ROCHESTER FAMILY
In the 1950s there was a power struggle in the city of Rochester. The struggle delt with Jake Russo and the Valenti brothers.
Russo appointed himself boss of Rochester,NY in 1950. But in 1964 he mysteriously disappeared, never to be found. Frank
Valenti was now boss and would remain until he was forced into retirement in 1972. His underboss, William Lupo, was killed to
warn Frank that he should get out while he was still alive. As soon as Frank retired, along with a small group of followers,
Samuel Russotti became boss, having Sammy Gingello as underboss and Rene Piccareto as consigliere. In 1978 Russotti was
given a 25 year sentence for the connection for conspiracy to kill Vicent Massaro,the verdict was later overturned that same
year. Still in the same year, war broke out within the family. Known as the A-B war. As this war played out, Thomas Didio,
who was acting boss while Rossotti was in prison, was killed by a car bomb, and underboss, Salvatore Gingello, was
murdered. Angelo Amico took on the job as acting boss. In 1982 Samuel Russoti, boss, Richard Marino, underboss, Rene
Piccarreto, consigliere, Angelo Amico, Loren Piccarreto,son of Rene, Joseph Rossi, a capo, and enforcers, Joseph Geniola and
Joe LoDolce were all convicted and sent to jail. Tom Merotta, Joe Trieste, Joe RoDolle, Don Paone and Robert Silveri are the
only ranking members of the Rochester family not in prison or dead at this point. Samuel Russotti died in 1993.
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