#39: Interview with Nick Parisi: Author of 'City of Betrayal' and Springfield Mafia Expert

We talk with Nicholas "Nick" Parisi, award-winning author and Springfield, Massachusetts mob expert.

Nick has written two books on the Springfield mob including:

1. City of Betrayal: The Genovese Family's Springfield Crew
2. Mafia Confession: King of Bootleggers Murder

Why should you trust Nick?

First, Nick is the grandson of a man named Giuseppe "Joseph" Parisi, who was deeply involved in one of the most infamous events that became a cornerstone of how the Springfield Mafia came to be

Second, Nick grew up around the mob in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He was childhood friends with notable figures such as Ty and Freddy Geas, Anthony "Bingy" Arillotta, and others.

He is widely considered to be a local subject matter expert when it comes to the Springfield mob.

100 Years of Springfield mob history

This episode covers over a century of mob history in Springfield including the early formation of the mob and the eventual alignment with the Genovese Crime Family in New York.

• How immigration in the early 1900's led to a rise in Springfield's Italian population
• The rise of Italian street gangs and the Black Hand
• The rise of the city's first boss, Carlo Siniscalchi
• The rise of Nick's grandfather, Joseph Parisi
• The eventual dispute between Siniscalchi and Parisi that ultimately led to Carlo Siniscalchi's assassination at the hands of Nick's grandfather
• The murder trial of Joseph Parisi
• The rise and untimely demise of Antonio Miranda, successor to Siniscalchi and brother of Genovese legend Mike Miranda, and the alignment with the Genovese Crime Family (which still exists today)
• The subsequent rise and assassinations of Pasqualina (Albano Siniscalchi) Miranda as well as Michael Fiore

We then cover the golden era of the Springfield mob between the 1930's into the 1990's:

• The four decade long career of Salvatore "Big Nose Sam" Cufari, long-time boss of Springfield and Capo within the Genovese Crime Family
• Cufari's successor, Francesco "Frankie Skyball" Scibelli in the 1980's and early 1990's as Springfield's boss and Capo
• Scibelli's successor, Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno in the 1990's as the new boss of Springfield

We then shift gears to cover the rise of a new generation of Springfield mobsters, who would ultimately be responsible for the downfall of the Springfield Mafia:

• The rise of the "Young Turks" including Anthony "Bingy" Arillotta, Ty and Freddy Geas, as well as Emilio Fusco
• The coup against Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno that ultimately led to his assassination in 2003
• The rise of Anthony Arillotta as Springfield's boss and Genovese Crime Family Capo after the death of Al Bruno
• The downfall of the Springfield mob after several key players decide to testify including Frankie Roche (Bruno's assassin), Felix Tranghese (long-time Springfield made member), and John Bologna (New York mobster and right-hand man to Artie Nigro, Acting Boss of the Genovese Crime Family)
• The ultimate decision by Anthony Arillotta to flip and the men cooperated against including Ty and Freddy Geas, Arthur "Artie" Nigro, and others.

We close the episode by discussing:

• The book writing and publishing process
• The 2018 murder of James "Whitey" Bulger by Nick's childhood friend, Freddy Geas
• Nick's perspective on making judgements about government cooperators

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