The many white-collar scams of Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese finally brought him to his knees. He hired the best lawyers money could buy, and built a simple defense. “Sorry about that judge. You got me.” Since nobody could prove that any of the people that disappeared on his rise to the top, and his... Learn More

Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese’s vegetable oil company became a business darling on Wall Street. To add credibility, American Express Bank made numerous secured loans against the company’s growing inventory. Unbeknownst to all but a few, Fonso AKA the Salad Oil King filled 90 percent of 128 massive storage tanks along the New Jersey Turnpike... Learn More

Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese obsession with the accumulation of wealth knew few bounds. By the 1950’s he had scammed more than a half a billion dollars from government do-good programs. With that war chest, he would create the “Mona Lisa” of white-collar scams. Fonso traveled to developing third world countries like Egypt, Argentina,... Learn More

During World War II every American contributed to the war effort by receiving and using ration stamps to ensure everyone shared the pain. But, there were those like Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese and his Mafia cronies who made a handsome profit in the black marketing of goods and services through the use of... Learn More

It was a simple, despicable, immoral, elegant scheme. Alfonso Alfonso” Gravenese, AKA The Salad Oil King, paid off government officials to get awarded contracts to provide underprivileged kids with a balanced free lunch. Then to reimburse himself for the bribes, and make a crapload of “bonus” profits, Fonso reduced his operating... Learn More

Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese AKA The Salad Oil King, loved to gamble...on sure things. Growing up Yo-Yo contests were held daily in Little Italy. The entry fee was 5 cents per play. Fonso knew his opponents were bigger and older, but he had a streak of larceny in his ice water veins. Minutes... Learn More

When Alfonso “Fonso” Gravenese, AKA The Salad Oil King, was a 9-year old kid, his father asked him to help sell fresh fish from ice-filled cart to their neighbors on Spring Street in Little Italy after school. “Fonso” quickly learned if he stuffed ice into the fish’s mouth with some of the ice... Learn More

(Circa 1944. Russian Zebra Captain pauses after winning a scooter race along the Project Zebra runway in Elizabeth City. Imagine Joseph Stalin and Theodore Roosevelt envision a top-secret mission at a conference in Iran? Imagine America factory workers in Philadelphia build 185 of WWII’s largest and deadliest warplanes? Imagine a select team of... Learn More

Imagine Donald and Vladdy meeting in the latter’s presidential suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Damascus to share a song and a coke as they resolve their differences on how to end the Syrian Crisis. After a little friendly banter, the now good friends identify a way for each country to... Learn More

(Circa 1944. Entire Project Zebra Team (300 Russian pilots and 11 US Naval trainer) stand in front of a state-of-the-art warplane, the Nomad, built in America to Russian specs.) “FASCINATING. CLASSY. HEARTFELT. HISTORY DONE RIGHT.” ___ “UNIQUE MOMENT IN TIME. SKILLFULLY CAPTURED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.” ___ “LIKE SITTING ON A PORCH... Learn More