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The Cuneo crime family is one of New York's Five Families.
History
The Cuneo family was founded by Ottilio Cuneo and started as a bootlegging operation ran out of The Bronx and upstate New York in the 1920s. Their front company was a fleet of milk trucks that delivered across the city, which earned their Don the nickname of 'The Milkman'.
The Cuneo family had some businesses in New York City, mostly in Manhattan and The Bronx, but it ran upstate New York. The family also arranged smuggling of Italian immigrants from Canada, all upstate gambling and exercised veto power on state licensing of racing tracks.
In 1946, the Cuneo family became involved with the Tattaglia family against the Corleone family in the Five Families War. The war claimed several of their key members, before Vito Corleone called a hasty peace after the death of his son, Sonny.
In 1955, Don Cuneo himself was visiting one of his hotels. However, as he was leaving the building, Cuneo was trapped in the revolving door and killed by Corleone soldato Willie Cicci.
Cuneo was replaced as head of the family by Leo Cuneo, who negotiated peace with the Corleones until his death at the hands of Joey Zasa's assassins in 1979.
During Leo Cuneo's reign the Cuneo family invested heavily in hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, particularly those that were owned by the Corleone family, making Cuneo a multi-millionaire.
In the video game
- "One of New York's toughest neighborhoods; Hell's Kitchen. You'll be knee-deep in Cuneos. The Cuneos ain't rich; a few gambling clubs and brothels plus some weapons. Hell's kitchen itself is a burned down, beat-up sewer of a place, full of tenement buildings and warehouses. It's rail-yards are a rat's nest of scumbags and late night wheeling and dealing."
- ―Peter Clemenza
In The Godfather: The Game, the Cuneo Family control Hell's Kitchen, a territory notorious for it's harsh conditions and seedy dwellings. While they had a minimal involvement in the events of both the book and the films, they are featured as the opponents in several story missions and are arguably the tertiary antagonists.
They first gain the attention of Sonny Corleone when two of them assassinate a pair of Corleone Soldiers during their lunch, sparking Sonny's impulsive attack on a Cuneo racket. Following this, they join the Straccis and the Tattaglias in ambushing and killing Sonny at the cross-way, even though it was only the Barzinis in the book and film. When monk was identified to have worked with the FBI and the Barzinis, Monk revealed to have several Cuneo bodyguards that helped him unsuccessfully kill Aldo Trapani. Aldo is later sent by Michael to assassinate Don Carmine Cuneo with the help of Willie Cicci, and then later destroying the Cuneo Compound.
The Cuneo Family color is crimson. The typical Cuneo attire is a crimson dress suit with a matching crimson tie and occasionally a crimson fedora, while the undershirt ranges from white to dark grey. The Cuneo family's crest is a crimson raven's head outlining the letter C.
Behavior
- "You can trust a Cuneo, but mess with their business then you're dead."
- ―A Corleone Soldato
While they were allies with the Corleones in the book and had little presence in the film, they have a more active role as antagonists in the game.The Cuneos are popular with the other families as well as a portion of the general public for their sense of honor, considered ideal role-models for the other crime families to follow if they see fit.
However, with their honor comes vindictiveness, as they have no leniency or mercy to anyone who dares to become their enemies. They go to great lengths to bring down even a single person for even the most minor provocations, often also considered the ideal behavior of a crime family. The Corleones have a positive outlook on this family and say many great things about them until their role in the war is known.
Combat
- "The Cuneos are honorable, but if you cross 'em once, they'll hunt you down."
- ―A Corleone Soldato
The Cuneo family is the second strongest family in the game, the first being the Barzinis. Battling them is not advisable from the beginning unless the payer is a higher level. Although a beginner can potentially defeat a Cuneo Soldier or Associate, Capos and higher are beyond a beginning player's capability.
Cuneo Family Structure
Don Carmine/Ottilio Cuneo † |
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Historical Leadership
- 1920's - 1955 -- Carmine Cuneo
- 1955 - 1979 -- Leo Cuneo
Influences
The Cuneo crime family could be based on the Magaddino crime family from Buffalo, which also ran upstate New York and had close ties to the New York families.