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Led by Bonanno boss Joseph Massino, (right) the only official boss of a New York family who is not in federal prison, the gangsters met early this year to iron out policy and better ways and means of conducting their rackets, according to informed Gang Land sources.

The Commission, the Mafia's Board of Directors, still makes and enforces the rules by which the families operate and interact with each other, but its makeup has changed several times since it was created by Lucky Luciano and other mob bosses in 1931. Today's meetings rarely include mobsters from outside New York and families are often represented by underlings.  

Acting Gambino family boss Peter Gotti represented his jailed-for-life brother John. The session was also attended by emissaries for Carmine (Junior) Persico, Vincent (Chin) Gigante and Vittorio (Vic) Amuso, the jailed bosses of the Colombo, Genovese and Luchese families, sources said.

None of the Colombo, Genovese or Luchese representatives are currently under indictment or restricted by parole or probation conditions, said the sources, while declining to identify them.

Gigante, Amuso and Gotti took part in the last Commission conclave that was attended by more than one boss, a 1988

Under the leadership of Massino, who was released from federal prison in November, 1992, the Bonannos have closed ranks and grown in size and influence, according to sources on both sides of the law. The family not only has regained its seat on the Commission, "it is the driving force right now," said one law enforcement official.

The Colombos, who resisted Commission directives to end a bloody war that cost 12 lives from 1991 through 1993, were restored to the fold a few years ago, sources said.

For nearly two decades, Amarante, 53, had operated as a Brooklyn gangster, selling drugs and guns and running gambling and loansharking businesses, according to state court records and FBI documents.

Early this year, however, Amarante traveled about 1000 miles to Harvey, a Chicago suburb and began running a topless bar. He was arrested last month on prostitution charges along with another New Yorker and a couple dozen women for selling lap dances to horny guys for $25 a pop.

His arrest has local, state and federal authorities from both areas scratching their heads over the Bonanno family's efforts in the Outfit's traditional turf.

"There must be some kind of deal worked out between the Bonannos and the Outfit," said one New York federal investigator. "Otherwise, there's sure to be retaliation by the Outfit."

"Whatever he's doing here has to be sanctioned by Chicago or they would

Amarante served 54 months for drug dealing in the mid-1980s. After his release, he was inducted into the Bonanno family and assigned to a crew headed by capo Louis (Louie Haha) Attanasio, (left) serving as Attanasio's "right-hand-man," according to a 1989 FBI report. Attanasio, currently serving 45 months for a federal extortion rap, is due for release in August.

Amarante was a familiar face at after-hours joints and high stakes card games in Brooklyn, often seen at clubs with Bonanno consigliere Anthony Spero and capo Frank Lino, according to FBI reports.

About 10 years ago, Amarante supervised Bonanno gambling operations in the Fort Greene, Red Hook, Coney Island and East New York sections of Brooklyn but was forced to close down two numbers banks after a dispute with the Gambino family.

According to court records, Amarante had opened up two gambling centers within two blocks of an existing Gambino family operation run by Gambino soldier Bartholomew (Bobby) Borriello.

At the time, Bonanno boss Joe Massino was still cooling his heels in federal prison and Borriello's boss, Dapper Don John Gotti was still flying high. The Gambinos prevailed at a sitdown to resolve the dispute and Amarante shut down the two offending operations.

Amarante denied any ties to organized crime and hung up on a reporter who asked him about the subject, according to a published report in the Daily Southtown.