Michael Coppola (left), reputed member of the
Genovese Crime Family, was arrested March 9 in New York City and charged with a 30-year-old murder, according to stories by
Celanie Polanick of the Home News Tribune and
Michelle Sahn of the Asbury Park Press.
Known as "Little Mike," Coppola is to be arraigned in Somerset County NJ Superior Court this afternoon for the April 10, 1977, murder of
John "Johnny Cokes" Lardiere (right). Authorities hunted for Coppola for more than a decade. He disappeared after investigators called him Aug. 13, 1996, to submit to DNA testing in connection with the case. His last known address was Morris Avenue in Spring Lake NJ.
Lardiere is believed to have been a Mafia lieutenant serving boss
Gerardo Catena in New Jersey's arm of the Genovese Family. After refusing to testify before a state investigations panel looking into racketeer influence in the garbage hauling industry, Lardiere was held at a prison in Clinton NJ. During an Easter holiday furlough on April 10, 1977, he was met by a gunman outside the Red Bull Inn on Route 22. Lardiere was found dead with five bullet wounds, two in his head.
Authorities pieced together the events of that day through interviews with mob informants. Coppola, allegedly carrying a .22-caliber pistol called Lardiere's name. When the victim turned, the weapon jammed. Lardiere reportedly laughed and said, "What're you gonna do now, tough guy?" Authorities say Coppola pulled a .38-caliber handgun from an ankle holster and put the five holes in Lardiere.
Tommy Ricciardi, a former
Lucchese Crime Family member who turned government informant, reportedly witnessed the crime.
Lardiere is believed to have offended
Ralph "Blackie" Napoli, a bigshot in the
Philadelphia Mob, during his stay in Clinton.
While Lardiere was in custody, his wife
Carolyn died of arsenic poisoning. She reportedly consumed enough arsenic (dissolved in a bottle of soda) to kill 700 people. Her death was ruled a homicide. It remains unsolved.
