NJ Mobster "Mikey Cigars" Captured on UWS

The most excitement many people see around 74th Street is when Fairway's checkout lines do not snake out the front door. But yesterday, federal investigators revealed that Michael Coppola, a NJ mobster also known as "Mikey Cigars," was apprehended after a young agent saw him on 74th Street near Amsterdam. The feds had been in the area on a tip, and the Post reports that a "relatively new FBI agent suddenly spotted a pedestrian who bore a 'remarkable likeness' to the elusive gangster." The man had gone into a market, and another investigator who went in the store to check him out confirmed that it was the Genovese crime family member.

Coppola was part of the mob hit on Johnny "Cokes/Coca-Cola" Lardiere in Bridgewater, NJ back in 1977. The police never had enough information to charge Coppola, until a mobster squealed in 1996 and police tested hair found at the scene. Coppola has been on the run the past 10 years, but apparently still wielded influence over NJ mob activities.

All this talk about NJ mobsters has us thinking about the Sopranos, which is filming its final season. The town of Bloomfield, NJ had originally rejected a filming permit, because it found the portrayal of Italian-Americans offensive, but then the town relented. Here's video from Vanity Fair on its April photo shoot of the TV mob family. And the season premiere in on April 8.

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By Jen Chung in News on March 13, 2007 7:35 AM

Comments [rss]

La Leone

Robin, I have gotten into debates off and on with people since the show's inception, and at this point it is tiring to discuss.

But if someone from a specific ethnic group perceives a show, film, book, or WHATEVER to stereotype their own ethnic group, it is within their own right to be offended!

I'm not going to volunteer to you what you should deem stereotypical or not, as we are all entitled to our individual opinions.

And I was rude because truthfully, I have found your comments irritating on several occasions. But again, this is only my opinion and I guess being rude to a particular person in the blog comments section makes me a troll.

robin.g

La Leone, there is no need to be rude.

What stereotypes? It's a mob show about mob people. This is how they act. It's not a show about an Italian neighborhood where everyone just happens to be Mafia because that is all Italian-Americans can be.

anonymass

Why do all mob guys have the worst glasses?

La Leone

Robin G., are you really serious by saying:

"Isn't every movie or TV show about anything stereotyping someone?"

Uh, the answer would be no. Stereotyping is not a plot requirement in film or television.

I'm guessing the "G" @ the end of your name is not short for "genius."

Just because every single last character is not in the mafia, that doesn't cancel out the many other stereotypes that the show promotes.

And yes, I'm glad the therapist character is portrayed as such, but I do find the stereotyping in the Sopranos offensive.

Spud Spudly

I'll bet Saul Zabar is livid that they didn't catch the guy up near his place six blocks north.

Joey "pop" Stomboli

I don't really see many Italian Americans being positivlly portrayed by the media. If it's about Italians, It's always some story about the mob.

robin.g

How are Mob movies/shows stereotyping? I never understood that. It's a show about the Mafia. Not everyone in the show is in the Mafia (see: Jennifer Melfi, and Italian-American female who is a successful therapist). Isn't every movie or TV show about anything stereotyping someone?

whatever

You have to wonder why Michael "Mikey Cigars" Coppola didn't make more of an effort to disguise his appearance when he decided to "hide out" in populous NYC.

Maybe it is true that members of the mob get stupider with each generation.