Rizzuto Crime Family Chart

Hello guys, i have been out for a while and did not make any update for my charts. But a while ago i got a request to make a Rizzuto Family chart, Caramela77 has made that request and has contributed information and pictures. Of course i am not an expert on the Rizzuto family, so it may hafe errors. So any feedback is appreciated. Enjoy:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/mukremin/RizzutoCrimeFamily.jpg

are not di maulo's and controni's part of the rizzuto family?

Wow...no wonder the Calabrians are taking over. Who wouldn't?

BTW. Pietro Scarcella? Isn't he supposed to be a LCN boss in Toronto?

Good job Caramela and Mukremin! though I have seen some sources say there may still be 50-60 Rizzuto's around...

I think Del Balso was just a lieutenant or a high ranking soldier. Vito's underboss could have likely been Joe Di Maulo, Francesco Arcadi or Agostino [BadWord]. It was presumed that Agostino [BadWord] acted as boss when Vito was sent to prison.

Moreno Gallo and Tony Mucci likely could have been lieutenants.

Thanks guys! Keep the feedback coming, we will adjust it here and there.

I found an interesting article:

http://www.nicaso.com/pages/doc_page246.html

And maybe this could help:

http://www.streetgangs.com/billboard/viewtopic.php?f=91&t=40597

Sonny Black your right it was tough because Agostino [BadWord] was a Capo then became underboss and was killed. I never heard of Arcadi becoming anything higher then Capo rank. Scarcella was at one time a part of Rizzuto family but, I assumed he still never stopped associating with the Rizuuto's. What confuses me is guys like the Di Maulo brothers strong supporters of Cotroni/Violi then worked for Rizzuto I didnt have Mukremin place them on the list because, I feared there loyalty was not true to Rizzuto's meaning they might be in this fiasco for the control of the family with always having alternative motives like Desjardins another Cotroni/Violi supporter who shifted being brother in law to one of the Di Maulo brothers. Guys please send names and or comments to help complete this chart, I am so grateful to Mukremin for doing this...


Mucci and Gallo are only being mentioned as soldiers and Gallo to me seems like a Consiglieri even though at the time Renda was until he went MIA but in reality I believe these two men to be earners and not more then soldiers due to lack of evidence.

Sonny on the bottom article I got allot of the names for this chart from this link you submitted but have to say a few of the names for example like Willie Obront and espescially the Hitman Real Simard where not part of Rizzuto but agaisnt them. Real Simard did contract hits agaisnt the Rizzuto family before becoming a Govt. witness.

It seems that a lot of things are still unknown in the Rizzuto family, who is who. So this chart is more hard to make then lets say a New York family chart. But we are getting close

mukremin , I counted ten capos, why are they marked with only 30 men of honor ?

Mukrenim, it's been explained by Lamothe on the real deal forum that the Rizzutos don't have a traditional hierarchy like the New York families, so making a chart based on such a hierarchy would be difficult.

If you want, I can pm you the link to the topic in which it's explained.

is constantin alevizos greek or italian?

Isn't Joe Lopresti dead? didn't he get whacked in 92'?

I have made updates and sent them to Mukremin such as Joe LoPriesti and yes he was killed handled by George Sciascia in 92. Also sent him photos of Scarcella, Joe Di Maulo, Raynard Desjardins, Juan "Joe Bravo" Fernandez. We know there is more made men in the Rizzuto family just getting the smaller players names and photos are a challenge the chart obviously is a work in progress and is cool to see the top players and connect the dots. So it would be great if people contribute to help fill in those holes. I agree that there must be at least 50+ made men to have so many known higher ups in the family.

Yes Alevizos and Fernandez are Spanish but used as muscle.

other names that should be on there are

Domenico Manno, Frank campoli, Alfonso Caruana, Giacinto Arcuri, also Gerlando Sciascia should be on there too no?

I can see that Manno was a part of the Caruana/Cutrera clan and yes old George from Canada shold be too as well why not...

I'm glad you guys took the initiative to do this as it will be great to have a somewhat correct chart of the rizzuto clan.

Sonny Black here is the article why Del Balso was considered the underboss after he went to jail Cu#trera took over and was killed in 2010.


GangstersInc - March 6, 2007 11:47 AM (GMT)
Suspected Mafia underboss boasts of $1-billion sports betting network

WILLIAM MARSDEN, The Gazette
Published: Tuesday, March 06, 2007

An alleged Mafia underboss was running a sport bookmaking syndicate through which almost $500 million flowed in a period of only 11 months.

Police say Francesco del Balso, 36, ran 25 bookmaking operations in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto that del Balso himself boasted did more than $1 billion in business.

In Quebec, del Balso and his partner Lorenzo Giordano, 43, operated Internet and telephone sports gambling out of houses in Kahnawake, Montreal and Laval.

According to newly released court documents, the bookmaking shop in Kahnawake did $391.9 million in business from December 2004 to November 2005.

Of that amount, the gamblers lost $165,469,210 and won $147,829,478, according to an accounting study made by gambling expert Andy Durno.

All the bets were made through a website called World Sport Centre (betwsc.com).

Police say del Balso paid out $750,000 in operating costs, leaving him with a profit of about $17 million.

Many of the bettors were given lines of credit and codes with which to make their bets online. Del Balso had his finger on every aspect of the business.

Del Balso controlled the books, recovered money from losers and paid off winners, established credit margins and decided who was allowed to place bets and get credit, police say.

Collecting from losers was often the hardest job. Del Balso complained that while he paid his winners immediately, losers generally took some persuasion.

Wiretaps picked up del Balso griping about gambler Stewart (Stuey) Goldstein, who apparently owed del Balso $1.6 million.

"I am gonna have to go break his head," del Balso told two friends on Sept. 2, 2004.

Another gambler named "Dino" owed $100,000 and del Balso told him on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, that he wanted his money by the weekend. Dino replied that del Balso owed him $17,000 and still hadn't paid, which angered del Balso.

"Bro, there's no f-----g book in the city that doesn't belong to me, you know that. ... I have a f-----g book that's worth $50 million and you're telling me about $17,000. But you know how much we take? A billion dollars in action. You think I'm a f-----g clown or something, bro? I built a f-----g empire. What are you talking about 17 dimes ($17,000)? I spit on 17 dimes."

Dino: "I never called you a clown."

Del Balso: "I'm going to send my partner Lorenzo (Giordano) to talk to you. What the f---. Bring my f-----g money to me by the end of the week. I don't want to hear no story."

Del Balso himself was a compulsive gambler who dropped millions of dollars at the Montreal Casino.

He even played his own book and at one point had trouble making a $1,000 telephone bet on a St. Louis Rams football game because his clerks claimed they didn't know who he was.

"What's the password?" the clerk asked him.

"What password? It's me TT221," del Balso replied.

"Who is it?" the clerk asked.

An impatient del Balso replied: "It's the owner, Frank. Jesus Christ."

The documents indicate del Balso and Giordano worried they had too much cash.

"The cash, you can't do nothing, bro," del Balso said.

"It's worth dick, man," Giordano replied. "I wake up screaming in the middle of the night, bro."

Del Balso tried to launder millions of dollars through the casino, but kept losing money.

As one of the casino's high rollers, from 1996 to 2004, he bought $8.6 million in chips, but got back only $2.5 million in cheques.

Most of the balance he appears to have lost at the gaming tables.

Police charged del Balso and Giordano last November with drug trafficking, illegal gambling, money laundering and gangsterism. They were part of a takedown of 91 alleged Mafia members.

Giordano also faces an attempted murder charge.

Del Balso is in jail awaiting trial, while Giordano is a fugitive.

wmarsden@thegazette.canwest.com

Mukremin add Frank Campoli as an associate he was Vito's man in Ontario. Also Alfonso Caruana, Giacinto Arcuri, and Guiseppe Battista as associates.

Just because one article states that Del Balso was an alleged underboss doesn't mean that he actually was. Most people don't know that much about the Rizzutos' organizational structure. Except Lamothe's explanation all we have are speculations.

Well i have made an update, maybe in the next version i will delete the CAPO/Soldier notification since they dont have a traditional mafia hierarchy. Its indeed very hard because the family is crumbling, and some guys who are taking over have been put beneath Salvatore. Other people have been added by request, take a look and feel free to post comment.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/mukremin/RizzutoCrimeFamily-1.jpg

by the way, it could be that i missed some things. But sometimes it just gets to messy lol

Nice chart as always Mukrenim. But I disagree with you on certain things.

Like I said, Arcadi took over the day to day operation when Rizzuto was sent to prison. I'm pretty sure Arcadi was Rizzuto's second in command, not Del Balso. You shouldn't take just one article that states Del Balso was 'an underboss' too serious. There are numerous articles that state that Arcadi was in fact Rizzuto's number two man. And after Arcadi was sent to prison, it was thought that Cun-trera (bypassing the stupid badword thing) took over as 'acting boss'.

And Di Maulo was always considered to be a powerhouse in the Calabrian faction and also in Rizzuto's organization. He would definitely have been as high as a lieutenant.

Desjardins apparantly always had a lot of clout as he was close to Di Maulo. But he could only have been an 'associate' because he isn't Italian.

If you show this at the real deal forum, others will probably tell you the same.

Here is another article that Police are speculating Arcadi may be the runner up for replacing Vito as boss and it mentions Del Balso as well as a higher up Lt. This chart is hard to do, I agree so many speculations and possibilities and yes Desjardins is only a associate. Nobody really knows 100% the structure exactly.





Mob takes a hit

February 15, 2009 by The Boss · Leave a Comment

The Mafia can no longer feel comfortable in Montreal, police say after completing a massive operation that targeted the alleged heads of the criminal organization.

Among the 90 people arrested or sought on warrants yesterday morning was Nicolo (Nick) Rizzuto, 82, father of Vito Rizzuto, 60, the reputed head of the Mafia in Montreal.

Another alleged Mafia leader arrested was Paolo Renda, 65, Vito Rizzuto’s brother-in-law.

The organization is alleged to have infiltrated Trudeau airport to import cocaine.

When Nicolo Rizzuto was escorted to RCMP headquarters, he was wearing a fedora and smiled at photographers and television cameras.

More than 700 police officers took part in the investigation, dubbed Project Colisee. As of yesterday evening, 73 people had been arrested, including one person in Toronto and another in Halifax.

By 9:30 last night, 37 people had been arraigned. Most were refused bail and were detained in Bordeaux jail. They are to return to court Monday for bail hearings. Others were released on $1,000 bail and such conditions as surrendering their passports, not communicating with their co-accused and not possessing any weapons.

The rest were also held at Bordeaux jail and are to be arraigned today.

Canada, and more specifically Montreal, has long been criticized as harbouring Mafia figures who operate on an international level with seeming impunity. Those days are over, RCMP Superintendent Richard Guay said yesterday.

“Thanks to our investigators, we have penetrated the heart of this organization,” he said.

“The techniques we were able to use as part of the investigation let us gather evidence in places where this criminal organization felt free to talk and act on their criminal activities.”

Project Colisee “surpassed all expectations,” Guay added.

“We were able to pierce through this group of criminals where they felt safe.”

Francesco Arcadi, 53, was arrested at a country cottage early yesterday. Handcuffed and sporting a camouflage jacket, he was led into RCMP headquarters in Westmount.

Police sources have been saying Arcadi was one of a few men favoured to eventually replace Vito Rizzuto – extradited to the United States this year to face racketeering charges – as head of the Montreal Mafia.

Renda, Arcadi, Nicolo Rizzuto and three other men are considered the key players targeted in Project Colisee.

They are described by the RCMP as being part of a criminal organization whose primary activities are the smuggling and exportation of drugs, as well as bookmaking and extortion.

The charges filed at the Montreal courthouse allege the men took part in criminal conspiracies that spanned several countries, including Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico and Haiti.

“We think it is a very serious blow to Italian organized crime,” RCMP Cpl. Luc Bessette said.

“The work of the RCMP in Quebec specializes in targeting all the members of an organization. We target the problems and not the symptoms,” Bessette said.

The operation was one of the “most significant” in the history of organized crime in Canada, Bessette said later.

Also targeted were two agents with the Canada Border Services Agency and about 10 employees of airline and food-service companies based at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval.

Bessette said those people are suspected of helping the Mafia smuggle cocaine into Canada through the airport.

Some of the people rounded up yesterday face charges of bribing the two customs agents.

Marilyn Beliveau, 27, of Montreal, and Nancy Cedeno, 32, of Laval, face charges alleging they accepted bribes while working for the Border Services Agency.

One of the women is in custody and the other is at large, authorities said yesterday, but they did not elaborate.

Neither woman works for the customs agency anymore, Border Services spokesperson Amelie Morin said yesterday.

The RCMP yesterday arrested one female agent employed at Trudeau airport.

An arrest warrant is out for the other female agent, who worked at one of the agency’s offices in Montreal.

“Obviously, these two individuals no longer exercise their functions” with Border Services, Morin said.

“These are rare cases and, of course, it’s a very serious matter for us,” she said. “We do have 7,200 Border Services officers across Canada who perform their job with integrity and professionalism.”

Of the 1,843 customs agents employed in Quebec, 306 work at Trudeau airport. Details about the two agents are to be provided at an RCMP news conference today at 2 p.m., Morin said.

The police investigation also targeted another criminal organization that was smuggling marijuana into the United States through the Akwesasne reserve, which straddles Quebec, Ontario and New York state.

“Speaking geographically, it is very difficult to manage that area” against criminal organizations, Bessette said.

The investigation was headed by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – led by the RCMP and composed of investigators from various police forces – which specifically targets organized crime. The Surete du Quebec, Montreal police and Laval police took part carrying out search and arrest warrants yesterday.

“Partnership is essential in this type of operation. We can’t do investigations like this without partners,” Bessette said.

Guy Ouellette, a retired Surete du Quebec investigator and an expert on biker gangs, compared yesterday’s roundup with one that shut down the Hells Angels’ Nomads chapter five years ago.

“It is as important as Operation Springtime 2001,” he said.

“They have arrested the heads of the Mafia (in Montreal), the decision makers.

“It is important because it is like shutting down the head office, much like the Hells Angels’ head office in Montreal was shut down in 2001.”

pcherry@thegazette.canwest.com

Drugs, arson, gambling, conspiracy, assault on kingpins’ game cards

Nicolo Rizzuto

Vito Rizzuto’s 82-year-old father first came to public attention during a 1975 provincial inquiry into organized crime. Rizzuto, who was born in Sicily, was alleged to have controlled a number of men of Sicilian origin who operated as a branch of the Cotroni family in Montreal.

The book The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the New York Mafia and the Rise of Vito Rizzuto portrays Nicolo Rizzuto as a cunning underworld figure who orchestrated the takeover of the Cotroni family.

Before yesterday’s arrest, the elder Rizzuto appeared to be immune to police investigations in Canada. But he did serve five years in prison in Venezuela between 1988 and 1993 after being convicted of cocaine possession. An undercover RCMP officer was later informed that Rizzuto was paroled early after an associate of the family delivered an $800,000 bribe to Venezuela.

Paolo Renda

Vito Rizzuto’s 65-year-old brother-in-law was his partner in a number of legitimate business interests for several years.

Renda’s only previous conviction came in 1972. He and Rizzuto were arrested in May 1968, after they set fire to Renda’s barber shop at a strip mall in Boucherville, apparently for insurance money. The arsonists ended up setting fire to themselves and firefighters found Renda and Rizzuto rolling around in the dirt trying to put out the flames.

Renda was a suspect in the January 1978 murder of Paolo Violi, the head of the Cotroni family. The murder is believed to be the turning point in the struggle between the Cotroni and Rizzuto families. Renda was named in a February 1978 arrest warrant in connection with the murder, but it was withdrawn seven months later. Other Rizzuto associates were convicted of the slaying.

Francesco Arcadi

Some police sources have speculated that the 53-year-old former Cotroni associate was a possible candidate to replace Vito Rizzuto as the reputed head of the Mafia in Montreal. This despite having only one conviction under his belt, for running an illegal gaming house.

Arcadi is mentioned often in an intelligence report the Montreal police filed in court a few years ago.

Police conducting surveillance often spotted Arcadi at Vito Rizzuto’s side while he attended weddings and funerals. Arcadi’s name also appears often among the charges filed yesterday in connection with Project Colisee. He is charged in some and named as a co-conspirator in others. That includes one charge that alleges some of the people arrested were involved in a bookmaking operation that extended from the Montreal area to the United States and Belize.

Rocco Sollecito

The 58-year-old was once linked to Vito Rizzuto through a stock exchange scam that eventually landed the reputed head of the Montreal Mafia in hot water with Revenue Canada.

Sollecito is also mentioned often in the Montreal police intelligence report on Rizzuto.

Police surveillance teams noted that he, Rizzuto and a few other suspected Montreal mobsters had travelled to Toronto together in 2000 to attend the funeral of a mob enforcer who was murdered.

His criminal record in Quebec

involves only minor run-ins with Revenue Quebec and Revenue Canada.

Lorenzo Giordano

The 43-year-old is described by police sources as an aggressive lieutenant in the Rizzuto organization.

Giordano was arrested and questioned this year as a suspect in the November 2005 assault on John Xanthoudakis, the chief executive officer of Norshield Financial Group. Montreal police suspected Giordano was attempting to collect money for people who lost funds in the money-management firm’s collapse.

Giordano was never charged in the incident, but he is currently accused of using a firearm to make Swiss cheese out of a car that was parked in front of the Cavilli restaurant on Peel St. on Aug. 23.

Besides being named in many of the criminal conspiracy charges filed yesterday, Giordano is accused of attempting to murder a man in Montreal on April 18, 2004.

Francesco Del Balso

The 36-year-old Laval resident was, like Giordano, arrested and questioned this year in connection with the 2005 assault on Xanthoudakis, but was not charged.

Del Balso’s home in Laval is the subject of a seizure order as the suspected proceeds of crime.

In 2001, he pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to do community service.

In 1992, he was charged in connection with an arson fire but was eventually cleared.

Despite his relatively young age, Del Balso was described as a key figure among the people arrested yesterday. He is charged with being part of the same criminal conspiracies as Nicolo Rizzuto.

canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=eecea7d4-54ca-4c44-9f6a-0c14876441b6

Del Balso and Giordano were actually lieutenants for Arcadi. Arcadi took over as boss when Vito went to jail and many blame him as being part of the Rizzuto downfall. Both Del Balso and Giordano were flashy, violent and brazen, causing the police to keep a close eye.

Arcadi like others, used to work under the Violi-Cotroni faction and then became a Rizzuto under-boss and street-boss. He was mainly responsible for keeping young men in check and collecting debts. He did most of the dirty work.

Thanks for the feedback, like i said i will remove the soldier capo listing because it is not the same as the new york families. I know that Di Maulo was a powerhouse and still is, dont be to serieus on the soldier/associate thing. What about Sal the iron worker? I followed the debate on Real Deal, lots of different scenarios. To be honest i am abit scared to put this on Real Deal

Meh, don't you worry about them. I got your back. Although, they just shanked me after 3 years, so I may not be that much help anymore.

haha those guys are real pieces of work thats for sure

Di Maulo married Dejardins sister. Both Di Maulo and Desjardins started off with the Cotroni-Violis in the 70s.

There are various recent article in local Quebec newspapers indicating that the Montreal Mafia is now controlled by a consortium of 3-4 different factions which answer to Ontario and NYC. The articles and police believe that Organized Crime in Montreal is now controlled or largely influenced by families in Ontario and NYC.

The Di Maulos, Mucci, Gallo, Volpato, Vanelli, Cotroni's belong mainly to the old Calabrian faction but were cohorts with the Rizzutos.

BTW.....how can one register on the real deal forum?....says invite only.

Whats this gay shit on the Real Deal Mafia forum no new registered users invite only wtf? That's weird

Yeah u got to get someone who is already a member to put your name forward.

If i post this chart i am going to have to make 5-10 different versions of it, because the members there dont stand on one line. And not to mention the critisism that rules there
Look at what happened when i posted the New York and other crime family charts there. There is no end to the discussion afterwards so thank you very much.

If you want, I will post it for you and say that I made it.

Can you link me those articles?

I posted a while ago, now wait and see what happens

Yeah, i would like a link also. Seems interesting since you mention New York City also, do they still answer to the Bonannos through the Ironworker?

Sure, but they're in french lol

http://lejournaldemontreal.canoe.ca/jour...930-041600.html

http://www.canoe.com/sections/medias3/errfd.jpg

http://www.canoe.com/sections/medias3/eddfr.jpg


These articles seem most accurate with all the research and information that's been flowing over the last 2-3 years. To my understanding, members of the old Calabrian faction, D'Amicos, Piccirilli and other cells in the Montreal mafia went to Ontario and sought the help of established families for support, mainly the Violis-Luppinos but also the Siderno Group. Sal Montagna is also a large piece to the puzzle as he consolidated his power in Canada through working out deals with the Ndrangheta and support from the Five Families.

Remember that in 2008, Operation Reckoning nabbed hundreds of Mexican cartel members for a 14 ton cocaine bust, but 14 people were Calabrian, 8 in Calabria and 6 in New York. They are the new brokers of cocaine and most likely with the Five Families needed Montreal as an outlet for import and export.

Here's a great video........also in French.

http://tvanouvelles.ca/video/1191547945001/mafia-daniel-renaud-en-entrevue-a-lcn/

If what you're saying is true, it would be a major event to say the least. What makes me wonder is why would the Calabrian faction needed the help from outsiders when the Rizzutos where already weakened. Couldn't they have done it themselves? Or did they needed permission because Toronto and New York were still doing business with the Rizzutos?

If so, the New York and Toronto families took advantage of the situation by demaning a larger share and more influence in return for their support. It's humiliating and a sign of weakness for the once strong Montreal mafia if they are now being controlled by outsiders.

Btw, what do you know about Violi/Luppinos in Hamilton. How strong are they and how many men do they have? They seem to be very pretty mysterious.

Very valid question.

To better understand what's going on, one must travel back in time. What's true is that Italian Mafia, whether Calabrese or Sicilian, works on a global scale. NYC, Chicago, Montreal and Toronto must have and do have some sort of accords.

Before the Violis got wacked and sent off to prison, Paolo Violi had put a hit on the Rizzutos and that's why they fled to Venezuela. Before his plans to actually kill the Rizzutos, Violi had travelled to New York and Italy, seeking advice and permission. What I'm getting to is that the Rizzuto extermination is a local phenomenon, but with international implications. You can't just eliminate the Rizzuto's without getting approval or support from neighbouring mafia families.

Remember that Violi was married to Luppinos daughter and a Luppino daughter married a Commisso who holds alot of sway in the Siderno Group. Killing members of this level requires permission and planning. The article strictly points out that permission and support came out of Ontario to kill Rizzuto, part revenge, part business, part oppurtunity.

To my understanding and what the media has said is that the sons and nephews of Paolo, Rocco and Giuseppe Violi are very active in Hamilton along with the remaining Luppino, Musitanos and Papalia families. They all answer to the Board of Control, which settles disputes between Calabrians in Ontario. People lump up the Calabrians into one big group when in reality you have the pure Ndrangheta families from Siderno and the Ionian Coast alongside the Hamilton Calabrians, which are more Canadian and more LCN, but still have deep rooted connections to the Siderno Group. According to Italian magistrates, there are a total of 9 Ndrangheta Cells operating in Ontario, 7 in Toronto and 2 in Thunderbay. That's excluding the Violi-Musitano-Papalia-Luppino families.

People think it's Calabrians vs Sicilians. The ndrangheta never fights the cosa nostra and vice versa. The work with eachother more than against eachother. That being said, the Rizzuto's are only one piece to the Sicilian empire and can be replaced by others.

Like in the 70's, the Rizzuto's will be replaced by a local family with much sway, influence and connections abroad, and most likely Sicilian. Montreal will always be Sicilian-Bonnano and Ontario Calabrese-Ndrangheta, with both provinces having common interests and sharing resources.

People forget that the Rizzutos got lazy, fat, greedy and vulnerable. Mafia bosses shouldnt be living in mansions and wearing fedoras in 2011. They created alot of enemies and put way too much spotlight on themselves. Everybody knew who they were and how they operated. When's the last time you heard of saw something like that in Ontario, or even New York?

Times have changed and criminals evolve.

That's some interesting feedback and thanks for answering my questions.

However, I doubt if there would be another Sicilian family that takes over in Montreal. It's been thought that the ties between the Bonannos and Montreal have pretty much disolved over the years. The New York families are now said to be operating on a local level and it's stated that they now have a minor role in drug trafficking.

On the other hand, maybe the Bonannos saw this as an opportunity to re-establish ties with Montreal mafiosi via Montanga as a representative. That would be an interesting scenario. Some say the Bonannos are severly weakened themselves and aren't in a position to be part of this. But they still have at least 100 made guys and hundreds of associates so it's not like they don't have the muscle.

By the way, I was debating with someone about how many Calabrians and Sicilians were living in Canada. Based on the amount of Calabrian crime families in Ontario and Montreal it seems that Calabrians are in the majority. I also remember reading this somewhere. What do you think?

There are still some big Sicilian players in Montreal like the Arcuri's and others which still represent Sicilian interests. As for the Bonnano's, I too excluded their original involvement but Montagna might have had something to do with it and might of rekindled the relationship between NYC and Montreal. The five families are weakened but not dead and recent international drug reports show that brokering cocaine from South American to Europe still happens mainly in NYC.

Calabrian's have always for the most part been more numberous in terms of families in Canada than the Sicilians. The Calabrian community as a whole is larger in Canada, but in the States it's the complete opposite. It's no wonder that so many heavy Ndrangheta members have been either deported or waiting extradition in the last few years, all out of Ontario.

From my understanding, Ontario Calabrians are divided into two distinct groups; The Siderno Group and Hamilton. The Siderno group has 9 Families operating in Ontario, 7 in Toronto and 2 in Thunderbay. All families are headed by one Boss who represents them on The Board of Control, or better known as La Camera Di Controllo.

Hamilton Calabrians are different in the sense that they've been in Canada for longer and come from a different part of Reggio Calabria.

Basically, The Siderno Group members all come from the Ionian Coast of Reggio Calabria, primarily from cities like Siderno, Roccella Ionica, Gioiosa Ionica, Locri, Plati and San Luca.

The Musitanos, Papalias, Violis and Luppinos hail from the Tyrrenean coast of Reggio from such cities as Sinopoli, Villa San Giovanni, Taurianova, Gioia Tauro etc..

The board of Control settles disputes between all factions.

The Sicilian families are less numerous in Canada but because La Cosa Nostra had a monopoly in the 70s,80s and 90s with heroin and the [BadWord]-Caruana-Rizzuto association, they were more powerful in scope and reach than most Ndrangheta families operating in Canada.

But the Hamilton families aren't really 'Ndrangheta right? How come they are on the board of control? Isn't the board controlled from Calabria itself?

The founders of the Board of Control are Luppino, Racco, Stalteri, Commisso and I forget who else.

The Luppinos and Musitanos are Ndrangheta members but from a different part of Reggio Calabria. Violi married into the Luppino family as did a Commisso.

Ultimately the board of control was actually initiated by Luppino to settle all disputes between Calabrian families in Ontario, both Ndrangheta based or LCN based. The board answered, back in the day, to Maggadino in Buffalo. The board of control also allowed Luppino and Hamilton families to forge alliances with other Ndrangheta families, which we've seen recently with the arrests of Coluccio and Commisso.

The Siderno Group is autonomous and has become over the last decade, very very powerful.

The founding members of the Board of Control in 1962 were Giacomo Luppino, Michele Racco, Salvatore Triumbari, Filippo Vendemini, Rocco Zito, Vincenzo Deleo and Cosimo Stalteri.

The most recent report lists the current members as Vincenzo Tavernese, Antonio Coluccio, Cosimo Commisso, Angelino Figliomeni, Cosimo Figliomeni, Giuseppe Andriano and Domenic Ruso. This info could be a little outdated though.


Getting back to the Montreal situation, that article implies that different factions may be battling for control after some disagreements that happened since the fall of the Rizzutos. Any idea who is on each side?

Definitely looking forward to reading Mafia Inc in a couple weeks.

Tough call.....the articles don't point out to which factions in particular are responsible but the city seems to have been divided by two large factions, the Rizzuto clan and the old Calabrian faction under Di Maulo-Vanelli-Gallo. There are other factions but I wouldn't know to what extent.

When I was in Montreal about a year ago, I was in a diner/greek joint that was open real late and seemed to cater to the undercurrent of Montreal. Does anyone know if the Rizzutos (RIP) ever had an interest in any restaurants in Montreal?

I'm currently reading into the English version of Mafia Inc. which is about the Rizzuto clan.

The writers confirm that Arcadi was Rizzuto's street boss, or acting boss, when Rizzuto was sent to prison.

This is what is stated:

"After Vito's arrest, police had pegged Arcadi as a possible successor. He was the clan's street boss, liasing with Outlaw bikers and Montreal's street gangs. Reporting to him were two younger men, Lorenzo Giordano and his associate Francesco Del Balso".

The book states that Vito and Nick Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Rocco Sollecito and Francesco Arcadi formed the upper hierarchy of the Rizzuto organization. If I remember correctly this is also stated in the Sixth Family.

The book also states that Morena Gallo was a high ranking member and that Tony Mucci was his lieutenant.

Awesome! I didn't know the English version was out yet. I remember when that book came out there wasn't an english version and i was so pissed! I'm going to order that right now! Thanks for the heads up!

Yeah thats great news, i havent looked into it yet. Ive got 2-3 more mob books to read, this one will certainly be on my list.

the canadian mafia appears to have become very powerful!! it looks like in nyc until the 80's : there are many families; very strong italian connection and a lot of them are italian born! furthermore they meet in italian social clubs like cosenza social club in montreal.
why no one ever talks about toronto families?as it seems to be they're powerful more than montreal families.is it possible?

Usually the quieter crime in a city is, the stronger it becomes. Blood and wars is a sign of weakness or change. The Toronto-Ontario mafia has been relatively quiet for the past two decades but it has silently built up an empire.

Generally the Ndrangheta tries to avoid the limelight, especially outside of Italy and Calabria.

montreal mafia is more powerful than toronto's one they are connected to both sicilian mafia, calabrian mafia and 5 families, they have national politicians in their pockets and they earn billions...

mmmh...I wouldn't go that far.
GTA has 7 'ndrine, Scarcellas, Caruana\Cun-trera...that's many. Hamilton has its own. Plus few Italian-Canadian groups.

And who ever said that Ontario groups have no political connections?

Seems like all hell is breaking loose up in montreal. Are all the dead victims connected to the Rizzuto's? Is any one loyal to Vito fighting back or are they all just trying to stay alive? I mean there are some big names among the victims. People who you would think could fight back.

Interesting stuff. I'm going to have to follow this more closely then i have.

i guess today it can't be the same thing. perhaps ten years ago.the boss is in prison and many capos were killed

lorenzo lopresti can't be allied of rizzuto's, they killed his father

Why was his father murdered? I can never be interested in murders if I don't know the motive.

Actually there's not a lot of info available on the Lopresti sr murder. He was basically the Rizzuto emissary to New York before George from Canada was, and there's theories of a falling out of sorts. He supposedly did something that someone didn't like.

Great posts, eurodave; your bringing a lot to the GBB table. The Canadian situation is definitely an interesting one. The point you made about the distinction between Italian-Canadian mobsters as opposed to Italian mobsters in Canada is very apt.

I remember reading in the 6th Family that the Lopresti murder was an issue between the Bonnanos and the Rizzutos, but I could be mistaken.

Hamilton gangsters are Italian-Canadian while the GTA ndrine seem to be Italian gangsters in Canada and if you think of the deportation of Commisso and Coluccio, it proves that the ndrangheta are expanding across Canada in the same way the Cosa Nostra did in the 70s.

the murder of lo presti let me think is a war between sicilians

Yeah thats what I was referring to. There's still not a lot out there on it as yet.



I think the Calabrians are proliferating at a faster pace. Over the last decade or so, they've expanded exponentially compared to the pace LCN had before their eventual decline in the States.

On another note, there's a similar (NOT identical, Im not juxtaposing the situation in the two countries) issue in Australia where Italian-Australian gangsters are automatically lumped together with Ndrine elements or named as "mafia members". While the two are not mutually exclusive, they are often independant notions.

Exactly........but then again, the Ndrangheta will go where they have a community and relatives and the biggest concentration of Calabrians outside Europe are traditionally found in Canada and Australia.

The first wave of immigrants and criminals gave way to families like the Violi, Cotroni,Luppino etc. Also to note is the expansion of the ndrangheta is linked to their peace treaty after the 2nd war in the early 90s. Once the war was over, the province of Reggio Calabria was divided into three specific geographical ares. That's when the ndrine expanded all over Europe and abroad, brokering cocaine instead of buying it from the Sicilians.

I've always found this fascinating, in the States Italian born criminals are far more likely to work with American born Italian-American criminals when they arrive than their Commonwealth emigrating cousins. Italian criminals work independently and with loyalties based on family and local customs. Native born Italian-Canadians and the differences of Italians in Montreal. Same with Melbourne. With the exception of the strictly Sicilian Cherry Hill Gambinos, Italians emigrating to the states are more likely to work with their American born counterparts than other Italian immigrants and their native born Australians and Canucks.

On an American level it shows how arrivals here will throw off old country loyalties much quicker

I don't think thats true, from what i have gathered Lorenzo Lopresti was close with Agostino Cun-trera and Antonio Pietroantonio, both rizzuto loyalists no?

Correct. Also Giuseppe Lopresti was very very close to Vito Rizzuto. Nobody knows who was responsible exactly for killing him (giuseppe).

lo presti senior was killed by george sciascia and the rizzuto's, sciascia even asked the bonanno's before doing it

For fuck sake, show me something to prove this. A link, anything.
He was living next door to Rizzuto!!

what's the matter where he was living, in the mafia the best friend could kill you
george sciascia and the rizzuto's wanted lopresti senior dead

You said Sciascia KILLED LoPresti. I asked for a link, or any proof.

Ok forget where he was living, that is unimportant, you're right. But Giuseppe was the right hand of Rizzuto and you're telling me that Rizzuto had him killed and Sciascia pulled the trigger, am I right? Bullshit.

george from canada came to see me and he said that big joe was out of control, he was doing drugs
sciascia was saying that lopresti was dangerous and he had to be killed

there are words of ex bonanno member sal vitale

Of course, it is common knowledge that NY wasn't happy with LoPresti.

But still, this isn't proof that Rizzuto had him killed. This is just you talking and reading from Lamothe's 6th Family, and for me, that just isn't good enough. Nobody knows for sure.

according to vitale sciascia wanted him dead and he was very close to rizzuto

Who, Vitale or Sciascia? Vitale's been discredited. He was kept out of the loop for most real things.

I agree there's more to the LoPresti hit than is out as of now. But despite Lamoth and Humphries authoring a great read, a lot of their claims are considered hyperbolic.

this is not hyperbole, they are words of vitale
sciascia was close to rizzuto and he wanted lo presti dead so i suppose the rizzuto's knew it and they approved it

What I find interesting is how both Joe Lopresti and Sciascia were killed with absolutely no retaliation from Vito or his associates.

Authors like to describe the Montreal mob as incredibly powerful but from what I've heard on the streets, NYC always has and always will be more powerful

And what's that? What have you "heard on the streets"? What streets exactly are we talking about?

lopresti was killed by sciascia and rizzuto ny doesn't matter with it
sciascia was killed in ny and montreal could't do nothing to revenge it they have no power in ny

Mukremin..great job on the chart as always. Are the Rizzutos officially out of Montreal now? Who is running the show?

The Rizzuto's may not be running the show in Montreal anymore, but they are far from broke. With their on-going ties (including familial) to Caruana/Cun trera's they are global and still multi-millionaires many times over.

Yep, great read but it is blatant they greatly overestimate the Rizzuto's power and influence. Also in the book The Last Godfather, Massino tells Vitale straight up that the captains "hated him" and "didn't trust him" lol, hence he was kept out of the loop on issues of importance. This is the reason I am a little skeptical that the NY-Montreal alliance was severed after the Sciascia hit, as Vitale is the only person I have heard on the record say this.

Yah well Vitale and a few others came to Montreal shortly after the Sciascia hit. Would have been a perfect opportunity for retaliation. I always wondered why Vito didn't retaliate as I thought he and George went way back.