Front Boss
In 1972, after the murder of Genovese acting boss Thomas Eboli, Tieri became the front boss of the Genovese family. At that time, it was speculated that Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino had ordered Eboli's murder because Eboli owed him $4 million. According to this theory, Gambino wanted Tieri to be his figurehead, or front, boss of the Genovese family. However, most experts now believe that it was mobster Philip Lombardo who controlled Tieri, not Gambino.
Tieri was considered a low-profile and diplomatic mobster, a good earner for the family who believed in sharing the wealth with his capos and soldiers. He was convicted of armed robbery when he was aged twenty but avoided further indictments until the end of his life. Given that Tieri was a front boss, it is unknown how much power Lombardo allowed him. However, Tieri did have a reputation as orderly and smart manager who used violence only as a last resort.
Read more about this topic: Frank Tieri (mobster)
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