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| - Velotta was a native of Cleveland, Ohio and moved to California after completing a 1957 burglary term in prison. Velotta was once described as a tall, skinny man with brown eyes and thinning hair. He was reportedly highly skilled in bypassing hi-tech alarm systems. In early 1966, an FBI agent allegedly roused Velotta out of bed and warned him that J. Edgar Hoover himself had sent word that if one more bank got burglarized in northeastern Ohio, Frank and his crew would go down for it, whether they did it or not. The federal agent's threat of recrimination did not fall on deaf ears. In California, Velotta continued to lead a gang of burglars and became a close friend and confidant of Jimmy "the weasel" Fratianno who put Velotta's skills to good use. Fratianno would give Velotta's crew inform
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| abstract
| - Velotta was a native of Cleveland, Ohio and moved to California after completing a 1957 burglary term in prison. Velotta was once described as a tall, skinny man with brown eyes and thinning hair. He was reportedly highly skilled in bypassing hi-tech alarm systems. In early 1966, an FBI agent allegedly roused Velotta out of bed and warned him that J. Edgar Hoover himself had sent word that if one more bank got burglarized in northeastern Ohio, Frank and his crew would go down for it, whether they did it or not. The federal agent's threat of recrimination did not fall on deaf ears. In California, Velotta continued to lead a gang of burglars and became a close friend and confidant of Jimmy "the weasel" Fratianno who put Velotta's skills to good use. Fratianno would give Velotta's crew information on potential "scores" and take a percentage of the earnings. His crew of burglars consisted of fellow Cleveland area transplants to California such as Ray Ferritto, Julio Petro and also Bob Walsh, an ex-cop from Los Angeles turned burglar and con man. In both 1968 and 1971, Velotta spent time in prison for burglary after failed attempts at securing a "big score". He was released from prison in 1976. Upon his release, Velotta continued to do business with Fratianno and became an associate of Fratianno's Los Angeles crew. During the late 1970s and early 80s, Velotta ventured into the trucks-parts business with a man by the name of Sam Giarusso and was connected to San Francisco businessman, Joseph "Joe" Solomon, who owned a Trucking company in Seattle and produced the 1967 film 'Hells Angels on Wheels', starring Jack Nicholson. Velotta was once identified as an associate of the Los Angeles crime family in a mid 1970s organized crime chart, during which time the Los Angeles family was led by Nick Licata. Velotta became Fratianno's constant companion, roommate and bodyguard when his mentor Fratianno's life came under threat by the Los Angeles crime family, then led by Dominic Brooklier, for allegedly trying to organize a take over bid of the Los Angeles family. Velotta remained loyal to Fratianno until hearing that Fratianno was an informant. Before Fratianno entered the Witness Protection Program, Fratianno entrusted Velotta to deliver his Cadillac to his wife, Fratianno had recently purchased new tires for the car and Velotta switched the new tires from Fratianno's car with four badly worn tires from his own car before delivering it to the wife. Velotta would pay for this abuse of Fratianno's trust, which he perceived as an act of treachery. Fratianno appeared as a witness in two trials against Velotta, ultimately leading him to be sent away for 16 years in 1983 on drug charges.
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