Gordon O'Brien (mobster) - Misplaced Pages

For the classical guitarist, see Gordon O'Brien.

Gordon O'Brien (c. 1947–2008) was a Taunton mobster and associate for the Patriarca crime family. Long a presence in southern New England's underworld, O'Brien had extensive contacts with the Patriarcas in Federal Hill and, with Kevin Hanrahan, helped Fall River mobster Timothy J. Mello make connections with the Patriarcas. As early as 1990, O'Brien was under surveillance by federal agents where he was observed with Mello at a 1990 meeting with "Cadillac" Frank Salemme regarding illegal gambling.

In August 1990, O'Brien was arrested with Salemme, Mello and freelance contract killer William Anthony in a plot to kidnap Patriarca bookmaker Blaise Marfeo outside his restaurant, Adesso, on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island.

In April 1991, Taunton Police raided the apartment of professional gambler Howard J. Ferrini whom Bristol County authorities believed had been hiding O'Brien. However, while Ferrini was taken into custody, police failed to find evidence O'Brien had been living there.

O'Brien was serving a state prison sentence for smuggling heroin to Martha's Vineyard until he was granted parole in 2008. He died several months after being released.

References

Doherty, John (22 December 2002). "Mello's friends, accusers paint different pictures". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
Doherty, John (19 September 2002). "Timothy Mello: from Fall River to Federal Hill". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
Doherty, John (10 November 2002). "In racketeering case, dead men tell no tales". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved 20 November 2006.
Doherty, John (13 December 2002). "FBI out to prove Mello ties to Mafia". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved 20 November 2006.

Patriarca crime family

Bosses

Current members

Past members

Made men	Gennaro Angiulo William Grasso Enrico Tameleo Ilario Zannino
Associates	Bobby Donati Kevin Hanrahan Maurice Lerner Carlo Mastrototaro Timothy J. Mello Gordon O'Brien Gerard Ouimette Byron Vlahakis Philip Waggenheim
Informants	Joseph Barboza Vincent Flemmi Stephen Flemmi John Kelley Angelo Mercurio Frank Salemme Vincent Teresa

Factions and crews

Angiulo brothers

Family events

Relation to other groups

Allies	Bufalino family Chicago Outfit Colombo family DeCavalcante family Gambino family Genovese family Philadelphia family
Rivals	Charlestown Mob Gustin Gang Mullen Gang Winter Hill Gang

Crimetown

Italian-American Mafia

Families

Five Families of
New York City

Bonanno	Calabrian group Motion Lounge crew New Springville Boys Sicilian group
Colombo	Colombo
Gambino	Baltimore Crew Ozone Park Boys
Genovese	116th Street Crew Broadway Mob Greenwich Village Crew New Jersey faction Springfield faction
Lucchese	Brooklyn faction New Jersey faction Tanglewood Boys

East Coast

Buffalo
DeCavalcante (Northern New Jersey)
Patriarca (New England) (Angiulo's Boston crew)
Philadelphia (10th & Oregon Crew)

Midwestern/Western

Mostly defunct

Bufalino (Northeastern Pennsylvania)
Cleveland
Colorado
Dallas
Genna (Chicago)
Lanzetta (Philadelphia)
Morello (Italian Harlem)
D'Aquila (Little Italy, Manhattan)
New Orleans
Milwaukee
Pittsburgh
Rochester
Rockford
San Francisco
San Jose
St. Louis
Trafficante (Tampa)

Structure

Chain of command	The Commission Boss Underboss Consigliere Caporegime Soldato Associate
Members (made men)	List of Italian-American mobsters List of Italian-American mobsters by organization
Terms	Initiation ritual Made man Bagman Black Hand Black Hand in Chicago Vendetta Capo dei capi (boss of bosses) Mustache Pete Omertà One-way ride Sixth Family Zips

Events

Meetings	Atlantic City Conference (1929) Havana Conference (1946) Apalachin meeting (1957) Palermo Mafia summit (1957)
Hearings	Kefauver Committee (1950–1951) Valachi hearings (1963)
Wars	Mafia–Camorra War (1914–1917) Castellammarese War (1929–1931)
Trials	Pizza Connection Trial (1985–1987) Mafia Commission Trial (1985–1986)

Closely related
and affiliated
organizations

Active

Defunct