Runorata Family

"What are they like? Let's see... That outfit's just like a kingdom. A guy named Bartolo Runorata built it from the ground up in just one generation. The syndicate's got a huge variety of people, and Bartolo's leadership is what keeps 'em all together. If we're just comparing the strength of your organizations, you fellas are cats in front of their lion. Or, no, maybe mice."

- Claire Stanfield on the Runorata Family to Luck Gandor

The Runorata Family is a Mafia family based in Newark, New Jersey and New York.

It was founded in the first half of the twentieth century by Bartolo Runorata, an Italian immigrant from the same town as Molsa Martillo, don of the Martillo Family. In 1931, the organization had over a thousand members and connections with the police, the press, and select government officials, making it one of the most influential East Coast mafia organizations at the time.

The Runorata family had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Genoard Family for a period of time; the Genoards oversaw the manufacture of drugs (including cocaine and marijuana) which the Runoratas would distribute for them, an arrangement which proved profitable for both sides. However, the death of the the first-generation head of the Genoard Family marked the beginning of the end of their alliance. His replacements, Raymond Genoard (his son) and Jeffrey Genoard (his grandson), had different ideas about money, and Runorata-Genoard relations deteriorated while both sides tried and failed to come to a new agreement.

Tensions reached their peak in October 1930. The Runorata capo Gustavo Bagetta orchestrated and covered up the deaths of both Raymond and Jeffrey, the bodies of whom were found in a car at the bottom of New York Bay. With the two heads out of the picture, the Runorata family quickly took over the Genoard family's factories and cover businesses (textiles), silencing witnesses through threats or murder.

Despite having influence in New York, the Runoratas had no power in Manhattan, the control of which was split between the Five Families. In December 1931, Gustavo was tasked with obtaining a foothold in Manhattan; he oversaw the surreptitious distribution of Runorata drugs in already occupied territories, including the Gandor Family (its rival) and the Martillo Family (despite Bartolo ruling them off-limits due to his and Molsa's shared heritage).

The Gandor Family have always been on bad terms with the Runoratas, due to the Gandors' anti-drug policy, but the height of the Gandor-Runorata feud reached an apex between December 1931 and January 1932, in which they practically waged war: the Runoratas not only staged drive-by shootings of Gandor-owned properties, they would have used high-grade explosives in the turf war had the explosives not been stolen in transit.

Sometime in 1934, the Runoratas announce their intentions to back the construction of a multipurpose skyscraper near Manhattan Island, a plan which initially seems difficult given that the land they intend to develop is owned by Senator Manfred Beriam and is sandwiched between big local mafia families. Eventually a Runorata-owned business gets its hands on a piece of the land, and the skyscraper's construction proceeds surprisingly quickly, finishing in February 1935. Upon completion, it is nicknamed Ra's Lance.

One of the consequences of Ra's Lance is that the Runoratas end up cutting into a turf war between some of the local families, earning them plenty of hostile enemies as a result. The Runoratas increase security when travelling throughout New York. In the meantime, they send out invitations to all the mafia families in the area to the grand opening of the illegal casino they've built underneath the restaurant located in Ra's Lance's basement. The casino party is expected to last three days.

Bartolo has ties to both Manfred Beriam and Huey Laforet, and hosts Huey as his guest during the three day party. It is clear that he and Huey (and possibly Beriam too) have made some sort of arrangement in regards to the events of February 1935, but the nature of their deal has yet to be revealed in full. Huey has arranged for the Larvae to work for the Runoratas during the party.

In the 1970s (possibly around 1972) don Bartolo Runorata passes away. The family is taken over by Carzelio "Cazze" Runorata, Bartolo's grandson and heir to the Family. Cazze is said to be particularly feared by the gangs of the East, known as the 'pure-hearted dictator' who tames 'savage beasts.'

The Runoratas usually use thompsons to deal with their enemies/targets.

In the 1930s, Bartolo has a team of twelve bodyguards divided into three groups of four. The three groups rotate through protecting Bartolo's family, so one group is off-duty while the other two are on the clock. When one group is off-duty, no-one can force them to dodge work, not even Bartolo (this is a rule sanctioned by Bartolo himself).

Members

 * Bartolo Runorata (don until the 1970s)
 * Carzelio Runorata (don, 1970s- )
 * Gustavo Bagetta (capo; incarcerated)
 * Gabriel and Juliano (bodyguards; hunters; assassins)
 * Begg Garott (former apothecary)
 * Charkie (bear; formerly known by the names Charlie and Cookie)
 * Rubik (former member)
 * Melvi Dormentaire (affiliated; card dealer)
 * Carlotta; (casino dealer; replaced by Melvi for the party at Ra's Lance)
 * Sam Buscetta and Anselmo Jonell (the two drivers of the Runorata truck that Roy Maddock robbed in 1932 Drug & The Dominos)