Sunday, December 17, 2000 9:08 AM

THE New York DAILY NEWS STAFF

He was raised in the shadow of the Mafia, a young boy in Bensonhurst learning a code of honor, a way of life among wiseguys.

James Galione was 9 years old when his father, Ralph (Ralphie Wigs) Galione — a Gambino hit man and a buddy of John Gotti in his pre-Dapper Don days — was killed, allegedly shot dead by another gangster in 1973.

As James Galione grew up to be a man, he came to embrace the life, and began to follow in his late father's footsteps.

"Like every other mother, I had dreams for Jimmy," his mother, Joanne Galione, said last week. "College. Sports. Like what every mother would want."

But the lure of organized crime drew the young Galione in, just as it had done to his father — decisions that would cost both of them.

James Galione is now serving 22 years in a Pennsylvania federal prison after pleading guilty for his role in murdering a mob-connected drug dealer, Costabile (Gus) Farace, who allegedly executed Drug Enforcement Administration agent Everett Hatcher on Feb. 28, 1989.

In several interviews with Galione's relatives last week, a compelling portrait emerged of a family inexorably tied to the Mafia.

"We wanted a different life for Jimmy, we did," said Jeanette Burro, Galione's aunt. "Right or wrong, good or bad, he's still our blood and we love him."

With her husband dead, Joanne Galione tried to give her children a normal upbringing, always wanting the best for her kids.

But living in Bensonhurst — especially on Bath Ave. — meant it was difficult to escape the shadow of the Mafia.

"Call me crazy, but when they were around, there seemed to be less problems, less crime around here," Joanne Galione said.

In 1996, James (Froggy) Galione was busted with more than two-dozen reputed mobsters for running a crack cocaine syndicate that flooded south Brooklyn with drugs.

Two of Galione's close confidants, Ronald (Messy Marvin) Moran and Michael (Mikey Flattop) DeRosa, began cooperating with the government.

Soon after, Galione — who has never cooperated with law enforcement — was forced to plead guilty to murder, racketeering and drug charges.

Despite his guilty plea, Galione maintains his innocence — saying he only pleaded guilty on poor advice from his lawyer.

"When my son went to jail, it brought up all bad memories" of losing her husband, Joanne Galione said.

She wondered about what she could have done differently, maybe moved out of the neighborhood, away from the mob life.

"But I'm not saying anything bad about my son," she said. "He's a good man. I'm proud of him. He's a standup guy. He's a man."

He was raised in the shadow of the Mafia, a young boy in Bensonhurst learning a code of honor, a way of life among wiseguys.

James Galione was 9 years old when his father, Ralph (Ralphie Wigs) Galione — a Gambino hitman and a buddy of John Gotti in his pre-Dapper Don days — was killed, allegedly shot dead by another gangster in 1973.

As James Galione grew up to be a man, he came to embrace the life, and began to follow in his late father's footsteps.

"Like every other mother, I had dreams for Jimmy," his mother, Joanne Galione, said last week. "College. Sports. Like what every mother would want."

But the lure of organized crime drew the young Galione in, just as it had done to his father — decisions that would cost both of them.

James Galione is now serving 22 years in a Pennsylvania federal prison after pleading guilty for his role in murdering a mob-connected drug dealer, Costabile (Gus) Farace, who allegedly executed Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Everett Hatcher on Feb. 28, 1989.

In several interviews with Galione's relatives last week, a compelling portrait emerged of a family inexorably tied to the Mafia.

"We wanted a different life for Jimmy, we did," said Jeanette Burro, Galione's aunt. "Right or wrong, good or bad, he's still our blood and we love him."

With her husband dead, Joanne Galione tried to give her children a normal upbringing, always wanting the best for her kids.

But living in Bensonhurst — especially on Bath Ave. — meant it was difficult to escape the shadow of the Mafia.

"Call me crazy, but when they were around, there seemed to be less problems, less crime around here," Joanne Galione said.

"They watched over the neighborhood. We were used to that lifestyle."

In 1996, James (Froggy) Galione was busted with more than two-dozen reputed mobsters for running a crack cocaine syndicate that flooded south Brooklyn with drugs.

Two of Galione's close confidants, Ronald (Messy Marvin) Moran and Michael (Mikey Flattop) DeRosa, began cooperating with the government.

Soon after, Galione — who has never cooperated with law enforcement — was forced to plead guilty to murder, racketeering and drug charges.

Despite his guilty plea, Galione maintains his innocence — claiming he only pleaded guilty on poor advice from his lawyer.

"When my son went to jail, it brought up all bad memories of losing her husband," Joanne Galione said.

She wondered about what she could have done differently, maybe move out of the neighborhood, away from the mob life.

"If I could turn back time, I would never raise my children in Brooklyn," the mother said. "I tried.

"But I'm not saying anything bad about my son," she said. "He's a good man. I'm proud of him. He's a stand-up guy. He's a man."

Original Publication Date: 12/17/00

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