Morello crime family
An early New York Italian-American organized-crime family that developed into the predecessor of the Genovese crime family.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Morello crime family was one of the earliest organized-crime families to emerge in New York City and the United States. Its core developed among Sicilian immigrants from Corleone who settled in New York after periods in Louisiana and Texas. The group became associated with East Harlem, particularly the area around 107th Street, and was consequently known as the 107th Street Mob or Morello Gang. Under Giuseppe Morello, the family built influence in Manhattan's Italian underworld and formed a significant alliance with Ignazio Lupo, who controlled criminal activity in Little Italy. Lupo married Morello's half-sister Salvatrice Terranova in 1903, reinforcing the relationship between the two organizations. The family was involved in extortion, gambling, violence, and counterfeiting. Its most important early criminal enterprise was a counterfeit-currency operation conducted with Sicilian mafioso Vito Cascio Ferro. Counterfeit American currency was produced in Sicily and moved into the United States. The group was also associated by investigators and later historians with a series of killings in which victims' bodies were concealed in barrels. The 1903 barrel murder of Benedetto Madonia drew particular attention because Madonia was connected to informant Giuseppe DiPrimo and because evidence linked the investigation to Morello and Lupo associates. Prosecutions initially failed after witnesses changed their statements, but law-enforcement scrutiny continued. A 1909 raid on a Morello-linked property in Highland, New York, uncovered counterfeit American and Canadian currency. Morello, Lupo, and other members were arrested, and federal trials in 1910 resulted in convictions. Morello received a 30-year sentence and Lupo a 25-year sentence at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta. Their imprisonment weakened the organization's central leadership. Nicholas Terranova then became its principal leader, assisted by his brothers Vincenzo and Ciro. During this period the family maintained a presence from East Harlem toward Greenwich Village and used the Venezia Restaurant as an underworld meeting place. The weakened organization faced internal fragmentation and competition. Gaetano Reina separated from the family and established an independent Bronx-based group. At the same time, the Morellos became involved in the conflict between Sicilian mafiosi and Neapolitan Camorra groups seeking control of Manhattan. After the deaths of allied figures including Charles Lamonti and Giosue Gallucci, Brooklyn Camorra leaders Pellegrino Morano and Vincenzo Paragallo moved against the Morello faction. Nicholas Terranova was lured to a meeting in Brooklyn on September 7, 1916, where he and his bodyguard Charles Ubriaco were killed. Subsequent testimony from Camorra participants helped prosecutors convict Morano, Alessandro Vollero, and others, effectively ending the Mafia-Camorra War. The Morello organization survived under Vincenzo and Ciro Terranova, and several former Camorra members joined it. Giuseppe Masseria, who had been released from prison in 1916, became an important figure. In the early 1920s, conflict involving Masseria, Umberto Valenti, and the broader power structure associated with Salvatore D'Aquila led to the killing of Vincenzo Terranova and eventually Valenti. Masseria's victory in 1922 made him boss of the organization, with Giuseppe Morello serving as underboss after his release from prison. By the end of the 1920s, the family had been absorbed into the power structure that Masseria controlled. Its historical lineage ultimately contributed to what became known as the Genovese crime family. The Morello crime family therefore ceased to exist as an independent organization, although its personnel, alliances, and institutional legacy remained important in the development of American Cosa Nostra.
History
The family's roots lay in Corleone, Sicily. Giuseppe Morello was born in 1867 and emigrated to the United States in 1892; members of the wider Morello-Terranova family arrived in New York the following year. After periods in Louisiana and Texas, the family returned to New York by 1896. Giuseppe and his relatives established themselves in East Harlem, where the organization became associated with 107th Street. Morello's alliance with Ignazio Lupo connected East Harlem to Little Italy. Their relationship was reinforced when Lupo married Salvatrice Terranova in 1903. During the same period, the allied organization developed an international counterfeiting operation with Sicilian mafioso Vito Cascio Ferro. The group also became linked in law-enforcement accounts and historical studies to violent killings, including the 1903 barrel murder of Benedetto Madonia. Although early charges collapsed after witnesses altered their testimony, investigators continued to pursue the organization. In November 1909, police raided a property in Highland, New York, that was allegedly being used as a counterfeiting facility. The seizure of counterfeit American and Canadian notes led to the arrest of fifteen people. Morello and Lupo were convicted in federal court in 1910 and received 30-year and 25-year sentences respectively. Their imprisonment created a leadership vacuum. Nicholas Terranova assumed command with support from Vincenzo and Ciro, while the family continued operating in Manhattan and opened the Venezia Restaurant as a prominent underworld gathering place. The organization then experienced defections and external pressure. Gaetano Reina left and formed an independent Bronx family. Morello efforts to reconcile Sicilian mafiosi and Neapolitan Camorra groups failed, and relations deteriorated after the deaths of allied East Harlem figures. In 1916, Brooklyn Camorra leaders attempted to eliminate the Morello faction. Nicholas Terranova accepted a proposed meeting at a Navy Street café in Brooklyn, where he and Charles Ubriaco were ambushed and killed. The resulting prosecutions exposed the conflict and led to convictions of leading Camorra figures, bringing the Mafia-Camorra War to an end. Vincenzo and Ciro Terranova retained control after 1917, and former Camorra members joined the Morello group. Giuseppe Masseria became increasingly influential. After Giuseppe Morello and Ignazio Lupo were released from prison in 1920, Salvatore D'Aquila viewed their return as a threat. Umberto Valenti, who was also in conflict with D'Aquila, tried to improve his position by attacking Masseria. The resulting struggle ended with the murder of Vincenzo Terranova and, in August 1922, the killing of Valenti and his bodyguard by Masseria's faction. Masseria then became boss, while Morello became underboss. The organization was subsequently absorbed into Masseria's broader criminal structure. Giuseppe Morello was murdered in 1930, and Masseria remained boss until 1931. The Morello family's historical continuity is generally treated as part of the lineage that eventually became the Genovese crime family.
- 1930
Giuseppe Morello is murdered
[1]The former founder and underboss was killed as the organization operated under Masseria's control.
- 1922
Giuseppe Masseria takes control
[1]Following the deaths of Vincenzo Terranova and Umberto Valenti, Masseria became boss and Giuseppe Morello became underboss.
- 1917
Mafia-Camorra War concludes
[1]Convictions of Camorra leaders ended the war and enabled the Morello organization to absorb some former opponents.
- 1916
Nicholas Terranova is assassinated
[1]Terranova and Charles Ubriaco were killed in Brooklyn, escalating the Mafia-Camorra conflict.
- 1910
Morello and Lupo receive federal sentences
[1]Convictions in the counterfeiting case removed the organization's senior leaders from New York for many years.
- 1909
Counterfeiting facility raided
[1]Authorities raided a Morello-linked property in Highland, New York, and recovered counterfeit currency.
- 1903
Morello-Lupo alliance strengthens
[1]Ignazio Lupo married Salvatrice Terranova, formalizing a major alliance between the East Harlem and Little Italy factions.
- 1896
The family returns to New York
[1]After living in Louisiana and Texas, the Morello-Terranova family re-established itself in New York City.
- 1892
Giuseppe Morello emigrates to the United States
[1]Giuseppe Morello left Corleone for the United States; his family followed in 1893.
Products and positioning
Not applicable as a commercial brand; historically, the organization functioned as a Sicilian-American organized-crime network involved in illicit protection, counterfeiting, gambling, extortion, and violence.
Controversies
1922
Masseria-Valenti conflict
A violent succession struggle resulted in the deaths of Vincenzo Terranova, Umberto Valenti, and other associates, leaving Masseria in control.
1916
Murder of Nicholas Terranova and Charles Ubriaco
The Morello leader and his bodyguard were killed during an attempted meeting with Brooklyn Camorra figures.
1909
Counterfeiting prosecution
A raid uncovered counterfeit American and Canadian currency, leading to the arrest and conviction of senior Morello figures and other alleged members.
1903
Benedetto Madonia barrel murder
Benedetto Madonia was found tortured and killed in a barrel. The case became associated with the Morello-Lupo counterfeiting network after investigators connected Madonia to informant Giuseppe DiPrimo and identified Morello associates at a relevant restaurant.
Brand decisions
1916
Attempted truce with Brooklyn CamorraStrategyBackground
Six months of fighting over Manhattan territory produced a stalemate between the Morello faction and Brooklyn Camorra leaders.
Action taken
Nicholas Terranova accepted a proposed meeting at a Brooklyn café in an effort to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Aftermath
The meeting was an ambush. Terranova and Charles Ubriaco were killed, but later testimony led to prosecutions that ended the Mafia-Camorra War.
1903
International counterfeiting partnershipStrategyBackground
The Morello and Lupo factions sought to expand their criminal income and influence through cooperation with Sicilian mafioso Vito Cascio Ferro.
Action taken
The allied network arranged for counterfeit five-dollar notes to be produced in Sicily and smuggled into the United States.
Aftermath
The scheme attracted sustained Secret Service attention and ultimately contributed to the 1909 arrests and 1910 convictions.
Sources2 sources
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