The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Matt Holme's Bad Example

John Madison Holmes, Ashley Holmes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey's father.

I came across an article online which stated John Madison Holmes a.k.a. Matt Holmes and his wife Jodi were arrested back in June for allegedly arson and money laundering.The article is fromWeatherford Democrat click here to read it for yourself.

Jodi Sue Holmes looks cute in stripes.

Last week Jacqueline and Chris Laurita, along with Matt and his wife Jodi Holmes presented an united front during the where is your life going intervention of their 20 year old daughter Ashley Holmes. Ashley’s out of control behavior has been the storylines of The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 3. Jacqueline and Chris have tried very hard to address this situation with dignity and help their daughter make better choices.  After the recent arrests the aspect of Matt Holmes being a good influence on Ashley is questionable.  Matt was shown to be a loving and devoted father. Since the tapping of the show Ashley allegedly went to live with her father in Texas and residing there when Matt and Jodi were arrested. 

Watch Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey Sunday at 10/9c

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All written content is exclusive property of The Mob Wives BlogSpot and is protected by copyrights or other intellectual property rights. You are prohibited from using, copying, altering, modifying, or changing our work. Unauthorized use of this is strictly prohibited. Violators are punishable under federal law. In simple English, stop f*cking jacking our work.

Credit: Christin Coyne of The Weatherford Democrat

Picture Credit: Parker County Sheriff's Department

Mob Wives: Louis Facciolo - A Friend Betrayed

Truly I want to share with y'all. After all the Mob stories and characters I've read the Facciolo brothers' story pulls @ my heart strings.  We share our honest opinions around here.  However, as heartless, cruel and vile some of these men's crimes or lifestyles seem; I sometimes see beyond their mob activities or associations.  I see sons, fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles and cousins.  But I truly doubt the majority of you visit to read my bleeding heart diatribes.  Whoever these men were to their families @ the end of the day they were other families' nightmares.  Many a times over they stole from someone's son, father, husband, brother, uncleor cousin.  Many a times over they had a hand in the murder of someone's son, father, husband, brother or cousin.

Awhile back Chiara touched on Bruno Facciolo's story, also known as Uncle Bruno to Carla Facciolo of Mob Wives.  Now I'll touch on his brother Louis Facciolo who is Carla Facciolo's father.  Information is scarce on Louis Facciolo.  Unlike his brother, Louis was not 'in' the mob.  However, Mr. Facciolo was a known associate.  By all accounts he had a tight relationship with his brother Bruno a hit man and chef.  Louis Facciolo also seemed to be a devoted & generous friend.  Would you believe his generosity to a trusted friend would lead to his getting caught up in a major undercover sting operation?  I would after starting this blog.

Mr. Facciolo had a close friend Salvatore "Sonny" Visconti.  Sonny was allegedly a hijacker.  What he hijacked I don't know.  Actually I do know I just don't care to go into it.  Both friends had lost their beloved brothers. Louis' brother Bruno Facciolo was murdered.  In 1990 he was found dead in his trunk with a canary stuffed in his mouth.  To read the full story of Bruno Facciolo's death just <==== just click his name.  Sonny's brother Alfred Visconti was shot & killed in 1991.  Louis knowing his friend was short on cash, stepped in & paid for Alfred's funeral.  Now I don't know what dirt Mr. Facciolo did or didn't do.  What I do know is that was a stand up guy move.  How many of us would pay for a friend's brother's funeral around $10,000?  I'll write it here and now.  My father died and his was cremated.  So, I know I wouldn't do it.

It appears that Louis Facciolo's kindness & huge favor was forgotten.  The FBI was conducting a sting operation to catch stolen goods traffickers. Alledgely Salvatore Visconti was a canary for some time unbeknownst to Louis.  Once Salvatore became sick, he agreed to be a witness.  Salvatore would use Facciolo's trust to enable him to introduce an undercover agent to the Carnarsie Crew.

The set  up began when Sonny started thanking Louis excessively for stepping in and paying for Alfred's funeral.  Sonny claimed to be on better financial footing.  He wanted to pay his friend back.  Louis told him that he didn't have to.  However, Sonny insisted by giving Louis $500 and several VCRs. Not long after the first repayment Sonny would introduce Steve the fence, who was actually an undercover agent to Louis.  The agent made good for well over a year before the bees came to his honey.  Louis Facciolo was his in to the Gambino family.  The dominos fell and a reported 50+ soldiers and associates were taken down.

There are many sites stating that Louis Facciolo died in 1990.  I believe they are confusing his reported death with that of his brother's Bruno Facciolo who was murdered in 1990.  We know Louis was alive in 1991 when he paid for Alfred's funeral.  We also know he got unwittingly caught up in sting around 1992-1994.  Carla Facciolo has mentioned that her father did time in the joint when she was in her 20s in the 90s.  We have search public records and have yet to come up with a death certificate for Mr. Facciolo.  Louis Facciolo is very much alive.  We hope he is happy, healthy and loving his grandchildren.

At the end of the day, I may not care for the lifestyle.  However, I get the duality of some of these men.  I get that many of us see just criminals.  Their families see loving and caring men who kept roofs over their heads and furs on their backs.

Mob Wives: Renee a Real G

All right, I'll be the first to admit, I can be a little rough on Renee Graziano of Mob Wives.  As each week passes she grows on me.  I am liking her more and more.  Yes, I know she is so mobmatic.  But when it counts she seems to be real.  She's real with her son A.J. Pagan.  She's real with Carla Facciolo revealing that her dude maybe smirkish.  Something about Renee rings genuine.  Before Chiara, Jeanette and Love boo me, maybe some of the scenes are 'set up'.  Hell maybe all of them are @ the end of the day, I don't care.  Script or no script, I do not believe these women are faking their personalities.  Meatballs and sauce included these four women have major personalities.  For better or worse, I am watching each week until the season ends.

So, Chiara is on this Twitter kick.  I cannot do Twitter.  It's f*cking confusing to me.  I am getting old.  I know how to work the coffee maker and text on my cell phone.  I don't need Twitter in my life.  Anyhow, Chiara caught wind of a Renee Graziano interview with Power 105.1 Breakfast Club thanks to Twitter.  So, I took a listen.  You know Chiara passes on all the work to me that she doesn't want to write. (rolling eyes)  Between you and I, most of it doesn't get written up.  I am lazy like that.  However, I figured I better write something before I'm swimming with the fishes. 

The interview turned out to be better than driving behind a truck with mechandise falling off.  A big ups to 105.1  The Breakfast Club for a wonderful interview with Renee Graziano.  Usually we give you a break down of the clip.  However, I think this is one that you should really devote 15 minutes of your free time to. They touch on a lot of the topics that we've touched on in blogs or the comment box. Hey, we've said it a lot around here, "People will be curious of how the Mob Wives afford their lifestyles with locked up husbands and daddies."  We discover we are so not alone.  The interviewers even touch on Anthony Graziano and his not talking to his daughter.  Renee confirms they are not on speaking terms.  Renee does share a message she received from her father:

"I love you.  I always will.  I'll always protect you.  Do what you need to.  But I stand my position. And you can take yours."

I am not going to share all the goodies and tidbits because you all really need to listen for yourselves.  Renee touches on interracial dating, Karen Gravano, Carla Facciolo and Drita D'avanzo (and her marrying Lee).  Click here to listen!

Oh and time is running out on the poll.  You have less than 23 hours before the polls close.  So if you haven't voted for your least favorite, now is the time.  If you have already, THANK YOU!  Chiara has voiced her opinion.  We'd love to hear yours!  As always your participation is appreciated, we want to know what you're thinking too.  Polls are always to your right and a quick scroll up.  TGIF!  (takes two swigs of Thera-Flu)

Credit: 105.1 & Vibe.com

Mob Wives: Sexy Salvatore Gravano

Yes, I am embarrassed.  However, I am around here to blog about my opinion.  I know. I know.  Sammy the Bull was a murderer among other things.  I can't help it that the man was sexy back in the day.  Sammy the Bull was one HMMMPH, HMMMPH, HMMMPH fine.  You can argue with me in the comment box if you want.  I am sticking to my opinion.  Even as he was aging and allegedly going under the knife he could have starred in one of my naughty dreams.  I'd play cop.  He'd play robber trying to steal my goodies.  Okay, I know too much information.  I am just keeping it real.

However, as life proves to me as I get older than Donald Trump's bad hairdo, aging is not kind to everyone.  Some sexiness comes to an end.  We all don't age like fine wine without the help of botox, juvederm, face lifts, acid peels, cheek implants and teeth implants.

           Mister Salvatore Gravano still had sex appeal.

          Sammy getting caught up.  The life of crime has takened it's toll.

     

 Man, crime doesn't pay in the end. 

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I have to wonder who Salvatore could have been if he had gone straight long ago.  By all accounts Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" was extremely smart. I have to also think of his 19 victims and pain of their loved ones because he didn't.  So what's your take on Mr. Gravano?

Mob Wives: Anthony “T.G.” Graziano

Graziano is the father of two of the Mafia princesses involved in the new VH1 series, Mob Wives. Jenn Graziano came up with the idea for the show, and Renee Graziano plays one of the four women in the series. Anthony is not speaking to either of his daughters over this, even though Jenn told him they weren’t going to reveal any “secrets.” I’m sure he found that very reassuring. The princesses also have an older sister, Lana, who is not participating in the production as far as I know.

Anthony Graziano is a big name in Mafia history. He started as a member of the Bonanno crime family as part of Anthony Spero’s crew of murderers and he did very well. By the late 1980s or early 1990s it is alleged that he had risen to a high-ranking captain making money from crimes such a loan sharking, drugs, and murder while he ran the Staten Island operation. Unfortunately, he was found guilty of tax evasion for which he had to pay a fine of $250,000 to the IRS and serve 5 years in prison. When he was released from prison he resumed his role in the family with additional leadership responsibilities in Queens and Brooklyn. In 2001, Spero received a life sentence and Graziano was made a consigliore (advisor) of the Bonanno family. 

In March 2002, Graziano had more legal problems. He faced racketeering charges in both New York and Florida. He received 11 years for the Florida charges and nine years for the New York charges. He currently sits in a North Carolina prison with an expected release date, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, of January 30, 2012.

According to sources, Graziano will allegedly resume his role of consigliere when he is out of jail. If that is the case, it is certainly understandable that he would not appreciate two of his daughters bringing attention to and exposing any aspect of the crime family lifestyle. You have to wonder how the Mob Wives series is going to make him look to everyone in the Bonanno family. It might diminish his authority or make him a laughing stock. If he can’t even control his two daughters, how effective a leader can he be in the mob?

I wonder if his daughters gave any thought to their father’s pride or to his high level position in the family? He needs to command respect from those under him, but even his own daughters do not respect his wishes. I have to wonder if this is it all about money and fame for the Graziano princesses? And, all this while, I was under the impression that the mob was all about “family,”“loyalty,” and “respect.”

Mob Wives: Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano

Karen Gravano is one of the “Mob Wives” in VH-1’s new series, but she is not real a mob “wife,” she is more of a mob princess. Her father, Sammy Gravano, is her connection to the mob. Sammy has a long and notorious past, not just because of his involvement in the Mafia, but also because he became an informant for the FBI. It was his testimony in 1991 that convicted John Gotti, the “Teflon Don” and Gambino crime family boss, which resulted in a life sentence for Gotti. Sammy has written a book detailing his extensive activities in the Mob, called Underboss.

Sammy admitted to being involved in 19 murders during his time in the mob. He was born in 1945 and his illustrious career began in 1968 with the Columbo family. Sammy went from committing a long laundry list of various crimes to allegedly committing his first murder, Joseph Colucci, in 1970. Sammy was on the fast track in the Columbo family, which caused some hard feelings in the ranks. In 1970 he was allowed to leave to join the Gambino family. His loyalty to the Gambino family was tested when, for several reasons, it was decided that his brother-in law had to be murdered. At first Sammy was against it, but saw it was no use trying to get the murder called off. No one knows what part Sammy had in this murder, if any.

The most scandalous murder that he was involved in was that of Gambino mob boss, Paul Castellano. In June, 1985 Gravano was approached by John Gotti and another associate, asking for his assistance in Castellano’s murder. After some discussion and planning, the day and location for the execution of the murder was decided. The murder would take place at Sparks Steak House, located in Manhattan on December 16, 1985. When Castellano arrived at the restaurant and got out of his car, six gunmen shot him to death. After his death, the heads of the family agreed to make John Gotti their new boss.

Many “capos” of the family were not happy with Gotti’s leadership. One day the FBI arrested Gravano, Gotti and another man. The FBI played various tapes for Gravano in which Gotti made some very damaging and incriminating statements about Gravano. In 1991 Gravano agreed to testify against Gotti for a lesser sentence of 5 years for acknowledging his participation in 19 murders and Gotti received a life sentence. Sammy got out of jail early and entered the witness protection program which he left a year later, in 1995, to go to Arizona. In 1998, Gravano returned to crime by joining a gang called the “Devil Dogs” that specialized in selling ecstasy to the tune of 25,000 pills a week for millions of dollars. In October 2000 the Arizona justice system convicted Gravano of drug trafficking and he was sentenced to 19 years in prison. His son received a nine year sentence for his involvement. It has been alleged that his own cohorts ratted him out. Gravano is currently serving time in prison.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Karen pleaded guilty to criminal involvement in her father’s drug ring and was sentenced to probation along with her mother. According to the New York Post, Karen is now writing a tell all book. She is currently a make-up artist. Rumor has it that Sammy is going to make a special phone call from prison, to his daughter Karen, during one of her appearances on the Mob Wives. It just makes me want to tear up.

All written content is exclusive property of The Mob Wives Blogspot and is protected by copyrights or other intellectual property rights. You are prohibited from using, copying, altering, modifying, or changing our work. Unauthorized use of this is strictly prohibited. Violators are punishable under federal law. In simple English, stop f*cking jacking our work.