The Lucchese Family DEMANDED $50K a Week From Bumpy — 10 Enforcers Came Back in Body Bags 

November 7th, 1964, 6:23 a.m. Staff at Maronei Funeral Home in Brooklyn arrived for work and found something that made them freeze. 10 body bags lined up outside the entrance, each marked with a name. Vincent Ralph, Paul Vario, Frank Manzo, Anthony Stralo, Thomas Abbate, Joseph Valachi, Nicholas Clla, Samuel Cavalieri, Robert Manuso, Angelo Bruno, all 10.

 Luces Crime Family Enforcers, all 10 sent Friday to collect $50,000 tribute from Bumpy Johnson. All 10 eliminated in less than a minute, pinned to the first body bag, typed letter. These 10 men were sent to collect tribute I never agreed to pay. They arrived armed and attempted force when they encountered resistance. They have been eliminated defending territory that belongs to Harlem, not to the Lucesi family.

 No further collectors should be sent. Any additional attempts will result in similar outcomes. This matter is concluded. Within hours, Tommy Leuazi, head of one of New York’s five major crime families, learned his entire enforcement team was gone, wiped out, returned in body bags like a message. And the message was clear.

 You don’t collect tribute from Bumpy Johnson. You die trying. What the Luces family didn’t understand when they sent those 10 men was that they weren’t just walking into a collection. They were walking into a kill zone, prepared, waiting, and absolutely ready to demonstrate what happened when Italian families tried to tax Harlem.

 November 3rd, 1964, 11:47 a.m. 4 days before the body bags, Bumpy Johnson received unannounced visit at his Lennox Avenue office. Three well-dressed Italian men, representatives of the Lucesy crime family. Lead representative Anthony Coralo, 49, distinguished with silver streak dark hair, expensive tailored suit. He presented what he framed as business arrangement, actually extortion demand backed by commission family. Mr.

 Johnson, the Lucesy family has been observing your successful operations throughout Harlem with great interest. We believe a mutually beneficial partnership would serve everyone’s interests. Specifically, we’re proposing you contribute $50,000 weekly to our organization in exchange for protection and coordination benefits.

 This arrangement ensures smooth operations without interference. We expect the first payment this Friday, November 6th. Our collectors will arrive at noon to receive it. Illinois Gordon, sitting in on the meeting, felt his jaw tighten, $50,000 weekly. That totaled $2.6 million annually. Enormous sum that would transfer substantial portion of Bumpy’s profits to the Leazi family while providing nothing of value in return.

The protection Carlo mentioned was code for protection from problems the Leazi family itself would create if payment wasn’t made. The coordination benefits were meaningless. Bumpy’s operations ran successfully through his own efforts, not through any Italian family assistance. Bumpy’s response was measured but unambiguous.

Gentlemen, I appreciate you making your position clear. However, I must inform you that I operate independently in Harlem and have no interest in partnerships that consist entirely of me paying you for nothing. Harlem’s operations remain under my control and will continue without Lucasi family involvement.

 Please inform your superiors that this conversation is concluded and no collectors should be sent on Friday or any other day. Carallo’s expression hardened. Veneer of politeness falling away. Mr. Johnson, I don’t believe you understand the situation. The Lucesy family has made a decision regarding your operations. You can comply voluntarily and maintain cordial relations or you can refuse and discover why compliance would have been preferable.

 10 of our most capable enforcers will arrive Friday to collect the payment. I strongly suggest you have it ready. Meeting ended with tension thick enough to cut. Bumpy knew this wasn’t over. The Lucesy family would send enforcers as promised, expecting either to collect the $50,000 or to intimidate Bumpy into future compliance through demonstration of force.

What they didn’t know, Bumpy had been preparing for exactly this scenario, building defensive capabilities specifically designed to repel attempts by Italian families to extract tribute through intimidation. November 3rd afternoon, Illinois, Gordon immediately activated intelligence operations. Within 24 hours, he’d identified the 10 enforcers the Luces family planned to send.

Vincent Ralph, 42, muscular with scarred face, experienced enforcer known for violent collections. Paul Vario, 38, heavy set with cold eyes. Capo level authority. Frank Manzo, 35, tall with sllicked back hair. Weapons specialist Anthony Stral, 40. Lean with sharp features, intimidation expert.

 Thomas Abate, 34, stocky with nervous energy. Joseph Velace, 41, wiry with quick movements, connected soldier. Nicholas Sevela, 37, average build. Samuel Cavalieri, 39, heavy set with graying temples, experienced collector. Robert Manuso, 36, tall with distinctivelimp. Angelo Bruno, 33, lean with sharp eyes, rising enforcer. By November 5th, Gordon had comprehensive intelligence.

 The 10 enforcers would arrive at Bumpy’s Lennox Avenue office noon Friday, would demand the $50,000, were authorized to use force to collect, or if impossible to cause sufficient damage to demonstrate the cost of refusing Lucesy demands. They expected either to collect money through intimidation or conduct beating that would soften Bumpy’s resistance for future attempts.

What they didn’t expect, prepared ambush. November 3rd, 5th, Bumpy’s Lennox Avenue office building prepared as defensive strong point. The office itself reinforced with additional personnel. Approximately 25 armed men positioned throughout building in locations providing overlapping fields of fire covering all approaches.

Entrance and stairwells monitored to provide early warning. Alternative exit routes prepared, allowing Bumpy to evacuate if confrontation escalated beyond manageable levels. And most importantly, defensive positions designed to provide cover and concealment advantages, allowing Bumpy’s people to engage attackers with minimal risk to themselves.

November 6th, 11:47 a.m. 15 minutes before scheduled noon collection. Illinois Gordon received confirmation. 10 Luces enforcers approaching the building. They arrived in three vehicles, parked directly outside, making no attempt at concealment, expected reputation and numbers to be sufficient without resistance.

 The 10 men entered together. Vincent Ralph leading toward stairs to Bumpy’s second floor office. Confident, loud, making presence known. Standard intimidation tactics designed to establish dominance before even reaching collection target. They reached second floor hallway approaching Bumpy’s office door. Then situation changed dramatically from positions throughout the floor.

office doorways, stairwell landings, storage room entrances. Bumpy’s defensive personnel emerged, weapons raised. The Lucasian enforcers suddenly found themselves surrounded and outgunned, caught in hallway with superior forces positioned at both ends and from elevated positions providing tactical advantage. Vincent Ralph recognized the situation immediately, reached for his weapon.

 That decision triggered the firefight. The exchange lasted approximately 45 seconds. The Leazi enforcers caught in crossfire from multiple directions with minimal cover were systematically eliminated. Defensive positions provided protection, allowing Bumpy’s people to fire with relative safety. The enforcers exposed in hallway had no effective cover.

 By the time shooting stopped, all 10 Luces enforcers down. Several hit multiple times as they tried to return fire or retreat. None survived. Bumpy’s defensive force, no casualties. The tactical advantages of prepared positions and superior numbers proved decisive. Immediate action on multiple fronts.

 Bodies needed to be managed to send intended message. Evidence controlled to minimize legal consequences. Police response managed through connections Bumpy had cultivated. political groundwork laid within commission to prevent Lucesi from receiving support for retaliation. The 10 bodies were photographed where they’d fallen, then moved to secure location, placed in body bags.

 Standard mortuary equipment readily available through funeral home connections. Each body bag marked with name of deceased enforcer, ensuring Luces family would understand exactly who’d been lost. Typed letter prepared accompanying the bodies. The one that would be found at funeral home.

 Clear message about boundaries and consequences. Early morning, November 7th, 10 body bags delivered to Lucasy controlled funeral home in Brooklyn. Unmarked vehicles departed immediately, left bodies and letter without interaction. When funeral home staff discovered the delivery and alerted Lucasi leadership, full scope became clear. All 10 enforcers sent to collect tribute. Gone.

Eliminated in single engagement. Returned with message about consequences. Police investigation complicated by several factors. Confrontation occurred in Bumpy’s office building where he had legitimate business presence. Witnesses, all employed by or loyal to Bumpy, provided consistent accounts that Lucasi enforcers had arrived armed and initiated violence.

 Physical evidence supported defensive narrative. Bullet trajectories showed enforcers had been firing toward defensive positions. And most significantly, Bumpy’s connections within NYPD ensured investigation proceeded slowly enough that evidence could be managed and witness testimony coordinated. By time investigators attempted detailed reconstruction, scene had been cleaned and witnesses stories were impossible to contradict.

No charges filed against Bumpy or his organization. Official conclusion. 10 known Lucasi family members involved in armed confrontation at Harlem office building and eliminated in exchange. Without witnesses willing to testify that Lucesymen hadn’t initiated violence and with physical evidence ambiguous, prosecution deemed unlikely to succeed.

 Tommy Lucesy’s reaction to losing 10 enforcers in single engagement. Fury tempered by political calculation. The 10 men represented significant organizational investment. Experienced enforcers developed over years, possessed skills and connections valuable to family operations. The loss weakened Lucasi enforcement capacity while achieving nothing.

 No tribute collected, no territory gained, no advantage established. But Lucazi also recognized uncomfortable realities. The enforcers had been sent to collect tribute. Bumpy explicitly refused to pay. Luces family initiated confrontation. Enforcers arrived armed and apparently initiated gunfire, giving Bumpy legitimate self-defense claims.

Returning bodies with explanatory letter demonstrated both capability and restraint. Bumpy could have made enforcers disappear permanently, but chose to return them with message, showing confidence and control. Most importantly, escalating further would require commission approval and support. Far from certain given circumstances, the commission was informally consulted through various channels as Lucasi considered response options.

Position that emerged from discussions with other family leadership decidedly unsympathetic to Luces situation. Carlo Gambino, head of Gambino family and influential commission member, reportedly conveyed consensus view. You demanded tribute from Johnson without commission authorization. You sent 10 men to collect money he’d refused to pay.

 They walked into prepared defensive position and were eliminated. That’s the risk of unauthorized expansion into established territories. If you want commission support for retaliation, you won’t get it. This was your initiative that failed. Absorb the loss and leave Harlem alone. This commission position left isolated. Without commission backing, any retaliation would be Luces family acting independently against operator who demonstrated capability to eliminate 10 professional enforcers in single engagement. Costs and risks of such

conflict without organizational support prohibitive. Luces made pragmatic decision. Absorb the loss and withdraw tribute demand. The Luces family sent no more collectors to Harlem. $50,000 weekly demand rescended without formal announcement. Simply never pursued again. 10 enforcers who’d been eliminated were mourned within family.

Losses acknowledged but no retaliation undertaken. Incident framed internally as miscalculated expansion attempt that failed due to inadequate intelligence about Bumpy’s defensive capabilities. Illinois Gordon discussing the incident years later explained strategic elements that made defensive operations successful.

 Boss knew the Lucesy demand was coming because these Italian families had been trying variations of same approach for years. We prepared office building as defensive position. Multiple armed personnel overlapping fields of fire, prepared positions providing cover and tactical advantage. When 10 enforcers arrived expecting to intimidate or collect, they walked into kill zone.

 Engagement lasted under a minute. All 10 eliminated. None of our people hurt. That overwhelming success came from preparation based on intelligence, tactical superiority based on defensive positioning, and absolute commitment to not paying tribute. We never agreed to. Returning bodies in body bags with explanatory letter served multiple purposes. Confirmed what happened.

Removed ambiguity about fate of 10 enforcers. Sent clear message about capabilities. Bumpy’s organization could eliminate 10 professional enforcers and had confidence to return bodies rather than hiding evidence. Established boundaries. No tribute payments would be made. Additional collection attempts would result in similar outcomes provided Luke family with information necessary to make rational decisions about whether to escalate.

Symbolic significance of body bags specifically was understood throughout organized crime. Body bags represented finality. person inside wasn’t coming back, wasn’t wounded or captured, permanently gone. Returning 10 body bags simultaneously demonstrated both scale of Luke family’s loss and efficiency of Bumpy’s defensive response.

image of 10 body bags delivered to funeral home became part of story that spread through criminal networks, reinforcing Bumpy’s reputation as someone who would defend territory with overwhelming force. The incident demonstrated limits of Italian family authority over nonItalian operators who possessed sufficient resources and organizational capacity to resist.

Commission families generally maintained dominance through combination of superior resources, political connections, coordinated action. But when individual operators like Bumpy could match or exceed those advantages in specific contexts, commission family’s authority proved limited. Also demonstrated importance of politicaldynamics within commission itself.

 If commission had supported Lucasy’s tribute demand and been willing to commit collective resources to enforce it, Bumpy’s resistance might have been unsustainable. But because other commission families viewed Lucasy’s demand as unauthorized overreach rather than legitimate expansion, they refused to support retaliation when it failed.

 This lack of solidarity meant Lucesi bore full cost of failed attempt without organizational backup. The case highlighted particular challenges Italian crime families faced attempting to extract tribute from Harlem’s black operators during 1960s. Earlier decades had seen more successful subordination attempts when black operators had fewer resources and less organizational sophistication.

But by 1964, operators like Bumpy had built substantial empires with defensive capabilities, political connections, and willingness to use violence that made simple intimidation ineffective. When Bumpy Johnson passed in 1968, 4 years after Lucesi incident, it was remembered as one of his most significant demonstrations of military capability and political acumen.

Story of 10 Lucesian enforcers arriving to collect tribute and being eliminated in under a minute, then returned in body bags with letter about boundaries had become legendary illustration of how Bumpy defended Harlem’s independence against commission family encroachment. Tommy Lucesy passed away in 1967, three years after failed tribute attempt, having never again attempted to extract payments from Bumpy’s operations.

November 1964 incident had taught Lucesy family and through stories spread other commission families that Bumpy’s operations were defended by capabilities sufficient to impose unacceptable costs on wouldbe extractors. If you made it to the end, hit that like button. Drop a comment. Was eliminating 10 enforcers justified as response to attempted extortion? Should operators accept subordination to more powerful organizations or resist regardless of risks? Subscribe because these stories show how power dynamics

between commission families and independent operators played out when organizational authority encountered tactical capability. Remember those five days. November 3rd, 11:47 a.m. Anthony Coralo delivered 50k weekly tribute demand on behalf of Luisi family. Bumpy refused. Coralo threatened 10 enforcers would collect Friday, November 3rd, 5th.

Intelligence identified 10 enforcers. Gathered details of collection plan. Defensive preparations implemented at Lennox Avenue office. 25 armed personnel positioned throughout building. Overlapping fields of fire. Tactical advantages established. November 6th, 11:47 a.m. 10. Luces enforcers arrived expecting intimidation or collection. Noon.

 Enforcers entered building, reached second floor hallway, encountered prepared defensive positions. Firefight erupted. 45 seconds. All 10 enforcers eliminated. No casualties among defensive force. November 6th 7th. Bodies placed in body bags. Marked with names. Letter prepared explaining boundaries. Early morning. November 7th.

 10 body bags delivered to Lucazi funeral home with letter. November 7th 8th Luces leadership learned full scope of loss. Commission informally consulted. No support for retaliation. Decision made to absorb loss and withdraw demand. Police investigation managed through connections. No charges filed. Four years later, story legendary remembered as significant demonstration of defensive capability.

That’s not just defense. That’s tactical superiority combined with political acumen turning attempted extortion into catastrophic loss for wouldbe extractors. Demonstrating that organizational authority without tactical capability can’t overcome prepared resistance from those absolutely unwilling to subordinate.