Bank heist story includes real characters from Valley

The author said his interest grew after seeing a Discovery Channel documentary.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cleveland police Lt. Rick Porrello's book "Superthief" chronicles the largest bank heist in history and includes real-life characters from the Mahoning Valley.
Porrello, 43, was due in town today for radio and TV interviews and book signings in Boardman and Warren. "Superthief" is the third book from the author whose grandfather died in a Cleveland gangland hit in 1932.
His book about the March 1972 burglary of the United California Bank in Laguna Niguel, Calif., is based on the remembrances of 62-year-old Phil Christopher, a Cleveland Mafia associate brought into the score by Amil Dinsio, who masterminded the heist. Amil and his brother James, also in on the California bank job, were Mahoning Valley burglars.
Porrello told The Vindicator on Tuesday that he used Christopher's prison-penned manuscript, about 1,100 pages, to write "Superthief," which is published by Porrello's company.
Christopher's narration in the book gives an account of how the crafty gang used explosives to enter the bank through its roof. The loot had to be pried out of hundreds of safety deposit boxes.
The California haul netted about $20 million in bearer bonds and likely another $10 million in rare coins, jewelry and other valuables, but not much cash, Porrello said.
A similar bank job in Lordstown a few months later led the FBI to the Dinsio gang. The Lordstown haul was $500,000.
Familiar figures
Porrello's book includes tales of organized crime figures whose names are familiar with Mahoning Valley residents who remember the mob's heyday.
He said Christopher's local pals included reputed organized crime boss Ronald D. Carabbia, formerly of Poland. The author said Carabbia introduced Christopher to the Dinsios.
A remote-controlled bomb -- detonated by Carabbia -- killed Cleveland waterfront boss Daniel J. Greene in October 1977 outside a dentist's office in the Cleveland suburb of Lyndhurst. Porrello said his book about Greene, "To Kill the Irishman," is being considered for a movie.
Christopher, after writing about his exploits, had his girlfriend track Porrello down. Porrello said he wasn't interested in writing about the California bank burglary until he saw a Discovery Channel documentary sent to him by Christopher's girlfriend.
Valley connection
Once indicted by a grand jury in California, Christopher was temporarily housed at the Mahoning County jail. The book explains how Carabbia's influence with a jail captain allowed Christopher the run of the place -- including wine, visits from his girlfriend and a silk pillow to sleep on because he was losing his hair.
It took Porrello, a jazz drummer, cop and crime author, 4 1/2 years to complete "Superthief."
Its publication means he's put his music on a back burner.
He's has two projects in the works -- about Pittsburgh's organized crime and the time he spent on the road as a drummer for Sammy Davis Jr.
Christopher, convicted of a drug charge, is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Elkton. He is due out in March 2009.
meade@vindy.com