Abraham Telvi (September 12, 1934 – July 28, 1956) was an American mobster and hitman for New York labor racketeer Johnny Dio, known most notably for blinding crusading New York journalist Victor Riesel with acid.

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An associate member of the Lucchese crime family, Telvi was ordered by Dio and other labor racketeers to silence Victor Riesel's attacks on labor union corruption. On the morning of April 5, 1956, Telvi attacked Victor Riesel as he was leaving Lindy's, a Broadwayrestaurant, throwing sulfuric acid onto his face leaving him permanently blind. He had been told nothing about who he was attacking except that he was being recruited to, "beat up some guy who is bothering some fellow's wife." Within days after the highly publicized attack, he admitted his involvement to at least four people. Mob associate Joseph "Joe Pilo" Carlino recruited Telvi for the task because as he later stated to investigators, knew him from "around the neighborhood" and introduced him to Dominick Bando, who had originally approached Carlino with the contract to attack Reisel and offered him $500 for his services. Investigators obtained statements from witnesses to the attack who were able to place Gandolfo "Sheikie" Miranti, who was approached by Charles Tuso, a neighbor who also had ties to organized crime. He relocated to Youngstown, Ohio in early June of that year. He later went broke from spending his money on illegal gambling operations located throughout the city at the time and returned to New York City. He broke up with his girlfriend after a violent domestic dispute and needed more money. His associate Gandolfo Miranti gave Telvi another $500 and arranged to have someone drive him to Florida. After a short drive, he became suspicious that Gandofolo was setting him up to be murdered and got away from the chauffered car somewhere in New Jersey and returned to Manhattan.Biography

The massive investigation into the incident quickly spiraled into a huge public outcry against labor union racketeering and, as the criminal operations of them, including many prominent Jewish gangsters came under considerable pressure from federal authorities, investigators persuaded two of the accused conspirators including Gondolfo Miranti, to testify against Dio before death threats caused the two men to refuse testifing. Telvi himself, along with two other minor criminals, were arrested by federal prosecutors although eventually were unable to press charges.

In the attack, Telvi had burned himself badly on the right side of his face and neck with some of the acid that splashed on him. It was decided by Johnny Dio and others that he should not receive the necessary medical attention for his bungling of the job. He hid out at his girlfriend's house for a week and a half before receiving the first payment of $500 from which gave Joseph Carlino, $180 for getting him the job. Gandolfo Miranti a few days later, out of sympathy for his friend gave him an additional $100 out of his own pocket for the clothes he was wearing that were ruined by the acid.

Telvi, who had been paid $1,175 in cash, now demanded more money from Dio (possibly believing Dio would be forced to pay him due to the extensive federal investigation). Dio agreed; however, after promising to pay him off within two weeks, Telvi was gunned down in the vicinity of 240 Centre Street, the former headquarters for the New York Police Department on July 28, 1956.

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