The Todaro crime family case needs a hell of a lot more information. It does not, in any way, shape or form, prove that the family is still active. None of them were charged with racketeering, or the Canadian equivalent of racketeering. They were charged strictly with drug-trafficking. If Russell Papalardo were to be busted today for selling weed, no one would dispute he is the last known boss of the Cleveland crime family. But just because he (for the sake of argument) is caught selling weed, does not mean the Cleveland crime family is still an active hierarchy.
The key phrase is last known member of... Would't it make sense if the Canadian papers said defunct or nearly defunct Buffalo Crime family? Why not mention the Violi's connection to the Luppino Crime Family? Maybe they just don't have enough info to make that case--just as NYState OC Task Force and DA in Western NY couldn't tie Butch Quaracini and others in local 91 to the Buffalo Crime family--even thought they were? That make sense to me... does int make sense to you? If not, why not?
Just because they chose not to throw in an adjective doesn't mean they are wrong. Does Violi have a connection to the Luppino crime family? I know he definitely has a connection to the Buffalo crime family, since his grandfather was a Buffalo capo.
On that last part... you are saying that 'maybe they simply don't have enough evidence to definitively say that the Buffalo Mafia is active.' But they have specifically said the Buffalo Mafia is dead.
