Evidence Violi Brothers are Buffalo C.F. members?

In his book Iced Schneider indicated the police believed the Violi brothers were being groomed for leadership positions in the local Todaro crew. He writes:



In addition Schneider recounts an incident where Buffalo News Mob Reporter Lee Coppola talks to the media about the Johnny Pops hit speculating the Musitano’s were acting on their own because Buffalo was too weak to sanction the hit. His statement seems to indicate the Violi’s brothers were Magaddino/Buffalo members. Coppola said:



I should note that Schneider goes on to indicate 2 more possible scenarios for the Pops hit.

1. Montreal (Rizzuto) wanted moving in on southern Ontario and had aligned themselves with the Musitanos. Police saw Pat meeting with Vito in October of ‘97 after the hit.

2. Buffalo wanted Pops out of the way because they were enraged he already giving up some gambling rackets to the Musitano’s. Or that because he was just too old. Schneider writes:



Of course we now have a copy of a conversation between Pat Musitano and Johnny Catz of Buffalo that shows the two families were still tight and working together—indicating Buffalo did order the hit on Pops.

Questions:
1. Does this make it more likely that the Violi brothers who were arrested in the Otremens Operation are the ones being referred to as the Todaro family members by the FBI and Canadian journalists?

2. Does the evidence that Buffalo had the power to order the Papalia hit in ‘97–when American journalists believed they were too weak, penniless, and without any leadership to do so—indicate American journalists may have it wrong now as they said the mob is all but dead in WNY.

3. Does this lend credibility to Edwards’ recent article suggesting Buffalo is playing a role in the mob war that has been going on in Hamilton for a while now.

4. What do you think of rumors that the Violi’s have fallen out of favor with Buffalo because of their recent arrests.,

I really appreciate you posting all these Buffalo pages. I read DiCarlo and I became interested in Buffalo when I realized just how many regimes they had. I can't comment on the Violis as the mob war has outpaced my expertise.

1. Do you think Magaddinos ties to Canada pre-date his reign, back to DiCarlo Sr. and Palmieri's reign? If not that would mean he expanded north to CAnada and most likely west towards Ohio (Buffalo soldiers were killing Porrello soldiers in the Prohibition era, and probably took some turf as spoils of victory).
2. Do you know of any Buffalo activity i Pennsylvania, or is that a myth propagated by Wikipedia?

I don't believe those rumors that the Violi's are out of favor with Buffalo. Bifulco and Joe Violi are still tight.

Yes, there is evidence of Buffalo and Canadian mobsters knowing each other before the Magaddinos showed up in Buffalo.
Erie, PA still has a few former Buffalo associates but they are retired. Raymond Ferritto Jr, who's father killed Danny Green, is not an associate to any family.

Here are some quotes about Buffalo’s control or influence on Erie, PA from the book, The Real Teflon Don: How an Elite Team of New Yor State Troopers Helpeded Take Down America’s Most Powereful Mafia Family by Matt Gryta (a Buffalo News Crime Reporter) and George Karalus (member of Forrest Avenue Boys—precursor to OC Task Force for NY State Police.)









I’ll post about your question related to Buffalo’s early connections to Toronto. Seems Toronto’s Perri worked with Buffalo but did a great job keeping them from taking over till Magaddino became boss and some of his captains began to align with Stephano. I’ll post some quotes when I have time to look them up later.

How Magaddino’s use of violence gained him control of rackets from Ontario to Buffalo, back to NW Pennsylvania and OH to Rome/Utica NY from the book Iced by Schneider:

im to lazy to go back in look but didnt the fbi name violi as the underboss of a new york family meaning the buffalo family in his indictment for selling coke n dope. he was at the bonanno induction for the guy from queens who recorded his induction on his iphone. it happend in hamilton i remeber. it wasnt even the saint burning poke the finger. the bonanno guy traveld up the from nyc, they went out to a restaurant and told the guy he was a member. somewhere i read the violis where at the dinner.

That was posted by an anonymous entity on Wikipedia. The FBI only stated that members of the Todaro crime family in Canada were arrested, likely referring to the Violis.

Was it confirmed the violis were at the diner party when the bonanno guy was confirmed in the family. You cant really even call it a induction more like a confirm party. Hay you part the gang italian subs for everyone hold the oil pete.

https://aboutthemafia.com/tag/giuseppe-joe-violi

Does this article make any sense to anyone? There was a Bonanno ceremony in Canada?

Here is an article from Adrian Humphries about the "induction ceremony" and arrests.
Congratulations: Undercover agent indcuted into mafia

Violis are probably Bonannos.

they are sure bonannos they were present at induction ceremony

So the Violi’s were under the Buffalo Crime Family and groomed for leadership in the Buffalo crime family, but are Bonanno?

Would you say Buffalo doesn’t really exist today, just remnants remain, despite what Edward’s recent article said, so they switched families?

Did FBI and Canadian journalists just refer to the former family the Violi’s were members of?

If the Viloi’s are not Todaro crime family members which of these individuals that the RCMP said were arrested are:

It's difficult to say because there are many ties between them as you know Stefano Magaddino was the cousin of Joe Bonanno.

never heard of any rules were there cant be members of another family well another inducts a new guy. theres old fbi file ray patriarca inducted 6 genovese guys because vito couldnt be there. bill bonanno said all types of bosses was at his. i think they are buffalo lcn members technically but now the bffalo family is borderline defunkt. there grandfather had them indcucted there so rizzuto couldnt hit them like scafo had his son made by the luchese as extra protection from merlino and company. now the violi had made inroads with the new mob guys from italy. imo

It’s also possible the few remaining Buffalo members answer back to the Bonannos in NYC, sort of like how the Binos control the DeCavs apparently.

Agreed, while it's just an educated guess I really do think this hypothesis comes closest to the truth..

A

Thoughts on this article?

Buffalo mob playing role in deadly Ontario dispute, sources say
By PETER EDWARDS STAFF REPORTER
Mon., Sept. 17, 2018


The murder of Hamilton real estate agent Al Iavarone at his home last week suggests that the New York State mob still has considerable influence in the southern Ontario underworld, sources say.

“I don’t think anyone knows for certain how this plays out,” said Paul Manning, a former Hamilton undercover police officer who worked on organized crime investigations. “One thing’s for sure, Buffalo will always have a say north of the border.”


The killing of Al Iavarone (not pictured) is believed to be retaliation for the killing of Angelo Musitano, right, who is seen here with his brother Pasquale Musitano in 1998.

Iavarone, 50, was shot dead in the midst of a dispute between two Niagara Region groups of mobsters who are both tied to the New York State mob, several former southern Ontario organized crime police investigators said.

Buffalo would have to give approval for high-level killings, sources said, adding that mob leaders there are believed to have turned their backs on one side in the dispute and given tacit approval to the other.

“They’re all supposed to be under Buffalo,” one source said of the two feuding Ontario crime factions.

“This does not end well for anyone,” the former police organized crime specialist said.

Iavarone’s killer hid in bushes outside his detached home at on Sunflower Cres. in Ancaster’s quiet Scenic Woods neighbourhood, shooting him around 9:55 p.m. as he walked from his car. He was killed in retaliation for the murder of Angelo (Ang) Musitano, 39, in the Hamilton suburb of Waterdown in May 2017 and the revenge for Musitano’s murder is far from over, former police organized crime investigators said.

Iavarone didn’t take part in Musitano’s murder but he was close to one of the suspected killers, a source said.

Musitano was shot at close range several times while in his truck outside his home while his wife and children waited inside for him.

Years earlier, Musitano and his brother Pasquale (Pat) were convicted of conspiracy related to the 1997 murder of Niagara Falls mobster Carmen Barillaro.

“This (Iavarone murder) is for Ang,” one former investigator said. “This is retaliation for Ang.”

Iavarone didn’t have a criminal record. He was known to police because he was “associated to individuals involved in traditional organized crime in the Hamilton area,” Det.-Sgt. Peter Thom of the Hamilton police said hours after his murder.

“It’s our belief that there is something going on in the underworld, maybe a power struggle,” Thom said.

Some of Iavarone’s underworld ties were south of the border, sources said.

“The recently deceased had ties to New York,” a former police investigator said.

“Buffalo factions of Traditional Organized Crime are not ‘in’ Canada per se, but historically have controlled aspects of Canadian ‘family business’ and do get kickbacks from profits from illicit activity,” Manning said

Prior to his death, Musitano was owed money from a man involved in gambling who worked for New York State mobsters, a source said.

When he demanded payment or a piece of the gambling operation, he was murdered by a crew of Niagara Region men connected to the gambler, the sources said.

None of the men involved in the Angelo Musitano murder were actual mob members, leaving them vulnerable to retaliation, the source said.

They have already been cut astray by the New York mob, a police source said.

“They have no backing,” the source said.

And then this from Edwards Blog on his website:

Filed Under: Blog
Buffalo mob involved in deadly Niagara Region dispute
September 17, 2018 by Peter Edwards Leave a Comment

The Buffalo mob isn’t dead, despite some media reports. And they’re playing a role in an ongoing dispute that includes the murder last week of a Hamilton real estate agent. Things will be worse before they get better, as murder of Angelo Musitano drives one side in dispute to clean house.

Nickel,

GREAT WORK...

You know I have been pro Buffalo since I came on these boards actually I read the Dicarlo book and was amazed at what they had going on.

To me everything points to the Buffalo crews still intact.

And there being something left of Buffalo LCN

The question I do not have an answer for is
WHO are th e guys in Buffalo that are still active?

Violi's I think Buffalo LCN,

They have their roots and no evidence they ever switched or real reason to believe that.

I don't buy similar to Decav and Bino because they never called Decav guys Bino guys....

The evidence obviously supports they are active i.e. the indictment the Intel supports Buffalo i.e. multiple news articles...

Or are the Violi's the U/B of the Bonnano's?

Nickel who?

And if you think about it the Bonnano's got abuses pretty badly up north.

The Rizzuto's told them to take a hike and then their acting boss was deported and got whacked and the Bonnano's did NOTHING...

Even before the Rizzuto's told them to officially take a hike they were abusing Massino by blowing him off.

Going back to the height of his power.

And Maggidino and Bonnano were cousins but they hates each other and Bonnano wanted to have Maggidino killed and were constantly fighting each other specifically in Canada.

i think the bonanno's are behind several murders in montreal, they avenged the murder of montagna and they were fighting with the rizzuto's (who was also a bonanno member
who killed desjardin brother, for example? probably the bonanno's

Given Ockhams Razor (the simplest answer is usually the right answer) I would have to say the Violi’s are Buffalo. It is the most simple explanation given their history with the family and the media reports this last year. To say they are Bonanno one has to perform some mental gymnastics to to explain their history and reports away.

What Bonnano's are in C.A. I did not think they had a crew.
The RIZZUTO's used to be a crew of Bonnano's, Gerlando Scarsiccisa was their captain he got whacked they wanted Vito Rizzutto, to be the captain and he said No Thank You, make my father captain.

I didn't think they had any other crews up there
??

That is why Montagna got killed he was up there on his own? Made some alliances with local guys that were beefing with the Rizzutos

Who is the crew? How big is it?
Who did they kill?

I agree what I was asking was on the Buffalo side? Who are the guys in the streets?
C.A. Violi's and who ever left from atleast two crews maybe more.

In the U.S. if not Todaro than who?

The Rizzutos didn't do anything to Montagna, it was Des Jardins who hit him. Des Jardins and Montagna were part of a group that attacked the Rizzutos and they were picking off Rizzutos left and right with no retaliation until they turned on each other. It was only after Montagna was hit and Des Jardins got taken off of the street that the Rizzuto people came back out of hiding. If anything the Bonannos would have wanted to hit Des Jardins for killing Montagna, the Rizzutos never did anything to him.

Is that the full story? It was Desjardins and Montagna? Who else was in the group

That's right I forgot.....

I still don't think the Bonnano's have anyone in Canada at this point and time.

The point I was making the Rizzuto's were the Bonnano's crew and they un officially told em to FFF OFF when Massino was at his height.

Than officially when Massino flipped and they did it to Vinny Gorgeous who was an out right SHOOTER

I.dont see them taking over Buffalo's crews and making them Bonnano's besides they had so many rats that would have come out already

Agreed also. If the Buffalo family is basically defunct the Bonannos would be the only family left with historic claim on Canada so it would make sense the remaining Buffalo (LCN) members were absorbed into or answer to the Bonannos.



I think they were just laying low and waiting for their leader to return home to get directions. Difficult to say what would've happened if Montagna didn't get into a beef with Desjardins. They would've tried to kill Vito or either force him into retirement, but I think Vito was too bloodthirsty to accept that so he would attempt to hit them back. But if the anti-Rizzuto coalition didn't fall apart it would've probably be the end of the Rizzuto reign.

If the Buffalo family was nearly defunct as several articles and the lack of indictments seemed to indicate-Ockham's would say the family is dead and being absorbed by the Bonannos is the easiest explanation. That is my number 2 theory. But Bensonhurst has a great point when he says:



Bensonhurst you asked about who is on the streets now:



Here is what I know... And it is not verifiable just what I've learned from people I've talked to in the area:

1. A funeral director in Buffalo that I know did the Sonny Nicoletti Funeral in the Falls. He told me there was a major contingent of Canadian guys showing their respect. That seems to verify the street report that Nicolleti was running things in the States. This was when I was wondering if Joe Todaro Jr. was still involved. He told me there were no Todaros at the funeral. He said "Butchie" (Frank BiFulco) was there and everyone was paying him a great deal of respect--like he was the boss. The report that came out about a year ago on Cosa Nostra News and About the Mafia indicated BiFulco was at the helm and that confirms to me what this undertaker talk me.

2. From a person with a name you would recognize, but I don't have permission to share in public: Buffalo is active and very involved with healthcare fraud with other families. Additionally, this individual indicates the Capitano brothers (Sam and Peter) from LIUNA Local 210 are still involved. That goes against the public perception around here that Pete has become a born again Christian and has nothing to do with "the life" any more .

3. A journalist with a small weekly paper indicates his source "who is in politics and whose family has been or is on the periphery for years" indicates "their are young guys making a good living." He says that they are involved in drug trafficking and are being led by older Buffalo mobsters who are living in Florida a good deal of the time. He said a couple of years ago the big guy had to make a special trip up to straighten some things out and get a few of the young guys in line.

4. Very recently and individual on this site pointed me to the murder of Monty Massimi by Sam Vacanti at the end of 2007. It involved several younger guys with last names known to be associated with the Buffalo crime family. It is interesting, I never found articles on that murder on my own--and I've done a lot of research. My belief is that these articles were scrubbed because the murder involved the family of a high profile Buffalo politician--Mark Grisanti-- who later became a NY State senator. Do a search for Massimi or Vacanti the Buffalo News website and it won't result in a any hit (at least as of last week). I posted about this on the BUSICO Thread I started.

5. The Massimi murder by Vacanti involved a drug trafficking ring with young guys who's families had know mob connections and were put in charge of drug trafficking by Joe Todaro after Andy Aiello was busted in the BUSICO case that resulted in the Pizza Connection. (I posted about this on the BUSICO thread.) Here is what Gangsters Inc wrote in an article called "Puparo presents: The Roaring '80's Part 1:"



Let me try to highlight the mob connections in the Massimi homicide and what is ALLEGED to have happened:

A.. Mark Grisanti married Maria Amoia.

B. Her sister is Joann Vacanti whose son was part of the Amoia's Drug Business (Remember, Amoia he was put in place by the Todaro's man Acticoli.) The Amoia's have a long history with the mob in WNY.

C. Joann's son Sam Vacanti was a known narcotics trafficker--and in November 2007 he murdered Monty Massimi in what the Buffalo News said "brought back memories" of an old school mob hit. (This article can be found on Press Reader--Not on The Buffalo News site anymore--it also said those involved were not members of the mob, but it never mentioned the many connections this drug ring and murder had to the mob in WNY.)



D. It appears the DA at the time, Frank Sedita, botched the handling of this case. (Remember Joe Sedita had represent the interest of the Mob controlled local 210, and Frank Sedita Sr. was Buffalo Mayor from '58-'61 & '66-'73--he is alleged to have had weekly lunches with mobsters at 210.)

E. Mark Grisanit's stepson is John Amoia and his nephew is Adam Amoia. Adam Amoia was an accessory to the Massimi murder, and John Amoia received the murder weapon. The murderer, Sammy Vacanti gave the murder weapon to John Amoia who buried it behind the swimming pool at Grisanti's home. The weapon was later unearthed and given back to Sam Vacanti (triggerman) and Adam Amoia (allegedly with Sam and David Gambino the night of the murder). The murder weapon was never found by the authorities.

F. The Massimi homicide pictures were leaked and posted to a blog in order to silence those who were talking and influence/limit the testimony of against Vacanti or David Gambino.

G. A poster on the Topic Forum--which is about the only place to get information on this case--as the papers have removed articles from their online archives says what many of us who live in Buffalo believe:



H. Some of the known drug traffickers in this case with mob ties are: David Gambino, Sammy Vacanti, Louie Vacanti, Adam Amoia, JR, Faust Novino and Fillipo

I. Sammy Vacanti eventually turned and gave up many in his drug trafficking crew. This lead to many arrests in several states and in Canada. David Gambino and a Zip named Filippo Inglima were given large sentences for their role in this drug trafficking ring just 5 years ago. Here is the FBI's press release: https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/b...tfield-man-pleads-guilty-to-drug-charges

Great Thread!

@Nickle City do you thing Violi or Bufallo had some connection to Nick Nero and his guys?

http://www.chch.com/niagara-drug-kingpin-goes-trial-murder/
https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/3267983-drug-network-far-bigger-than-police-thought/

As you know the Bonannos recently did an initiation ceremony in Canada of a guy who resided in Montreal, even though he secretely was a police agent. So that is some pretty strong evidence that they are still active in Canada and who knows how many more ceremonies they've done there in recent years. From the top of my head I can name at least the Arcuris as possible Bonanno members and Pietrantonio was very close to Montagna..

Yeah the Bonannos literally had a making ceremony in Canada where they not only inducted an informant or undercover but recorded it on video. The mafioso literally said congratulations you are now in the Bonanno family.

Thanks for posting links to these articles. Very interesting. I don’t know of any links to the Violi’s or Buffalo. No matter if Violi’s are Bonanno or Buffalo, given their influence and “reach” in drug trafficking circles, they very well could have at least known of it or even been involved with it. EDIT: I think I read somewhere they were with Caruana-Cuntrara ... don't remember where.

If the Buffalo family was nearly defunct as several articles and the lack of indictments seemed to indicate-Ockham's would say the family is dead and being absorbed by the Bonannos is the easiest explanation. That is my number 2 theory. But Bensonhurst has a great point when he says:




Sorry, I was just referring to the rat part. I should have taken the rest out of the quote. If I thought the family was defunct I would definitely lean to thinking the Violis are Bonanno. The one hitch would be Sergi's article saying they Buffalo is formerly LCN--which if the Buffalo family doesn't exist--that article seems to indicate they are their own drug trafficking syndicate or they were absorbed by their Canadian factions.

I did read in mafia export that their grandfather Luppino was a caporegime in the Magaddino family.

The charges against the Violis indicate a continuation of the long established mafia drug trafficking triangle from Toronto/Hamilton to Buffalo and Montreal to New York City established by Stefano Magaddino and his cousin, Joseph Bonanno.

The fact that whomever was able to get those articles "REDACTED"
Points to OAKHAMS theory being?

I don't know exactly what it means these articles are so hard to find--only 2 on press reader and I have yet to find them on The Buffalo News Site. All I know is it is fishy. I know that will make some think I'm a big conspiracy guy though. Here are the two articles I can find:



The above article says they are not the mafia but fails to mention all the individuals who have family known to at least be tied to the Buffalo Mob in the past.

FCBS Chanel 8 in Vegas in an article from June 2012 indicates Paul Citelli, arrested in a HOA scan, is a Buffalo crime family member. Here is the first half of the article:

I-Team: More Targets in HOA Conspiracy

by:
George Knapp
Matt Adams
Posted: Jun 01, 2012 / 04:13 PM PDT
Updated: Jun 01, 2012 / 04:38 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS -- Twenty five people have now admitted their guilt in a massive political corruption conspiracy involving a dozen local homeowner associations, but the case is far from over.

Federal lawmen say the investigation is ongoing and as many as a dozen additional targets are in their crosshairs.

It was tough trying to get a comment out of any of the defendants in the HOA corruption case. They bolted, dodged, and hid their faces as they entered and left federal court Thursday.

Defendant Lisa Kim was far less talkative than she had been inside the courtroom. "You guys are ridiculous. You should be embarrassed," she said to the I-Team crew.

The History of the HOA Scandal

Defendant Paul Citelli found himself bouncing like a ping pong ball between two I-Team cameras. The HOA mess is not his first trouble with the law. The FBI thinks he's affiliated with the Buffalo mob. The Review-Journal's John Smith reported last year that Citelli was part of a huge Mafia cocaine ring back in the 1980s.

It's not surprising that attorney Brian Jones and disbarred lawyer Jeanne Winkler declined comment since that's what lawyers do, but inside the courthouse, they -- like the others who appeared -- all told the judge they were guilty of participating in the conspiracy to take over and pillage a dozen homeowner associations to the tune of millions of dollars. ...

Citelli is on record with Pieri out there.

John and his son operate Divine Cleaners in Vegas. Is Bobby Panaro still outbthere too?

A more recent article (2014) about Buffalo Mob connections in Las Vegas....




Is Buffalo still running rackets it Vegas--or just remnants of the former Buffalo Crime Family?

Interesting information from a blog related to drug trafficking and HOA's:

GOOGLE TRANSLATION OF EXCELSIOR NEWSPAPER ARTICLE verifies Bravo owned the airport mentioned above and suggests his lawyer represented several mob figures.

The governor of BCS inaugurated a narco airfield
An American who was imprisoned in his country for trafficking cocaine in Nevada operates the Las Arenas terminal in the municipality of La Paz

03/09/2011 05:00 RAÚL FLORES

MEXICO CITY, March 9 .- In Baja California Sur, the private airport Las Arenas is administered by a US citizen convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.

On February 26, the governor of the entity, Narciso Agúndez Montaño, participated in the re-inauguration of the aerodrome.

The concession to operate and manage the terminal, located in Punta Arena de la Ventana, La Paz, was granted to the companies of Joseph Angelo Bravo, who in 1994 was sentenced to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic cocaine, in Nevada.

He served the sentence in a maximum security prison and had to pay a fine of 25 thousand dollars.

The concession was based on the decree of expropriation of the private lands that Agúndez Montaño signed on June 11, 2010.

It was carried out despite the fact that article 22 of the Airports Law states that "persons who have been convicted of an intentional crime that merits imprisonment of more than one year may not be holders of permits.

The same restriction will be applied to the members or members of the administrative body of the concessionaires. "


Here is the link: http://translate.google.com/transla...Findex.php%3Fm%3Dnota%26id_nota%3D720673

From News 4 Indianapolis in 2017: ... I wonder if he is related to Joe Bravo who is tied to the Buffalo Mob and is connected with the Mexican Drug Cartels.


UPDATE (Feb. 27, 2017)– Salvador Tafoya-Bravo pleaded guilty to dealing cocaine and will serve eight years in the Department of Correction, followed by two years at Community Corrections.

Original story:

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, (Oct. 30, 2015)– A massive drug bust resulted in 20 kilos of cocaine coming off the streets Friday.

Indiana state police conducted an inspection of a semi truck when they discovered the drugs. It happened just after 4 p.m. on I-70 on the east side of Indianapolis.

Salvador Tafoya-Bravo, 47, was arrested.

Authorities say he is from Las Vegas, and was transporting the drugs from California to a destination in Ohio.

Police had a simple message for drug traffickers.

“If you like playing Russian roulette, continue doing it. Will you get through sometimes? Yes. Will you eventually get stopped, caught, and imprisoned? Yes,” said Indiana State Police Captain David Bursten.

The cocaine has a street value of more than $2 million. Police say Tafoya-Bravo is not cooperating with the investigation, so they went public with the bust and arrest.

From Las Vegas Review Journal
Familiar faces show up in HOA probe

June 10, 2012 - 12:59 am


His friends call Joe Bravo an honorable guy and a gifted businessman who has put the mistakes of his past far behind him.

It’s just a coincidence, they say, that he knows some of the defendants and potential targets in the ongoing investigation of corruption inside the local homeowners associations and construction defect racket.

Who is Joe Bravo?

It’s a question some members of local law enforcement have asked for years. For the record, Joseph Angelo Bravo is a convicted drug trafficker who was sentenced to 87 months in 1993 for his role in a cocaine importing ring with ties to the Buffalo mob.

The Niagara Falls-to-Las Vegas distribution network was accused of distributing 400 kilos of cocaine between 1986 and 1990. A lengthy investigation compiled 2,500 wiretap conversations, recordings whose legality was vigorously but unsuccessfully challenged by defense lawyers Oscar Goodman and David Chesnoff. The 16 defendants pleaded guilty before trial.

I was reminded of that old case May 31 when Paul Citelli entered U.S. District Judge James Mahan’s courtroom and took his place among the 14 latest defendants to plead guilty in the HOA scandal. Citelli, a Southern Nevada limousine driver, was one of Bravo’s partners in the cocaine distribution ring back in the years authorities believed the Buffalo mob was the dominant La Cosa Nostra family on the streets of Las Vegas.


At the time of Citelli’s 1993 sentencing, he apologized to U.S. District Judge Lloyd George for his transgression and received a break. Faced with a potential 27-year prison term, Citelli caught only seven.

Fast-forward 19 years to Mahan’s court: With defense attorney David Brown at his side, Citelli pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and admitted his role in the HOA corruption scheme.

After the hearing, Citelli declined an interview request.

Las Vegas real estate agent Anthony Roy Wilson also pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. He’s Bravo’s nephew.

While other targets in the HOA investigation generated headlines, Wilson blended into the crowd of role players in Mahan’s courtroom. His eventual sentence figures to be light, but Wilson was an integral part of the conspiracy.

In his plea agreement, Wilson admitted his job was to find and fill condominiums with participants in the conspiracy with the goal of seeing them placed on HOA boards. He did his job well, locating 17 units for purchase by straw buyers.

Wilson helped those phony buyers with equally fraudulent mortgage applications. He handled the transactions and, according to the plea agreement, generated $117,500 in commissions.

Even if Wilson is a big admirer of his Uncle Joe, Bravo’s friends say that link is just another coincidence.
Business partner Chesnoff defends Bravo as the consummate stand-up guy.

“I have been a lawyer for 32 years, and I have never seen anyone who so thoroughly turned his life around and has been as hard working and honorable with all those people that he has worked with than Joe Bravo,” Chesnoff says.

Consider former Las Vegas Mayor Goodman another of Bravo’s admirers.

“He did his time, and he did it like a man,” Goodman says. “He made no excuses, had no bravado, and I understand, after he came out, that he’s a hard worker. People who know him love him. His word is his bond. I don’t know anybody who says a bad word about him, even the feds. He paid his debt. I think Las Vegas is a place of second chances, so I have no problem vouching for him in that respect.”

And attorney Paul Hejmanowski offers, “I’ve had the privilege of working with him for several years. I consider him a personal friend. I’ve never known him to fail to keep his word in every instance.”

Defense attorneys Chesnoff and Marty Keach are listed in real estate records as partners in land deals with Bravo both locally and in Mexico. Down in Baja California Sur, their friend Joe’s name and criminal history have splashed in the press in association with their Punta Arena de la Ventana resort and the management of a private airport outside La Paz.

What’s a convicted drug trafficker doing managing a Mexican airport?

That’s a question skeptical reporters asked in 2010.

They’ve also wondered about Bravo’s cordial relationship with then-Baja Sur Gov. Narciso Agundez Montano.

I might ask for Agundez to vouch for Bravo’s character, but the former governor was just arrested in late May on public corruption charges.

Back in Las Vegas, the HOA/construction defect investigation grinds on with prosecutors from the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section strongly hinting in court recently that the case remains a target-rich environment.

Bravo’s friends and business partners vouch for his rehabilitated character, but from here to Mexico it’s hard for him to shake his reputation.

Do you suppose he knows more about the structure of the HOA and construction defect conspiracy than meets the eye?

Say it ain’t so, Joe.

John L. Smith’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.

Another article about Buffalo and Cocaine out of Vegas... This one from 2015 and mentions Jon Jone's manager--Wayne Harriman who has ties to the Buffalo Mob-- was involved with cocaine smuggling as late as 2010

Here’s What We Know About Jon Jones Testing Positive For Cocaine
JESSICA HUDNALL
01.07.15


Yesterday, it was discovered that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had tested positive for cocaine metabolites during a drug test in December and had voluntarily entered a drug rehabilitation facility. In addition to words of support from the UFC and its president, Dana White, several other entities have chimed in to state their desire for Jones to get the help he needs. Reebok, a Jones sponsor, had this to say to MMA Junkie.

“We commend Jon for taking the necessary steps to address this issue, and we will support him in any way we can. The status of Jon’s relationship with Reebok has not changed”

Meanwhile, the man Jones beat at UFC 182, Daniel Cormier, shared his thoughts.

“I am aware of Jon’s test, and if there is anything to say it is this: there are a lot of people you impact, so please let’s get it together. Good luck on your rehab!”

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t change the result of the fight. It’s more sad than anything.”

“It doesn’t make me feel better to have lost against a guy who was doing drugs.”

“I thought this is a guy who has kids and this guy needs to be a positive light for a lot of people. I don’t really feel like I look at him any differently. I just want the guy to get help and just be like a guiding light for people, to be a positive influence.

You see glimpses of it, like him giving clothes to the homeless on Christmas. You just kind of hope that he can make that how he is all the time.

He makes an impact on a lot of people because of his status. He’s a guy that really impacts people at a whole different level than most guys in MMA. So, with that being said, you would hope that he takes it serious, gets whatever help he needs, and comes out better on the opposite side.”

The executive director of the Nevada state athletic commission, Bob Bennett, said to the L.A. Times that despite the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code not granting the power to suspend a positive result during out of competition testing, the NSAC could still punish Jones:

“The commission will address this [out-of-competition] anomaly. That is an issue we will take up and [fighter discipline] is certainly an option available to the commission.”
“Mr. Jones’ situation is unfortunate. Fortunately, he had the courage and conviction to enter a rehab facility.”

The most interesting piece of Bennett’s talk with the Times is that the NSAC knew of Jones’ positive test prior to the title fight against Cormier this past Saturday, and Bennett believes the UFC was aware as well:

“I work hand-in-glove with the UFC. But that’s a question you’ll have to address with the UFC.”

In addition to the Nevada state athletic commission and possibly the UFC knowing about Jones’ positive test, the nebulous world that is the MMA Twittersphere has seen people claiming to have known about Jones’ alleged drug use for a long time.

For example, Mike DiSabato, founder of Cage Fighter athletic gear (a sponsor of Daniel Cormier), tweeted back on December 29th that Jones “likes cocaine.”

And on December 30, Deadspin published a piece by Greg Howard about how Jon Jones is great, during which, Jones told Howard that he’s been straight-edge for a long time, even though he was currently drinking, had been charged with a DUI for crashing his car in 2012, and apparently thanked the Lord for hiding a nickel bag of weed in a sock drawer. In a follow-up, Howard said that he’d heard rumors of Jones’ cocaine usage:

This doesn’t come out of nowhere. In reporting this story, I heard a lot of rumors about Jones’s cocaine use, some of which went past what you’d expect of a rich young celebrity in 2014. I left those alone partly because it’s a long way from rumor to solid fact and partly because, as evidenced by his success, whatever he’s been up to late at night hasn’t hurt his athletic performance much. This is worth noting just by way of saying that this is more likely than not something that actually could affect his career, as opposed to the result of one night’s bad decision. Just a few minutes ago, I got this text from a source close to Jones: Can’t believe it took this long for jon to pop on coke.

During the recording of his podcast, Joe Rogan found out about Jones’ situation and basically flipped out:

Finally, while obviously not an indictment on Jones, back in May 2014, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta sat down with Jon’s manager, Wayne Harriman to work out some contractual issues. Harriman’s involvement is significant here because he was allegedly involved with cocaine smuggling as recently as 2010:

Wayne Harriman was among 16 defendants who pleaded guilty before trial in 1994 in Las Vegas in a federal drug investigation involving the Buffalo mob. Led by organized crime figure Paul Citelli, the crew that included Harriman was accused of moving more than 400 kilograms of cocaine in the late 1980s through Southern Nevada.[/b]

Wayne Harriman appears to have been a bit player in that case, but today he finds himself at the center of a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation in Fresno County, Calif., that has resulted in a criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In the Jan. 22, 2010, affidavit filed by DEA Special Agent Kevin Boleky, an undercover investigation found evidence of Harriman’s integral involvement in the drug trafficking activities of Greg Olmos Sr. and Greg Olmos Jr. In the affidavit, Olmos Jr. is described as being “connected with fighters in the mixed martial arts community along with the Hells Angels.” The father and son are alleged to have drug connections with the Hells Angels through Wayne Harriman, according to the document.
It’s an interesting tidbit to a story that is still unfolding.

https://www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/hoa-cases_alcantarr

"Paul Citelli November 17, 2015 - 3 years of supervised release, no restitution ordered2

Thanks for the link Nitro.

I´m sure there are some mobbed-up pizzerias over there.

https://aboutthemafia.com/u-s-canadian-project-otremens-leads-to-new-york-mafia-guilty-pleas

U.S.-Canadian Project OTremens leads to New York Mafia guilty pleas

Interesting, looks like they are all going to be taking pleas and little information will come out about what is going on.

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...mpaign_id=localnews#.W_A1uKGVrsM.twitter

Mob, murder and the Hamilton connection

Just read the article on another site. Very interesting. I wonder when more details are going come out.

This new article mentions the Buffalo Mob again.

It says:



And notice the connections to Baja California Sur in Mexico and the Joe Bravo articles I referenced earlier. Here is another quote from this newest article:



Notice the connection to Baja California Sur in Mexico and remember the articles I posted about the Joe Bravo and Paul Citeli. Both are rumored to be associated with the Buffalo Mob. Bravo has ties to the Mexican drug cartels and owns and operates a small airport in Baja California Sur and had a relationship with the governor of the Mexican province who has since gone to jail on corruption charges.

I can't help but wonder if there is a connection.

5. The Massimi murder by Vacanti involved a drug trafficking ring with young guys who's families had know mob connections and were put in charge of drug trafficking by Joe Todaro after Andy Aiello was busted in the BUSICO case that resulted in the Pizza Connection. (I posted about this on the BUSICO thread.) Here is what Gangsters Inc wrote in an article called "Puparo presents: The Roaring '80's Part 1:"



Just finding other sources for this info... Here is an article about that talks about Anticoli:




Another article identifies Sam Amoia Jr. is the grandson of former Buffalo mob boss Sam Pieri, is secretary-treasurer of LoMoia Enterprises at 1300 Hertel Ave. Amoia served a prison term for dealing cocaine in 1988. His brother Joseph faces cocaine charges in Las Vegas. Here is the article:




I believe Gallo was related to Joe DiCarlo as we'll... but I still have to find that.

Looks like they were Buffalo Crime Family members. Breaking News about Violi trial:
Violi is alleged Underboss of Buffalo

Yep just posted it... Looks like I may have been right.

From the Humphries article:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...drugs-to-made-new-york-mafia-member.html

Murdered mob boss’s son pleads guilty in Hamilton to selling

It looks like you were !

Joe Todaro Jr. Still the Boss of the Buffalo Crime Family?



I had a reporter tell me a high ranking guy from Florida came up to “straighten out” some young guys. Wonder if he was talking about this?

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...rld-how-a-drug-plea-has-exposed-a-mafia/

‘It opens up an underworld:' How a drug plea has exposed a Mafia network in Hamilton

i mean its pretty cutt n dry if the violi sons were meeting with todaro they are buffalo lcn guys.

great article above. unless this guy is a patholigical liar he told the bonanno guy who recorded his induction cermony he beat out 30 other guys to become the underboss of the buffalo family and the first ever in canada. he was apointed by todaro who i guess is still a boss. cool reading. he likely the feds didnt indict him here on the drugs chages. they would have broke his ass off with like 15 20yrs. he got 8 up there. and does half. i'll have to google this todaro guy i swear there was a picture of him in florida with nick scarfo in the 80tys. he owns that huge pizza chain i believe. but the biggest shocker is the 30 guys up there. wow. gues they were recruiting real quiet. the board said they were dead like a handfull left.

I've got that picture... But it is of his Dad Joe Sr. I will see if I can find it.

oh yeah. theres a todaro jr. hes the boss. i mean he must be if all these agencys are saying he is. the canadian police said he is as of 2016. he was always oin those travel pizza shows on the food network. i wrote about this way back. seems like a nice guy. so im assuming the boss todaro is like boss out of respect and his huge pizza chain company keeps him from asking the troops for alot of money.just gotta give his that respect.intersting.

Summary of last night's (Dec. 3, 2018) articles:

Now we have the most compelling evidence that the Buffalo crime family is active. More importantly these articles reveal Joe Todaro Jr. is still Buffalo's mob boss. Wiretaps confirm he "hand-picked" Canadian Dominico Violi to be his current underboss. Adrian Humphries writes:

Quote

It was in October 2017, at a meeting in Florida, that Joseph Todaro Jr., the alleged Buffalo boss, told Violi he had hand-picked him, according to wiretap transcripts and summaries entered as exhibits in pre-trial proceedings.

After he told the story to his friend, the New York mobster leaned in and kissed Violi in a traditional show of respect, the Crown’s evidence claimed.

He told Violi it was “in his blood.”

According to both articles putting a Canadian atop a US Cosa Nostra family made history and was so unusual Todaro had to seek permission from the US mob's governing body called "The Commission," which most observers believed was in mothballs. Humphries continues:

Quote

"Domenic, you know you made history," Violi said the alleged boss of the Buffalo Mafia family told him in 2017 after Violi was promoted to the position of Underboss, according to a wire tap summary tendered in court.

Violi asked what he meant.

Nobody in Canada has ever held such a high position, Violi said he was told, according to his own recounting caught on an RCMP recording.

...It was such a unique situation that the Buffalo boss had consulted “the Commission” about it, the conversation continued. The opinion, he said, was that as long as someone is a member of the Mafia he is entitled to hold leadership positions within that family.

The Globe & News seem to indicate there are at least 30 active members whom Violi proudly asserts he beat out for this top spot. Molly Hayes and Greg McArthur write:



Evidently a reorganization took place in 2014 when captains were placed over various crews--including a crew in Canada. The Globe and Mail goes on to say, “The reorganization seemed to begin in 2014. “Captains” were allegedly appointed to run crews of soldiers, including one in Hamilton.”

These articles lend credibility to Edwards article and his sources who indicated Buffalo was playing an active role in the current Mob War in Canada.

Here are the links to these two articles:

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...me-figure-was-underboss-of-buffalo-mafia

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...rld-how-a-drug-plea-has-exposed-a-mafia/

https://aboutthemafia.com/domenico-violi-underboss-of-the-buffalo-mafia

Domenico Violi underboss of the Buffalo Mafia?

https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/...adas-highest-ranking-american-mob-member

Hamilton Man May Be Canada’s Highest Ranking American Mob Member Ever
Evidence paints, Domenico Violi, a respected Hamilton businessman, as the highest ranking Canadian ever in an American crime family.

I attached the picture

Joe Todaro Jr is the boss, I always thought he retired and Frank Bifulco took over. Bonanno and Genovese crime families are in communication with Buffalo so no surprise there, suprised the Buffalo and Colombo families remain in communication.

Others and I have posted that Domenico Violi would be one of the likely candidates for Underboss in Buffalo crime family, the others would have been Monaco, and Natale Luppino in Canada. Rocco Luppino now a Capo.

I mean this pretty much wraps it up for me...I always believed the locals about the buffalo lcn being active because they live there. There was always going to be one of the so called defunct families that got their shit together and got it going again, looks like buffalo is that family....they might be even more active than Detroit.

If there's an underboss, there's a consig and mutiple capo's....30 made guys apparently, which means they've had multiple making ceremonies.....we were told and certain people didnt listen...The FBI blah blah blah....well the FBI now look like absolute dicks

Peter Edwards's latest.

Hamilton trafficking convictions tied to rare Mafia initiation ceremony secretly videotaped by a police informant

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...ly-videotaped-by-a-police-informant.html

so whats ever left of the bonanno family in canada all attended this rat guys induction. wonder whose left. also funny the 1 brother joe violi was torn over to become a boanano member or go with his brother to the buffalo family.

No.

The most likely living Canadian members of the Bonanno Family are in Quebec. Based on Daniel Renaud's 2016 book, the most likely made Bonannos in the Montreal Mafia as of 2004 would be Vito Rizzuto, Rocco Sollecito, Paolo Renda, Nick Rizzuto Sr., Agostino Cuntrera, Lorenzo Giordano, Joe Di Maulo, Moreno Gallo, Francesco Arcadi, Tony Vanelli, and Tony Mucci. Only the last three individuals are alive, with everyone else being murdered except for Vito Rizzuto. Please note that Renaud identified all these individuals as "Homme d'honneur," i.e., made. I don't know why any of those still alive at the time of Vincenzo Morena's Bonanno taped induction ceremony in Canada in November 2015 would have attended.

There were at least five attendees at the ceremony: Morena, acting Bonanno captain Damiano Zummo, possibly Bonanno consigliere John Zancocchio (not sure he held this rank in November 2015), Domenico Violi, and Giuseppe Violi. Why were the Violi brothers there unless they were made Bonannos at the time? Yet Domenico Violi is heard on tape saying he was inducted into the Buffalo Family in January 2015.

john zanochio couldnt have gotten into canada. hes done fed time has alot of felonys. i doubt hes sneaking into a country at his age. and dom violi said he was choosen as underboss of the buffalo family in 2015 i, guessing he was made way back atleast in the 90tys. i was assuming all the montreal bonannos were murderd. maybe there was 1 2 guys way under the radar of even other montreal gangsters. maybe they wernt important anuff to go kill. now in this last article it says the induction was at a undisclosed location so will never know if it happend in montreal or hamilton.

So is the todaro family and magaddino family two separate families?

No, Domenico Violi claims to have become underboss of the Buffalo Family in October 2017. He also claims he was made into the Buffalo Family in January 2015.

Which Bonanno soldier with first name "John" could have been at the induction ceremony in Canada in November 2015? I'm genuinely curious. Below is an excerpt from Adrian Humphreys's November 10, 2017 article.

The induction, involving at least five men, was allegedly presided over by Damiano Zummo, 44, an acting captain in the Bonanno crime family.

"The reason why we're here is from this day forward, you're gonna be an official member of the Bonanno family," Zummo says, according to a transcript of the ceremony.

"It's already - from this guy, this guy, this guy - everybody approved it, so from this day forward, you're a member of the Bonanno family. Congratulations," said Zummo.

"Thank you," the recruit said.

The new member was then formally introduced to other members using the traditional Mafia code of calling a made man a "friend of ours," and then told the internal hierarchy of who he reports to, called a captain or skipper.

"And now I want to introduce you to John. John, friend of ours with the Bonanno. John, (name of agent deleted), friend of ours with the Bonanno. Now, your captain is (name deleted.)" "Okay," said the recruit. "He's our skipper.

(Nickname of Bonanno member deleted), is our acting ... You're gonna be in our regime," Zummo allegedly said. "OK." "You only answer to the Bonanno family."

if he was inducted in 2015 then made underboss 2yrs later the family must be in bad shape. he must have been atleast made 10 20 yrs back. the guy john porky hes like 60 hes done alot of time. how would he get into the country. they wont let people with a dui across there boarder. also from reading the guy porky is well off rich cant see him with a bunch of drug dealing guys in the 30tys early 40tys

Nikel I have to say we have been VINDICATED!!!

I got beat up on these boards because of my theory that Buffalo wasn't defunct.

This was before the Violi arrests, I read the book Dicarlo and said to myself these guys wouldn't let this pipeline go, you can't replace something like that.

This MUTT Nicky from Tampa tried to abuse me.

Than the Violi's got arrested.

Then the Mustiano got killed and we started seeing some articles etc

Now we have wire tap evidence.

Me and Nickel, said who would be the Todaro guys if not Violi.

Nickel I am making the call the TODARO Family is NOT DEFUCT they do exist in some capicity.

Why do you think that? Another name for the Buffalo family is The Arm, always liked that.

the buffalo family is active only on canadian side (hamilton/niagara falls), that's why fbi said there was not any family in buffalo

They are active in the states.

I think the Canadian faction is probably more into drugs, so they get caught/talked about more. The American side of things is probably more gambling and shylocking, therefore less attention and more unknown. Sure there's probably not some secret army of American buffalo guys killing people and selling tons of coke, but i can't see the Violi's and the Canadian faction showing so much respect for Todaro if there wasn't a sizeable and relevant American component of the family. The buffalo connections probably appealed to the Violi's still in this day and age because of the good connections to the other side of the border, so easier to transport drugs across the border. It seems like they got maybe a couple of crews in Buffalo itself, so maybe give or take 10 made guys and a bunch of associates in Buffalo, and a couple of satellite crews in upstate New York, and the powerful Canadian crew.

if todaro jr is the boss yes, anyway less active than canadian side
in the wiretaps violi said the buffalo family has 30 members, but probably only 10 in buffalo and the rest in canada
the canadian side show respect to todaro because he's supported by the new york families and the bonanno's and gambino's are active in canada

Credit goes to the Todaros. They were the most stable bosses since Magaddino.

I

lil more reading someone was rite. he was only inducted 3 yrs back in 2015 and bumped to underboss 2 yrs later. im kinda thinking no one else wanted the job. probaly guys to old. idk its probaly a loose family. todaro is also semi retired counting his millions down in florida where he probaly plays golf with a bunch of other retired mob guys from the 5 familes and the other 3 . the commission talk is getting blown out of whatever that word is.

I don't think the commission exists anymore.

I won't bet money on it. Look at current events in Palermo.

I cant see all 5 bosses even if there acting boss say andy russo the colombo boss. He said it himself im in it for life dont care if i die in jail. Hes as respected as any member in any of the 5 familes. Guy done tone of time i could see him probaly talking to another boss at restaurant down in south florida but 5 bosses meeting in a brooklyn basement is probaly over. But im always wrong so fuck if they want to keep there tradition going they have to meet to set policy simple n plain. That what kept them afloat 100yrs

I had a hard time believing it at first too, but maybe you guys are looking at it too stereotypically, with a meeting of all five bosses, and their bodyguards like in the 80's with Paul Castellano calling for meetings ect. Maybe it aint the bosses meeting per say, but representatives of families meeting. A trusted capo, the consigliere or the underboss. Perhaps they are meeting. The commission could still exist even though all the families aren't meeting at once. It could be that 2-3 families representatives meet at once, then at a different time others. There has to be solid lines of communication, is it really far fetched to believe that a handful of different guys from the different families can meet up at a random place to discuss issues, unnoticed, in a huge city with millions and millions of people?

Florida is also a place to do business.

Is is possible that the commission is meeting in Florida? Everybody has a heavy hitter in florida

Both families do have political connections.

https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/ne.../fbi-wiretap-corruption-probe/108987862/

It appears that on the American side the guys that are left are comfortable and not looking to take unnecassary risks,
I.E they aren't going to be chasing people over a $1,000 gambling debt or a few thousand in loan shark money.

No Nickel and Dime stuff
Probably two-three layers away from drug money.

Also the FBI and local L.E. wrote them off including the local media.

For a crime family could you ask for a better scenario?

Imagine the FBI and N.Y.P.D. and local media saying the Columbo's are dead, we are not pursuing any more cases, we have no C.I. there is nothing to investage, We are closing all open cases.

That would be the jackpot.

How does anyone know what's going on in Buffalo?

Wouldn't the above scenario be PRFECT for re-building a crime family?

i dont get why the board jumped to the conclusion the us side of the buffalo mob is weaker. what facts. the guy said he beat out 30 other members for the job. he didnt say where they were. also think he might be exaagerating lil bit what if its 20guys. i mean thats still a real family. im guessing new england rite now is 30 tops 40 made guys . philly maybe 40

i did a lil reseach hamilton is like a small city no where near size of montreal or toronto where millions live

@pmac

you are right. If buffallo weak why should Violi choice to be a made member ? . So he think it is lucrative to became a made member. although RICO...
That's a sign.

Hamilton community leaders vouch for drug-dealing mobsters

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/violi-1.4933813

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opi...w-myths-keep-the-mafias-culture-frozen/?

From made-up to ‘made’ men: How myths keep the Mafia’s culture frozen in time

Article from the Buffalo News
Is the Buffalo mob dead or alive?

Joe Todaro working at La Nova during time of alleged meeting in Florida according to his lawyer.

I would be saying the same thing if I was Todaro
The perfect environment is all but dead

[quote=pmac]i dont get why the board jumped to the conclusion the us side of the buffalo mob is weaker. what facts. the guy said he beat out 30 other members for the job. he didnt say where they were. also think he might be exaagerating lil bit what if its 20guys. i mean thats still a real family. im guessing new england rite now is 30 tops 40 made guys . philly maybe

In my opinion C.A. Is the perfect haven no R.I.C.O.

So if Hamilton and Buffalo boarder each other if you move the power base what 30 minutes away you get rid of R.I.C.O., FBI and WitSec, trade it in for Hamilton L.E. which appears to be very corruptable and R.C.M.P. that is like MICKEY MOUSE compared to the FBI.

I would move everything that is moveable.

Violi got 8 years he'll prob do 4.

If that were USA he would have gotten 15 years and done 12+

Pls can someone post the link to where he says he beat out 20 guys? Would like to read that

There are plenty of guys that are made that LE doesn’t know about.....now don’t get crazy like full blown families in smaller western towns but shit there are NY and Philly guys that Feds don’t or didn’t know about plenty of times , it’s mostly when they are bid earners or physically aggressive that Feds get them on there radar .

Now even more nowadays because of massive rats guys that earn that have pedigree or blood want it quiet and some get it that way and other ways that many have no clue !

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...me-figure-was-underboss-of-buffalo-mafia

Especially today where anyone of these guys with any smarts is underground as much as they could be.

I personally know a few that were long time associates here from Bensonhurst and have now recently been made, I do not know if the FBI knows or not however, they haven't shown up on any lists as being made a couple in the Colombo family and one lucheese.

Its not like the feds release a monthly news letter LOL
Who got made

When and if they get indicted they will be charged in the indictment as made and/or if the feds leak via gangland if they are under investigation and they want to "Tickle the Wire"

Not sure if mentioned yet but wasn't Sal the Ironworker acting boss of the Bonannos!?

Would put the Violi first Canadian admin member theory to sleep.

Did anyone see this ganster report piece ??

HEY, JOE, WELCOME BACK, BOSS: BUFFALO MOBSTER BIG JOE TODARO MIGHT NOT BE RETIRED AFTER ALL

According to court documents in a drug-trafficking case out of Canada, Joseph (Big Joe) Todaro, Jr. replaced Leonard (Lennie Calzones) Falzone as boss of the Buffalo mob two years ago upon Falzone’s death of natural causes. The Western New York crime family’s underboss Dom Violi, 52, was sentenced to eight years in prison by a judge in Hamilton, Ontario this week in a case where his crew was infiltrated by an FBI agent and nailed for a myriad of narcotics offenses.

he news puts Big Joe Todaro, Jr. back under the public spotlight after more than a decade seemingly on the sidelines of gangland activity in Buffalo running his family’s booming pizza-and-wing franchise, La Nova, off in wiseguy retirement. The 71-year old Todaro allegedly ran the Buffalo mob on an acting basis in the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s for his dad, Joseph (Lead Pipe Joe) Todaro, the Godfather of the mafia in Western New York from 1984 until he voluntarily stepped aside in 2006. The elder Todaro named his consigliere Lennie Falzone as his successor.

Lead Pipe Joe died peacefully in 2012 at 89 years old. Falzone cashed in his chips in 2016 at 81. Because of his retirement proclamations, Big Joe wasn’t mentioned much in speculation by mob watchers following Falzone’s passing about who was going to replace him on the throne of what appeared at that time to be a dwindling organized crime syndicate.

The Violi prosecution proves otherwise.

Dom Violi was caught on an FBI wire last year claiming there were at least 30 guys in the organization. He was “made” in 2015 and upped to underboss by Todaro, Jr. at a meeting in Florida in the fall of 2017, according to his sentencing memo. Violi, the son of slain Montreal mob don Paolo Violi, is the first Canadian Mafioso to be named underboss of an American mob family. Todaro, Jr. was in communication with three of the Five Families in New York (Bonanno, Genovese and Colombo) in relation to his choice to tap Violi for the post, per filings in Violi’s case — one filing notes Bonanno mob consigliere John (Porky) Zancocchio being tasked with delivering the news to Bonanno boss Michael (Mikey Nose) Mancuso.

Violi’s uncle, Rocco Luppino, is the crime family’s reputed captain in Hamilton, a hardscrabble factory town located directly across the border from Buffalo. The court records filed in connection with Dom Violi’s sentencing refer to an active mob “Commission,” the American mafia’s board of directors thought to be long defunct.

Lead Pipe Joe Todaro rose through the ranks of the mafia in Buffalo, at least partially, by forging strong ties to the syndicate’s Canadian wing. He helped stabilize a careening out-of-control situation in Montreal in the late 1970s when the Rizzuto mob crew knocked off Paolo Violi and his brothers in a palace coup. Todaro arranged for Paolo’s two then adolescent sons, Dom and Joey, to move to Hamilton and live under the protection of their mom’s family, the powerful Luppino mob clan.

Joey Violi was arrested with his brother last year. He was sentenced to 16 years behind bars back in the summer. The Rizzuto crime family in Montreal has been under siege for the past decade, a fierce and widespread insurgence sending the entire Canadian underworld into upheaval. Hamilton mobster Angelo Musitano was gunned down in the spring of 2017.

Once known for his sway in labor union circles, Big Joe Todaro was booted out of the LIUNA in 1990 for his mob links. But like his father before him, Big Joe has never been convicted of any racketeering-related offenses. Lead Pipe Joe Todaro was a suspect in multiple Buffalo mob murders however never charged in any of the homicides. The younger Todaro became his dad’s underboss in the 1980s and in the 1990s transitioned to his acting boss, per sources.

MONTAGNA was acting
Violi is actual

Big difference

Thanks Hollander really interesting read that

once sal the iron guy was deported from nyc his acting boss title was over. still a head scratcher who put him there. 2009 mancuso?. the guys who killed him were on tape saying it to. who does this guy think he is. hes got nobody up here. no friends. he played his hand dumb. should have waited for rizzuto to die. flexd on the grandfather nick then switched on that french guy ray and got killed. that isnt organized crime up there. no structure . just drug deaers killing over turf and pride. died wit vito 2 cents

also dont get who the street gangs even know who the old guys are up there. theres no interaction in the usa like that between old guys and young black guys. maybe in prison

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1141275/violi-mafieux-paolo-domenico-guiseppe-drogue

Threats, drugs and omerta: the mafia is not history of the past. The sons of the deceased Montreal godfather Paolo Violi, who have been exiled in Ontario, have risen to the ranks of this criminal organization, whose tentacles are still very active, according to a major police investigation.

A text Gaetan Pouliot of Survey

Back from a trip to Florida in late 2017, Domenico Violi has good news for his entourage. He just had a promotion.

"You're going to learn something new ... very, very good," he says to his partner with whom he is trafficking ecstasy, PCP and methamphetamine from Hamilton, Ontario. "You're my friend, tell me," insists the partner.

"Do not repeat anything to anyone," Violi said before confiding.

D. Violi: They made me number two, "underboss" of ...

Associate: De?

D. Violi: Not from here.

Associate: Of the whole affair?

D. Violi: The whole thing.
[...]
Partner: Fuck , congratulations, Dom. I'm happy for you.
[...]
D. Violi: He said to me: "Domenic, do you know that you made history? [...] No one in Canada has ever had this position. "
[...]
Partner: It's really big. You have the right to make big decisions.

Domenico Violi had just received a promotion that took him to the top of the criminal organization. For the first time, a Canadian would lead the activities of an American mafia family, Buffalo.

As number two in the organization, some 30 Mafiosi are now under his command, mainly in the United States, but also in Hamilton, says Domenico Violi.

What the criminal does not know is that his partner records the conversation ... and that he works for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Domenico Violi then tastes his last days of freedom. On November 9, 2017, the police arrested him with eight other people. Last week, he pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

By agreeing to lead a mafia clan, Domenico Violi was following in the footsteps of his father ... murdered 40 years earlier in Montreal.

OTremens Project
The centerpiece of this RCMP investigation was the infiltration of criminal groups by a double agent. A repentant criminal, he had everything to inspire confidence. During the investigation that lasted three years, he became a member in good standing of the Bonanno family of New York. Tour de force, the police managed to record the secret ceremony of enthronement.

Documents filed in court following Operation OTremens shed a rare light on the activities of mafia families in Canada and the United States.

Omerta and prison
Violi is a name notorious in Quebec.

In 1976, Domenico's father - Paolo Violi - made the headlines. A double police officer rented an apartment above his headquarters, the Reggio Bar, located in St. Leonard.

The premises have been wiretapped for six years.

Paolo Violi is involved in a multitude of criminal activities in the city. He even intervenes to influence a municipal election.

At that time, the Quebec public discovered the extent of mafia activities thanks to the Commission of Inquiry into Organized Crime (CECO), which broadcasts excerpts from wiretapping where we can hear Paolo Violi. In particular, we learn that the Montreal Mafia is a subsidiary of the Bonanno family in New York.

Paolo Violi in front of a microphone
Paolo Violi in front of the CECO in December 1975 Photo: The Canadian Press / Doug Ball
Respecting omerta, the sponsor prefers to spend one year in prison rather than answering questions from the CECO.

In 1978, Paolo Violi was shot in the head while playing cards. This event will mark the end of the Calabrian reign in Montreal for the benefit of the Rizzuto clan.

This murder, however, will not end the mafia activities of this family.

Paolo Violi's widow will live in Hamilton, Ontario, with her two sons then aged 8 and 12. This is where they will develop their criminal activities as adults.

Violi brothers identity photo
The brothers Domenico and Giuseppe Violi Photo: GRC
Blood ties are important for this type of criminal organization, says André Cédilot, author of Mafia inc. : greatness and misery of the Sicilian clan in Quebec . "The mafia structure is based on family ties, especially on the Calabrian side. It's not surprising that we find the same names from generation to generation, "he says.

"Paolo Violi's father was a notorious Mafioso in the United States," he adds.

Fentanyl, crack and corrupt judge
Giuseppe Violi, the youngest of the brothers, wondered about his future. Should he join the Buffalo mafia family, like his brother Domenico, or rather follow in his father's footsteps by pledging allegiance to the Bonanno Clan of New York?

On a number of occasions, he will have this discussion with the RCMP's double agent with whom he also talks about settling and drug dealing.

Giuseppe Violi will also recognize that the fentanyl he is trafficking causes deaths in the streets. By his own admission, this is not the first time his merchandise kills.

Double agent: In the 80s, there were people dead everywhere because of crack. It was a huge epidemic, as is fentanyl now.

[...]
G. Violi: I introduced that to Hamilton.

Double agent: What, crack? You sold crack too?

G. Violi: I am the first. I brought the liquid and I turned it into powder, crack.

Double Agent: Many people were addicted to crack?

G. Violi: Oh, after a year, you should have seen the city.

Giuseppe Violi is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl following Operation OTremens. Before his arrest, he was taking control of Hamilton with the bikers, according to his own words.

But his contacts are not limited to the underworld. Giuseppe Violi says he can influence the justice system.

In June 2017, during a discussion with the double agent, the criminal alleges that he paid $ 80,000 to an Ontario judge for one of his associates to receive a more lenient sentence in a case of drug trafficking and possession. illegal firearms.

The judge asked for $ 250,000 and Giuseppe Violi would have agreed to pay him this sum in installments.

A few months earlier, the drug trafficker even mentioned the possibility of another person taking responsibility for his partner's crimes. We have a lot of very loyal people who can do that, he would have said, adding that he would pay that person between $ 100,000 and $ 150,000.

Such revelations do not surprise André Cédilot. "The strength of the mafia is its network of contacts," says the mafia specialist.

The mafia infiltrate everywhere. They have incredible contacts in all circles: political, business, judicial.

André Cédilot, mafia specialist
Mr. Cédilot claims that the police had suspicions of infiltration of the judiciary during the extradition of Vito Rizzuto in the United States in the early 2000s.

Despite serious criminal charges, the Violi brothers also received letters of support from influential members of the Hamilton community in court proceedings. A former director of the city's airport, among others, wanted to highlight the generosity of Domenico Violi who, during the holiday season, gave turkeys to the poor.

On a table, we see $ 100 bills and bank documents
Documents and money raided by Domenico Violi in November 2017 Photo: RCMP
Operation OTremens demonstrates that the Mafia is still well structured in North America.

The famous "commission", the dispute resolution body of the American mafia, is still active, we learn from the mouth of Domenico Violi.

Forty years after the murder of their father, the Violi sons speak of the same active criminal clans at the time: Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino and Genovese ... Another group of criminal interests the Violi: the Montreal mafia.

Write U.S
You have information to transmit to us, contact our journalist: gaetan.pouliot@radio-canada.ca

Meanwhile in Montreal
In September 2016, Domenico Violi says that the situation is stabilizing in the Quebec metropolis. Everyone is working together nowadays, the old barriers are gone, he said, according to the double agent.

Domenico Violi invited him to meet Frank Arcadi, Frank Cotroni Jr. and Antonio "Tony" Mucci.

In Montreal, these three names are associated with organized crime.

Frank Arcadi, one of the Rizzuto clan's lieutenants, was convicted of trafficking in cocaine and gangsterism. Frank Cotroni Jr., son of the famous mafioso of the same name, was sentenced in the 90s to eight years of penitentiary for conspiracy to import cocaine.

Tony Mucci, himself, admitted to shooting journalist Jean-Pierre Charbonneau in the newsroom of the daily newspaper Le Devoir in 1973. The reporter, who was investigating the mafia, will be shot in the forearm.

Man of Paolo Violi, Mucci frequented the Reggio Bar and will be called to testify at the CECO.

Tony Mucci wears smoked glasses and a long coat
Photo of police spinning Tony Mucci in the 70s, as he prepares to enter the Reggio Bar, Saint-Leonard Photo: Gangsters and mafiosi / Editions de l'Homme
A search of Domenico Violi's home showed that he was interested in what was happening in the city.

Among the documents seized are newspaper articles on the Montreal Mafia, as well as documents from the Colisée Anti-Mafia Operation, which decapitated the Rizzuto clan in 2006.

The police also seized drugs, an autographed poster of the television series The Sopranos , as well as several phones and computers.

Several types of cell phones are gathered on a table
Cell phones found by police in Domenico Violi's residence Photo: RCMP
Since the time of Paolo Violi, mafia techniques have been refined. They communicate thanks to encrypted electronic messages.

But, ironically, it is the old police techniques that allowed the RCMP to arrest the Violi brothers in Hamilton. Like their father, they were trapped by a double agent and wiretapped.

^^^^ Thanks for posting.... I thought this was interesting:


I also found this interesting about the situation in Montreal:




Quick note about this thread... I want to make a correction to my opening post. I wrote:


I should have wrote: "--indicating Buffalo did give permission for the hit on Pops.

I'd go back and make that edit, but can't. I think this shows Buffalo was still strong enough they needed to be consulted, but doesn't indicate they ordered it.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1141275/violi-mafieux-paolo-domenico-guiseppe-drogue

The conversation

How do you translate the article?

When you click on the link , you should have an icon on the top right hand of the screen that has the letters GR in a square box. It is located on the left side of the star icon. Click on the GR and a translate box will appear. Click on it and it will translate.
Let me know if it works for you.

This is the same article I posted earlier on Dec.13 at 01:12 PM. I had posted a translated copy.

James Dubro is quoted as saying in the article to which I’ve linked below that the underboss of the Buffalo Family would have had to approve the hit on Angelo Musitano (killed May 2017). This has knowledgeable readers like us confused because we know that Domenico Violi was heard saying on wiretaps in October/November 2017 that he had just become underboss.

UNDERWORLD GTA: Drugs, guns, murder and revenge served cold

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/underworld-gta-drugs-guns-murder-and-revenge-served-cold/

Frank Bifulco comes right to my mind. Lately he has been staying in the Greater Buffalo area with a couple of trips to Rochester. Perhaps he was switched from Underboss to a Front Boss position to insulate Joe Todaro Jr. Would make sense, given that Bifulco is both well respected and feared, and was close to the Papalia family.

Bifulco May be indeed the front boss of the organization for Todaro. That wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. Not sure what the purpose of him going to Rochester. Can’t imagine there is any activity or anything going on in that city. At least not in the last 20-25 years or so

From what I’ve heard, all hearsay, Buffalo has had a crew in Rochester for some time. That being said I’ve heard there were Bonannos and Gambinos in Rochester as well. One of the recent articles has Todaro saying something to the affect if you are not under Buffalo you need to pack your bags. (Anybody remember which article that was?) Anyway, can’t help it wonder if the other family members in Rochester had something to do with that... Of course could have been talking about the Hamilton crews and their many ties to other families too. It is all very interesting.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...me-figure-was-underboss-of-buffalo-mafia

"The mobsters, the documents allege, were clear that Todaro held the reigns of power within the re-emergent Buffalo organization; the men said that nobody became a member without going through Todaro first. They said a mobster in the area was either under Todaro or they needed to pack their bags and leave."

Thanks Ciment

Siderno boss Cosimo Commisso, also known as "The Quail", has been released ! The Godfather served a life sentence since 1998, but was acquitted this week for not having committed the fact by a Naples judge. I believe he was tied In the 80s to the Buffalo Family operating in Toronto and Hamilton.

The English-language Wikipedia article for Cosimo Commisso of Siderno confuses him with Cosimo Commisso of the Greater Toronto Area, who has ancestry from Siderno Marina di Gioiosa Ionica. The first Cosimo Commisso had no such ties to the Buffalo Family; the latter did.

Thanks.

The FBI knew Dom Violi was “well connected” to the Buffalo crime family going back to 2002 according to @mobinfiltrator.