Ok so anyway; the MIlwaukee "Family", eh? Does anyone have a reliable idea of what might be going on there? Its a hard one to follow, with a lot of opinions. The most common list, which im pretty certain is culled from RealDeal, was previously posted in this thread and goes something like:

Boss: Joseph P. "Joe Camel" Caminiti
Underboss: Joseph P. "Joey Bal" Balistrieri
Consigliere: Peter "Pitch" Picciurro
Acting Consigliere: John "Johnny Bal" Balistrieri

Captain: Dennis "Libby" Librizzi
Captain: Angelo "Big Angelo" Alioto
Captain: Ricco "The Killer" Bono

...and a whole crap-load of supposed soldiers, usually some 20 to 25 names.

But are they really still doing things? If so, then really with that many guys? Because there is a distinct lack of recent charges & crimes to speak of.

Joe Camel Caminiti is the supposed boss, but there is even less information freely available on him then Vincent LoScalzo, which says that, as like LoScalzo, he's either ridiculously cautious, not doing much or simply not doing any thing. I must admit though, there;s a lack of info dating right back to his days as Frank's underboss, so maybe he's doing something right? (as right as a mobster can get, that is)

One Dennis "Libby" Librizzi seems reasonably well known, ostensibly as the owner of "Libby's Lounge", a seemingly well known bar. He is at times obtusely referred to as a "character". Alioto is considered by some sources to be inactive at 85 years or older & there's squat i can find on Ricco Bono. Most of that information i got from Milwaukeeworld.com, a local site.

the most detailed documents i could find in relation to Joey Bal are dated 1985, like this (& he is only a peripheral concern in this particular file, a court document relating to Union impropriety); Interesting, but dense:
http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/910/910.F2d.1357.89-1906.html

A typical example of unsubstantiated claims on the Milwaukee Mafia, made by a myriad different authors on the myriad different mob sites: http://members.fortunecity.com/sosdie/mob/family/milwaukee/milwaukee.htm

Now am i really just looking in all the wrong places? Because i tend to come to the conclusion that of the 30-odd names on the most referenced list, there is considerably less then a third actually active. Of course, i may be wrong - but it seems very likely. There is an abundance of info on Balistrieri Sr, the "man who put Milwaukee on the (mafia's)
map", but scarcely any on his sons & supposedly strong Family. Did it basically disolve with his death? Google any of the names on the list, and the only reference to them is the list itself.

Easily the most prominent Balistrieri these days is Frank's eldest daughter Bennadetta, & her endeavour to get a piece of her father's supposed fortune. But according to her brothers & younger sister, since she apparently "dumped" & ran out on the family some 20 years ago she isn't entitled to squat, even if (wink, wink) there was a fortune, which there isn't! Shades of Janice Soprano or what? http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/currentIssue/full_feature_story.asp?NewMessageID=18817

There is nowhere close to 30 members left in Milwaukee. Not even 20. And I'd be willing to bet not even 10 at this point. The vast majority of those names you see floating around on "Milwaukee charts" have never been verified and I wouldn't be surprised if many of them were bogus or at least not made guys at all. There's a reason why there hasn't been a mob case out of Milwaukee in about 25 years.

The only two families in the Midwest that have those kind of numbers and are even considered viable by the FBI are Chicago and Detroit. In Cleveland and Kansas City you've got maybe 10 members left. In Milwaukee and St. Louis it's most likely under 5 left at this point.

Thank you, Ivy. I don't think there are 30 Italians left in Milwaukee, let alone made guys .

I'm continually shocked at the places some people think there are still viable mob families left. I got into one debate with a guy who insists there is still a family in Rockford, Illinois.

Now much of this comes down to differentiating mob activity from a mob family. There can still be mob activity in a certain area but that doesn't necessarily mean there is still a formally structured, viable family left.

And from there the argument comes down to how does one define a mob family. The way I see it, it's got to have the traditional structure of an administration, captains, and soldiers. This is hard when you've got maybe 10 or less guys left in a given area and it's not much more than a crew.

& so it was indeed a valid opinion.
Nothing for nothing, i did not expect a viable family operating, despite the lists floating around naming so many men.
Like many such charts, i tend to see them more a roll call of members over the last 20 to 30 odd years, rather than an actual chart, as such.

For the record, I wasn't implying that you believe there is still a family in Milwaukee. Just that there are more than a few out there who have outated notions of the mob today. You made a good point about the list of Milwaukee members having no reference other than itself. There is a reason for that just as there is a reason why there has been no mob bust there in decades.

Never forget Joe Barbato Sr. He was one of the toughest and most respected men on Federal Hill. He only used his strength and power towards the ones who deserved it. He never went after the good guys, no matter what offers he got.

His last daughter born, is as crazy as strong as his first son born. Felicia and Richard. Two good people who many mistake as criminals. They mostly set up, by getting even to whoever hurt them or disrespected them, but the two smartest kids and toughest kids Joe ever had. I believe his daughter is a registered 4th degree blackbelt champion retired fighter, who I personally have watched fight, and never lost, just like her father, and Richard is still a great man who Feds are always trying to set up on something that he didnt do, and spoke to someone, to scare them, and has been set up. Richard is a very respected Soldier - Sworn in after Joe's death in June 2010... He protects Joe's wife and daughter deeply now.

Never forget the Barbato family. They grew up with Patriarca, Manocchio,Deluca, and Sciarra Family, on the same block. Robert was the Brains. Joe was the strength. Both were dedicated to their family and put them before anyone or anything....

They were the brains and strength, and both highly respect men.

Joe Barbato Jr. will always be remembered as a good man. He put his family before anything and turned every offer down, and was respected more for that.

In this photo are the originals, taken at the Barbato Cigar Shop on Federal Hill on March, 1956
Louie Manocchio and his brother, Junior Patriarca, BoBo, and in the center is Joe Barbato Jr. - White Sports jacket. I'm not sure who else is in here. Maybe someone else can help me out on that.

You may have to update the charts a little with regards to KC. They do have a structured family, and more than 10 made members, they are a very low key bunch and about 75% legit, but they have new members who are in their early twentys, the Sansone brothers, charlie simone, Buddalaca they are not the power they were before 1980, but they are bouncing back slowly and smartly. Willie Cammisano sr. made abot 15 guys in 1989 just before Tony Civella was released from prison, they were young guys then so they would be mid 40s now. There starting to get some movement into the unions, especially local 41 as well as some play in the river boat gambiling casino's. 10 members were arrested recently after a 1 1/2 year investigation for illegal gambiling. Another member was just indicted for trafficing in conterfit goods last week. After breaking away from Chicago outfit in the mid 80 KC expanded into Colorado, Washington DC, Florida and Texas and maintainted some operations in Las Vegas. They own the adult entertainment business in KC all of them. Some of the old timers are dying off with the death of Frank Tousa and Nick Palmentere this year.

There are certainly still some members in Kansas City left, as well as young guys who are related to them. But I don't think the FBI really recognizes a viable, formally structured family there anymore. The recent gambling bust was the first mob-related case in years. And only one or two of them were identified as being made members. And, while it just may be my opinion, I don't think whatever is left there has the resources to have significant criminal operations in multiple states. Nor do I think they would have been able to make as many as 15 guys in the late 80's.

Is this the recent case from last week you were referring to?

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/luna.ind.htm

Hi Ivy,

actually the information on the made men came from an FBI affidavate stating that in 1987 William Cammisano Sr. acting boss made as many as 12 men, I used to have a copy of it but I cant find it. There have been several inditements since the late 80's but the FBI is very hesitant to use the words organized crime in this town because they are so proud of their work in the strawman case and their ascersion that they have eliminated the mob from KC for good. The recent arrests of 10 men started in March I will try and find the links, there was an inditement this past week of a member for trafficing in conterfit merchandise over 400,000.

Here are some of the links

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/dicapo.ple2.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/dicapo.ple.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/cammisano.ind.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/civella.ple.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/cammisano.ple.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/sansone.ple.htm
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/simone.ple.htm

In addition there was the Lincoln town car full of dynamite that was used to blow up part of the Belfonte Ice Cream plant because of Nick gambling debt to the mob in the mid 90's.

In the mid 2000's you had the utility company and the credit card scam arrests involving local members and members of the gambino family, where they were using a local utility company as a way to scam money off the bill and through credit card charges.

John Calia a soldier was convicted for drug trafficing in recent years and both Anthony and Joe Porrello were convicted in the tivol robbery in 2001 for 2.1 million in jewerly, they were the masterminds and organizers. Both are members and Anthony is a capo.

John Mandacina a soldier was convicted of murdering a federal witness and is doing life, this happened in around 2005 i believe.

You have the unsolved murder of Charles Cammisano the newphew of William Cammisano and the unsolved murder of of William Cammisano's grandson which occured in 2004 and 2007.

They have a guy now in the teamsters local 41, Ben Palmentere, so they are slowly beginning to get back some union influence. They control the unions that control the local food chains and have major controls in the Passantino brothers applemart chains and the Constantino brothers price chopper chains.

The have members on the Jackson County sports authority which controls the actions involving the stadiums including awarding of constuction contracts. The former County executive Catherine Shields, is married to the son of Tiger Cardarella and whom has strong associations. They have people in the county and local goverments but have not been able to make strong efforst into the police departments but do have some local judges who are favorable.

However let me say this, are they the crew that was in operation in the 60's and 70's no, they are not close to that. The mob in this town even in the Civella era was hard to get information on because they are almost all blood related in the inner circle. They have always been low key and they are to this day very low key, they are about 80% legitamate and 20% illegal in their activities. They are using more sophisicated methods of operation and rely heavily on the local black gangs and mexican gangs for their drug trafficing and "wet" work.

As for other states, Ribaste still controls remaning interests in Vegas, most recently involving Binion, and some car lots and pawn shops. I do know they have a few people working in Denver with the family there, they own and operate Bazokka's show girls here in town a high end strip club. The Civella sons have interests in the valley in cali in the porn industry.

There not the gambino's nor are they even the crew they were before but they are more than just a few old guys hanging around. They are stronger now than they were in the late 80's. They have a structure, boss, under boss, capos and soldiers.

One thing you should be aware of, having lived here all my life and growing up in the NE I grew up in and around these guys and I can tell you there has never been a lot of indictments and arrests even back when uncle nick was running the show, off topic, I used to go into the fruit market which was in the farmers market area where nick civella had his "office". He would always give me some fruit for free, tell me to call him uncle nick and then tell me to be a good boy and do good in school, he was always such a nice man, didn't have a clue at the age just how "nice" he was LOL. My point even in the highlight of their power, they didn't make the news a lot. Again not saying they are a powerful outfit like they were, just saying their more than just 10 old timers hanging out.

First, thanks for the info you have provided. Second, as I said before, I don't doubt there are still members, as well as associates, active in Kansas City. Though there doesn't seem to be much evidence of the formally structured family you describe beyond a few charts floating around on the internet. A poster on another board did some research on the names and at least most of them are mob-related guys in Kansas City. However, it's been a long time since any kind of an official chart has been put out by the feds or any kind of a structure has been alluded to in news articles. Just the odd guy here or there being identified as a member or related to past members.

Are you sure Calia was busted for drugs recently? The last one I'm aware of was back in the early 1990's. The Tivol Jewels robbery was 13 years ago now. The murder Mandacina was convicted for happened 20 years ago and he had been appealing it for years since. It appears Charles Cammisano was killed by his ex-wife over domestic disputes. I believe the Palmenteres sold their trucking and vending business back in the mid-1990's and they aren't listed as officials or anything with IBT Local 41. Peter Ribaste was put on the Nevada gaming exclusion list back in the late 1990's, around the time of his conviction for tax evasion. I believe Bazookas is owned by Dick Snow, though a competing club called the Shady Lady is owned by Joe Spinello and has mob ties. Civella's sons were involved in the porn business in California about 20 years ago. I don't know about now. There is no family left in Denver to work with. Obviously the billing company the Gambinos were using had nothing to do with the mob in Kansas City. Again, the only recent conterfeit merchandise bust I can find is this one - http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/luna.ind.htm - and it involved over $48,000 in goods, not $400,000. Of the two guys involved, one of them (Brent Luna) could be Italian but he's only 25 and I doubt he's a made guy, if he's connected at all.

Like I said, there are obviously still members and associates in Kansas City. But a formally structured, viable family? Doubtful. And I'd be willing to bet the number of remaining members there 10 or 12. Maybe 15 at most. Basically guys who are obstensibly legitimate, as well as others who are involved in the mob staple of gambling and maybe some side action with drugs, robberies, etc.

Comments by ex-law enforcement after the recent gambling bust sums things up.

"What’s accused here is exactly what Kansas City mob figures were convicted of a generation ago,” said retired FBI agent Jeff Lanza. “However, on its face, it doesn’t represent a resurgence of the Kansas City mob to anything near what they were in our city’s past.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/11/90229/out-of-the-mob-past-of-kansas.html


William Ouseley, a retired FBI agent who has written about organized crime in Kansas City, says that recent indictments do not signal that La Cosa Nostra is making a comeback. During the Q&A portion, Ouseley was asked about the Mafia's current state. Ouseley, who spent 21 years investigating organized crime, downplayed the recent breakup of an illegal sports betting operation. "There are wannabes out there," he said.
http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/04/form...of_wannabes.php

"Again,the only recent conterfeit merchandise bust I can find is this one - http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/luna.ind.htm - and it involved over $48,000 in goods, not $400,000. Of the two guys involved, one of them (Brent Luna) could be Italian but he's only 25 and I doubt he's a made guy, if he's connected at all."

This has nothing to do with the indictment I am talking about. Okay once again here is the link for the conterfit operation

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/dicapo.ple.htm

"It appears Charles Cammisano was killed by his ex-wife over domestic disputes."

See your just reading the newspaper clippings, the murder is unsolved, no one has every been charged with the murder. Cammisano's grandson phil corbet was murdered in his front yard no one has ever been charged. Here is the link to that this was in 2004 I believe.

http://www.pitch.com/2005-01-06/news/badda-bam/

http://www.pitch.com/2005-01-06/news/badda-bam/2

"I believe the Palmenteres sold their trucking and vending business back in the mid-1990's"

They sold there trucking business, but they just opened up Palmentare brothers coin operated vending on armour road.

"Peter Ribaste was put on the Nevada gaming exclusion list back in the late 1990's, around the time of his conviction for tax evasion."

And what the fuck does that have to do with anything I said, never said he was involved in casino's. I said he was taking care of business which were started and operate with mob money, this includes pawn shops and car lots.

"I believe Bazookas is owned by Dick Snow"

Hmmm, and just who would Dick Snow be, you know I live in this town and i might just know a little more than you. Bazookas is owned by Scope Pictures out of Denver Co. See link from secretary of states office. This is a company that the KC mob aquired in the 80's.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?1727357

Now of the other clubs located in kansas city Diamond Joes, is owned by Joe Mandacina, Totally nude temptations, barely legal, club pure and the cigar box are owned by Peter Ribaste through his niece Diane Ribaste, his brother Louis and another dude that I cant think of his name at the moment and through the mob attorney Richard T. Bryant who shows on the registration for most adult establishments, including the show, gerrys silver slipper, and yes your right the Shady Lady is owned by Joe Spinello and has mob ties.

"Civella's sons were involved in the porn business in California about 20 years ago,I don't know about now"

Well I do since I own 3 adult entertainment facilities.

"Obviously the billing company the Gambinos were using had nothing to do with the mob in Kansas City".

How do you think some Gambino soldiers are going to have any enroads into Casstel which is in cass county missouri, which is in Harrisonville/Peculiar without someone from KC setting this up. By the way William Cammisano Sr. lives in Harrisonville, the only member not to live north of the river.


"Like I said, there are obviously still members and associates in Kansas City. But a formally structured, viable family? Doubtful."

Do you work for the FBI, how do you get your informatio, just curious.

And I'd be willing to bet the number of remaining members there 10 or 12. Maybe 15 at most. Basically guys who are obstensibly legitimate, as well as others who are involved in the mob staple of gambling and maybe some side action with drugs, robberies, etc.

“However, on its face, it doesn’t represent a resurgence of the Kansas City mob to anything near what they were in our city’s past.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/11/90229/out-of-the-mob-past-of-kansas.html

Using your own quote, he did not say there was not a resurgence of the mob in kansas city, he only said there was not a resurgence to the levels of the past.

"William Ouseley, a retired FBI agent who has written about organized crime in Kansas City, says that recent indictments do not signal that La Cosa Nostra is making a comeback. During the Q&A portion, Ouseley was asked about the Mafia's current state. Ouseley, who spent 21 years investigating organized crime, downplayed the recent breakup of an illegal sports betting operation. "There are wannabes out there," he said.
http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/04/form...of_wannabes.php

These wanna bes include made members in the organization, Joe Mortina, William Cammisano jr., Jerry Cammisano, Vincent Civella. Ouseley is an FBI hack who stands to gain by the appearance of no mob activity since his book details how he and his fellow strike force members "killed the mob in kansas city"

Its amazing to me that a person can get his information through internet research, yet down play and disregard information from a person living in the city and better yet living in the neighborhood and in one of the businesses that the mob operates in. Yeah I can see where you would know more than me since your here with "boots on the ground". Unless you have classified clearance and are a member of the FBI, I have to wonder about your sources.

Let me explain to you where I'm coming from. I've been on this OC forums for years now and I've had to be very careful about what information I believe because there are so many bullshitters on these boards. More than you might believe. But I also try not to ignore those who actually do have valid information. Don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. And over time, I've been able to get a certain sense of who's on the level, who's a phony, and who's perhaps mixing facts with fiction.

My history, i.e. background, where I live, etc. is about as far removed from the mob as one can be. So I do get most of my information from FBI reports, press releases, indictments, articles, books, etc. This has caused a lot of debates with the local "neighborhood guys" who believe they inherently know more on the subject because they're much closer to it, grew up around it, know certain people, etc. And in a lot of ways, that's certainly true. At least on a "micro-level." I'm more about the "macro-level" or the general, over all picture; which I believe I have as good or better handle on as anyone. Particularly in regards to the modern day LCN - 2000 to the present.

Now there is apparently a lot of specifics about Kansas City which you know, and which I'm not disputing. What I'm going on is the general, over all picture of the Kansas City mob from what I've gathered from the sources I mentioned. One thing that seems to be almost certain is that the FBI no longer recognizes a formally structured family there; though that doesn't mean there still aren't members and associates involved in organized crime. This same situation exists in a number of places where there is still mob activity without there really being a formally strucured, fully viable family left.

Now, as I mentioned before, there are some charts on different forums that list about 40 names for Kansas City. But they don't specify between made guys and associates, nor are some of the names independently verifiable, as they are on certain other family charts. You also have to take a look at the size of other families, or what's left of them, in the midwest. Chicago has about 50 members. Detroit has about 25 members. Cleveland has about 10 members. St. Louis has about 5 members. And I'm not sure if Milwaukee has any members left. Another factor I use is ongoing activity over the past decade or so. Going on what I can, I'm guessing Kansas City falls in somewhere between Detroit and Cleveland.

One should also remember that the FBI loves to go after La Cosa Nostra. They have decades of experience and in-house knowledge built up on the Italian-American mob. And typically the Mafia gets more press coverage than other OC groups. As long as there is something to go after in regards to LCN, the FBI likely will. But once even they have basically written a family off, that means you can pretty much take that to the bank.

In a report to the UN on the LCN about 10 years ago, it was said that New York was the only place where the mob was still a high priority for law enforcement. Obviously because there you are dealing with the five largest and most active families. It said there were still families in other cities, namely New England, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit, but they are much smaller and are not considered as big of an OC threat. The report also listed the Miami/South Florida area as being an area where there is still considerable mob activity since the New York families have crews there.

As for the Gambinos, in the actual indictment, as well as all the articles, regarding the Locascio crew's scam, there has never been any mention of KC mob involvement. And I don't think we should just assume there was because part of it took place in Missouri. It's really not like the old days where the Gambinos would need to get permission.

Finally, are you saying you are one of Civella's sons?

Here's the info which a poster on another forum was able to dig up regarding Kansas City -
http://www.realdeal-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7926



Boss: John Joseph "Joe" Sciortino

Underboss: Peter Simone- I found this incorporation record from 1975 for an Avenue Social Club in Kansas City where Peter Simone is the registered agent. The address listed is 4419 Sunrise in KCMO. I'm not sure if that is the actual address of the club or not, but is an interesting piece of the puzzle.

Simone operated Be Amused Vending Company, which he used to launder gambling income. The incorporation record is found here:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?256849


Deceased Boss: Anthony "Tony Ripes" Civella

Here is Anthony Civella's obit. Lots of familiar names mentioned. Check out the pallbearers at the end.

http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=16753972

"Anthony Thomas Civella Sr.
Anthony Thomas Civella, Sr., 75, Kansas City, MO, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2006, in Phoenix, AZ, while enjoying a golfing vacation with family and friends. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Monday, February 20, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1357 NE 42nd Terr., Kansas City, MO, 64116; entombment in Resurrection Mausoleum, Kansas City North. Visitation will be 3-9 p.m., Sunday, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 64124; where the rosary will be said at 6 p.m. The family requests no flowers. Tony was born in Kansas City, MO, on February 17, 1930, to Carl and Fannie Civella. He lived his entire life in the Kansas City area. On February 6, 1951, Tony married his childhood sweetheart, Molly DeLuna, and over the years fathered five children. Tony belonged to various organizations including the Tobacco Round Table. He owned several businesses and real estate during his life including restaurants and rental properties. Tony was devoted to his family, and was a man who liked to do things his own way. This trait endeared him to the people who knew him well and came to love him. Although he only fathered five children, Tony became a beloved father figure to many, many others. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Fannie Civella; and son-in-law, John Sansone. Tony is survived by his wife of 55 years, Molly Civella; his children and their spouses, Carl and Bridget Civella, Nick A. Civella, Fanny-Jo Sansone, Vince and Savara Civella, Anthony T. Civella, Jr.; grandchildren, Molly Ann Civella, Stacie Civella, Tony Carl and Valerie Civella, Michael Sansone, Anthony Sansone, Anthony Joe Civella, Amalia Civella, Tony John Civella, Brianna Civella, Celia Civella, Zoe Stephens, Anthony T. Civella III, Francesca Civella, Spano Civella; great-grandchildren, Rianne Civella, Dante Civella, Nicolette Sansone; brother and sister-in-law, Carmen "Butch" and Barbara Civella; brothersin-law and sisters-in-law, Carl and Sandy DeLuna, Rosie and Ralph Siraguso, Frank and Sylvia DeLuna; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, with a special mention and heartfelt thank you to his physician and close friend Dr. John Cascone. Pallbearers: Carl J. Civella, Sam Mirabile, Nick Palmentere, Peter J. Ribaste, Nick Simone, Vince Siraguso, Mark Sorrentino. Honorary Pallbearers: Bennie Palmentere, John Sciortino, Paul Silvio, Pete Tamburello, Paul Varsalona. (Arr: Passantino Bros. Funeral Home (816) 471-2844)
Published in the Kansas City Star from 2/18/2006 - 2/19/2006."

Link to Tony Ripes guestbook upon his death:

http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=16753972

There is a photo at the bottom of this post showing Tony Ripes and George Chiavola from 1959 with caption provided by whoever added the picture to the guestbook.



Capos:

1. William "Little Willie" Cammisano Jr.- Obviously well known, many have speculated that Willie Jr. may in fact be running the KC family right now. Here is a link to interesting stories involving the Cammisano's that also mentions several other KC family figures:

http://www.pitch.com/2005-01-06/news/badda-bam/full

Willie's son Carlo Cammisano is co-owner of The Copa Room, an Italian restaurant in Kansas City. Willie's ex-wife Kathy Fiorello, Carlo's mother, run's the kitchen there. Here is a link to a story about the restaurant and another link that has a picture of Carlo and gives more family background information.(I don't know if Carlo is officially involved in the family business. I have seen no other mention of his name):

http://www.pitch.com/2004-08-19/dining/his-way/full


http://home.kc.rr.com/coparoom/history

Willie's cousin, Charles "Vito" Cammisano, has an obituary from this year that mentions the "lunch bunch." Charles was shot to death in front of his home in last fall. Family members believe it was his ex-wife Lettie Cammisano-Strait who killed him. She was arrested after a standoff along with her new husband. Charles was employed at a Northland car dealership. A picture of Charles and his ex-wife and the house he was murdered at can be found in the following two links:

http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/update-charles-v-cammisano-murder/

http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2007/09/03/charles-v-cammisano-murder-9107-riverside-mo/

"The Lunch Bunch: Jerry Cammisano, Joe "Red" Cervello, Joe Moretina, Sam Marsalla, Frank Marsalla, Mike Fasone, Sam Scola, Jack Ancona, Joe Vigliaturo, Vince Civella, Mike Garozzo, Mike Lombardo, Steve Morgan, and Anthony Scavuzzo."

Included in that list is at least one KC family member, and several VERY prominent local businessmen. I'm not sure if it means anything, but I want to keep the names handy for future reference. The full obituary can be found here:

http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=93884108


More information that suggests the possibility of mob involvement from this story:

http://www.kctv5.com/news/14071259/detail.html

"This year, a neighbor said Strait told her, "the Italian mafia would take care of things."

Strait said, "I was married to the mob for 23 years. I went to prison for them. I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn't cooperate with federal officers."

KCTV5 reported Thursday night about the conviction about which she talked.

Friday, KCTV5 News found out that she and her co-conspirators were prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force.

That drug trafficking case involved her, Cammisano and a Kansas City, Mo., fire captain."


Also, Charles Cammisano's niece Alaena Cammisano is the registered agent for Birdies Duffers Sports Bar in KC. I'm not sure if that means anything yet.

2. Vincent "Vince" Civella- Vince is involved as the registered agent for local home development company Coventry Court LLC. Note on the incorporation record linked below that Tony Ripe's son, Anthony Civella Jr. and the Antoinette Cammisano Trust (Antoinette was Willie "The Rat" Cammisano Sr.'s wife and Willie Cammisano Jr.'s mother.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?619361

Also, here is the link to the website for the home development of Coventry Court:

http://www.cbkc.com/communities/coventrycourt/


3. James Duardi[/b]- Contrary to some posts, Duardi is still alive. He actually was in the middle of a minor controversy in 2005 involving Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields, who recently ran for Mayor unsuccessfully then got indicted. The link to that story is here:

http://www.pitch.com/2005-04-07/news/katheryn-the-grate/full

4. Angelo Porrello (IP)



Soldiers:

1. Salvatore Agrusa- Sal owns Paramount Pest Control in KC. His incorporation record can be viewed here:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?620101

2. Joseph Barletta

3. Nathan "Nat" Brancato- Brancato is the owner of Brancato's Catering, a very well known KC business.

I found this great story about a music festival put on in Sedalia by Sal and Nathaniel Brancato to deal drugs and launder KC Mafia money in 1974. It's long but pretty interesting. Sal and Nathaniel are related to Nat, just haven't firmed up how yet.

http://rodsievers.googlepages.com/ozarkmusicfestival

The Brancato family operated Fairyland Park, an amusement park open in Kansas City from 1923-1977 at 75th/Prospect.

4. John Calia (IP)- Here is a link to somrthing posted by Calia online from prison:

http://www.november.org/thewall/cases/calia-j/calia-j.html

5. Carlo Cavallaro

6. George Chiavola

7. John Costanza

8. John Cuezze- Cuezze's wife JoAnne is the official owner of Vivace, an Italian restaurant in the River Market. John Cuezze is listed as "staff" in an article in the Pitch. I hung out quite a bit for a while at the restaurant with co-owner Joe "JoJo" Amaro. JoJo was an acquaintance of a girl I worked with and ran with quite a bit, so we spent a lot of time over a six month period at the restaurant. I spent a few nights drinking with these guys afterhours at the restaurant. At the time I didn't know about John's involvement in the KC family, but looking back there was definitely that kind of vibe with these guys.

The following Pitch article talks about Vivace, and had a very interesting blurb I highlighted below.

http://www.pitch.com/2004-06-10/dining/cha-cha-vivace/full

"The neighborhood we now know as the River Market slowly went dead for a century, but it's experiencing a post-millennium renaissance, with expensive loft condominiums, an antique mall, snazzy little shops and the newest see-and-be-seen restaurant, Vivace. One of the restaurant's staffers, John Cuezze, might debate the theory that this north-of-the-loop neighborhood ever got too sleepy, because he had a great-uncle who played piano in one of the saloons that occupied the front half of Vivace. That poor relative was shot dead by a ricocheting bullet. "It was either 1928 or 1938," Cuezze says. "And in those days, there was still a brothel upstairs."

The building has been home to a wide variety of tenants (including a lesbian bar) over the past few decades. And if the ghost of Cuezze's great-uncle Phil is still hanging around, he's probably amazed at the changes that new owners JoAnne Cuezze (John's wife) and her business partner, Joe Amaro, have made."

9. Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna (Inactive)- Link detailing Tuffy's ban from Missouri casinos in 2005:

http://www.labor-unions.net/LOCALS/LU110/panel_bans_mobster_from_missouri.htm
"Longtime Kansas City mob figure Carl Angelo "Tuffy" DeLuna on Wednesday was barred from Missouri's riverboat casinos.

Missouri Gaming Commission investigators said DeLuna, 77, had frequented area casinos since his release from federal prison in 1998. He served 12 years on multiple racketeering and other convictions related to skimming profits from Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s and '80s.

DeLuna could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

He has 30 days to appeal his listing in Missouri's "Black Book" of undesirables.

Kevin Mullally, commission director, said that DeLuna's gambling came to the commission's attention and that a check of player- tracking records at area casinos confirmed it.

DeLuna becomes the eighth person to be listed by the commission, and the first since 1997."


10. Frank DeLuna

11. Richard "Rick" DeLuna

12. Nicholas "Nick" DiGirlamo- This info from the union case DiGirlamo was involved in ties together a few guys on this list

"In United States v. International Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of Am. ("DiGirlamo"), 824 F. Supp. 410 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), DiGirlamo was the bookkeeper for IBT Local 41 in Kansas City, Missouri and the evidence therein established that he associated with four men -- Charles Moretina, James Moretina, Peter Simone ("Simone"), and Frank Tousa ("Tousa") -- whom he knew to be members of the Kansas City LCN. Id. at 414-416 (discussing association with C. Moretina, J. Moretina, P. Simone and F. Tousa).

DiGirlamo's car was observed by the FBI outside of Charles Moretina's house during working hours. He also attended Charles Moretina's criminal trial and visited him several times in prison. Id. at 416. James Moretina and Simone hired DiGirlamo as an accountant for their business -- Be Amused Vending Company-- and he would occasionally go to Simone's illegal gambling hall to pick up the company's books. In fact, during his tenure as the company's accountant, the FBI seized illegal gambling equipment which the company owned, and James Moretina and Simone were eventually convicted for money laundering and illegal gambling. Id.

DiGirlamo also visited James Moretina's home and spoke with him daily on the telephone. Id.

DiGirlamo and Simone had known each other since childhood. They had participated in community sporting and charity events together, and had spent time at one another's homes. Id.

DiGirlamo had also prepared Tousa and his wife's personal tax returns and had spent time in the Tousas' home while doing so. Id."


13. Thomas Fontanello

14. John Glorioso

15. Robert Gulotta

16. Nicholas LaBruzzo- Own's Chubby's Restaurant. Here is a Pitch article about the restaurant, just confirms LaBruzzo is the owner.

http://www.pitch.com/2000-08-10/dining/fat-city/full

17. Jack LaScuola

18. Joseph "Joe" Mandacina (IP)_ Owns popular KC strip joint Diamond Joe's. Here are two links to stories about the club and Joe and a building he owns that house a local French Restaurant:

http://www.pitch.com/2001-12-20/news/prancers-and-vixens/full

Mandacina was also somehow involved with 901 Mississippi St and Shenanigans in Lawrence, KS in 1976. I grew up in and currently live in Lawrence, so I will try and find out more info.

Following up on Joe Mandacina in Lawrence, as of 2001 he still owned the building at 901 Mississippi, which now houses the Cork & Barrel liquor store (owned by different people).

Here is the link confirming as much:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/jul/07/cork_barrel_to/

"Allison Vance Moore, an agent for Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group in Lawrence, said that she received several inquiries from people interested in subleasing the building for use as a bar or nightclub.

But neither the Merc nor the building's ownership group led by Michael Messina and Joe Mandacina wanted to lease to such businesses."

19. Salvatore "Sal" Mandacina (IP)

20. James Moretina- Charles Moretina was involved with Phoenix Investment Group in Lenexa, KS and Moretina Diversified at 28th/State Ave, in Kansas City, KS in 1997.

21. Benjamin "Ben" Palmentere- Ben and Joe Palmentere was the head of Palmentere Brothers Distributing, who is big into trucking, vending and soft drink distribution in the area.. Ben actually sold the business to what appears to be legit new owners in 1994. A link to the business is found here:

http://www.palmenterebros.com/

A story about the new owners and transaction is here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/1997/04/14/smallb1.html


Here is some background on Palmentere (I believe his father is Baldasaro, not 100% on that though):

"Local 64 HRE - Kansas City. This local was formed as a result of a merger of 4 locals by the International. During the two years it was in receivership, the local was run by Michael Salerno, hand-picked by Hanley. Salerno is under investigation for allegedly embezzling organizing funds disbursed to him by the International. When the local was taken out of receivership in 1976, Baldasaro Palmentere, former bagman for Nick Civella's right hand man, Danny Lawson, appeared as the Secretary Treasurer of the local. Hanley supported Palmentere who according to DOL is trying to gain control over all the locals' funds."

22. Eugene "Gene" Picone

23. Vincent "Vince" Picone- Possiblty recently deceased in a car accident, if this is him:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/415257.html

Owner of Quality Detail and Auto sales at 326 Olive.

24. Joseph Porrello (IP)

25. Joseph "Joe" Ragusa

26. Peter Joseph Ribaste (Las Vegas)-Peter is among the most well known KC guys because of the Vegas contacts. He owns several strip clubs through Ziegfield's Entertainment in the KC area. Most notable among those is Totally Nude Temptations Downtown, which is attached to The Cigar Box, where his brother Louis Ribaste is involved. For reasons not known to me, Peter transferred ownership of Temptations to John Ribaste in 2003, but is still very involved in the club's operations.

Louis has also been involved in various local restaurants, including Cafe New Yorker. The family also owns the KnobtownFruit Market at 8540 Noland Road.

Louis Ribaste was actively involved in Lawrence until at least 2002 with (I'm not making this up) The Bada Bing Strip Club. I do not know anything about Peter Bengimina, a KC businessman mentioned in the article, but I'm very curious about him.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/mar/09/briefcase179/

Gala Hospitality Corp., owner of the strip club formerly known as Gala Cabaret, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Bada Bing in Lawrence.

The Bada Bing strip club is owned by a company controlled by Kansas City businessman Peter Bengimina, who bought it from Louis Ribaste a few months ago. Bengimina could not be reached for comment.

Gala Hospitality, with headquarters in Miami, was formerly known as Xpedian Inc., a small public company previously involved in Web-based financial planning businesses.

Jeff Stoller, president of Gala Hospitality, said the purchase price was still being negotiated. The deal is subject to approval by liquor control authorities in Lawrence.

Another article quoting Ribaste about The Bing:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/mar/17/bada_bing_to/

The following Pitch article details some of this, with the most interesting blurb below. I think it would be a decent assumption that Louis Ribaste is very actively involved with the KC family.

http://www.pitch.com/2005-02-24/news/it-s-his-world/full

"In the mid-'70s, Louis Ribaste had owned a cocktail lounge called Judge Roy Bean's at Fourth Street and Wyandotte in the River Quay (now the River Market). An explosion leveled it, along with the entire block -- which was owned by mob snitch Fred Bonadonna -- in March 1977. Ribaste collected insurance money. Three months later, his other downtown club near Ninth Street burned to the ground. Police never determined who was responsible for the bombing or the suspected arson.

Another member of the Ribaste family, Peter Ribaste, moved to Las Vegas in 1989 after doing six months in prison for mail fraud; he had failed to disclose $90,000 in Las Vegas gambling debts on loan applications to buy a Kansas City car dealership. In 1998 the Las Vegas Gaming Commission, citing mob ties, banned Peter from local casinos. In 2003, according to news reports, Peter transferred his ownership interest in Totally Nude Temptations, the strip club adjoining the Cigar Box, to his wife, who transferred the ownership to another family member, John Ribaste.

John Pisciotta has owned the Cigar Box since it opened in 1997. He bought the land beneath the club from Louis Ribaste in 2001. The Pitch could not locate Ribaste to request an interview.

Regardless of whether the Cigar Box deserves its reputation, plenty of the partiers there buy into the club's underworld allure. When asked about it, people who could dispel any such notions suddenly turn goodfella, invoking a code of silence.

Bring up the club's rumored mob connections and Latta becomes visibly agitated, like an actor threatening a young punk about asking too many questions. Pisciotta shuns the press. Pisciotta's attorney, Richard Bryant, strongly discourages mafia-related questions. No one brings trouble here, says the club's only enforcer, the gray-haired, hulking bouncer who works the humidor.

"What people do, that's their own thing," Latta says of the Cigar Box's reputation. "It's like anything else. You fuck with the wrong people, you get hurt. I never asked anybody what they do. Everybody always liked me, and I always liked everybody."

The mythology surrounding the club hasn't hurt Latta's stage persona -- barroom lore even has it that his years performing at the Cigar Box are to pay off debts to the mob. "No, that's so far from the truth," Latta says. "If that's what they think, it's crazy."

His love and loyalty lie with Pisciotta."

Pete Ribaste is shown as incorporating the Market Social Club located at 106 E. 5th Street in KCMO in 1986 and dissolving it in 1987. That site is now home to Solaris Massage, which does not appear to be affiliated in any way with Ribaste. That record is found here:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?670456

John Ribaste holds the liquor license at Pure, a bar located on 350 Hwy.

27. Philip Saladino- Owns PS Surfaces, a recently formed floor laying company. Incoration record found here:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?2019906


Also owns Mercy Properties. Incorporation link found here:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?2019906

28. Samuel Scardino

29. Pasquale Sellaro

30. Anthony "Tony" Simone- Owner of Necco Coffee. This guy is a real prick. I did advertising for them. Doesn't pay his bills and takes it personally if you cancel his shitty coffee service.

Necco Coffee Website (note Tom Sciortino is prominent in the company):
[url=
http://www.neccocoffee.com/home.asp]
http://www.neccocoffee.com/home.asp[/url]

Link that contains pictures of Anthony Simone:

http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=necco_raiders

Interesting background from a 1991 story:

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/roe_nace_mob_fundraiser

"Federal authorities contend the mob used this company’s [Necco's] office in 1973 as the headquarters for a multimillion-dollar bookmaking operation.

A federal jury convicted the company's president, Anthony Simone, of gambling charges. Simone pleaded guilty to another federal charge in 1984 after authorities found him with coffee stolen from an interstate shipment.

Anthony Simone is the cousin of reputed mob lieutenant Peter J. Simone. Phil Simone is their uncle"

Here is a link to a story involving Anthony:

http://www.pitch.com/2003-05-08/news/bean-counters/full

Here is a link to a blog describing a fundraiser for a Mayoral candidate that involved the Simone's and Brancato's and was held at The Cigar Box.

http://kcbuzzblog.typepad.com/kcbuzzblog/2007/02/nace_fundraisin.html

31. Philip "Phil" Simone

32. Peter Tamburello- The Tamburello family owns Marty's BBQ in the Northland on Vivion Road, as well as Talk More Wireless on N. Highland. Marty's BBQ has been there for over 23 years.

33. John Termini- Termini currently is involved with Cater Time Vending in Kansas City. He is banned from Missouri Riverboat Casinos, detailed here:

http://www.globalgamingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=755&Itemid=66

More info on his current gambling habits here:

http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/n4idailybriefing/2007/12/do_casinos_need_a_master_list.html

"John Termini, who is on the Missouri Exclusion List, told me that he travels to Nevada and Mississippi to gamble in casinos in those states."
34. Frank Tousa- Tousa started two Social Clubs. Columbus Park Social Club was in 1969, and Northview Social Club Association preceded that in 1964. Both clubs were located at 1048 East 5th Street in KC. Curiosly enough, the following linked story details a bank robbery in 1930 where one of the assailants lived at that exact address. That story is linked here:

http://www.sodalofts.com/funeral.htm

Well we will have to agree to disagree, I call it formal activity when you have John S., Cammisano Jr, Vincent C., Termini, Joe Vigaturro, Sam Marsalla in the back corner of AJ's bar on IndependenceAve last week, and no one was allowed back in that area but guys were going in and out doing a lot of ear Whispering. Sure looked like John was running the show, but anyway, let me say this, no they are not the crew they were in the past not by a long stretch,whether the FBI recognizes them or not they are there and there are far more than 15 members. I have a friend attached to the ATF through the KCMO PD who told me that they seem to be more active, if you want his name I can PM it and you can "check it out". As for the FBI, I think their refusal to recognize them has more to do with local politics then facts, with many of the law and order candidates using the FBI to sell their past involvement in law enforcement and OC operations, but we could argue that for a long time and would never be able to prove it one way or another.

"Finally, are you saying you are one of Civella's sons?"

Where did I say this, come on dude even if I was I would never say it, but I am not and never claimed to be, I am not a nut ball, I am someone who has been studying the local OC for 20 years, I am someone who is familar with a lot of people because of family associations, my Uncle is Paul Varsalona who was an active member of the crew until he retired. He did time for the mob, so when I say I have been around this for a long time I am not just blowing smoke. I also own and operate 3 adult entertainment establishments in KC and "rub elbows" with some of these guys on a near daily basis.

Your response to my statement below sort of sounded like you were saying you were one of the Civellas.

"Civella's sons were involved in the porn business in California about 20 years ago,I don't know about now"

"Well I do since I own 3 adult entertainment facilities."

By the way, check out you private messages, joey.

The chart is way off, let me update it and I will provide some new names.


John Joseph "Joe" Sciortino

Underboss: Peter Simone - still operates be amused with James "Joe" Mortina

Capos:

1. William "Little Willie" Cammisano Jr.[/b]- going to prison.
2. Vincent "Vince" Civella - going to prison
3. James Duardi - capo in name only retired from activity.
4. Joe Mandacina - active
5. James Mortina - going to prison



Soldiers:

Salvatore Agrusa - active
Joseph Barletta - in active
Nathan "Nat" Brancato - active
John Calia - in prison
Carlo Cavallaro - active
George Chiavola - in active
John Costanza - dead
John Cuezze - active
Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna - dead
Frank DeLuna - in active
Richard "Rick" DeLuna - in active
Nicholas "Nick" DiGirlamo - definately inactive, snitch
Thomas Fontanello - dead
John Glorioso - in active
Robert Gulotta - in active
Nicholas LaBruzzo - active
Jack LaScuola - active
Salvatore "Sal" Mandacina - in prison
Benjamin "Ben" Palmentere - active
Eugene "Gene" Picone - active
Vincent "Vince" Picone - dead
Joseph Porrello - in prison
Joseph "Joe" Ragusa - in active
Peter Joseph Ribaste - active
Louis Ribaste - active
John Pisciotta - active
Philip Saladino - active
Samuel Scardino - unknown
Charles Sellaro - active
Pasquale Sellaro - unknown
Ralph Siragusa - dead
Anthony "Tony" Simone - in active
Philip "Phil" Simone - in active
Peter Tamburello - active
John Termini- active
Frank Tousa - dead

New members

Anthony Civella Jr. - active
Micheal J. Lambardo- going to prison
James "Jimmie" Dicapo - going to prison
Micheal Badalucco - going to prison
Jerry Cammisano - going to prison
Charles Cacioppo Sr. - active
Thomas Cacioppo - active
Anthony Sansone - going to prison
Micheal C. Sansone - going to prison
Tommy Saluto - active
Samual Scardino - active
Charles Simone - active
Charles Moretina - active
Joe Cervello - in prison for refusing to testify
Joe Vigaturro - active
Marvin Carnesseca - active
Sam Marcella - active
Tommy Marcella - active
Tommy Cascone - in prison for refusing to testify
Tony Miele - active
Paul Distefano - active
Mike Termini - active
Joe Sciara - active
Joe Palmentere - active
Dominiq Cervello - in prison for refusing to testify

One thing that is different than most "familys' KC has always be populated with actually family members either through blood or marriage. The same it true today. Cascone, civella's, Cervello's, Simone's and Sasone's are all related by blood. How many of these guys are "made" I dont know and no one knows. From things said to me I would put that number at between 15 and 20, the rest are soldiers. I did not name associates which would be double this list. They ply their trade in Loan Sharking, Gambling, fencing property, laundering money for other organizations (black and mexican gangs)through legit businesses, drug trafficing, conterfit merchandise you know the basic stuff.

There is no speculation on this list. I grew up with many of these guys, hung with them growing up spent a lot of time around my uncle and his "friend" and know some things. I am not a member, associate or involved in anything in anyway. However, when they see me they know me and speak to me.

You say there is "no speculation" in your list and yet you admit you don't know how many of them are actually made. Seems like we may need to define our terms here. As I'm sure you are aware, somebody is considered a "member" or "made" if they have gone through the formal induction ceremony. The basic positions in the family are Boss, Underboss, Consigliere, Captains, and Soldiers. Soldiers are the lowest made guys but they are still members. So it's inaccurate to call somebody who is not made, i.e. an associate, a "soldier" because it gives the wrong impression. Now if you were to label that list as "members and associates," that would be more appropriate. Because there is little chance at this point that Kansas City has 60+ made members. More like no chance whatsoever.

Okay well first of all there are only 40 or 41 active names on this list, so you might want to count it again, because I did not delete dead or in active guys because I was showing how the list changed. As I stated I believe their are between 15 and 20 made members, I was not stating the list is of all made men. I see I said the list did not include associates that was an error on my part and it should say does include associates. In my thought process I was lumping soldiers and associates together. That is my error, as for my no speculation comment that was in regards to the individuals involvment in the organization at some level.

Look, I am not trying to claim that the KC group is going to be the new gambinos of the midwest, I am just stating that they are growing from their low in the early 90's, as they grow they bring in more associates, eventually some of those associates are going to get made. I guess in a nutshell I refuting the claim that they are still on the decline as I have seen growth and signs of expansion.

Just for the record, if someone is made, they are a member whether they are active or not.

Okay dude you win, New York is the only place in America with a mob.

I think we both know I never said that. It's simply a sliding scale.

New York is obviously the epicenter of the Mafia, as it always has been. But even more so today. About 70% of the mob's remaining membership, or a little over 700 made guys, belong to the five New York families. The smallest New York family is at least twice the size of any other family elsewhere in the country. The New York families often work together in joint operations and are the most active, diversified, expansive, and resilient.

Then you have the "second tier," if you will, which would comprise Chicago, New England, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. They each have about 50 made members and show the most ongoing activity after the New York families. However, just because I put them on the same tier, I'm not saying they are directly equal. The DeCavalcantes in New Jersey are no more equal to the Outfit in Chicago than the three smaller New York families are equal to the Genovese or Gambinos.

A "third tier," in my opinion, would consist of Detroit and Buffalo. They each have about 25 members, give or take, and show the next level of mob activity. These two families are sort of in a grey area as far as still being formally structured, fully viable families.

After that you have the "fourth tier," which is basically areas where there are still remnants of families, including active members and associates, but not to the extent of a formally structured, viable family. These areas have anywhere from a few members to possibly as many as 15 members left. They include Rochester, NE Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Milwaukee (possibly), St. Louis, Kansas City, Tampa, New Orleans, and Los Angeles.

Finally you have those cities where the families are extinct and all known members are deceased. They would include Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Wow the know bodies in KC using the same wire room in costa rica for their gambling operation as the real mob in NY, I am sure it was just a coincedence.

"NJ state authorities rounded up several suspected Lucchese mobsters in connection with an alleged gambling ring, and pursuant to the continuing Operation Heat investigation officials on Thursday announced the arrest of Brian Cohen who is "accused of running the organization's online gaming operation" as reported by Chris Megerian for The Star-Ledger:
Brian Cohen, 61, of Buffalo, N.Y., is charged with money laundering and gambling promotion. Officials said the gaming operation, which processed wagers of $2.2 billion in a 15-month period, routed bets through a "wire room" in Costa Rica, where Cohen also lives. Detectives arrested Cohen at Buffalo Niagara International Airport as he got off a flight from the Central American country on May 16."

"Just for the record, if someone is made, they are a member whether they are active or not."

well using your logic here, then the number of made men in kansas city would be 28.

I had a copy of an affidavit in which Cammisano Sr. the boss at the time made 10-12 guys in 1987. I cant find it but here is a link indicating the same thing.

http://www.reocities.com/ocsmidwestmafia/kansascity.html

Like I said I had a copy you can believe me or not, I am sure nothing short of a public declaration from the white house would change your mind anyway.

It's not my logic. It's the way the mob works. Once you've gone through the ceremony, you only cease to be a member when you die or flip. You should know that. And since you said you're not sure which about which ones that are members, how can you put up a specific number like 28?



I've seen that site before. Some good pics and info but it's just a blog. And even if 10-12 guys were made in 1987, that's still 23 years ago.



Nah, just the feds recognizing any kind of family there or there being more than a couple mob-related cases over the past decade. But hey, that's me.

First, bookies all over the country, mob-connected and otherwise, now use offshore wirerooms and websites in places like Costa Rica and Panama. Many of the same offshore outfits service books run by various crime families.

Second, as we've seen with any number of examples, even when there is no real formally structured family left, what remains of a mob family is often still at least able to conduct the most fundamental of mob operations - bookmaking. There are only about 5 or 6 old members left in Pittsburgh, plus however many associates, but they've also had bookmaking and video poker busts in recent years.

Where does the FBI list what it considers OC family's is his a website or a hot line straight to you.

"It's not my logic. It's the way the mob works. Once you've gone through the ceremony, you only cease to be a member when you die or flip. You should know that. And since you said you're not sure which about which ones that are members, how can you put up a specific number like 28?"

First when I said I was not sure which members were made I was referring to the new guys and some of the guys who came in the late 80's. I am not talking about the old timers which I have spent hours reading over court records and appeals of the various old timers on the list to know which ones were made or at least the FBI said they were made during court procedings because they would be refered to as Soldiers or the term made would be used. I didnt just start with this stuff yesterday. And by asking members of the crew from that era most noteably my uncle Paul Varsalona who was not made, but was a close associate, who told me who was who from the old timers when I first got into this, from listening to my uncle and his friends like Carl Deluna who died in 2008, talking about people and flat asking those I know growing up with them who was who. Most of the inactives are old timer 70's era guys. I then factored the low number of people made by Cammisano and adding them together and then subtracting a few I arrived at 28. Is it 100% accurate no, but neither is your low by estimate of 10 members either. Especially since their are 10 old time made guys in active on the list and like you said, once made, always made.

You dont know how many OC arrests have occured over the last 10 years because they dont call them oc arrests, they did not even call the gambling operation an oc arrest, in fact if Dicapo had not been arrested in the gambling case you would not have known his name to connect him to the conterfit case, so if you just saw the conterfit case you would not even know his association to OC because they dont mention it. The reality you have no idea because they dont indentify the person or associate the person in this town to OC unless they are blood relatives. SO please tell me how you would know who is who unless, you know everyone involved, and you dont, because I dont and I am at ground zero, and since the FBI does not call it OC or identify anyone as members or associates how would you know how many have been convicted of various things over the past 10 or 15 years. Lastly and not that I want to share my personal business but in 2003 when I was indicted for intrastate firearms trafficting the ATF and the FBI were sure interested in whether or not I has dealings with the local OC, why would they be so interested in that I ask myself because they dont recognize a family. Then when they tried to turn me and try to get me to go to local pawnshops operationed by OC (there words)and try to purchase guns off the record they seemed to recognize them. Oh well I am done with this, you cant make a person see, they have to do it on their own. Keep your eyes open, like I said there is a resurgence afloat, so watch the headlines, I am not going to argue with you anymore.

More often than not, if mob guys get busted, it makes the news and they are identified as such. The big focus on the recent gambling bust in Kansas City wasn't it's relatively modest figures in bets - $3.6 million - but the fact that many of those charged had ties to past mob figures.

I may not be aware of every case in Kansas City over the past decade but I'm aware enough to see that we're not looking at a family with dozens of members who are in a resurgence. No family is in this day and age.