Dominick Napolitano

On the record

• 18 June 1976 — An FBI report of July 13, 1976 in the Vault's Brasco release states that he pleaded guilty before Judge Henry Bramwell, E.D.N.Y., on April 19, 1976 to conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, and that "On 6/18/76, Napolitano was sentenced by FDJ Bramwell, EDNY, to three years custody of the Attorney General, to run consecutive with four years Napolitano received from the State of New York on a similar matter." FBI report.
• July 1980 — A Brooklyn-Queens teletype (Vault, p. 12) says the undercover agent would meet "Domonick 'Sonny Black' Napolitiano acting boss Bonanno (LCN) family." A later 1980 teletype in the same file (p. 15) calls him "acting underboss" and says he "operates the Withers Italian American Veterans Club, 415 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn." FBI teletypes; the two labels disagree.
• 1 June 1981 — A Brooklyn/Queens teletype (Vault, p. 97): "It is believed that Dominick Napolitano, aka 'Sonny Black', and Joseph Messina, both capos, are responsible for the family realignment under the direction of Phillip Rastelli." The June 1981 GENUS teletype calls him "also a Bonanno capo and a prime suspect" in the May 1981 murders. FBI teletypes, not findings; he was never tried.
• 26 July 1981 — The FBI's 2008 story: "On July 26, 1981, he and his fellow wise guys learned that Donnie Brasco ... was actually FBI Agent Joe Pistone." FBI statement.
• 6 October 1981 — An FBI accomplishment report (Vault, p. 361): "Warrant for Dominick 'Sonny Black' Napolitano still outstanding. Napolitano missing and believed dead." FBI report.
• 1982 — United States v. Napolitano, 552 F. Supp. 465: the government noted "the absence of Dominick Napolitano, who is currently a fugitive," and the court wrote that "Napolitano and Messina are not being tried in absentia." Court opinion.
• 5 March 1985 — United States v. Ruggiero, 754 F.2d 927: "The evidence at trial revealed that Ruggiero was a member of the 'crew' captained by Napolitano. Neither Napolitano nor Messina appeared for trial, and Napolitano later was found murdered." Court opinion.
• 22 April 1988 — Pistone testified to the Senate subcommittee that "17 days after the disclosure Sonny Napolitano was killed." Testimony.

The rank labels for Napolitano differ from record to record. The FBI files call him “acting boss” (July 1980), “acting underboss” (August 1980) and “capo” (June 1981). The 1982 and 1983 indictments, as the courts summarize them, call him a “captain.” The Eleventh Circuit, describing the trial evidence, says he captained the crew Ruggiero belonged to. The role line above uses only the courts’ wording. The rest stays in the events, and none of it fills a seat on the Bonanno family chart.

No record filed here gives a date of death. The court says only that he “later was found murdered,” and Pistone’s figure of 17 days is his testimony. No record filed here gives a date or place of birth. The FBI photograph of him with Pistone is served by the FBI and is described on its own page.

Records