The most recent formal induction, or “making,” ceremony of which authorities are aware involving elements of the Lucchese group reportedly occurred sometime in 1996. The event, which apparently concerned the swearing-in of just one new member, was celebrated in New Jersey and attended by known members and associates of the Lucchese group and other LCN groups.

Despite the assaults by law enforcement and the apparent slowdown in membership recruitment, law enforcement authorities estimate the group still consists of from 110 to 140 members, with approximately 50 members active in New Jersey. The organization has at least 1,100 associates engaged in criminal activity primarily in New York, where the group’s hierarchy is located. New Jersey operations span Essex, Union,  Monmouth and Morris counties. Law enforcement authorities believe that most of the New Jersey members and associates of the Lucchese family reside and conduct much of their business in Morris County.

There is ample evidence that the group is actively involved in the process of rebuilding. Authorities say the Lucchese group’s family ties are deeply rooted and intertwined, giving rise to a new generation of mob wannabes and associates. The Lucchese family’s New Jersey operations were hampered when brothers Martin and Michael Taccetta were imprisoned. Michael’s son, Carlo, began to take over where his father left off; however, law enforcement authorities believe that New York leaders failed to recognize the younger Taccetta in a leadership role. Carlo currently is completing a prison term on a federal weapons charge. Another Lucchese member of some notoriety, Nicodemo S. Scarfo (sometimes called Scarfo, Jr.), was inducted into the family at the request of his father, Nicodemo D. Scarfo, an incarcerated former boss of the Bruno LCN family. Scarfo, Jr. also is incarcerated in federal prison.

The nominal boss of the Lucchese group is Victor “Vic” Amuso, but he is serving a life sentence, without parole, in federal prison. In his absence, responsibility for day-today operations was initially shifted to acting boss Anthony J. DeFede; however, DeFede was indicted in April 1998 and, as indicated above, became an informant for the government. As a result, control of the family shifted to current acting boss Daidone. Much of the New Jersey faction’s power emanates from New York. From there, Robert “Bucky the Boss” Caravaggio oversees operations in the northern region of New Jersey, concentrating his efforts in Morris County. Caravaggio had, prior to Carlo Taccetta’s incarceration, utilized him to collect a “street tax” from several businesses operating in  Morris County. The Lucchese family has further branched out into “owning” partial interests in several legitimate businesses, such as the 973 Bistro in Florham Park, N.J., and the Tuscany City Grill in Fairfield.

In recent years, federal and state authorities have mounted several successful prosecutions against the Lucchese group, capped by a major case culminating in 2002 against the organization’s New York enterprises. Although no New Jersey operatives were among more than a score of capos, members and associates successfully prosecuted in that case, law enforcement gained important insights into the internal structure, conflicts and policies of the family. Charges included racketeering, narcotics trafficking, extortion, loan-sharking, illegal gambling, witness tampering, perjury and conspiracy to evade income tax. The scheme, involving the takeover by the Luccheses of a club in Freeport, Long Island, netted the family more than $10,000 per night. Also involved was a cocaine distribution ring on Staten Island and a Long Island numbers operation. All defendants pled guilty to a variety of offenses, including consigliere Joseph Caridi, who was sentenced on December 18, 2003 to 96 months in federal prison for racketeering, extortion and illegal gambling.

Lucchese operatives continue their illegal activities in New Jersey, but since the New York leadership is in such disarray, the group as a whole exerts less control over its New Jersey members and associates. They continue to engage in such traditional crimes as illegal gambling, loan-sharking, labor and construction racketeering, narcotics distribution and a variety of frauds. Law enforcement officials believe that Alfonso T. “Tic” Cataldo, for example, is running the illegal gambling operations in northern New Jersey.

 The Lucchese group has been known to partner with other LCN groups to advance criminal projects, and although there is little evidence to indicate that the family has joined forces with non-traditional groups, it has cooperated with such groups opportunistically. There is evidence that the Lucchese group occasionally has aligned itself with factions of Eurasian organized crime. Many prostitutes, subservient to Russian criminal handlers, have been working at southern New Jersey bars and clubs owned by Lucchese members. In addition to working as prostitutes, the women are used to assist in the distribution of certain illegal drugs, such as Ecstasy.