Hamilton police investigating homicide at east Mountain home

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...tigating-homicide-at-east-mountain-home/

This is big news. There doesn't seem to be an end to this war. Assuming that foul play took place.

Not much information on this unlike the Al Iavarone hit a while back. Makes me wonder if there is a reason for the change in approach. You are right doesn't seem to be an end to this war and rumors. Like a source said in an article a while back: "It is going to get worse before it gets better."

Homicide unit investigating 'suspicious death' at Mountain home of Rocco Luppino

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/suspicious-death-mountain-1.4999773

The name of the victim has not been released because not all members of the extended family have been notfied -- see https://twitter.com/HamiltonPolice/status/1091007206273806336.

Seems that the victim is not Giacomo Luppino's son Rocco -- see Hamilton Police Service release to which I've linked below.

Hamilton Male Suffers Fatal Wound

http://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/hamilton-male-suffers-fatal-wound/

Nicole O'Reilly's article has been updated -- go to

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...an-killed-in-targeted-mountain-shooting/

You may hit a paywall.

If the owners of the house are Paolo Violi's in-laws then the victim aged 44 would be too young to be one of the owners. He may possibly be a sibling ?

This could be a domestic incident. The age of the victim closely matches that of Rocco and Helen Luppino's son Vincenzo.

I was going to say, aren't the Violi's inlaws with the Luppino's? So this must be another hit from the Musitano faction, most likely?

It's possible that the victim lived in the residence but of course did not own it, as records show it is owned by Rocco Luppino and his wife.

This article by Adam Carter of the CBC has been updated.

Confirmed that the victim is Cece Luppino, Rocco's son.

Updated Hamilton Spec article:

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...untainbrowhome&utm_campaign_id=crime

^^^^
Reporter Nicole O'Reilly has received confirmation from multiple sources that the victim is Cece Luppino, the son of Rocco. I think -- but I am not sure -- that Cece is a nickname that is a shortening of Vincenzo, probably the pronunciation of the middle syllable with the exception of the letter "n."

A news conference was held about 10 minutes ago by Det. Sgt. Peter Thom, who was also assigned to the Angelo Musitano and Albert Iavarone murder cases. Below are my notes.

- Thom would not name the victim.
- There is no suspect info at the moment.
- There is no vehicle info at the moment.
- There is CCTV footage from the residence and from neighbouring homes. The Hamilton Police Service is downloading the file of CCTV footage, which is quite large. The HPS has not yet reviewed video evidence.
- The victim lived at the address.
- The victim was alone at home at the time of the incident.
- A family member called 911 after finding the victim. The HPS does not know whether the victim was still alive upon being found.
- The victim was last seen at the residence at 3:30 pm EST.
- The attack was a specific, targeted event because of the nuances of the incident: victim was killed close up; where it happened.
- Thom can't reveal how many gunshots nor where on the body the victim was shot.
- Victim worked for family businesses in Stoney Creek, namely, a realty office and a café.
- The victim had no criminal record and was not known to police.
- A victim background check is being conducted to determine a possible motive.
- The victim was recently married. The family, while asking that its privacy be respected, is co-operating with police.

^^^^
The beginning of the news conference is being replayed on one of the TV media outlets here. Thom did name Cece Luppino right at the very beginning -- I missed the first minute or so of the news conference. My apologies.

Turned down a button apparently...;

https://nationalpost.com/news/too-m...ctim-had-turned-down-offer-to-join-mafia

Just speculating here but Fat Pat Musitano brother is killed. Then two guys in Iavarone and Cece Luppino are killed who aren’t made but have brothers who are. Hmmmm, Fat Pats revenge?? You kill my brother, I’ll kill yours

This one hits close to home, I grew up in the east part of the mountain and my parents still live there and quite close to this place.



I doubt that would be a reason to get hit, the guy's first cousin is supposed to be the underboss of Buffalo, I doubt his own family wacks him just because he turns down an invitation to be made.

I know police said he does not have a record, but my take on this is this guy may not be made, but definitely involved given his surname and who his father and cousins are. Based on the circumstances, this hit has Musitanos written all over it, and it's very interesting that this comes about a week or so after Tony Magi get's hit in Montreal. I'd be shocked if Buffalo went along with this, to me it seems like the Rizzuto's are making it clear that they're still powerful, and their reps in Hamilton (Musitanos) are probably going along with this. Not to mention there's the vengeance factor for Angelo.

`Ndrangheta in Canada shows its true face.

@Hollander

You think ndrangheta is involved here?

His grandfather was one of the most respected bosses in the organization and with the arrival in Ontario of new players from Calabria it´s likely. It´s just a matter of time before we know because it´s crazy over there, unlike how they used to operate in the past.

I also find this quote interesting.

I never believed the story that Musitano "found Jesus" before he died, I think that was the family putting a good slant on his death. It definitely sounds like the Musitano's got revenge here but then again it's Canada and the Wild Wild North.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...e-investigate-homicide-at-mobsters-home/

Hamilton police investigate homicide at mobster’s home

Mob scion, 44, slain in 'targeted' Hamilton shooting

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/man-44-slain-in-targeted-shooting-in-hamilton

While not impossible, it's highly unlikely. The most obvious answer here is the Musitanos. The hit to Ivarone was probably an early message of things to come, and this hit is literally within the inner Luppino family. This is likely the hit for Angelo.

I think this also tells us that Buffalo does not control southern Ontario and only the Violi/Luppino family is under their banner.

I found this quote interesting from Humphrey's article ..

"Paramedics and police found a man “obviously deceased” inside, Thom said."


Indication to me that the victim knew his killer(s) and trusted them enough to let the killer in or at the very least, open the door.

Its possible funny enough the Musitanos and Luppinos were close when Paolo Violi was killed.

Here are a few conjectures about this article. First, it appears the Viol/Luppino faction of the Todaro crime family has significant LCN support not just in Buffalo but with the families in NYC.



If Violi was responsible for generating greater collaboration with the New York-based mafia families, I can't help but wonder if a real partnership was developing in regards to LCN increasing its power/influence in Canada. I've seen conjecture that, as a result of the Luppino hit, we will see the other 4 families in NYC come on board to help. Why did this person say 4 families? I have no idea. The only guess I have, and this is only a guess, is because the Todaro's were working so closely with the Bonanno's already.

Second, Molly Hayes doesn't indicate that Cece Luppino turned down his button.



Hayes cites the same information as Humphries that he struggled with the decision, but does't indicate he turned it down like Humphries did. Makes me wonder if Humphries knows some stuff we don't.

And how would Ed Scarpo, from whose April 28, 2014 blog post you quoted (https://www.cosanostranews.com/2014/04/giacomo-luppino-last-of-canadas-old.html), know any of this?

Is he even aware that some 'ndrangheta locali in Italy would likely have more inducted members than all the made men in Canada?

@Nickle city

You make a good point, it is not definite that he turned his button.

In my opinion, the fact that he was killed proves that he accepted.

Find below an Italian article written by Antonio Nicaso. He does mention in this article that the Violi's wanted to bring back the Bonanno family back in Canada.

https://www.corrieredellacalabria.i...e-della-ndrangheta-sui-porti-del-canada/

@Ciment...Thanks for the article. I hadn't read that before... Here is the Google translation of the section you referenced for those like me who can't read Italian:

Anti no idea what sources Scarpo had.

The shooter in the Musitano and Barberi hits was the same somehow there is also a connection to the GTA.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...a-underworld-ex-undercover-cop-says.html

Realtor’s murder ‘smells like a power play’ in Hamilton’s Mafia underworld, ex-undercover cop says

I mean, the killer could’ve broken in and been waiting inside the house for him to come inside.

Also, the hitman might’ve been there to kill the father, but when the son walked inside decide to take him out instead. It was his parents home right?

Can you post the translation of the article?

Also, he still may have been involved as an associate, even if he turned down his button. Deosnt mean he wasnt or hadnt been in the streets at all just because he decided not to be made.

Unless he had been entirely legit and was offered a button based on his name along, without having ever put in any work?

@ Stubbs

This article is protected with some type of wall. It allows you to translate but it does not allow me to copy and paste.

Unless someone on this forum is more computer savvy than I am and can post the translated copy.

I agree if he were an associate his family enemies would still go after him but why become an associate when you can be made. He said he didn't want the headaches and wanted to make money, an associate usually earns less and has more headaches.

In a recent VICE story regarding the murder of Tony Magi in Montreal in late January, John Westlake, a veteran of both the Montreal police force and the RCMP, said that the shift from Montreal to Hamilton is a done deal, stating “[the Montreal murder] doesn’t point to a shift, the shift’s already there—the Hamilton people are back.”

I thought that Magi was hit because he fell out with the Rizzutos and allegedly was invoved in the hit with Nick Jr? So he was killed by the Rizzuto faction?

The Vice article implies he was killed by the Ndragheta. Here’s the quote:



Link to Vice article

Also, I thought the Ndrangheta’s power base is Toronto and not Hamilton? Could be the author of this article is just wrong.

About the Ndrangheta's power base in Hamilton... a lot of people believed Violi/Luppino Musitano to be Ndrangheta, but they may have been LCN all along--especially Luppino.

Also, Don't know if you saw the translation of a relevant portion of Italian language article I typed out cause I couldn't copy and paste. Here it is:

Born in 1900 in the village of Oppido in Calabria, Luppino came to Canada in 1955, already a member of an 'Ndrangheta clan in Italy.

Ciment,

I don't know whether you agree with the part in the article about the Violi brothers wanting to bring back the Bonanno Family to Canada, but if you do, you may or may not now see that there was possible validity to the theory a number of years ago that Desjardins didn't see eye to eye with the Violis, who were likely on Montagna's side -- this theory was discussed by you and me in the other thread. At the time, we were ready to scratch each other's eyes out. Good times.

Even after Montagna's murder, the brothers seemed to continue to be supportive of the Bonanno Family's efforts in Canada, whether that was to induct men or increase profits. We know that the brothers collaborated in drug trafficking with at least one Bonanno associate in Canada -- the paid police informant, Vincenzo Morena, whose Bonanno induction ceremony they attended in Hamilton -- and Domenico Violi looked forward to working with Morena and the Bonannos more as a result of being promoted to underboss of the Buffalo Family.

I am not fond of the theory, proposed especially by Italy-based journalists who don't have a clue, that control of the Port of Montreal is the most sought-after prize pursued by Italian crime groups and other crime groups who are into drug trafficking. I have poked holes in the theory many times. The days of cocaine flowing south from Canada to the US are long gone -- the flow has been the other way around for at least 15 to 20 years, possibly longer -- but there is still much money to be made in Canada because the country has so many coke users, especially in Quebec. I know that the Siderno Group in the Greater Toronto Area sees the Port of Halifax as a much more important point of entry for drugs like cocaine (this port is also good for exporting too, an element that the Hells have profitably exploited).

If the 'ndrangheta in the GTA and on the Italian mainland have their eyes set on the Port of Montreal, the more likely reasons would be 1) corruption of port officials, and 2) investments in the construction projects associated with expansion of the port. The Port of Montreal, although it sees less illicit activity than the Port of Vancouver (which is Canada's largest marine gateway), is a feat of modern design and engineering. It is spread out across almost 16 mi. (25 km) of Montreal's southeastern shore. (Most of our American friends and other friends around the world do not realize that Montreal is an island.) It is the largest inland port in the world -- investing here is where the real money is for the 'ndrangheta. Just my two cents.

Good point !

Slain son of Hamilton mobster rejected ‘made’ status: transcript

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...mobster-rejected-made-status-transcript/

The home in which Vince "Cece" Luppino lived is owned by his parents, Rocco and Helen. Rocco and Helen also own the house next door, which is where they live.

The article to which I linked in my post just above indicates that a member of the Luppino family had left Cece just before 3:30 pm -- here's an excerpt from the article:

The killer was captured on surveillance video shortly before 3:30 p.m., just after a family member left Luppino alone, Det. Sgt. Peter Thom said Friday. "It's not coincidental (the killer) had to have been watching the house."

The above quote leads me to dismiss the theory that Cece's murder was a case of mistaken identity. If the house was being surveilled by the hitman and any accomplice(s), I'm not sure why they had to do something rash by killing Cece -- they could have waited for the proper time to kill Rocco, who lived right next door.

All this time we thought Buffalo was dead. Turns out they’re the most violent mob family in America!

Yes, the good times To this day I still regret that incident.

I agree with much of what you wrote. Similar to their grandfather the Violi's have always had good relationships with NY families.
The only thing that I may add about the Ndrangheta, it is a trademark of theirs to get their hands in as many ports as possible. Montreal is one of several.This gives them more versatility.

Former undercover Hamilton Police Service officer Paul Manning’s tweet reply to reporter Adrian Humphreys, who had tweeted a link to his article about Cece Luppino:

https://twitter.com/mobinfiltrator/status/1091341940044386304?s=20


Paul Manning
@mobinfiltrator

Replying to
@AD_Humphreys

Adrian. Been asking around. Hearing nothing but nice things about this guy. Polite. Well manner. Honest.

9:26 AM · Feb 1, 2019

@antimafia

I'm genuinely confused why you think Italian journalist are clueless in thinking the ndrangheta want the Port of Montreal.... I'm serious here, i want to understand your thinking.....


( When you say, " the days of coke going south..." When did that ever actually happen? NY has always been Colombian/ Dominican controlled on the streets right?
So it was kinda always coming from the Carribean routes, before the Mexicans opened up the land routes....
I dont really get that point.....)


(I mean understand, they got to where they are moving cocaine worldwide, not shaking down construction industries in various nations.

Also, from what I've seen, the type of crime groups that dominate something like contruction, arnt the type of organizations to colonize various territories, they tend to stay in the same place, the Casalesi, the Piromallis, where ever the construction area is, that's where the families strength usually is located. Those type of contacts dont translate to different territories. The concrete club in NY wouldnt have clout when it came to building a Montreal skyscraper, right?

The Piromallis made TONS off the contruction of that port. But Their power lies in the contraband coming through the ports that MUST pass through their hands.....)


What I think they want, is to make sure as much cocaine passes through thier hands as possible........



I mean, it seems like they want access to ALL the ports. Its ALL about maintaining their leverage in the narcotics world....

(Side question; Why do you think control of Montreal equates to moving coke to NY?

I think they want it to control MORE of the Canadian market, AND as another staging point for European exports... As far as NY, they would need to set up a base there, or a relationship with an organization set up there already. This would be the Five families most likely. Then they would just ship coke to NY, not to Montreal, and then to NY. Look at New Bridge, the Calabrians were importing coke to NY, for EXPORT to Europe. Like the Ursinos wanted to launder thier money in NY, I dont think they were concerned with SELLING there...... )


Case in point: The incident between the Wolfpack and the Commisos... If the Wolfpack controls the Vancouver ports, and a majority of street distro, AND they have access to product DIRECT through Sinaloa , WHY WOULD THEY NEED THE MAFIA? Ndrangheta have access to the Halifax port, but it seems not as strong a relationship with the bikers and street gangs. And the presence of the Mexicans undermines whatever South American connection they bring to bear. So without a monopoly on the contacts, the street distro, or the importation through the ports, you tell me, How do they maintain thier strength?)

Controlling the Montreal port would give them more leverage, no?


Also, it's why I felt ( I mentioned this in a thread on blackhand...) it's important to watch the Mexican cartels, and the relationships they make with crime groups in Canada, because it affects the balance of power. But everyone wants to downplay the importance of narcotics up there.....




I said this, and like clockwork, you posted the excerpt from Chapos trial, talking about how much he makes in Montreal with Tony Suzuki...


Then I read about Sinaloa making deals in BC with the Iranians, who are in business with the Bikers, , HOW DOES THIS NOT UNDERMINE THE ITALIANS?


What could be the purpose of corrupting port officials if not to move contraband through?

Does ndrangheta have the CONTACTS to invest in Montreal construction? Serious question here..... Are they already powers in Montreal construction, I thought the Montreal group monopolized this activity......


For example, I said the Violis were building a narcotics business with NY. My speculation.

You countered that they dont send coke DOWN from Canada. My point is, WHY WOULD YOU THINK THEY WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY?

The way I saw it, NY would use the Violis contacts, not dissimilar to how the Ursinos used the Gambinos South American contacts. I saw NY using the Violis Colombian CONTACTS, not smuggling routes, CONTACTS. They could build another South America to NY route, it's the CONTACTS, the ability to get the things for 5 grand a ki that matter.

Again, Zummo sold a kilo for 38 grand. What do you think he PAID for it? You think he bought it in NY? If so, how much? 25? Less? 15? Would he enjoy buying from Mexicans, Dominicans, or fellow paisans? Well, getting it for 5 in bulk, beats all those prices to my eyes. And gives much more leverage.....


Again, it's not an attack, I'm just trying to come to an understanding here....

I can't speak for Italian journalists , but we have to take the italian investigators seriously, those people know what they are talking about even if it's about Canada, Germany or Australia.

For example like they say the 'ndrangheta in Toronto is working closely with the Albanians, who act as their enforcement arm.

That's true, also in the UK as well, and the cornerstone to Calabrian power is control of the ports.....

It's a lot more complicated than that, people need to realize that the Italian Mafia groups in Canada are much more complex than in the US. Historically speaking, there has only been one legit Italian Mafia body outside of Italy, and that's in the US after the establishment of the commission in the early 30's. Since then you either belonged to a family that was under the the US commission umbrella, or you represented one of the other groups in Italy, being Sicilian LCN, Ndrangheta, Camorra, or whatever.

The families that operate in the US are all under the American commission banner. In Canada however you have a mix, some groups report to the American commission, while other groups report to Italy. Some groups play both sides whenever it's convenient for them. Take the Rizzutos for example, when they were under the Bonnano banner, some have argued that they were a lot more closer to the Sicilian mobsters than to the Americans, and eventually they became powerful enough to break away due to that influence. On the other hand the Ndrangheta families in Toronto are all independent from the US commission, because they answer to Italy, not US, though there seems to be a significant shift for some of the families to move their main leadership to Toronto rather than Italy due to more lenient laws.

Hamilton is rather an interesting place, because although the main Mob families there have Ndrangheta roots, I'm not sure how much connect they have back to Italy. We know for sure they have cousins that still operate back in Italy, but we're not sure if there still is a connection. Giacomo Luppino himself was a Ndrangheta boss back in Italy until moving his family to Hamilton. But unlike the families of Toronto, the ones in Hamilton kind of embraced the American Mob rather than Italian, even though Luppino was also involved in Ndrangheta affairs in Canada.

It's still kind of unclear, if we take the Musitanos for example, like the Luppinos they also have Ndrangheta roots, but unlike them they don't really have members made into the Buffalo family, so what do you consider them? American LCN or Italian? Clearly they're respected enough in the underworld to be considered as a family, but it's an example of how things are much more complex in Canada.

the ndrangheta in australia has an independent body too
the crime families in the united states became totally independent in the 1930s when they formed an own commission, before they answered to sicilian mafia in sicily

I looked up some of the families in Australia, seems like Barbaro, Sergi, Pappalia, etc are all pretty big there, these families may have independence on how things go in Australia, but they're still Ndrangheta and the base of their families is back in Calabria, not Australia. The American Mob is a legit independent body, because groups like the 5 families, Chicago Outfit, Buffalo, Philly, etc do not represent Italian Mafia, they represent American Mafia.

BronaZora, thanks for the comment. You are right. It is much more complicated than my quick reduction about Violi/Luppino, Musitano and others that have Ndrangheta roots that "may" have been under American LCN all along.

I am aware that Giacomo Luppino started the Camera di Controllo in Toronto, the ruling body for the heads of the Ndrangheta decinas in GTA. This is where I think all the confusion comes into play. From what I understand he was a Captain for Magaddino and according to Schneider in Iced he set the Contollo up to run like the commission because of his "reverence" for "his boss" Magaddino and Schneider further suggests that the whole board answered to the Buffalo boss. All this interconnection is what is hard for me to wrap my mind around. Evidently there is a great deal of independence for these various "families" yet they were and some are still alleged be overseen by Buffalo.

Is that how you summarize things?

Please, anyone with ideas I'd love to learn the various theories about how this worked and may still work today.

That's actually pretty spot on Nickle, the families in Southern Ontario did have Ndrangheta roots, but they all answered to Buffalo and played by Magaddino's rules, so technically speaking yes, it's correct to say that Magaddino was the big boss of the families in Southern Ontario and he pretty much represented them in the American commission.

With that said, we do have to consider timelines here, meaning that the Magaddino era is gone, and while some still answer or fly the Buffalo banner (Luppino-Violi family), others no longer do that (Ndrangheta families of Toronto). Then there are some groups in the gray area, the Musitanos being one of them who at some point did answer to Buffalo like the rest of them, but later shifted alliances to the Rizzuto family instead as Buffalo weakened.

I tend to believe that Occam’s Razor is at play here, that the simpliest explanation is the most likely... that Luppino was killed as revenge for the Musitano hit.

But I started thinking and was wondering if there’s more at play here due to the history:

- The Musitanos become closely allied with the Rizzutos.
- With the power vacuum of Vito being in jail, the opposing factions start aligning together.
- The Bonannos and Sal Montagna align with the Violis, Luppinos, Buffalo, some Ndrangheta in Toronto, and Reyald and others in Montreal.
- The war in Montreal has spread into Hamilton, between pro-Rizzuto loyalists Musitanos and the anti-Rizzuto Violis and Luppinos.

Because I’m assuming the Luppinos would’ve supported moving against the Rizzuto faction, Rocco’s son CeCe was killed as payback for Nick Jr. A son for a son. I’m sure the hit was still done by the Musitano faction, but I wonder if it was done with support by the remaining Rizzuto faction in Montreal (they gave their blessing, I mean).

The Magi hit shows that the Rizzutos still have enough power and a long enough memory to get revenge ten years after Nick Jr got killed. In the mafia murder motives can get complex very quickly.

But again, all of that is unlikely and the simpliest explanation is the most likely.

the rizzutos are members of american cosa nostra anyway (bonanno family), so the musitano's probably answer to lcn too
most of italian criminal groups in canada are lcn members (bonanno and buffalo), some are members of sicilian mafia (caruana/cuntrera and inzerillo) and some ndrangheta (siderno group)

The Rizzuto's pretty much went on to be independent ever since George from Canada was killed in the late 90s. They don't report to anyone from NY. If they we're still Bonnanos, the whole issue with Montagna would have not happened. But the background of their organization is based on American LCN.

I doubt anyone answers to the Bonnanos in Montreal anymore, and if anyone does, its definitely not the Rizzuto-Sollecito faction.

Exploring the killings that shine light on Canada's underworld power struggle

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ontario-organized-crime-1.5002547

the whole mafia war in montreal could be between two bonanno factions (rizzuto/sollecito vs montagna/arcuri )there is not any proof rizzuto's are independent, at least not any official one
there are not informants among canadian mafia members, all we know come from american ones

With the 'ndrangheta you are talking about blood families Musitano, Luppino, Papalia these families live in Canada, Italy, Australia, Germany, while the American mafia Bonanno, Buffalo are another structure.

In a way they are similar to gypsies.

Think about how much drug money must be at stake for this war to have gone on for what? 7 or 8 years with dozens killed. It must be a honey hole up there

GUERRA DI MAFIA IN CANADA, UN’ALTRA VITTIMA “CALABRESE”

https://www.telemia.it/2019/02/guerra-di-mafia-in-canada-unaltra-vittima-calabrese/

Link to obituary for Cece Luppino:

http://www.lifenews.ca/announcement/9156455-luppino-cece

The obituary is published in the Hamilton Spectator, but a paywall will likely prevent you from finding the obituary in the online edition of the paper.

^^^^
I was wrong, as the newspaper obituary will be found at the link below.

https://www.thespec.com/announcemen...ries-death-notices/9156455-luppino-cece/

https://www.corrieredellacalabria.i...e-della-ndrangheta-sui-porti-del-canada/

Here a full translate article

The Montreal "war" and the aims of the Ndrangheta on the Canada's ports.

According to Antonio Nicaso, author of the bestseller from which the Bad Blood series is based, to get the hands on the hub of the city of Quebec, would be "a huge leap" for the Locride clans transplanted to Toronto.
Meanwhile, there was the first murder of 2019, the victim is a businessman tied for years to the Rizzutos.

LAMEZIA TERME. Notre Dame de Grace is a residential district of Montreal, and it is there that a few hours ago took place the first murder of the year in the city of Quebec.An excellent murder that makes noise because, the victim Tony Magi, was a businessman held for years close to the boss Vito Rizzuto. Found seriously injured by gunshots, Thursday morning shortly after 11 (local time) in front to a building under construction and then died in the hospital.Magi was "a walking dead" so much so that he was repeatedly victim of attacks. But the armored cars and bodyguards in the end did not save him from a fate that seemed to him already written. , for a long time he was a partner of Nick Rizzuto jr (son of Vito) with whom he bought the land on which he built residential complexes. But at a certain point the two began to fight and, even if it has never been proofed, it is always suspected that Magi may have played a role in the murder of the boss's son.

THE WAR OF MONTREAL. A war, that of the city of Quebec, which "stems from a conflict entirely internal to the Rizzutos" and in which the role of some Calabrian-Canadians should be included "in the rebellion against the power of the dominant family". It is also the case of the Violi of Hamilton who, after another Calabrian Vic Cotroni, in the past have commanded the decina of Montreal of the Bonanno family of New York affiliated with Cosa Nostra but who were defeated by the criminal federation with the Irishs and the bikers put together and led by Vito Rizzuto.
When the boss is extradited, however, everything collapses and the internal rebels try to take advantage with the arrival in Montreal of Sal Montagna (at the time acting boss of the Bonannos). The attempt, however, fails, because the alliance between Mountain and the former Vito Rizzuto's right-hand man, Raynald Desjardins soon ends up in the blood, Rizzuto returns to his Montreal and takes revenge but when he dies in 2013 he leaves behind a gaping criminal void.Difficult - still explain Nicaso - identify a suitable figure to hold together all the criminal organizations. The Montreal war does not seem to do many victims at the moment but remains creeping. And it can explode at any moment. The Violis had tried to bring the Bonanno family back to Canada but their strategy came to the surface thanks to an undercover agent, who even tried to "made", and so the attempt failed and they were decimated by arrests.

NDRANGHETA AND THE PORT. and the clans of the Ndrangheta, the powerful families of Toronto with roots in Locride, in Siderno, in Marina di Gioiosa are watching?
The ndrine - answers Nicaso- for a long time have been "forced" to manage the port of Halifax, because in Montreal they would have to pay a fee to the Irish and the Rizzuto.The port of Montreal is the main junction for the entry of cocaine in North America as an alternative to the southern route. The Ndrangheta has always been interested in managing that port. The Calabrians have never had a good relationship with the Rizzuto and have always remained outside.And now they could take advantage of the confusion in Montreal?
Of course it would be a huge leap, but right now it seems that everything is still in the hands of the rizzuto, which are not as strong as before but there are still. The clans of Ndrangheta in Toronto are increasingly linked to the Albanians who are now their armed arm, and have never had a large presence in montreal.Ultimly they say they managed to open a "locale" in the city of Quebec, but for now they are just rumors.

New Humphries Article: Gunman in Hamilton murder likely waited in city park for mobster's son to return home

https://nationalpost.com/news/gunma...ity-park-for-mobsters-son-to-return-home

^^^^
Hamilton police reveal more about the suspect in Luppino shooting death

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/luppino-suspect-1.5004166

^^^^
Man with family mob ties was being watched before his death in Hamilton, investigators say

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...s-was-being-watched-before-his-death-in/

CRAZY CONFUSING!!!!I
HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS WILL EVENTUALLY START CLAIMING O.C. MEMEBRS IN THE U.S.

WE ARE NOW RIGHT ON THE BOARDER

Probably not unless they become very involved on the Canadian side of the border like Montagna did. If they stay in the US I highly doubt they go after them. Dealing with American LE is a whole different ball game, and it's definitely not worth the hassle.

This hit most likely had a vengeance factor to it. You don't hit someone's family member like this unless you want to take revenge, in which the most likely scenario is revenge for Angelo Musitano.

The Rizzutos stopped sending money to NY after George was hit, that in itself was a message that they were no longer answering to them. Vitale went up there offering Vito the captain position, Vito respectfully declined and that was the end of it. When Vito went to jail and Montagna got deported, he tried to bring them back to the fold, which again is another proof that they did not really care to answer to the Bonnanos.

Nowadays, I doubt the likes of Leonardo Rizzuto or Stefano Sollecito care much about NY. After all they were not made into the Bonnanos, and they have enough on their plate than to worry about NY.

Stephen Metelsky, a criminology professor at Mohawk College, on twitter:

"There is a lingering stigma against the Luppino-Violi family after they let the police agent into their inner circle..Violi brothers being sent to prison also leaves a void."

HPS Releases Suspect Description in Luppino Homicide

https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/hps-releases-suspect-description-in-luppino-homicide/

I agree with almost all of what you are saying however,

The revenge plot could also be by the Rizzutto family if they played a part in the death of Nick Jr, maybe the Violio-s/Luppino's were/are on that "BLACK-LIST"

Also, the RIZZUTO'S Rebuking Massino was a major slap in the face and this was at the height of his power when more or.less he was atop of what was left of the quazi-commision.

It was a BIG slap in the face and not only did he send Viatale prior I believe he sent Frank Lino and few others.

Essentially a crew of the Bonnano's told the Bonnano's to go fuck themselves.....

And the Bonnano's did NOTHING...
NOT A GOOD LOOK...

Along comes MONTAGNA I do not think he was trying to bring them back into the fold he was trying to wipe them off the streets.

Now what makes a little sense.is the Violi's were positioning themselves to take on the Rizzuto's head on so like what was done up in Toronto and.Onterio and like what Rizzuto, first did to consolidate power the VIOLI'S were positioning themselves.

They resurrected the Todaro, family which they were member of knowing they can use that connection to reach out to the 5 families with legitimacy, TODARO, very respected to this day very easily reached out to the Bonnano's and the other families to work with them on joint rackets.

So when the Rizzuto's/Mustianos were taking on the Violi's/Luppino/Todaro/Bonnano+ ?? Other 4 families.

This is pure speculation.

Hence why they wanted one Violi to be on the books with Bonnano's to bring them back into the war after MONTAGNA was eliminated.

They never expected Desjardins to take out MONTAGNA and/or Vito Rizzuto to get off the canvas.


They should not have taken out Nick Jr once they did Vito had no reason to make peace.

He lost everything and had cancer and was dying...

???????

Curious as to why Police just don't release a snapshot of the suspect from the video footage seized and from which they were able to release a description.

@CabriniGreen

My long replies to some of your questions are below. I will try to answer the remaining questions later. You always ask good questions -- and I do want to answer them -- but bear in mind that the answers often require evidence or proof that takes me a while to collect and assemble. In some places where I have answered I had to be careful -- or will be careful -- about what I wrote because I don't want to offend certain posters and organized-crime authors/experts, as some of the latter have eventually become friends.

1. During all the years I've been following the mob war in Montreal, I've only come across a few Italian-language articles that were genuine investigative pieces: a few articles about the murders of Joe Bravo and Fernando Pimentel in Sicily, the unconfirmed report that Stefano Sollecito visited Joe Bravo in Sicily (I've since learned that that he and other Montreal Mafia members did in fact travel there to try to talk some sense into Bravo, not necessarily all at the same time), and a couple of articles about the apparently close ties between Carmine Verduci and Rocco Sollecito, who had ties to 'ndrangheta clans of the Locride (the area in the province of Reggio Calabria) (the newspaper promised to look into this connection further, but every time I've checked, there hasn't been any followup).

The rest of the Italian-language articles are timely on occasion -- for example, a significant event has happened here -- but often seem to be written when actually nothing has happened here, as though the newspapers' assignment editors tell the reporters, for no reason at all, to write about the big mafia war in Canada between the 'ndrangheta and Sicilian Cosa Nostra. From an article I saved close to nine years ago, "Canada: scoppia la faida tra cosa nostra e la ‘ndrangheta" (you and others could, if needed, copy and paste what's below in to Google Translate):

Con lo strategico controllo di Montréal i Rizzuto sono diventati tra i protagonisti nel traffico internazionale di eroina proveniente dalla Sicilia e diretta verso gli Stati Uniti. Anche se capaci di diversificare le proprie attività illecite, interessandosi alla cocaina, l’eroina è la stata la base del potere della Sesta famiglia in Canada. I cambiamenti del “mercato” della droga e la centralità assunta dalla cocaina hanno indebolito i Rizzuto, così come tutte le altre famiglie di cosa nostra sia negli Stati Uniti che in Sicilia. Favorendo, al contrario, la ‘ndrangheta calabrese, che nel giro di poco tempo è riuscita ad imporsi come broker internazionale della polvere bianca.

Link: http://www.liberainformazione.org/2...a-faida-tra-cosa-nostra-e-la-ndrangheta/

If anyone wants to see how such articles have proliferated on the Net, just google by first typing "guerra" "canada" "ndrangheta" "cosa nostra" and then adding either "porto" "Montreal" OR adding "cocaina." For kicks, try using or adding the search terms "guerra mondiale" (world war).

You know what else has proliferated (as a result of these articles in Italian)? The spread of misinformation. Moreno Gallo is misidentified as a member of the Siderno Group. Vic Cotroni is called the head of the 'ndrangheta in Canada, and -- of course -- the "war" is all about control of the Port of Montreal.

2. For decades, the 'ndrangheta on the Italian mainland has invested in, among other things, real estate in the Greater Toronto Area, as have of course the Siderno Group members who live in the GTA. (Calabrians the world over are smart; I've met very few Calabrians who aren't interested in at least owning their own house, and the ones that are homeowners often want another house or property from which to derive rental income.) Along with the 'ndrangheta's interest in real-estate investments in the GTA is an interest in putting up buildings, i.e., construction. A hotel here, a condominium building there. Helps launder money in addition to, of course, earning a lot of revenue.

The GTA Siderno Group has a decades-long history of corruption of Ontario's construction industry. Ontario has had its own inquiries like Quebec's Charbonneau Commission, and there are a number of people who think another inquiry is long overdue in Ontario, especially because of suspected links between 'ndranghetisti and Ontario politicians. We also have to recall that Italy issued an arrest warrant for Vito Rizzuto in 2005 on accusations he, along with the 'ndrangheta on the Italian mainland, tried to get their hands on part of the contract to build the Strait of Messina Bridge from Sicily to the mainland. Rizzuto's main contact in Italy was the Calabrian-Canadian engineer Giuseppe Zappia, but I will go out on a limb here and speculate that Carmelo Bruzzese, Francesco Arcadi, and the Montreal Mafia's contacts in the Siderno Group in Calabria also did a lot of the legwork.

In my humble opinion, a Siderno Group attempt to get a stranglehold on the Port of Montreal -- if this criminal group even wants to do so -- will result in needless violence because the West End Gang is already firmly rooted there and has control over what illicit items get in and out, as well as over certain personnel (stevedores and checkers). The West Eng Gang, the Hells Angels, and Montreal Mafia have used the port for decades for drug importation; so an attack on the West Eng Gang could mean the Hells and the current Montreal Mafia leader(s) would lend support to any "war" that ensues by an assault from the 'ndrangheta. Corruption at the port authority is entrenched, but if the 'ndrangheta wants to corrupt officials so as to move contraband, threatening to hurt and kill them are probably very bad ideas. In my view, the 'ndrangheta would instead corrupt officials so as to get involved in the construction projects associated with port expansion.

In the 2010 Operazione Il Crimine arrest warrants, volume 3, there is an important paragraph about Carmelo Bruzzese's tight connections to both Vito Rizzuto and Francesco Arcadi. The paragraph is possibly vague, but it states that, in particular, Bruzzese is committed to bringing to fruition a project involving a complex structure that will become a hospital, using public funds, in a plot of land that he and his other partners already own. The next sentence talks about Bruzzese's partnership with Arcadi. So the natural question to ask is, Was the hospital project in Italy, Toronto, or Montreal? I might have read elsewhere that the proposed site of the hospital was in the US. I reproduce below the relevant paragraph from the arrest warrants, including the sentences before and after what I have just referenced, as well as the paragraph before.

 in Canada, in particolare, nelle città di Toronto e Montreal è operativa una complessa organizzazione criminale di tipo mafioso, composta da più cellule che racchiudono gruppi - famiglie di origine calabrese ed altri di origine siciliana. Il leader di tale organizzazione era, all’epoca, RIZZUTO Vito che, in virtù dei suoi legami con la famiglia mafiosa dei BONANNO e quella dei “CUNTRERA - CARUANA” aveva creato, nell’area di Montreal una struttura mafiosa ben radicata, collegata con quella di Toronto e con l’Italia;

 tale struttura, operativa nel traffico internazionale di stupefacenti, nel reinvestimento dei narcoproventi, nonché nell’acquisizione di appalti di opere pubbliche ed altri delitti connessi, aveva, come detto, stabili rapporti con appartenenti ad organizzazioni criminali autoctone, tra cui, per l’appunto BRUZZESE Carmelo che viene definito nella richiamata ordinanza di custodia cautelare come “il referente della “cellula calabrese” dell’organizzazione, strettamente legato ai vertici dell’organizzazione, in contatto con i più diretti collaboratori di Vito RIZZUTO e con lo stesso capo prima del suo arresto, avvenuto nel gennaio 2004, nonché con esponenti di spicco della criminalità organizzata calabrese. In particolare é impegnato alla realizzazione di un complessa struttura da destinare ad ospedale, utilizzando fondi pubblici in un appezzamento di terreno già di proprietà del BRUZZESE e di altri suoi soci…”. Nel corso delle indagini oltre a documentarsi rapporti funzionali all’esistenza del sodalizio con ARCADI Francesco, indicato dalla polizia canadese come il successore di Vito RIZZUTO (dopo il suo arresto – estradizione a New York), rilevano per l’odierno procedimento i rapporti tra BRUZZESE Carmelo e VERDUCI Carmine che, in ragione delle conversazioni censurate in quel contesto, viene definito in atti “un personaggio già emerso nelle indagini vicino al noto Carmelo BRUZZESE” e che aveva il compito di viaggiare sistematicamente tra l’Italia ed il Canada, fungendo da vettore di notizie tra il gruppo italiano e quello canadese, così come, peraltro, emerso nell’odierno procedimento. Si evidenziava, inoltre, la conferma circa i rapporti pregressi (2004) tra lo stesso BRUZZESE ed ANDRIANÒ Emilio.

3. I do not think that control of either Montreal or the Port of Montreal equates to moving cocaine to New York City. I am trying to get others to see that this takeover theory has taken on a life of its own -- and I know how it has grown legs.

From the October 12, 2017 article found at the Maclean's magazine website:

Vito Rizzuto had a lynchpin role in the importation of narcotics into North America. Getting close to him meant the opportunity to quickly become a millionaire.

The Port of Montreal is one of a few vital entry points for drugs bound for the United States, and Rizzuto had more control over it than anyone else. Once the drugs reached Montreal, his people had to worry about little more than speed limits as they drove the narcotics through back roads and into New York City, the world’s top market for cocaine. A 2006 Canadian Senate report concluded that 15 per cent of stevedores and 36 per cent of checkers who work in the port of Montreal have criminal records, as do 54 per cent of the employees of an outside firm with the contract to pick up garbage and to service ships on the docks.

Cocaine does arrive at the Port of Montreal but cocaine is not then put on to vehicles and driven to New York City -- this hasn't happened for a very long time, and I'm trying to remember how often cars were even used to get the coke across the US border. We know that in the 1980s, the Caruana-Cuntrera were moving a lot of heroin to the US via Windsor; in addition, the clan was moving a limited amount of cocaine to the US by breaching border points.

For many years now, the coke that is imported via the Port of Montreal is apportioned in Quebec and/or the provinces west and east of Quebec, and the end users are coke addicts in Canada. None of the cocaine goes south to the US. From my research, in the last 10 to 15 years there were only two attempts made by criminals to get coke from Canada into the US, and it ended very badly both times.

In the September 28, 2012 article found at https://torontosun.com/2012/09/28/w...wcm/a80d907c-ca9d-49e3-a1e9-b187876bdd21, you will read that the author of the above-mentioned article is quoted in this older article and may have changed his views over the years. Excerpt from the older article:

Since the 1980s, organized crime in Montreal was largely controlled by the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime family, members of which hail from Sicily. However, a Mafia source told JE that before the Ontario-based Calabrians attacked the Rizzutos, they began using Port of Windsor as an entry port for drugs.

Windsor’s port wasn’t a top security priority because it didn’t service shipping containers, unlike Montreal’s port. Security at the Port of Windsor remained minimal, at least compared to ship container ports.

Using multiple ports is a tactic used by the Calabrian Mafia, called the ‘Ndrangheta, according to Mafia expert and author, Antonio Nicaso.

"The strategy is to never use the same port," he said, in order to draw less police attention.

The ‘Ndrangheta use several European ports in cities such as Rotterdam, and Naples.

"And I think that in Canada, (Calabrian mobsters) are using the same strategy," Nicaso said. "Instead of passing through the same port, they are looking to find different routes and Windsor offers a perfect alternative to smuggle drugs into the country."

And the Calabrians seemed to have had an easy time taking over from the Rizzutos, according to Richard Dupuis, former head of the Montreal police’s major crime squad.

From the marketing copy found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/b...edwards-and-antonio-nicaso/9780345813770 (to be fair, the book's co-authors aren't responsible for writing the marketing copy):

Until Vito Rizzuto went to prison in 2006 for his role in a decades-old Brooklyn triple murder, he ruled the Port of Montreal, the northern gateway to the major American drug markets.

This quote from that McCleans article is spot on, this whole thing is like a real life Game of Thrones:

vito said he wanted his father nicolò as captain, and the bonanno's made him
although there were problems between new york and montreal crew, i doubt they stopped to be recognized as cosa nostra, it would be against mafia protocols, it would make the montreal crew a sort of 'stiddari'

I find it interesting that he allegedly turned down being made because it is not enough money and too many headaches...and he doesn’t want to struggle like his father yet he lives in his mansion and they own one next door...$ can’t be that bad!

What a crock of shit by this former RCMP agent. He uses conversations between Vito and Magi from 2003 as an argument that he was still a Rizzuto guy in 2019? Magi was forced to work with Rizzuto and it has been widely believed that he was the one who orchistrated the murder of Nick, Jr.

The Rizzuto group is a former shadow of what they were once, but they are not finished. I can hardly believe this guy has been properly quoted.

I was thinking the same thing and not to mention he worked in two of his fathers businesses.

I never heard that Nicolo was offered or even took the CAPO position that was offered to Vito,

Vito told Sal Vitale, we are like our own little family, he wouldn't tell him how many guys they had, he said we are all equal no one is the boss, there was I think 6 of them.


What would you call them? They made guys with out approval of the boss, they would not tell the boss how many made guys were in their crew, and they told the boss they are their own family?

With all the Bonannos rats no one has said they were still sending money???
The last I read Sal Vitale said they stopped.

Then when Massino Flipped Vinny Gorgeous sent word that he was the new boss and Rizzutto sent word back that he was not acknowledging Vinny because a RAT MASSINO APPOINTED HIM.

And than you have the Montagna situation

I don’t think he was saying he’d be broke as a made guy, but how much money is that stress worth? $1 million? $10 million?

Guys in the life spend every day of their lives looking over their shoulder. You can’t have any true friends because most often it’s your friends who’ll be sent to pull the trigger. Or they’ll be wired up.

Not to mention every day living in fear that you’ll get arrested and could get a 20+ year sentence. How much money is that worth to you? You ain’t gettin them years back. You kids only learn to walk once, only say their first words once, only have so many years of Little League, etc.

When he says “struggle”, I didnt read that as “struggle to make a buck”. To me it reads like “struggle to live within the confines of the mafia cult”.

And yes, obviously he lives in a mansion. What’s his motivation to risk his lifestyle? He can live very good as the legit son, without all of the downsides.

But he still got killed either way. If he was 100% legit then it’s an even sadder story. I think anyone who is a son up in Canada and is 100% legit needs to get the hell out of dodge right now. Move to the freakin Yukon or Kansas or somewhere were you send a bold message to everyone on the streets “I’m not involved and never will be.”

I still say that this is Musitano saying you killed my brother who said he was out, I'll kill your brothers too.

It's hard to argue against this theory at this point. Cece lived next door to his father. The killer could have hit Rocco instead who is supposed to be the capo of the Hamilton Buffalo crew, but he chose Rocco's son for a reason. The same seems to be the case with the Ivarone hit.

People in Hamilton are getting gun happy.

Man shot outside Roxborough Avenue home; report of second shooting on Barton Street East

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/...f-second-shooting-on-barton-street-east/

Highly unlikely for this to be connected. The east side of Hamilton around Barton street has always been shady.

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/mobsters-now-targeting-relatives-in-southern-ontario-gang-war

Mobsters now targeting relatives in southern Ontario gang war

It's in Daniel Renaud's new book.



Vitale and Lino were introduced to all the members of the Montreal crew. Apparantly there were two meetings held. During the first one the members of the crew were suprised no successor to Sciascia was named. During the second one Vitale subtly asked Vito to be the new capo, who in turn suggested his father, who then took on that role according to Renaud.



Actually, Bonanno capo turned rat Domenick Cicale has said tributes were still send following Sciascia's murder. Cicale was close to Basciano so he was in a position to know. Whether it is true remains to be seen since he's the only source so far that provided this information.



It was Nicolo Rizzuto who sent back word to New York that he was not acknowledging Montagna as his boss because he saw him as a light-weight flunky who was appointed by a Massino crony (Basciano). We all know what happened afterwards.

There's no where you can hide from the Canadian mobsters. 😅 As we've seen, they can get you anywhere.

But I agree it's really fucked up if the son had absolutely nothing to do with this fued.

One thing is dead certain, in the literal sense, that there will be retribution.

Paul Manning on Twitter this past Tuesday evening:

https://twitter.com/mobinfiltrator/status/1092961380347502592?s=20

Paul Manning
@mobinfiltrator

Replying to
@TheTorontoSun

Mike and Dan are dead.

Killed in Tijuana by the #Cartels at the request of an Ontario #mafia family.

Two recent #HamOnt hits were ‘younger brothers.’ Do the math!

8:41 PM · Feb 5, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

Funeral for Hamilton homicide victim Cece Luppino

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9161666-funeral-for-hamilton-homicide-victim-cece-luppino/

To be fair, only in the US did they seem to leave civilians out of it. Back in Sicily they didnt give a fuck. Riina killed anyone who was a blood relative, hit the target and the wife. Kill siblings, cousins, kids, etc. Of course, this is a big reason why people started ratting over there and why the Sicilians lost a lot of power.

The Canadians are much closer to Italy culturally, so nothing surprises me up there anymore.

@antimafia

I am assuming that Paul Manning's comments on Mike and Dan killed in Mexico he is referring to Mike Cudmore and Dan Tomasetti. Do you understand it to be the same ?

^^^^
Yes, Ciment. Manning has mentioned those two a number of times on Twitter.

I also thought they were dead after Daniele Ranieri was killed over there and I read they also fled to Mexico maybe some friends and family know what happened and told Manning.

maybe the rizzuto's got ride of them, moreno gallo was also killed in mexico, they have several connections over there

What's the name of that book?
Is a good read?

Police release photos of man suspected of killing mobster's son, Cece Luppino

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hami...ing-mobster-s-son-cece-luppino-1.5017493