Michelangelo Vitale was related to iconic Castellammarese boss Vito Vitale, a very powerful guy back in Trapani Province. That's where MVs power emanated from. And I'm 99.999% sure that any trafficking he did in America was at the behest and prodding of his relative.

He was not a Bonanno per se, but was closely tied to them because of this smuggling and supply chain the Trapanese cosca ran.