, with the case centering on the murder of Napolitano. At Massino's trial, prosecutors claimed that Napolitano was killed by his associates for allowing his crew to be compromised, and that his hands had been removed as a warning to other mobsters to follow the rule about proper introductions (the implication being the association between shaking hands and being introduced to someone). Massino would turn state's evidence, live out his final years in the Federal Witness Protection Program under the alias "Ralph Rogers" and die following a short illness on September 14, 2023 at the age of 80.

Legacy:

Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano's life and death left a lasting impact on the Mafia and popular culture. The Donnie Brasco operation exposed the inner workings of the Mafia to law enforcement and the public, leading to numerous arrests and convictions. The operation also highlighted the vulnerabilities and the eventual decline of the Mafia's influence in American society.

Napolitano's story was immortalized in the 1997 film "Donnie Brasco," starring Al Pacino as Sonny Black and Johnny Depp as Joseph Pistone. The film, based on Pistone's memoirs, brought the story to a global audience, further cementing Sonny Black's place in the annals of Mafia history.

Despite his criminal activities, Sonny Black is often remembered for his complex character—a man who was both ruthless and loyal, charismatic and dangerous. His life serves as a stark illustration of the perils and paradoxes of the Mafia world, where loyalty can lead to both power and destruction.

Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano's life is a compelling story of a man who rose through the ranks of one of America's most notorious crime families, only to be undone by a betrayal he could not foresee. His story is a blend of ambition, loyalty, and the harsh realities of the criminal underworld. It serves as a reminder of the intricate and often tragic lives of those who choose to live by the code of the Mafia.

The Motion Lounge

SA - Joe Pistone

Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato

SA - Joe Pistone

Joe Massino