Frank Valenti
- September 14, 1911
- September 20, 2008
- 97 years
About Frank Valenti
Frank Valenti, 97, American mob boss (Rochester crime family).
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Full Biography
|Frank J. Valenti (September 14, 1911 – September 20, 2008) was boss of the criminal organization known as the Rochester crime family from 1964 to 1972. As the head of the organization he oversaw gambling, prostitution and extortion rackets operating in the city of Rochester, New York for 8 years.
Criminal activities
Frank and his brother Constenze "Stanley" Valenti were among the 100+ Mafiosi that attended the legendary Apalachin Meeting in 1957. At the time, Frank was underboss of the family. Joe Valachi identified the Valenti brothers as central figures in the Mafia when he became a government witness in 1963. Valachi also stated that Frank was a soldier in the Bonanno crime family of New York City.
According to the U.S. Social Security Death Index, Frank was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he became a powerful crime figure throughout the 1930s–1950s. Valenti also owned a chain of Spaghetti Village restaurants in Pennsylvania. In 1958, Frank's brother Stanley was boss of the Rochester crime family and refused to cooperate with law enforcement regarding questioning about the Apalachin Meeting. As a result, Constenze was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Jake Russo took this opportunity to seize control of the family. Frank tried to intervene but was ordered out of the state for 3 years following a conviction for violation of the election laws. He moved back to Pittsburgh in the early 1960s, serving as a capo in the Pittsburgh crime family under John LaRocca. In 1964, with support from the LaRocca family, Valenti returned to Rochester and took control of the family. Jake Russo disappeared around that time, never to be seen again.
In 1970, Valenti informed Stefano Magaddino that the Rochester crime family would no longer pay tribute to Buffalo; the Rochester crime family was on its own, with support from the Pittsburgh crime family. He had a stint in federal prison on extortion charges, before moving to Arizona, and then Texas.
In October and November 1970, Valenti organized the Rochester bombings, in which nine buildings, including three Jewish synagogues and two black churches, were bombed as part of an effort to focus the attention of local authorities away from organized crime. Only one person was injured.
Later life
Frank Valenti was a commissioned member of Buffalo, New York. He moved to Arizona in 1977, where he was allowed to retire.
He died on September 20, 2008, at a nursing home in Sugar Land outside Houston, at the age of 97.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Valenti
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 28, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Frank Valenti's archived record and the sources above.
1.Under whom did Frank J. Valenti serve as a capo in the early 1960s?
- A.Joe Valachi
- B.Stefano Magaddino
- C.John LaRoccacorrect
- D.Jake Russo
In the early 1960s, Frank J. Valenti served as a capo in the Pittsburgh crime family under John LaRocca.
Source: criminal activities section
2.How long was Constenze Valenti sentenced to prison for refusing to cooperate with law enforcement?
- A.3 years
- B.16 monthscorrect
- C.8 years
- D.10 years
Following his refusal to cooperate regarding the Apalachin Meeting, Constenze was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Source: criminal activities section
3.What was the primary reason for the 1970 Rochester bombings organized by Frank J. Valenti?
- A.To collect extortion money from synagogues
- B.To focus authority attention away from organized crimecorrect
- C.To expand gambling rackets into new territory
- D.To challenge the authority of John LaRocca
Frank J. Valenti orchestrated the bombings to divert the attention of local authorities away from his organized crime activities.
Source: criminal activities section
4.Who identified the Valenti brothers as central figures in the Mafia in 1963?
- A.Joe Valachicorrect
- B.Jake Russo
- C.John LaRocca
- D.Stefano Magaddino
Joe Valachi identified the Valenti brothers as central figures in the Mafia when he became a government witness in 1963.
Source: criminal activities section
5.What led to Frank J. Valenti being ordered out of the state for 3 years?
- A.An investigation into his restaurant chain
- B.A failed attempt to kidnap Jake Russo
- C.Failure to pay tribute to Buffalo
- D.A conviction for violating election lawscorrect
Frank J. Valenti was ordered out of the state for 3 years after a conviction for violation of the election laws.
Source: criminal activities section
6.To whom did Frank J. Valenti announce that the Rochester crime family would no longer pay tribute in 1970?
- A.Joe Valachi
- B.Stefano Magaddinocorrect
- C.John LaRocca
- D.Jake Russo
In 1970, Frank J. Valenti informed Stefano Magaddino that the Rochester crime family would no longer pay tribute to Buffalo.
Source: criminal activities section
7.In what year did Frank J. Valenti move to Arizona to retire?
- A.2008
- B.1972
- C.1977correct
- D.1964
Frank J. Valenti moved to Arizona in 1977, where he was allowed to retire.
Source: later life section
8.What was the result of the 1970 bombings regarding human life?
- A.No one was injured
- B.Three people were critically wounded
- C.One person was injuredcorrect
- D.Nine people were killed
During the Rochester bombings organized by Frank J. Valenti in 1970, only one person was injured.
Source: criminal activities section
9.At what age did Frank J. Valenti die?
- A.101
- B.95
- C.97correct
- D.91
Frank J. Valenti died at the age of 97 in a nursing home near Houston.
Source: later life section
10.On what date was Frank J. Valenti born?
- A.September 20, 2008
- B.October 20, 1912
- C.June 5, 1907
- D.September 14, 1911correct
Frank J. Valenti was born on September 14, 1911.
Source: biographical summary
11.Where was Frank J. Valenti born according to the U.S. Social Security Death Index?
- A.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniacorrect
- B.Sugar Land, Texas
- C.Rochester, New York
- D.Buffalo, New York
The U.S. Social Security Death Index records that Frank J. Valenti was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Source: criminal activities section
12.What criminal organization did Frank J. Valenti serve as boss of between 1964 and 1972?
- A.The Pittsburgh crime family
- B.The Rochester crime familycorrect
- C.The Buffalo crime family
- D.The Bonanno crime family
Frank J. Valenti was the boss of the Rochester crime family from 1964 to 1972.
Source: biographical summary
13.In what year did Frank J. Valenti die?
- A.2008correct
- B.1972
- C.2007
- D.1977
Frank J. Valenti passed away on September 20, 2008.
Source: later life section
14.What was the name of the brother of Frank J. Valenti mentioned as a Mafia member?
- A.Joe Valachi
- B.Stefano Magaddino
- C.Constenze "Stanley" Valenticorrect
- D.John LaRocca
Frank J. Valenti's brother was named Constenze "Stanley" Valenti.
Source: criminal activities section
15.What business chain did Frank J. Valenti own in Pennsylvania?
- A.Pittsburgh Transport Services
- B.Spaghetti Village restaurantscorrect
- C.New York Construction Company
- D.Rochester Gambling Halls
Frank J. Valenti owned a chain of restaurants in Pennsylvania called Spaghetti Village.
Source: criminal activities section
16.What specific event did Frank J. Valenti and his brother attend in 1957?
- A.The Buffalo Tribute Conference
- B.The Apalachin Meetingcorrect
- C.The Rochester Election Summit
- D.The Sugar Land Mafia Banquet
Frank and Constenze Valenti were among the over 100 Mafiosi who attended the legendary Apalachin Meeting in 1957.
Source: criminal activities section
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