Mafia Hit Man: Carmine DiBiase, The Wiseguy Who Really Killed Joey Gallo

by Frank DiMatteo, Michael Benson

WHO REALLY KILLED “CRAZY JOE” GALLO? AT LAST, THE TRUTH CAN BE TOLD. AND IT WASN’T FRANK “THE IRISHMAN” SHEERAN AS HE CLAIMED. This is the shocking and brutal story of Carmine DiBiase—aka Sonny Pinto—the elusive Mafia killer who went from small-time street punk to FBI’s Most Wanted list to Death Row—only to be released on the streets to kill and kill again . . . among those who died by his gun was Joey Gallo.  “Sober, he was nothing, but drunk he would blow your head off.” That’s how Pete the Greek described Carmine “Sonny” DiBiase, the Colombo crime family hitman who’d been terrorizing Manhattan’s Little Italy since he was a kid. After beating and robbing a local tailor and doing time in reformatory, Sonny set up operations at The Mayfair Boys Civic and Social Club, an illegal poolroom where he shot and killed his best friend on Christmas day . . .  A prime suspect of this and other crimes, Sonny went on the lam and off the grid for seven years. He then surrendered himself to police, was tried for murder and sentenced to death. But after a second trial, he walked away a free man—free to kill again.   Joey “Crazy Joe” Gallo and his President Street mob waged  a deadly Mafia civil war with the Colombo crime family, and in particular, Carmine “the Snake” Persico. A contract was put out for Gallo and his gang. And on that fateful night of April 7, 1972, in a Little Italy restaurant, Gallo was assassinated . . . by Carmine “Sonny” DiBiasi..   This is the true story of who really whacked Crazy Joey Gallo on that fateful night of April 7, 1972.

Genres: Crime, True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Biography

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2021

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good mafia book by the authors, this time about Carmine DiBiasi, also known as Sonny Pinto. It covers his life from early days on. He was busted doing crimes a lot, and many thought he would never amount to much as a criminal. But he was determined to make a name for himself and not take orders, but give them. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Frank Dimatteo & Michael Benson, and the publisher.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Carmine "Sonny Pinto" DiBiase, a hitman for the Colombo Family. He began his criminal career as an adolescent, getting into all manner of shenanagins. He eventually was made in the Genovese Family, though many sources claim he worked with the Colombo Family. He supposedly trafficked heroin, ran an illegal card game, Several members of organized crime families had plenty to say about his temperament, especially when he was drinking. It is believed that he was responsible for the deaths of Ali Waffa, Michael Granello, Joseph Viscone, and "Crazy Joe" Gallo. Gallo was murdered at Umberto's Clam House on April 1, 1972 by four gunmen. Carmine DiBiase was one of those gunmen.

This book is currently available to listen to on Audible Plus with your membership. I forget exactly how many hours this was, but it wasn't exceptionally long, and I listened to most of it while doing housework. I thought the book was really quite good. I always enjoy a book about organized crime. This particular time period in organized crime was full of hits and backstabbing. This book contained a lot of information about some of the more famous names to come out of organized crime, and goes into detail about why a hit was done on Crazy Joe Gallo. If you are into organized crime, you may want to give this one a listen.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a rough, raw book that holds no bars. It digs the dirt on the mob hit of Crazy Joe Gallo in New York City on April 7, 1972 in front of his wife and daughter. It was interesting but nothing was rosy or uplifting from any of the book except that the players end up killing each other.

“Sober, he was nothing, but drunk he would blow your head off.” That’s how Pete the Greek described Carmine “Sonny” DiBiase, the Colombo crime family hitman who’d been terrorizing Manhattan’s Little Italy since he was a kid. After beating and robbing a local tailor and doing time in reformatory, Sonny set up operations at The Mayfair Boys Civic and Social Club, an illegal poolroom where he shot and killed his best friend on Christmas day...

A prime suspect of this and other crimes, Sonny went on the lam and off the grid for seven years. He then surrendered himself to police, was tried for murder and sentenced to death. But after a second trial, he walked away a free man—free to kill again.

Joey “Crazy Joe” Gallo and his President Street mob waged a deadly Mafia civil war with the Colombo crime family, and in particular, Carmine “the Snake” Persico. A contract was put out for Gallo and his gang. And on that fateful night of April 7, 1972, in a Little Italy restaurant, Gallo was assassinated...by Carmine “Sonny” DiBiasi...

This is the true story of who really whacked Crazy Joey Gallo on that fateful night of April 7, 1972.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book into Joey Gallo the author starts with when he gets out of prison in 1970 and how much different everything is for him. He went in, in 1960 and the ten years are different. Plus Joey is different as well. In prison he did not hang out with the Aryons he hung out with everybody because their crew had everybody on it. The story picks up when he gets out of his relationship with his ex and other women and just with people in general. He is different and for that people did not like him along with some other stuff he and his brother did, but I found this to be a very good read and a lot of information about someone that I did not know that much about. Very much worth the read.

[Vikki Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a true crime, all the insider info about the lives of killers and how their minds work, or don’t!
This book is well researched, very well written and I would recommend it as a must read!

‘Sonny’ knows how to work every system to his advantage, the characters and suspense of the storyline makes for a great page turner!

Thanks so much to Kensington Books and the authors for your efforts in bringing this book to life!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding story regarding one of the most well known mafia persons in NYC. The story provides excellent first hand accounts, quotes, and inside information regarding the death of Joey Gallo. It makes for a great true crime book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Carolyn M L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to 3.5 🌟 Interesting read if you enjoy true crime and stories of the mob. Not the most gripping mob story I’ve ever read (yes, I like details) but hey, at least it cleared up who really whacked Joey Gallo.

[Cindy Stamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, solid story with insider information that weeds through all of the stories and rumors to get to the truth. An interesting read.

[Timothy Minneci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative read. Haven't read "I Hear You Paint Houses," but now it's on my list to compare the conflicting stories about Joey Gallo's death.