| "New England mob turncoat Vinnie Teresa had a lot to say about the
New England mob. His story, "My Life in the Mafia," was a sensation at the time
of it's publication in 1973. Teresa, who despite all the hype about him being the third
ranking New England mobster, was really only a well connected associate, who was tolerated
because he was an "earner." Later, when Teresa'a mob protector went to jail, the
huge 400 pound gangster was vulnerable and quickly became an informer when he found
himself under legal pressure, and consequently in danger of execution from the mob. "Teresa was a public relations genius. He knew how to embellish stories and give the public and police officials what they wanted to hear. His most famous testimony concerns his tactics in collecting overdue loan payments. He enthralled a Congressional committee and made headlines when he said he keep a piranha, a "man eating fish" in a tank in his office. If the borrower wouldn't pay up, Teresa would threaten to shove his hand into the tank. Teresa did know a tough mobster when he met one. While serving time in Lewisburg federal prison, Teresa became friendly with Carmine Galante, underboss to New York leader, Joe Bonanno. Galante had been convicted in a heroin conspiracy but jail time had not dampened his ferocity. In his book, Teresa predicted that Galante, once he was released, would not be intimidated by powerful Mafia boss Carlo Gambino, and would take over as Bonanno's successor. Future events proved Teresa correct, although Galante would be blown away in 1979. http://www.ganglandnews.com/column44.htm |