Just shows the Buffalo Sicilian Connection was tied to the Buffalo Crime Family. Todaro was firmly in charge by '88. Before taking the reigns in what most believe was '84 or before. Before that, he was a high powered Capo vying for control of the family all the way back to the late 70's on. I am sure he knew what was going on. I am not sure why the Buffalo News article would suggest the operations were done without the knowledge of the family. It is evident there were other made men and associates of the Buffalo LCN that were arrested. Lots of things I just can't figure out related to some of reporting by TBN.

Buffalo has always been involved in drug trafficking... Later, during the '90's, they were bringing Cocaine in thru Las Vegas, when they were said to be the most powerful family in Vegas... I will have to find the article sometime.

Does anyone else wonder if their is a reason they are calling this The Todaro Crime Family Syndicate instead of the former Magaddino or Buffalo Crime Family? Is it just because Todaro was the last recognized boss of the family? ... Very well could be... Or is there more to what is happening?

I've always thought Joe Lombardo was made... Don't know for sure... The Book on DiCarlo has him as one of four bookmakers in the city paying tribute to Magaddino through Randaccio. Here is a quote:



Hunt, Thomas. DiCarlo: Buffalo's First Family of Crime - Vol. II (Kindle Locations 6699-6703). Hunt&Tona Publications. Kindle Edition.

If it is the same Joe Lombardo ... I think he was more than an associate. Could be wrong. I believe the Lombardo family has had a long history of insolvent with BLCN.

@NickyfromTampa. Can’t agree with you about Fino. I think Herbeck May have got that wrong. You write:



I’d add Ron Fino. In a Sept. 30 2012 article he said 210 was never fully rid of its mob influence and referenced the Sam Capitano being back in charge.

Here is the article: FBI’s Inside Guy

Additionally he was so put off by Herbeck’s article he wrote a letter to the paper that was published. After citing an earlier Buffalo News article by BeBee, then going into more detail about the Capitano’s and Paul Cambria’s continued representation of 210 Fino says quite succinctly they are alive as he writes:



Here is a link to Fino’s letter: Fino Letter to Buffalo News

Nope. Fino doesn't believe the family is active either. The 2017 article that I linked previously has Fino saying the family is not active.

But, you know what, you make a good point. Fino, in 2017, said the family is not active, and I have cited this previously. But in 2012 he was saying they do exist and operate more clandestinely. And when he first flipped, he was outed as a bullshitter when he jumped on the OJ Simpson bandwagon and tried to make up some stories about him.

Fino is not really in a position to know any "street knowledge" regarding the Buffalo mob from 1990-onwards, when he publicly flipped.

But, if we are putting him down as a reliable source, then we can comfortably say that, as of 2017, he does not believe the family is active and seems to have changed his mind from 2012-2017.

Oh I get it. I know that article quotes Fino saying that. However, that is just a real big change of mind in a couple of years. So big you’d think Herbeck would have acknowledged Fino’s change of mind and highlighted the reasons. Don’t you think that would have really made the case for his March 2017 article? I think many of his readers in Buffalo would have liked the information, because Fino was so adamant the family was clandestinely active.

NEWS RELATED TO NY STATE CORRUPTION & BUFFALO BILLION SCANDAL

Percoco attorney objects to 'Sopranos' references
Prosecution wants to add context about former Cuomo's aides use of 'ziti' for money

Here is the article: Sopranos, Ziti, and NY State Corruption & Bid Rigging

LP Ciminelli is on trial for his firm's alleged corrupt dealing related to bid rigging in the Buffalo Billion portion of this scandal. Here are a few of the recent articles:

From the NY Post:
Men accused in 'Buffalo Billion trial congratulated themselves before bid-rigging even started
Congratulations for Bid-Rigging

From The Buffalo News:
'Star Witness' in Buffalo Billion trial implicates Ciminelli, Kayloyeros
Star Witness Implicates Ciminelli

With legal and political stakes, Buffalo Billion trial begins
High Political and Legal Stakes as Buffalo Billion Trial Begins

Star witness in Percoco trial ends up in jail for violating deal with US Attorney's office
Star Witness Ends Up in Jail

From Channel 7 News Buffalo
Federal Prosecutors: Ciminelli, Laipple will not face bribery charges in Buffalo Billion trial
Charges Dropped Against Ciminelli Exec.

Good stuff, Nickle.

Prosecutors Link Syracuse Developer to Buffalo Billion Scandal:

Executives Joseph Gerardi and Steven Aiello of Syracuse-based Cor Development are on trial with Buffalo developer Louis Ciminelli and former SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Alain Kaloyeros .

Here is the article: Gerardi & Aiello of Cor Development Linked to Buffalo Billion Scandal

VIOLI RCMP/HALTON POLICE DOCUMENTS FROM EARLY 2002-2005



JOE VIOLI ARRESTED IN ONE CALL COCAINE OPERATION 94/95







VIOLI BROTHERS ATOP RCMP TARGET LIST THAT INCLUDES BUFFALO CAPTAINS '98-2002





2002 3 PAGE HALTON DOCUMENT ON MUSITANO HIT SAYS DOMINIC VIOLI IS "HEIR APPARENT" to LUPINNO CRIME FAMILY









VIOLIS ON HALTON POLICE LUPINNO FAMILY CHART CIRCA 2005



By the way does anyone know who the early Dominica Todaro is on this chart? She appears be born in 1904 if I read the chart correctly. Is this Giacomo's wife? This news article on the death of Vincenzo Luppino suggests it is: Vincenzo Luppino Death

Does the Luppino Family have it roots with the Todaros? Is this why Canadian papers say members of Todaro Family were arrested in O'Tremens operation?

Is there any tie or relationship to the Todaro's that settled in Buffalo? They were/are Sicilian, but did they have relatives in Calabria where Giacomo is from? Did Giacomo marry a Sicilian Todaro? Maybe no connection at all, just lots of questions...

Last November, Ciment alerted us to the Luppino family tree--it's not really a crime chart because the family tree lists both men and women not involved in Italian organized crime--that appeared in Derrick Snowdy's Twitter timeline.

See the post in this thread for an answer to your question about Domenica Todaro, who was likely born in Oppido Mamertina, Reggio Calabria, which is the birthplace of her husband (Giacomo Luppino). To be clear, there are people in Oppido Mamertina with the surname Todaro, just as there are people born with that surname whose ancestry can be traced to Oppido Mamertina.

Thank you I will check it out.

Isn't the gubernatorial election this year for Cuomo?

Indeed here is an article that highlights the many candidates:
NY GOVERNOR’S RACE

CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN CIMINELLI TRIAL
STAR WITNESS “SINGS FOR HIS SUPPER”
BUFFALO BILLION “A BAD MEAL”
AIELO & GERARDI DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM CIMINELLI

So, I'll be the one to mention it. A case like this, with a star cooperating witness, wiretaps, the works, and there was no mention or indication of any overarching secret criminal organization such as the Buffalo Mafia? Even though forum members allegedly with their ears to the streets said it was a classic mob bust through and through? Did I miss something indicating that it was?

@Nicky, thanks for the comment and question. You are right. In this trial there is no direct, non-circumstantial evidence to a covert criminal organization such as Cosa Nostra in Buffalo. So, perhaps, it was wildly irresponsible for me or anyone else to have made any suggestion that it was a possibility.

By the way I never indicated is was "a classic mob bust through and through." I believe I just inferred there was a possibility due to circumstantial evidence. I think I've been pretty clear that the things I reference do not prove the Buffalo Crime family exists. I understand and appreciate your "facts/newsource/LE" only approach. My main argument is that approach can and is, at times, insufficient as well.

What is clear is these crimes were typical of Cosa Nostra type activities. They were committed by a Buffalo developer/builder alleged to have ties to the Buffalo Crime Family going back 2 generations. Of course, these alleged ties were just street talk until Ron Fino, in his book The Triangle Exit, stated that he was told by Falzone that Frank Ciminelli (Louis' Dad) "answered," and that he (Fino) was instructed to leave his (Ciminelli's) companies alone because they were "connected. There was/is no direct, non-circumstantial evidence that has been presented to prove Fino's accusation either.

Circumstantially, Buffalo area lawyer William Ianaconne, whose cousin was a made man in Buffalo, also links Frank Ciminelli to the Buffalo Crime family. He has a picture that supposedly shows Frank laundering money in Reno with a Buffalo Crime Family drug trafficker named Napoli. Of course this is just street talk, and an unproven allegation.

Further, Louis Ciminelli (Frank's son) served as a trustee for long time mob controlled Local 210 in Buffalo. He is named along with Falzone and other Buffalo soldiers and associates in a RICO suite alleging misuse of pension funds.

However, it is important to note there are no known newspaper articles, police reports, arrests, indictments, or convictions related to Frank Ciminelli's involvement with the Buffalo crime family. Nor are there any articles, police reports, arrests or convictions indicating Louis Ciminelli was or is a member or associate of the Buffalo Crime Family. As far as we, legally, know Louis was a legitimate trustee of Local 210.

On another, but related, note it should be clarified that these articles never indicated Cuomo had any involvement with this corruption. The only accusations are against members of his staff/administration. There is ABSOLUTELY NO evidence that Cuomo sanctioned or even knew any of this was going on. I could totally see why someone would say that it would be irresponsible to suggest otherwise about Cuomo, because there is not sufficient evidence of it!

In fact, the only non-circumstantial evidence demonstrates the opposite. The evidence suggests Cuomo is a crusader against corruption. The fact is Cuomo established "The Commission to Investigate Public Corruption" in July 2013 after several NYS senators including the Speaker Sheldon were accused of wrong doing.

It should be noted that some questioned why Cuomo disbanded the commission a short time later when they and The Feds started looking at him and the Buffalo Billion Scandal. But the evidence points the other direction.

The facts is The Feds Preet Bharara closed the investigation into Governor Cuomo because there was NO EVIDENCE of obstruction of justice. Cuomo's lawyer, Elkan Abramowitz, stated: "We were always confident there was no illegality here, and we appreciate the U.S. attorney clarifying this for the public record." Here are a couple related articles:

FEDS CLOSE INVESTIGATION OF CUOMO KILLING ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CHARGE CUOMO OF CORRUPTION

Here is a great article that provides a timeline with related NY TIMES articles about The Commission to Investigate Public Corruption's activity and lifespan:

SHORT LIFE OF ANTICORRUPTION COMMISSION

I personally believe there is a decent possibility that Cuomo is aware of and has been involved in this corruption, but the established facts and non-circumstancial evidence indicate I am wrong.

What is clear, NYS and some if its municipalities are incredibly corrupt (see my posts on Bufalino thread about Niagara County). This corruption could be an environment ripe for organized crime to flourish. But, you are right,there is no non-circumstantial evidence suggesting there is a connection to organized crime, like there is no evidence that Governor Cuomo is involved in any type of corruption or obstruction of Justice.

Believe me Nickle, my comment was specifically directed at the people who claimed the bust was a legitimate Mafia bust.
And you’ve explained the situation incredibly well Nickle. Better than I could. And there’s no doubt the Ciminelli family has connections to the mob as do most construction bigwigs from the 1990s. But I think that what some posters (not you) do not understand is that the mob does not define corruption nor is it solely responsible for corruption. Even as the mob dies, corruption continues. I think it should surprise nobody that contractors with ties to the mob are still committing the same type of crimes in the 21st century, in the absence of the mob. In fact, without the mob taking a tribute, they can make far more money than before.
I don’t think Ciminelli is the only formerly mobbed-up contractor still doing dodgy deals. Upstate NY is one of the most corrupt regions of America in terms of construction. But I simply don’t think it even POINTS to the idea that the mafia is still active. If anything, I think it HURTS the notion the mafia is still active because there was a lengthy investigation with a cooperating witness that still didn’t uncover any Mafia ties, and we’ve seen in the past that prosecutors love to bring up the Mafia at any chance they get.

Sorry I took you wrong. A few people on this and BH forums have been a bit brutal about my belief Buffalo is active because I allow "street talk" and "circumstantial evidence" into my consideration of the topic, because I believe the the LE, new source, and facts only approach can be and is insufficient at times, especially when considering corruption.

I find it interesting that some who take this strict "established facts only" approach OC do not apply it to their consideration of the political sphere (i.e. Cuomo). They are quick to suggest corruption on his part while citing circumstantial evidence, but the facts, news stories, and LE (at least right now) indicate otherwise. I'd like for them to understand the double standard in their logic that they are applying to these two situations.

I'll readily admit I believe there is a strong possibility Cuomo is corrupt... but I'm applying the exact same logic to Cuomo that that I do to OC. They do not.

Why is the LE/Facts/Trusted News source approach insufficient at times?

The Ciminellis are a good example. I was on the Real Deal many years ago, and was ripped a new one for making the suggestion that the Ciminelli family had been connected. People told me just because they have a vowel in their last name doesn't mean they were. Yet for two generations "street talk" in Buffalo indicated otherwise, even though their were no established facts, articles, indictments, & etc. to verify the "word on the street. There was only circumstantial evidence. Yet today, after Fino's book was published, most will readily admit they were connected in some way.

A good point Nickle, but did I ever suggest corruption on Cuomo's part? Not saying for sure I didn't, I might have let something slip, but I'm pretty sure I didn't.


It is one thing to say the Ciminellis were connected because that, prior to Ron Fino's book, had never been proven one way or the other. So, whilst people might dismiss it as street talk, it's still an allegation that has never been explicitly proven wrong. It's just a rumor.
But if you were to say something alone the lines of "The Gotti family were never involved in drugs," that is another thing because it has directly been proven wrong (i.e. the Gene Gotti arrest and conviction).

That is what we have here with the Buffalo thing. If you tell me Frank Bifulco is still very involved in racketeering and criminal activities, then hey, that makes sense, the guy is a career gangster. But if you tell me Bifulco is the leader of the Buffalo crime family, that's where I can say that all facets of law enforcement and journalism have concluded the Buffalo Mafia is done for, dead as a doorknob.

@Nicky: No you never suggested that but some posters on some mob related Facebook groups have. Didn’t mean to suggest you had the double standard with logic.

You make a good point about BiFulco.

On Ciminelli, I’m a little confused: You said there is no doubt the Ciminelli family was connected a few posts above:



But here, you say it is an unproven allegation. (BTW: which it is.)



Seems to me your “gut” unofficially recognizes the validity of some “street talk.” Am I wrong?

Didn’t the Ciminellis hold high-ranking posts in the union at the height of its Mafia control?

I only know of Lou serving as a trustee of the pension fund because of the ‘91 RICO against Leonard Falzone and the trustees.

CIMINELLI NAMED IN 210 RICO AGAINST TRUSTEES

During the cleanup the Ciminelli’s were vocal about no removal of current 210 leadership.



LOUIS CIMINELLI SUPPORTS 210 LEADERSHIP

Looks like the Ciminelli connection to organised crime figures is right there in your post, Nickle.

That is a wild accuasation. There is just circumstantial evidence that we are drawing an inference from. There is no factual evidence in this article that this “upstanding” prominent business was “mobbed up” as you put it. The article only said he is a supporter of the duely elected leadership of 210. How dare we jump to conclusions.

Further, there is no evidence to support the accusation that he is mobbed in the 210 RICO from ‘91 that sues the trustees for improper use of pension funds. Court documents never make an allegation that he is connected to organized crime... They just say there are known members of 210 that are.

As far as we know Ciminelli is just a legitimate trustee caught up in forces beyond his control. In a previous post you even agreed that there is no factual evidence to indicate he wasn’t a legitimate trustee.

You see, there seems to be a double standard as to what can be inferred about the Buffalo family. I hear from a funeral director that I trust that Butch BiFulco was at Nicoletti’s funeral and many people US & Canadian are there showing him a great deal of respect as he stands with family at cemetery. This doesn’t prove anything, but in my book lends credibility to the unsubstantiated report he is head of what is left of Buffalo Crime Family. Throw in Otremens operation and the academic article that mentions the “Todaro Crime Family Syndicate” and the fact that there is a 1 prominent FBI informant from the ‘90’s on a mob related Facebook group saying the family is active, not connected to the Bonanno’s (as some are inferring on other forums) and involved with healthcare fraud with other LCN families, then I believe it is reasonable to infer Buffalo is small but organized and active, just as you inferred Ciminelli was mobbed up, even though there is no factual evidence that he was.