Carmine Galant, also known as “The Cigar” and “Lilo,” was an infamous American crime boss and gangster. With a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty, he instilled fear not only in other Mafia members but also in law enforcement agencies. Diagnosed as a psychopathic and neuropathic personality while in prison, Galant’s criminal tendencies emerged at a young age. Rising from obscurity to become the head of the Bonanno crime family, he controlled a significant portion of international drug-trafficking. Despite multiple arrests and imprisonment sentences, Galant often evaded serious consequences. However, his ambition to become “the boss of the bosses” ultimately led to his downfall as he plotted to eliminate his rivals in the narcotics trade during the 1970s.
Quick Facts
- Nick Name: The Cigar, Lilo
- Also Known As: Lilo Galante
- Died At Age: 69
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Antoinette Acquavella, Elena Ninfafather
- Vincenzo James Galante
- Vincenza Russo
- Siblings: Angelina Galante, Josephine Galante, Peter Galante, Samuel Galante
- Children: Angela Galante, Camille Galante, James Galante, Mary Lou Galante, Nina Galante
- Born Country: United States
- Gangsters
- Drug Lords
- Died on: July 12, 1979
- Place of death: Bushwick, New York, United States
Childhood & Early Crimes
Camillo Carmine Galante, later known as Carmine Galante, was born on February 21, 1910, in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York. His parents, Vincenzo Galante and Vincenza Russo, had immigrated to New York City from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, in 1906. Galante showed signs of a criminal mind from a young age, and at the age of 10, he was sent to reform school. He formed a street gang on the Lower East Side of New York City and dropped out of school at 15 to pursue a life of crime. He worked various jobs, but they were believed to be just covers for his criminal activities.
Early Criminal Activities
In December 1925, Galante admitted to assault charges and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. He was also involved in other criminal activities, including the murder of a police officer during a robbery in 1930. Although he was arrested for this crime, he was never convicted. In the same year, he shot and wounded a police officer and injured a bystander while trying to escape from the police during a truck hijacking. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison. However, he was released on parole in 1939.
By 1940, Galante was working for the underboss of the Luciano crime family, Vito Genovese, and was known for carrying out contract killings. He gained a reputation as a cold-blooded criminal who showed no regard for human life. In 1943, Galante was involved in the murder of Carlo Tresca, an anti-fascist newspaper publisher in New York. Although he was arrested on suspicion, he was never charged for the crime. He was sent back to prison for parole violation but was released in 1944.
The Bonanno Underboss
Galante rose through the ranks of the Bonanno crime family, starting as Joseph Bonanno’s chauffeur and eventually becoming underboss. He was loyal to Bonanno and admired him greatly. In 1953, Galante was sent to Montreal to oversee the family’s drug business. However, he was suspected of several murders by the Canadian authorities and was deported back to the U.S. in 1957.
The Heroin Meeting & The Zips
In 1957, Galante and Joseph Bonanno held a meeting in Sicily, attended by various mafia mobsters and crime bosses. It was decided at the meeting that Sicilian mobsters would smuggle heroin into the United States, which would be distributed by the Bonanno family. Galante brought many Sicilians from his hometown to work as contract killers, bodyguards, and enforcers, known as “Zips.”
Death
In the late 1970s, Galante consolidated his narcotics trade and eliminated several rivals, including members of the Gambino crime family. He had ambitions of becoming the “boss of bosses,” which threatened the existence of other crime families. As a result, a consensus was reached among the families to kill him. Galante was assassinated while having lunch at a restaurant in Brooklyn on July 12, 1979. Three masked men entered the restaurant and opened fire, killing Galante and two others. His Sicilian bodyguards were not shot, leading to speculation that they had helped the assassins.