The father of Genovese soldier “Frankie Pugs” Pugliano and his recently deceased brother, Louis, was a prolific bootlegger in West Springfield, Massachusetts, during Prohibition.
Louis Frank Pugliano (1926-2026), who took part in the hit on Billy Grasso in 1989, has died at the age of 99. He and his brother Frank (1928-), who is a soldier in the Genovese crime family, were co-owners of their family business in West Springfield. The Monte Carlo Restaurant, which closed in 2017, was beloved by the community, and so were the Puglianos, for making their guests feel special.
Their father, Frank, was born Francesco Pugliano in Sambiase, in the province of Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy in 1898.[1] Frank was the youngest of four brothers: he and his parents all immigrated, as did some of his aunts and uncles on both sides of the family.
Frank immigrated with his parents when he was twelve years old, joining his older brothers in Chicago. While Frank’s eldest brother, Fortunato (1880-1950), moved back and forth between different cities in the US and their hometown in Italy, Frank’s father, Luigi Pugliano (1839-1934), moved his family to Springfield, Massachusetts, where Frank was soon getting into trouble. At fifteen, and in the US for just three years, Frank Pugliano and another boy were arrested for robbing a neighborhood grocer’s cash register.[2]
In 1918, when he registered for the draft, Frank lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut and worked in New York City installing boilers.[3] In 1920, he was back in Chicago, working in a factory and living with the extended family of his married cousin, Angelina Folinazzo: a daughter of his uncle Pasquale Pugliano.[4]
Frank returned to Springfield, Massachusetts, and moved in with his brother, Tony (born Felice Antonio, 1895-1980), at 63 Acushnet Av.[5] Although it took almost two years for the police to catch up to them, there is evidence to suggest the Pugliano brothers became bootleggers soon after Prohibition was enacted.[6]
Tony Pugliano opened a candy store on Main Street in Springfield, at the same address where he operated a fruit store. Candy stores were common fronts for bootlegging because their commercial-scale sugar consumption didn’t raise any red flags with prohibition agents. In October 1921, police raided Tony’s shop and he was arrested, fined, and given a suspended sentence for illegal selling and keeping of liquor. A second raid, just before Christmas, led to federal charges against their brother, Louis (born Luigi, 1886-1976), for having fake revenue stamps. In a third raid on the shop, in January, Tony and Frank were both arrested; in Frank’s case, because he insisted that the small quantity of moonshine discovered belonged to him.[7] He was fined $25 for possession of liquor.[8]
Frank was arrested in August 1924 in a raid on his premises on Union Street in Springfield, and was charged with illegal selling and keeping of liquor.[9] He moved across the river to a location on Union Street in West Springfield. His brother, Tony, was arrested in a case of mistaken identity.[10] The mistake was corrected and Frank was arrested by West Springfield police in October.[11] He pleaded not guilty to illegal selling and keeping of liquor with intent to sell.[12] When he was found guilty, he was fined $100 for each charge.[13]
At the beginning of March 1925, another raid on the Pugliano home in West Springfield led to the arrests of Frank and Fannie, Frank’s brother, Louis, and father, Luigi, Frank Gioffino, and another man, Willard Ducey, who claimed ownership of a small quantity of liquor that was found.[14] Three gallons of alcohol and some coloring were seized.[15] Louis’ wife, Carmela, paid Ducey’s bond.[16]
In April, Frank Pugliano, using the nickname “Cowboy,” sold some liquor to an undercover agent. A search warrant was issued and a quantity of wine was found in the cellar of Frank’s home.
Pugliano claimed the wine belonged to his sister who had moved away and left it, afraid to transport the wine for fear of breaking Prohibition law.[17] (Private individuals could make and own small amounts of wine for their personal use during Prohibition, but transporting and selling were illegal.) I don’t know if the police ever learned this, but I did: Frank didn’t have a sister.[18]
Frank Pugliano rented the upstairs of his home to Frank Gioffino, a barber from Sambiase, his wife, and their three children.[19] Gioffino denied ownership of the wine, as well, claiming to have nothing to do with the cellar. Regardless, he was the only one at home when federal agents searched the premises. Pugliano was discharged but Gioffino had to appear before a grand jury in Boston.[20]
Gioffino had been charged the previous December with liquor selling, gambling, and firearm possession in violation of alien law. Frank’s brother, Louis, was charged with gambling and pleaded not guilty.[21] He was ultimately fined five dollars for being present where gambling was under way.[22] (Around the same time, Louis faced another, federal charge of violating prohibition law, was found guilty, and fined $100.[23])
In the years before Prohibition while Frank Pugliano was living in Connecticut, Fannie Ortolani (1908-1994) of Sandwich, Massachusetts, moved to Springfield with her Italian-born parents.[24]
In November 1924, Frank was back in Massachusetts. He was driving his future bride down New Bridge Street in West Springfield when Fannie was hurt in a collision with another car.[25] Frank Pugliano and Fannie Ortolani sued the other driver for $1,000 in damages.[26] By the time the case was heard more than a year later in March 1926, Frank and Fannie were reportedly married.[27]
I haven’t found documentation of their marriage or of their eldest child, Mary Rose’s birth in April 1925. This is notable because I’m able to find similar notices in the local newspapers for their close relatives. Frank’s brother, Tony, was married in August 1925 and it was published in the newspaper that Fannie’s younger sister, Stella, attended the reception.[28] Using the date given in Mary Rose Pugliano’s obituary and Social Security death record, at the time of the auto accident, Fannie Ortolani was already pregnant.[29] Frank and Fannie’s second child, Louis, who passed away in January of this year, was born in August 1926. His birth was announced with his parents’ names and address in The Morning Union.[30]
In the early years of their marriage, Frank and Fannie Pugliano lived on Bosworth Street in West Springfield. Their address was printed in connection with Frank’s arrest for selling and keeping intoxicating liquor in April 1926, following a raid on the Pugliano tenement and store in New Bridge Street, where three gallons of moonshine were seized.[31] Frank pleaded guilty in May rather than face trial. He was fined $150, given a three-month suspended sentence in the House of Corrections for selling illegal liquor, and a similar fine and two-month suspended sentence for keeping illegal liquor for sale.[32]
Frank and Fannie’s second child and eldest son, Louis, was born on the 17th of August.[33] The following month, two addresses on Bosworth Street were raided by West Springfield police, including the Pugliano home, and Frank was back in court pleading not guilty to new charges of keeping and selling alcohol.[34] Both parties pleaded not guilty.[35]
In October, Frank’s father-in-law, Louis Ortolani, died at 51.[36] Later in the month Antonio Parisi, the father of the bootlegger Joseph Parisi, died at 83 and Frank was one of his pallbearers in what was called the largest funeral ever held in West Springfield.[37] Before the month’s end, Frank was sent to the House of Corrections for violation of the conditions of his suspended sentence when he was convicted once again for keeping and selling liquor.
See the interview with Joseph Parisi’s grandnephew and biographer
In addition to four months (it’s not explained how the five month sentence given in May was reduced) in the HoC for his past crimes, he was convicted, fined, and sentenced to four more months in jail for the new charges.[38] He appealed the new sentence but the judge ordered the suspended sentence immediately into effect and Frank was taken from the courtroom directly to jail.[39]
Serving time may have had an effect on Frank that marriage and children had not, because he was never arrested again for liquor law violations. In the 1930 census he supported his wife, children, and father with a position on a street railway crew. The ages of the children closely match other available records: Mary Rose was five. The Puglianos told the census taker that they’d married ten years earlier, when Fannie was sixteen.[40]
In November 1933, Frank was a passenger in another auto accident but wasn’t injured. The driver was Frank Gioffino, his old tenant and fellow bootlegger. Gioffino lost control of his car and drove into a house.[41] He was charged with reckless driving and found guilty. His license was suspended.[42]
Frank and Fannie opened the Monte Carlo Cafe with a full liquor license the year after Prohibition’s repeal. Fannie deserves much of the credit for the restaurant’s opening. In census records for 1940 and 1950, Frank is listed as a cafe proprietor while Fannie is not credited with an occupation outside the home.[43] However, in the 1960 greater Springfield directory, Mrs. Fannie B. Pugliano of the Monte Carlo Cafe has her own listing.[44] Though they were called the cafe’s co-proprietors, in applying for a liquor license and later, when they incorporated, Fannie was the cafe’s sole manager/proprietor.[45] The choice was no doubt made because of Frank Pugliano’s extensive record as a bootlegger.
In the 1950 census, the middle son, Frank Jr., age 21, worked as a bartender in his parents’ establishment.[46] The eldest son, Louis, joined him in the cafe five years later, when they were accused of assaulting two West Springfield police patrolmen. The police had come to the cafe, summoned by the sounds of a spirited retirement party, and told Louis and Frank to close the bar, as it was past serving time and they were not in control of the crowd.[47] Louis, who was bartending that night, used obscene language in his response and was accused of backing Officer Desrosiers against a wall and threatening him.[48] An estimated 45 people joined in the assault. Both of the Pugliano brothers were arrested.[49] They were found guilty and fined.[50]
Frank and Fannie Pugliano moved from 1062 Memorial Avenue to 32 Autumn Road. In 1960 their sons Louis and Frank were married and working as bartenders for their parents. Louis lived nearby at 177 Autumn. The youngest of their children, Frederick, was also married, and worked as an architect in Springfield.[51]
Mary Rose Pugliano married a seaman, Francis Salvatore Agostino, in 1944 and they had one daughter.[52] Agostino abandoned the family and in 1957, while living with her parents, Mary successfully sued for divorce on grounds of cruel and abusive treatment, and for custody of their child.[53] Her obituary says that for most of her adult life Mary was ill and needed care from other family members. She spent her last years in a nursing facility.[54]
In 1963, the Monte Carlo was incorporated with Fannie Pugliano as president and treasurer, daughter Mary Agostino, clerk, and sons Louis, Frank, and Frederick holding board positions. Fannie was listed as the manager.[55] Frank Sr. held no official position.
Frank Pugliano Sr. died at age 73 on 30 May 1972. A liturgy of Christian burial was held in St. Ann’s Church and he was buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, both in West Springfield.[56]
Sons Frank and Louis went to prison after 1991 convictions for taking part in the high-level assassination of a Patriarca Family member, William Grasso, in 1989. When Louis Pugliano was arrested in connection with the murder he sold his shares in the Monte Carlo to his youngest brother, Frederick. Frank, the Genovese soldier, served twelve years for conspiracy and was released in 2001.[57] Louis was sentenced to life for driving the van in which Grasso was killed, and was released in December 2006.[58]
Fannie (Ortolani) Pugliano, the family matriarch, passed away at 86 in 1994.[59] Eldest Pugliano sister Mary Rose died in February 2006 at 80.[60] Frederick has retired to Florida with his wife. The last family members to own the Monte Carlo were Frederick’s son, Fred, and his wife Gina.[61] The restaurant finally closed in 2017 and the property was sold in 2019.[62]
Louis Pugliano died this year on 14 January at the age of 99. His younger brother, Frank Pugliano, Jr., is still living in West Springfield.
A new biography of Louis Pugliano is available to my Patreon subscribers at the Researcher ($10/month) level and above.
[1] “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BLD-X2B?cc=1968530&wc=9FHW-2NL%3A928310201%2C928349401 : 26 August 2019), Connecticut > Bridgeport City no 3; Haber, E.-Wilcox, C. > image 3605 of 5748; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[2] Two boys arrested. (1913, October 25). The Morning Union. P. 6.
[3] “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BLD-X2B?cc=1968530&wc=9FHW-2NL%3A928310201%2C928349401 : 26 August 2019), Connecticut > Bridgeport City no 3; Haber, E.-Wilcox, C. > image 3605 of 5748; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[4] “Illinois, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR6Q-WVX?view=explore : Feb 1, 2026), image 938 of 1178; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 004964640
[5] “Massachusetts, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRNN-ZXR?view=explore : Feb 1, 2026), image 694 of 1196; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 004966081; Four barrels of wine taken. (1922, February 15). The Morning Union. P. 6.
[6] Parisi, N. A. (2023). Mafia Confession: “King of Bootleggers” Murder. Advance copy [PDF] received from the author 2 November 2023. P. 197.
[7] Four barrels of wine taken. (1922, February 15). The Morning Union. P. 6.
[8] Pugliano case postponed until search warrant is produced. (1922, February 20). The Republican. P. 2; Afternoon cases before U.S. court. (1922, December 1). Springfield Evening Union. P. 1.
[9] Liquor seized in three raids. (1924, August 28). The Republican. P. 9; Police get three victims in three afternoon jumps. (1924, August 28). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 4.
[10] Antonio Pugliano freed, Frank fined. (1924, December 4). Springfield Evening Union. P. 12.
[11] Held on liquor charge. (1924, October 16). The Morning Union. P. 3.
[12] Pugliano’s case continued. (1924, October 17). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 3.
[13] Antonio Pugliano freed, Frank fined. (1924, December 4). Springfield Evening Union. P. 12.
[14] One defendant is held by Gordon. (1925, March 13). The Republican. P. 3; Gordon hears 12 liquor case defendants. (1925, March 13). The Morning Union. P. 8.
[15] Six held for hearing as result of raid. (1925, March 6). The Republican. P. 17.
[16] One defendant is held by Gordon. (1925, March 13). The Republican. P. 3.
[17] Pugliano-Guffine cases held over. (1925, May 13). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 5.
[18] Died. (1934, January 23). Springfield Republican. P. 9; Fred Pugliano [Obituary]. (1950, September 2). The Republican. P. 2.; Pugliano [Obituary]. (1972, May 31). The Republican. P. 54; Louis Pugliano [Obituary]. (1976, August 19). The Republican. P. 4; Felix Pugliano, market owner. (1980, March 18). The Republican. P. 22.
[19] “Connecticut, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMK-QQLG-2?view=explore : Jan 23, 2026), image 1599 of 2319. Image Group Number: 007778598; “United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1J-X9ZY-Z?view=explore : Jan 23, 2026), image 6121 of 6670; National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 105187756; Pugliano-Guffine cases held over. (1925, May 13). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 5.
[20] Guffine is held for jury, Pugliano freed. (1925, May 15). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 4.
[21] Geoffrion held on three charges. (1924, December 8). Springfield Evening Union. P. 8; House in west side raided. (1924, December 8). The Morning Union. P. 5.
[22] West-side man fined on three specific counts. (1925, January 13). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 7.
[23] Auto inn bartenders fined but alleged owner is discharged. (1924, December 11). The Morning Union. P. 5.
[24] “Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXJ4-FXW : Thu May 23 02:09:49 UTC 2024), Entry for Ortolani and Louis Ortolani, 5 Oct 1908; Fannie Pugliano, area restaurateur. (1994, December 8). The Republican. P. 17.
[25] Two injured in accidents; one arrested. (1924, November 10). The Morning Union. P. 4.
[26] 103 entries in superior court here. (1925, January 7). The Republican. P. 2; To take testimony today in auto case. (1926, March 12). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 4.
[27] Plaintiffs get damages for auto accident. (1926, March 13). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 5; Verdict goes to residents of west side. (1926, March 13). The Morning Union. P. 5.
[28] 200 attend reception to Mr and Mrs Pugliano. (1925, August 14). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 4.
[29] “United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KMS-WPDV : Fri Apr 25 18:17:39 UTC 2025), Entry for Mary Rose Agostino and Frank Pugliano; Mary Rose Pugliano [Obituary]. (2006, February 15). The Republican. P. 16.
[30] Springfield births. (1926, August 21). The Morning Union. P. 7.
[31] Pagliaro pays $100 for liquor dealings. (1926, April 23). The Republican. P. 23; West side men face charges. (1926, April 23). Springfield Evening Union. P. 12; New article for town-meeting. (1926, April 23). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 20.
[32] West side man pays $300 fine in liquor case. (1926, May 13). The Republican. P. 2.
[33] Springfield births. (1926, August 21). The Morning Union. P. 7.
[34] Two are held in west side liquor raids. (1926, September 30). The Republican. P. 2; Biggest raid on west side nets 100 gallons of liquor. (1926, September 30). The Morning Union. Pp. 1, 4.
[35] Woman and man deny any liquor selling. (1926, October 1). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 26.
[36] Louis Ortolani [Obituary]. (1926, October 11). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 4.
[37] 65 automobiles in funeral procession for Antonio Parisi. (1926, October 22). The Republican. P. 27.
[38] Eight months and $300 fines for Pugliano. (1926, October 28). The Republican. P. 2.
[39] West side man appeals from jail sentence. (1926, October 29). The Morning Union. P. 5.
[40] “Massachusetts, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRH4-487?view=explore : Feb 2, 2026), image 414 of 1111; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 004951089
[41] Virtirous and Rosetti hurt in auto crash. (1933, November 23). The Republican. P. 9; Car rams veranda on Westfield road. (1933, November 23). The Springfield Daily Republican. P.4.
[42] Denies charge in auto crash case put over. (1933, November 29). The Republican. P. 12; Motorists lose driving rights. (1933, December 16). The Springfield Daily Republican. P. 14.
[43] “United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4F3-SPD : accessed 3 June 2017), Frank Pugliano in household of Frank Pugliano, West Springfield Town, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 7-197, sheet 64A, line 22, family 273, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1598.
[44] Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee and Longmeadow directory. (1960). Price & Lee Co.
[45] Hart announces more approvals. (1934, May 2). The Republican. P. 2; Liquor licenses granted by board. (1934, May 2). Springfield Evening Union. P. 9; Cafe owners make protest to selectmen. (1957, July 23). The Republican. P. 24.
[46] “Hampden, Massachusetts, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-GQHW-RG6N?view=explore : Jan 28, 2026), image 25 of 34; National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 108996162
[47] Three adjudged guilty in police assault melee. (1955, September 14). The Morning Union. P. 11.
[48] Men arrested in west side cafe case deny police hit. (1955, September 13). The Republican. P. 29.
[49] 4 west side cops needed to quiet down the Monte Carlo. (1955, August 29). The Republican. P. 15; Cases growing from a melee are continued. (1955, September 10). The Morning Union. P. 23.
[50] Quartet fined in cafe brawl. (1955, September 14). The Republican. P. 16.
[51] Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee and Longmeadow directory. (1960). Price & Lee Co.
[52] Mary Pugliano marries sailor. (1944, June 8). The Republican. P. 10.
[53] Divorce granted to Mrs. Agostino. (1957, August 29). The Republican. P. 28; Agostino divorce. (1957, August 30). The Morning Union. P. 9.
[54] Mary Rose Pugliano [Obituary]. (2006, February 15). The Republican. P. 16.
[55] Liquor license switch okayed. (1963, September 24). The Republican. P. 27.
[56] Pugliano [Obituary]. (1972, May 31). The Republican. P. 54; [Advertisement]. (1972, June 1). The Morning Union. P. 54.
[57] Barry, S. (2008, September 22). Mob killer may get out early. The Republican/MassLive. Accessed 2 February 2026.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2008/09/mob_killer_may_get_out_early.html; Find an inmate. Bureau of prisons. Accessed 2 February 2026
https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/byname.jsp#inmate_results
[58] Flynn, J. (2006, December 19). Organized crime figure being released from prison. The Republican. https://masslive.newsbank.com/doc/news/1162BF2EF29FABC8?search_terms
[59] Fannie Pugliano, area restaurateur. (1994, December 8). The Republican. P. 17.
[60] Mary Rose Pugliano [Obituary]. (2006, February 15). The Republican. P. 16.
[61] Kelly, R. (2017, June 1). Monte Carlo restaurant in West Springfield closing after 83 years. The Republican/MassLive. Accessed 3 June 2017 at . http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/monte_carlo_restaurant_in_west.html
[62] Deeds. (2019, December 19). The Republican. P. C10-01.
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