chin_gigante wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:24 pm
There was an article Capeci wrote three weeks before Vito died about the murder spree since his release from prison. In that piece, he included some information from an interview he conducted with Pierre De Champlain. The following paragraph jumped out at me:
"Today, in the last days of 2013, it's fair to say that Vito is still in a revenge mode," said De Champlain, who attributes Rizzuto's reemergence to a group of ruthless younger "cousins and other relatives of older members of his decina, younger people in their 40s and 50s, the sons and cousins."
De Champlain is one of the best, most objective Montreal experts. I don't agree with 100% of his interpretations, especially when it comes to the more formal aspects, but anything he says ranks high on this subject. Decina is a very specific word to use, not really open for interpretation like "crew" or "boss". I wonder if he used that deliberately.
I think decina is the right word to use until new info comes out that definitively states otherwise. Seems Capeci was reluctant to assume too much about Montreal's relationship to the Bonanno family, which is the right approach.
chin_gigante wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:24 pm
The following notes are from a January 2010 article:
- The murder of Nick Rizzuto Jr is a "hot topic" among wiseguys in NY
- LE and underworld sources speculate the murder of Nick could lead to bloodshed in NY
- Nicholas Santora and Anthony Rabito sent emissaries to talk with the Sicilian faction in the 10 days after the murder of Nick Jr
They must have believed NYC members were involved somehow with Rizzuto's murder at the time if they expected bloodshed in NYC. Was there specific intel that led them to believe this or was it speculation?
The bit about Santora and Rabito sending emissaries to the Sicilians tells us something was going on, if this story is true. We have reason to believe the "new" Bonanno Sicilian faction was built up by Montagna, so he would have been a factor in any discussions the Sicilian faction was having about Canada.
- The Sicilian faction "includes about 25 Sicilian-born Bonanno mobsters, their relatives, and crew members - some of whom are American born"
- Vito Grimaldi is an adviser in the Sicilian faction and is a key player in the talks
- Grimaldi is Joseph Cammarano Jr's father-in-law
- Vincent Badalamenti also has the backing of the Sicilian faction
Capeci was the first to mention the Sicilian faction. At the time we didn't have much info to back it up, but since then we've learned more:
viewtopic.php?p=188689#p188689
I wonder if he meant 25 made members in this faction or included associates. The language "mobsters, their relatives, and crew members" doesn't tell us much.
Badalamenti was Mancuso's top guy so the Sicilians were close to both the rival factions at this time.
- The murder of Nick brought to a head a lengthy push for the Sicilian faction and Montreal for more clout in the Bonanno family (and more cash)
Might be the most mysterious part. Why would the murder of the younger Nick Rizzuto give NYC Sicilian Bonanno members clout in the Bonannos? This also suggests the NYC Sicilians and a faction of Montreal were in alliance.
There were Montreal Bonanno members and associates who sided with Montagna against the Rizzutos, so that much does match up, the main mystery is how NY-based Sicilians were involved in the war beyond moral support.
- "[Nicolo] sent back word that The Ironworker was a lightweight flunky and wasn't his boss"
Would be good to know the original source of this info -- seems it's being reported at least third hand, if not more, so I would question the exact words Rizzuto told him. If this info passed through a bunch of people before getting to Capeci, Rizzuto saying "I'm not stepping down" could turn into B-movie disses like "lightweight flunky".
Montagna was leaning on his position in the Bonanno family, so he would have made a specific request. Did Montagna tell Rizzuto to step down as a captain so that he could take his place? Did Montagna still carry a position in the Bonanno administration and/or have the support of the Bonanno admin in Montreal? Montagna's formal rank in the Bonanno family after his deportation hasn't been discussed much aside from Vinnie Asaro calling him "one of the bosses from NYC" when he brings up the Montagna murder on the Valenti tapes.
