Vincent M. Ferrara
American mobster
Vincent M. Ferrara (born 1949), also known as "the Animal", is an American mobster from Boston, Massachusetts who is a "made" member of the New England-based Patriarca crime family.
Criminal career
Ferrara became affiliated with the Patriarca crime family in the 1970s as an associate in a regime, or "crew", headed by Donato "Danny" Angiulo in the North End of Boston. In the late 1970s, a rival North End gang began robbing card games operated by the Angiulo brothers, resulting in Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo hiring Ferrara to kill the hoodlum Giacomo "Jackie" DiFronzo. On December 11, 1977, Ferrara, along with Vincent "Jimmy" Limoli, allegedly shot DiFronzo dead at an Endicott Street club and then set the club on fire. Afterwards, an associate of DiFronzo, Anthony "Dapper" Corlito, sought vengeance on Ferrara. On July 21, 1979, Ferrara, Limoli and Pasquale "Patsy" Barone allegedly shot Corlito to death after encountering him on Fleet Street. Ferrara was inducted as a "made" member of the Patriarca family in 1980.
On October 28, 1985, Patsy Barone and Walter "Fats" Jordan shot Limoli to death in Boston's North End and subsequently fled the state. In July 1988, Jordan was arrested in North Carolina and Barone was arrested in Ohio. Jordan reached an agreement with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Auerhahn to become a cooperating witness, confessing that he and Barone had taken part in Limoli's murder.
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