u/JoePuzzles234

2018

Born November 14^(th) 1962 in Brooklyn to Joseph George Balzano and Francesca Costanzo. Mother’s paternal family from Taverna comune of Catanzaro, with maternal family from Campobasso comune of Molise and Salerno, Campania. Father’s origins unknown.

Continued to reside in Brooklyn as of April 1986. Moved to Staten Island by October 1993.

Balzano may have been affiliated with the Gambino family prior to membership with the Elizabeth group. It remains unclear how he became connected to organised crime as a whole.

Relocated to Copiague, Long Island in January 2001.

Married Lisa Frantellizzi on October 11^(th) 2003 in Bradley Beach Borough, Monmouth County. Residence listed as Howell Township, Monmouth by December 2004.  

Believed to have been inducted into the DeCavalcante family during this general period. Their books had been closed from 1991 until around 2000, with new members inducted from that point forward including;

·         James Castaldo

·         Frank D’Amato

·         Mimmo Marzullo

·         Francesco Paparatto

·         Charles A. Stango

By this time, involved in a marijuana and cocaine trafficking ring active in New Jersey. Balzano may have been specifically operating in the Toms River area.

Indicted in October 2005 on conspiracy charges related to manufacturing and distributing controlled dangerous substances. Received 6-year sentence on October 6^(th) 2006, incarcerated at Southern State Correctional Facility (NJDOC).

NJDOC

Released on parole in April 2007.

Appears to have moved back to Long Island in the late 2000s.

By mid-2010, involved in cigarette trafficking, distributing stolen tax refund cheques and fencing stolen property with DeCavalcante member Joseph “Uncle Joey” Collina.

On August 12^(th) that year, Balzano and Collina met a CI (likely Colombo associate Thomas McLaughlin) to discuss the purchase of stolen electronics sourced from Pennsylvania. A week later, they met with the CI again in Staten Island and organised the transfer of the stolen properties to New Jersey.

In September 2010, Balzano tried to collect on an extortionate loan in North Carolina and was also involved in attempted extortion in Florida.

McLaughlin

These efforts may have been in relation to a debt owed to his aunt and uncle by an unidentified relative. Balzano was recorded by CI Thomas McLaughlin during an attempt to enlist his assistance in collecting this money.   

Following Mafia Takedown Day in January 2011, both Balzano and Collina were included on a 'Do Not Associate' list for Colombo member Nicholas Rizzo (1927-2022).

Received a 19-month federal sentence with an additional 6 months of home detention in September 2012.

A day prior to his sentencing hearing, Balzano failed a drug test and was ordered to undergo counselling during his incarceration for chronic substance abuse.

Joey Collina received a 16-month sentence and was released in July 2013.   

Balzano was ostensibly released by mid-2014.

Collina

In or around December 2014 or January 2015, FBI UC Giovanni Gatto and DeCavalcante associate Anthony “Whitey” Stango met with family captain Joey Collina at his home in New Jersey.

Gatto and Stango had been instructed by their captain, Charles Stango, to deliver tribute money from DeCavalcante associate Eddie TNU to Collina as his movements were restricted by an ankle monitor (apparently resulting from home detention).

During their meeting, Collina complained at length about DeCavalcante associate James Heeney (a nephew of Charles Stango), who had previously ripped off TNU for 20,000 dollars.

No mention of Collina being a recently elevated captain is made, making it is possible he was misidentified as a soldier in the 2011 indictments. He may have been Balzano’s captain at the time, given their shared activities.

Alternatively, Balzano may have been in the crew of suspected DeCavalcante member/captain Frank “Chopper” Aiosa (1975-2021). Aiosa was also New York-based and apparently a close associate of DeCavalcante member Louis Consalvo and others.

Aiosa

Faced VOSR case following release for possession of a handgun and ammunition. Received 4-month sentence.

In November 2016, Balzano assaulted a civilian during a road-rage incident on the Route 17 highway in Wallkill, upstate New York. The incident was captured on video.

Detained on March 8^(th) 2017 and held at MCD Brooklyn for related violations. Received 11-month sentence and 21 months of supervised release in May that year.

Released from federal custody on February 2^(nd) 2018.

The 2018-2019 Waterfront Commission of New York Harbour report identifies Balzano as a member of the DeCavalcante family.

2018

In October 2018, the commission accepted an application withdrawal from Anthony Pansini III. He had been forced to withdraw his attempt to register as a longshoreman as a result of associating with various LCN figures.

These included; chased Gambino associate Anthony Pansini Jr. (his father), Gambino member Anthony Ciccone, Philadelphia captain Joseph “Scoops” Licata and DeCavalcante member Jerry Balzano.

Ciccone had previously been the Gambino family’s waterfront captain and exerted influence in ILA Local 1814 through Anthony Pansini Jr., before chasing him from the crew over skimming complainants.

Anthony Pansini III was also accused of having relationships with Gambino associates Richard Bondi, Jerome Orsino Jr. and CW Primo Cassarino. All were formerly under Ciccone.

Given Balzano’s apparent association with Pansini III and previous residence in Brooklyn, it is possible he was affiliated with the Gambino waterfront crew prior to the DeCavalcantes.

His name has not since emerged in any newer DeCavalcante developments.