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2 unusual facts about Sam DeCavalcante


Sam DeCavalcante

Claiming descent from the Italian royal family, DeCavalcante was nicknamed "The Count".

In 1980, DeCavalcante retired as boss and passed control of the family to Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi.


Giuseppe Schifilliti

Toward the mid 1970s, Giuseppe Schifilliti was inducted into the DeCavalcante crime family, under the leadership of Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante and early Underboss, Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi.

Joseph Miranda

A longtime "soldier" to Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante and later boss Giovanni Riggi, he became acting Underboss for Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo following the imprisonment of many high-ranking members in 2003.

Joseph Miranda served as a made man and loan shark under both founder Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante and Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi during the 1960s and mid-1970s.


see also

Frank Polizzi

Involved in loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling and especially narcotics activities, Polizzi continued to operate in the Newark faction of the family throughout the 1960s, but as Sam DeCavalcante took over the family in 1965, Polizzi was passed over of being promoted, as Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi was made captain of DeCavalcante's crew.

Louis LaRasso

After Sam DeCavalcante and LaRasso were sent to prison due to federal authorities monitoring conversations between DeCavalcante and LaRasso discussing illegal gambling operations worth more than $20 million a year, Giovanni "John the Eagle" Riggi, LaRasso's rival, stepped up as Acting boss while DeCavalcante and LaRasso were imprisoned for 5 years.