Low-key Evola has largely escaped the notice of history. Even Joe Bonanno's "A Man of Honor" barely mentioned him (Evola was an usher at Bonanno's wedding). Some say that he was serving as a capo in the Lucchese Family when he was called upon to assume a leadership role for the Bonannos. Sources generally agree that he cooperated with - rather than resisted - the more powerful bosses, Vito Genovese and Carlo Gambino.
In 1957, Evola was among the crowd of Mafiosi identified as attending the Genovese-called Apalachin convention. He was one of 20 to be charged with conspiracy in connection with that meeting (the charges were later overturned).
Two years later, he was convicted along with Genovese of a conspiracy to violate narcotics laws.
The Commission meddled considerably in Bonanno family matters during the 1960s. After endorsing Gaspar DiGregorio as boss over missing Joe Bonanno's heir apparent (his son), the Commission soured on DiGregorio and attempted to move Paul Sciacca into the boss position just as Joe Bonanno reappeared and decided to retake the reins. Bonanno's sudden departure from New York in the late 1960s left the clan leaderless and in chaos.
It seems that Evola was unable to restore order to the family. If he had been installed as boss by the Commission (like DiGregorio and Sciacca), rather than through agreement of the Bonanno membership, it would explain the continued divisions in the family.
In 1971-72, investigators gained significant information on Evola's operation, as well as that of then-Lucchese-boss Carmine Tramunti, by bugging a trailer used by the bosses and their lieutenants as a meeting place. Evidence suggested that Evola was engaged in garment district labor racketeering, drug trafficking and hijacking.
Evola's health was failing by then. He died of cancer in 1973. He was reportedly unmarried and lived at the time of his death with his elderly mother in Brooklyn.
Evola was replaced for a time by his underboss Philip "Rusty" Rastelli. (Rastelli, not yet popular with the Bonanno capos, was merely keeping the seat warm. Former Bonanno underboss Carmine Galante, a genuine power in the family, was finishing a jail term for drug trafficking.)
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