My grandfather is Augustine Riolo

AR

What family/crew did he run with?

I think its Buffalo crime family, but we had a lot of these guys with "inside" info and that are connected somehow.

Right, got it.

Wrong member.
Not much information on Agustine Riolo. Made in the 1950s and retired around the time of Pasquale Turrigiano death and many members were jailed. Part of Anthony Guarnieri crew before joining Ignatius Cannone crew. Was rumored to be strongly involved in labour racketeering, driver for both Connone and Remo Allio.
Remo Allio, was the Bufalino family lawyer was only a soldier but sat in on important discussion and legal strategies for the family. Last member made by Joe Barbara Snr. Was part of a panel when Bufalino went to prison, but only for awhile, when the power went directly to Ed Sciandra and Phil Medico for the Pittston faction.

Yes it was the Bufalino crime family. From what I understand grandpa was a solider and uncle remo was consigliere.

This is really helpful! I have never heard a lot of this. How did you have all this info? And is there anything on uncle Remo?

Thank you

Do you have any photos you can post and share?

Yes. I’m in Italy right now but I will try to post when I return.

Spot on Giacomo!!! I can also help with this Ariolo. If there is anything specific you are looking for lmk.

Yo GC, I'm gonna speak for the whole group and say tell us more.

If the Bufalinos had a whole Pittston faction, doesn't that mean the other faction was southern New York? Or were they even more varied than that?

Who were the heavyweights in the family? What can you tell us about guys like James Osticco, who apparently was Underboss, and Dominick Alaimo, who I once read the family plotted to kill?

Was Rusell an effective boss? It's so rare we get talk about the Bufalinos on this forum and with the Irishman coming out come on, we all want to know.

I’m sure there is something I am looking for but I can’t put my finger on it just yet. Yes the movie coming out is the reason this is all coming up now. And also peeks my interest into the subject. i really appreciate everyone’s help. I too will try to answer any questions that anyone has.

Dominick Alaimo was a capo and nephew to Joe Barbara Sr. He was a powerful Capo in the Pittston area. The discussion and conspiracy to kill Alaimo happened around 1964 or 1965. Members of the family thought he was informing, but it was an unknown associate close to Alaimo that was, but there was also jealousy towards Dominick from some of the family. The Feds got wind of this and informed him about it for 2 reasons, one his life was in danger and they were obliged to warn him and protect him if neccessary and two, they were hoping he would flipped. He was saved by both Joseph Saraceno who was the underboss from 1966 till he died in 1975, then Edward Sciandra became underboss, and Emanuel Zicari who was a powerful capo and possibly the Consigliere at the time. Alaimo was spared but broken down to a soldier till he died around the same time as James Osticco died.

When Joe Barbara became boss he moved near Endicott NY in the early 1940s. He was originally with the Buffalo crime family before moving to Pittston in the late 1920s. When he moved to Sothern New York he brought in two guys from Buffalo, Anthony Guarnieri and Emanuel Zicari, Zicari was made, but Guarnieri was not made until after WW2 was over. These two helped expanded and maintain Barbara hold on Southern New York. Barbara was boss, John Sciandra was not killed as many believe and was underboss til he died in 1949. Rosario Bufalino became underboss. From 1931 till 1959 the family had no Consigliere.
Barbara died in 1959 and Bufalino was named boss. Joseph Saraceno was named underboss, Santo Volpe lived until 1957 or 1958 and was a mentor to Rosario, Bufalino picked Saraceno cause he was valuable mentor and would help Bufalino from making terrible mistakes, plus Saraceno was a brother in law to Volpe. He choose someone in New York to be the Consigliere. Phil Medico is a close confidant of Russell who took over the Alaimo crew.

Fast forward to when Bufalino goes to prison the first time. Ed Sciandra is underboss but becomes acting boss, James Osticco is a capo gets bumped up to underboss, and Ignatius Cannone is a capo gets bumped up to Consigliere when Emanuel Zicari dies. William D'Elia sister married James Osticco son. Pasquale Turrigiano is named Capo of Zicari old crew, and Louis Marconi is named capo of the Cannone crew. Bufalino gets out and makes William D'Elia in 1984 along with one more new member to the family. 1950s they had 42 active made members, 6 or 7 inactive and another 4 members from different families living in those areas. By 1989 they had 29 made members, only 20 active or semi active, and 8 to 9 members from different families in those areas.

The heavyweights in the family by 1980 were, Ed Sciandra, James Osticco, Ignatius Cannone, Angelo Bufalino, Angelo Sciandra, Phil Medico, Anthony Guarnieri, Salvatore Saraceno, Pasquale Turrigiano, Aldo Magnelli and Angelo Son.

James Osticco became a capo in 1955 when he took over Stefano Latorre crew when Barbara shelved him, but Russell would unshelve him. Latorre would be active until he retired in 1966. He was a vicious mobster. He ran Teamsters Local 326 in Wilmington DE, and used its funds as his personal piggy bank and launch pad to other illegal and legal ventures. He had a solid relationship with the Colombos.
Ed Sciandra power really took off when he became acting boss and made a fortune from a record company he bought signing artists. This allowed him to get close to both Fat Tony, and Tony Ducks in New York. When Bufalino died, he retired and left the family to William D'Elia. Sciandra was always loyal to Bufalino.
Ignatius Cannone had strong connections to the Bonanno, Colombo, and Gambino crime families.
Tony Guarnieri was all over Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida. He was a force to he recorded with, twice he was offered a administration position, but turned it down to remain a capo since he needed to be hands on with businesses he was running for the family to come to Pittston and Souther New York every time and to run the family.

Joseph Saraceno became underboss around 1966.

Tony Guarnieri had control of Teamsters local 506.

Members from other families that transferred to the Bufalino crime family.
Joseph Barbara Sr, former member of Buffalo.
Rosario Bufalino, former associate of Buffalo.
Giuseppe Galante, early member to the Bonanno crime family.
Frank Vultaggio, early member to the Bonanno crime family.
John Parente, former associate to Philadelphia.
Charles Gelso Sr, early member of the Genovese crime family.
Bartolo Guccia, former associate to Detroit, made along with Remo Allio in 1958.
Anthony Guarnieri, former associate with Buffalo.
Aldo Magnelli, former associate of Philadelphia.
Dominick Alaimo, former member of Buffalo. Nephew to Joseph Barbara Sr.
Jack Parisi, former member of the Gambino crime family. Related to Vincent Mangano.
Joseph Pinto, former member of Buffalo.
Joseph Genovese, former member of Buffalo.
Rosario Farulla, former member of Lucchese crime family.
Vincenzo Coppola, former member to both Bonanno and Buffalo crime families.
Thomas Sesso Sr, former member of Newark, NJ family.
Samuel Scalleat, former member of Philadelphia.
Emanuel Zicari, former member of Buffalo.