Jamiesfeast – One alleged wiseguy, caught in the crosshairs of the government, was faced with a decision between the Mafia code of omerta and a union card. The District Council of Carpenters never stood a chance in this choice.
Reputed Mafia captain Thomas “Figgy” Ficarotta has decided to step down from his position in the New York City carpenters’ union, according to insider sources. This move comes as Ficarotta faces potential investigation regarding his alleged ties to the Genovese crime family.
Ficarotta became a member of the New York City District Council of Carpenters in April 1990, just four years before the union was placed under court-ordered oversight to put an end to the corruption influenced by organized crime, as stated in court records.
In May 2023, the union’s inspector general issued a notice claiming that Ficarotta had been a member of the Genovese family for a long time and had violated the Consent Decree by associating with members of Organized Crime.
According to the testimony of Robert Anton, a senior investigator for the inspector general’s office, it was revealed that Ficarotta had been assigned the responsibility of supervising the Carpenter’s Union by the head of the Genovese crime family, known as Little Barney or Liborio Bellomo.
On Monday, requests for comment were not immediately returned by Ficarotta and Bellomo’s lawyers.
According to a court filing from 2015, an alleged Genovese “enforcer” named Michael Palazzolo was accused of extorting a victim and it was suggested that he would be giving a portion of the money to Ficarotta, a reputed second-generation gangster.
According to court papers filed on Friday, it is alleged that Ficarotta sent Palazzolo to Florida in order to collect a $36,000 debt. This debt was reportedly paid off in January 2009. Additionally, Ficarotta is accused of accepting “tribute payments” from two reputed Genovese associates in exchange for protection.
Moreover, there were reports of him being seen at the 2018 funeral of Genovese street boss Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara, who passed away at the age of 75 due to heart disease.
According to the notice and charges against him, detectives witnessed Ficarotta and several other members and associates of the Genovese Crime Family at the afternoon service of the wake. Law enforcement officials speculate that the Genovese Family required their Captains to be present at the wake.
Instead of challenging those findings, Ficarotta made a sudden decision to resign from the union on July 31, 2023, and declined to attend a hearing.
According to court records, Angelo Bisceglie Jr., the lawyer representing him, stated in an email to the hearing officer, “My client and I will not be participating in this charade.”
In 1995, Ficarotta’s supposed connections to the mob came to light. The New York Daily News revealed that he was the son of reputed Genovese soldier Anthony Ficarotta and was part of a group of carpenters who secured top positions at the Javits Center in New York City, thanks to their influential links.
According to a report by the Gangland News website in 2015, there was a mention of his association with Palazzolo.
The Messenger recently interviewed union Inspector General Richard Green to inquire about the delayed removal of Ficarotta.
“I arrived in December 2020,” Green explained. “We conducted a thorough investigation and followed the necessary legal procedures. It’s not unreasonable to expect a resolution by 2023. We are constantly working towards improving our efficiency.”