Antonio (Tony Bananas) Caponigro operated out of the "Ironbound" section of Newark, NJ, but was a member of the Philadelphia Organized Crime Family. He rose in rank to become the Family Consigliere during the 1970s. Early in 1980, he led a revolt that ended in the murder of Family Boss Angelo Bruno. Caponigro went to the Mafia Commission and requested authorization to have Bruno killed. Word came back from Genovese Family Boss Frank (Funzi) Tieri that permission had been granted. On the night of March 21,1980, Angelo Bruno was shotgunned to death while he was sitting in his car in front of his house in South Philadelphia. After Bruno's murder Caponigro thought he was going to be named the new boss of the Bruno Family. But, what Caponigro did not know was that the Commission had not granted permission for him to remove Bruno. Tieri said that he did not know what Caponigro was talking about. Without authorization from the Commission the murder of Bruno broke the rules of the Mafia and Caponigro had to be executed for his part in the plot.
On April 18,1980, Caponigro's body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in the Bronx, NY. His nude body had been riddled with 14 bullet wounds and numerous knife wounds. The car trunk was littered with torn twenty dollar bills - a sign of Caponigro's greed.
The Commission named Philip Testa the new boss of the Philadelphia Family.
Newark newspapers in the 1930s said that Caponigro's father was a "wealthy banana dealer" thereby giving him his nickname "Tony Bananas."
On April 18,1980, Caponigro's body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in the Bronx, NY. His nude body had been riddled with 14 bullet wounds and numerous knife wounds. The car trunk was littered with torn twenty dollar bills - a sign of Caponigro's greed.
The Commission named Philip Testa the new boss of the Philadelphia Family.
Newark newspapers in the 1930s said that Caponigro's father was a "wealthy banana dealer" thereby giving him his nickname "Tony Bananas."
Antonio (Tony Bananas) Caponigro operated out of the "Ironbound" section of Newark, NJ, but was a member of the Philadelphia Organized Crime Family. He rose in rank to become the Family Consigliere during the 1970s. Early in 1980, he led a revolt that ended in the murder of Family Boss Angelo Bruno. Caponigro went to the Mafia Commission and requested authorization to have Bruno killed. Word came back from Genovese Family Boss Frank (Funzi) Tieri that permission had been granted. On the night of March 21,1980, Angelo Bruno was shotgunned to death while he was sitting in his car in front of his house in South Philadelphia. After Bruno's murder Caponigro thought he was going to be named the new boss of the Bruno Family. But, what Caponigro did not know was that the Commission had not granted permission for him to remove Bruno. Tieri said that he did not know what Caponigro was talking about. Without authorization from the Commission the murder of Bruno broke the rules of the Mafia and Caponigro had to be executed for his part in the plot.
On April 18,1980, Caponigro's body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in the Bronx, NY. His nude body had been riddled with 14 bullet wounds and numerous knife wounds. The car trunk was littered with torn twenty dollar bills - a sign of Caponigro's greed.
The Commission named Philip Testa the new boss of the Philadelphia Family.
Newark newspapers in the 1930s said that Caponigro's father was a "wealthy banana dealer" thereby giving him his nickname "Tony Bananas."
On April 18,1980, Caponigro's body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in the Bronx, NY. His nude body had been riddled with 14 bullet wounds and numerous knife wounds. The car trunk was littered with torn twenty dollar bills - a sign of Caponigro's greed.
The Commission named Philip Testa the new boss of the Philadelphia Family.
Newark newspapers in the 1930s said that Caponigro's father was a "wealthy banana dealer" thereby giving him his nickname "Tony Bananas."
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