Rochester crime family
The Rochester crime family was an Italian American organized-crime group based in Rochester, New York, that operated as an independent Mafia family before its effective dismantling in the late 1980s.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Rochester crime family, also called the Valenti crime family or the Rochester Mafia, was an Italian American organized-crime group centered on Rochester and the surrounding Greater Rochester area. It emerged as a distinct organization during the 1950s, although Rochester had previously functioned as a crew associated with the Buffalo crime family. The group is generally identified with Constenze “Stanley” Valenti, its first widely recognized official boss, and later with his brother Frank Valenti, who consolidated control in the 1960s. The organization’s activities, as described in historical and law-enforcement accounts, included illegal gambling, extortion, loan sharking, insurance fraud, arson, narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and related racketeering. Under Frank Valenti, the family was organized into crews led by figures including Samuel Russotti, Rene Piccarreto, Salvatore Gingello, Dominic Celestino, Thomas Didio, Angelo Vaccaro, and Dominic Chirico. The division of criminal enterprises among several capos helped create a more formal local structure, but it also produced rivalries over authority and revenue. The family’s history included significant violence. In 1970, a series of bombings in Rochester targeted buildings including synagogues and Black churches; the attacks were presented as an effort to divert law-enforcement attention from organized-crime activity. In 1972, Russotti, Piccarreto, and Gingello challenged Frank Valenti’s leadership. The dispute escalated after Dominic Chirico, Valenti’s close ally and bodyguard, was killed. Valenti ultimately left Rochester for Phoenix, Arizona, where he retired from active control. Russotti then became boss. Russotti’s period of leadership was followed by internal conflict and extensive prosecution. In 1977, senior members were convicted in the prosecution of the murder of Vincent Massaro, although the convictions were later undermined when police misconduct and fabricated evidence came to light. The resulting struggle between factions commonly described as the “A Team” and “B Team” led to further killings, including the bombing death of Salvatore Gingello in April 1978 and the machine-gun murder of acting boss Thomas Didio in July of that year. Federal authorities subsequently intensified their response, using racketeering statutes including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Late-1980s RICO prosecutions removed much of the organization’s remaining leadership. Acting boss Angelo Amico pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, and tax evasion in 1988, while Loren Piccarreto, Joseph Geniola, and Donald Paone were convicted and imprisoned in 1989. These cases effectively dismantled the Rochester family as an independent organization. After leaving prison in 1996, Thomas Marotta led a portion of former members into the Bonanno crime family, while others, including Rene Piccarreto and Angelo Amico, rejoined the Buffalo crime family. The organization is therefore treated as defunct rather than as an active contemporary brand or enterprise.
History
Rochester’s organized-crime group developed from a local crew connected to the Buffalo crime family. During the 1950s, Constenze “Stanley” Valenti became its first well-known official boss. After the 1957 Apalachin Conference, Stanley Valenti and his brother Frank were jailed for civil contempt after refusing to answer questions about the gathering. Stanley later received a prison sentence, and Jake Russo assumed leadership until the early 1960s. Frank Valenti returned to Rochester in 1964 with Stanley and Pittsburgh associate Angelo Vaccaro. Frank took control of the organization, while Rochester increasingly asserted independence from Buffalo boss Stefano Magaddino. Russo disappeared near the end of 1964 and was never found. In 1970, Valenti eliminated the last Russo loyalist identified in the source material, Billy Lupo, and formally treated Rochester as an independent crime family rather than a Buffalo crew. Valenti built a structured hierarchy. Samuel Russotti became underboss, Rene Piccarreto became consigliere, and several other members received capo positions. The family’s reported revenue sources included gambling, extortion, loan sharking, insurance fraud, arson, narcotics, and weapons trafficking. The 1970 Rochester bombing series, which damaged nine buildings and injured one person, was associated with an effort to draw investigators’ attention away from Mafia activity. In 1972, Russotti, Piccarreto, and Salvatore Gingello confronted Valenti over alleged profit skimming and demanded that he step down. The challenge was supported by an alliance involving Piccarreto and members of the Bonanno crime family. Valenti’s close associate Dominic Chirico was killed on Augustine Street. Valenti did not attempt to wage a prolonged war; instead, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and retired from active leadership. Russotti became boss, Piccarreto retained the consigliere position, and Gingello became underboss. The Russotti era was disrupted by prosecutions and internal rivalry. In 1977, police obtained indictments against much of the upper leadership in the case involving Vincent Massaro’s murder. Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Thomas Marotta, and Eugene DeFrancesco received lengthy convictions, but the case later collapsed after police fabrication of evidence was exposed. During their imprisonment, Thomas Didio became acting boss. Rather than remaining under Russotti’s influence, Didio demoted Russotti loyalists and formed a competing power center with advice from former boss Frank Valenti. The resulting conflict became known as the A Team and B Team war. The Russotti-aligned side included Russotti, Piccarreto, Gingello, Richard Marino, and Thomas Marotta. The opposing side included Didio, Rosario Chirico, Stanley Valenti, and Angelo Vaccaro. Gingello was killed by a car bomb on April 23, 1978, and Didio was murdered by machine-gun fire on July 6, 1978. The violence prompted a major federal response, including the use of RICO prosecutions. By the late 1980s, the organization had lost most of its senior leadership to imprisonment and prosecution. Acting boss Angelo Amico pleaded guilty in 1988 to racketeering, conspiracy, and tax evasion and received a fourteen-year sentence. Loren Piccarreto, Joseph Geniola, and Donald Paone were convicted in early 1989. These cases effectively dismantled the Rochester family as an autonomous organization. Russotti died in federal prison in 1993. After his release in 1996, Thomas Marotta led a substantial group of former members into the Bonanno family, while other former members, including Rene Piccarreto and Angelo Amico, rejoined Buffalo. The Rochester crime family is consequently regarded as defunct.
- 1996
Post-dissolution realignment
[1]Former members divided between the Bonanno and Buffalo crime families after the Rochester organization ceased operating independently.
- 1988
RICO indictments
[1]Federal racketeering indictments against Angelo Amico and Loren Piccarreto helped dismantle the remaining Rochester leadership.
- 1978
A and B Team conflict escalates
[1]The murders of Salvatore Gingello and Thomas Didio marked a violent escalation of the organization’s internal factional conflict.
- 1972
Valenti regime ends
[1]After a leadership challenge and the killing of Dominic Chirico, Frank Valenti left Rochester and Samuel Russotti became boss.
- 1970
Rochester bombing series
[1]Nine buildings were bombed, including synagogues and Black churches, in attacks associated with an attempt to divert law-enforcement attention.
- 1964
Frank Valenti takes control
[1]Frank Valenti returned to Rochester and assumed leadership, beginning the organization’s move toward independence from Buffalo.
- 1957
Apalachin-related contempt convictions
[1]Stanley and Frank Valenti were jailed for civil contempt after refusing to answer questions about the Apalachin Conference.
- 1950
Formation of the Rochester family
[1]The Rochester organization emerged during the 1950s as an Italian American organized-crime group centered on Rochester, New York.
Controversies
1988
Federal RICO prosecutions
Racketeering prosecutions led to guilty pleas and convictions among the organization’s remaining leadership and effectively ended its independent existence.
1977
Massaro murder convictions later undermined
Senior members were convicted in the Vincent Massaro murder case, but the prosecution was later discredited after police fabrication of evidence was revealed.
Marketing campaigns
- 1970Rochester bombing campaign
Rochester, New York
A series of nine bombings targeted Rochester buildings, including three Jewish synagogues and two Black churches. The attacks were described as a diversion intended to shift local investigative attention away from organized crime.
Outcome. The attacks caused property damage and one reported injury and contributed to later criminal investigations.
Brand decisions
1988
Federal racketeering crackdownStrategyBackground
Murders and prolonged internal conflict prompted federal authorities to target the organization under RICO.
Action taken
Federal prosecutors indicted and prosecuted remaining leaders and associates, including Angelo Amico and Loren Piccarreto.
Aftermath
The RICO cases effectively dismantled the Rochester family as an independent organization.
1972
Russotti succeeds Frank ValentiOtherBackground
Senior figures challenged Valenti over alleged profit skimming and leadership, while a rival alliance formed around Piccarreto and Bonanno members.
Action taken
Valenti left Rochester and retired in Phoenix; Samuel Russotti became boss.
Aftermath
The transition was followed by factional warfare and the eventual federal dismantling of the organization.
1964
Move toward independence from BuffaloStrategyBackground
Rochester had previously operated as a crew answering to the Buffalo crime family.
Action taken
Frank Valenti informed Buffalo boss Stefano Magaddino that Rochester would operate as an independent family.
Aftermath
The organization developed its own hierarchy and pursued local criminal enterprises under Valenti’s leadership.
- Buffalo crime family — The source material identifies the assertion of independence but does not provide a detailed public response.
Sources1 sources
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