The Mafia Captain Who Controlled New York's Construction Empire (Venero Mangano)

Venero Mangano Venero "Benny Eggs" Mangano was one of the most powerful captains in the Genovese crime family and a close associate of Vincent Gigante. For decades, he supervised some of the family's most profitable criminal enterprises while maintaining a remarkably low public profile. Federal authorities linked Mangano to numerous organized crime activities, including: Racketeering (RICO) Extortion Labor racketeering Construction industry corruption Bid-rigging schemes Illegal gambling operations Loansharking Union corruption Organized crime conspiracy Mafia administration One of Mangano's defining roles was his influence over New York's construction industry and labor unions. Prosecutors alleged that he helped manipulate bidding processes, extort contractors, and influence union operations, allowing the Genovese family to profit from major construction projects worth millions of dollars. He was eventually convicted on federal racketeering charges as part of the government's long-running effort to dismantle the Genovese hierarchy.