In truth the Bonanno Family was always much larger than law enforcement ever realized. In fact most of its rank and file membership were total unknowns, "sleepers" so to speak, to both law enforcement and many of their mafiosi brethren to boot.
Only since the 1980s did (some) of their true membership numbers and real "strength" come out. Not until the avalanche of rats and stool pigeons in recent decades were the names of its 150-190 +/- soldiers revealed.
We here at ButtonGuys have been looking at them closely lately. And I think you're gonna like what we've found and documented....to be continued
yes, the Bonanno's were always larger in numbers than alleged to be by the F.B.I. In Honor Thy Father Bill Bonanno stated the Bonanno's had 400 members in 1965. Of course not all were active,and they were spread out geograpically.