Sometimes, Greeks can be fucking crazy..almost suicidal.
And sometimes a Greek with a gun is nothing but trouble!Back in 1993, Joseph (Little Joe) Defede (pictured right), a Lucchese Family mobster, was collecting the family's monthly "protection" payment of $10,000 as usual. But this one time he had been rudely humiliated by the Greeks.
Defede had just taken over the collection duties from a capo who was greedy and did not get along with the Greeks. Based in Astoria, Queens, the Greeks distributed illegal Joker Poker machines and ran horse rooms and a lucrative dice game. For years, they had paid the Lucchese family $10,000 a month for the right to operate on their turf.
Basically, a low level Greek mobster pulled a gun on Defede then proceeded to make him get on his knees and beg the Greek for his life in front of everyone. Defede knew nothing of the bad blood and was shocked that a lowly scrub associate would dare mistreat him and threaten his life.
The low level Greek gangster was an underling of Greek Godfather Spyredon (Spiros) Velentzas (pictured below). Luckily for the Greeks, at the time Spiros was locked up with Lucchese boss Vittorio (Vic) Amuso in the same Federal prison.
The Lucchese family hierarchy was incensed over the incident. They were debating on whether or not the only way to rectify the situation was to kill the offending hood.
The Lucchese mobsters were demanding an apology from the Greeks. The Greek Godfather quickly worked out a deal. His underling would have to apologize (and pay some cash, of course) on Lucchese turf and Velentzas' brother would come along as a sign of good faith.
The Greek gangsters had to know what they were up against, and most likely they wouldn't have come if they weren't ready to make a perfect act of contrition. What they didn't know for sure was whether Defede would accept it.
The showdown took place at the All Nations Social Club in Gravesend, Brooklyn a couple of weeks after the underling of Greek Godfather Spyredon (Spiros) Velentzas pulled a gun on Defede, made him kneel on the floor and plead for his life.
The confrontation was a potentially lethal showdown about saving face, and those who love the mob as well as those who hate it will tell you that people get killed over things like this.
With photographs of late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano and other boxers on the walls behind them, two armed Lucchese mobsters calmly stood toe-to-toe and eyeball to eyeball with two Greek gangsters at a Brooklyn social club.
That day at the club, Defede sat at a card table while soldier Frank Gioia Jr. and George Conte, an acting capo, stood behind the bar with silencer-equipped handguns. Angelo (The Boxer) Defendis – former Golden Gloves champ and onetime light heavyweight contender who ran the club – and another mobster sat on a couch, ready for cleanup duty. A stolen car was parked outside, ready to carry away the dead weight.
They determined that the apology (and cash payment) was satisfactory, and the hit did not take place. Wisely the Greeks apologized profusely that cool summer day in 1993 and walked out of the club without a scratch.
Defendis, whose old ring robe, boxing gloves and photos of his glory days hung near Marciano's picture, was "ecstatic the sitdown ended amicably." The club was Defendis' pride and joy and he was pretty relieved the place didn't become a bloody mess.
Sometimes, Greeks can be fucking lucky..almost blessed!!
