THE BLACK HAND FORUM

Yep, and before the current new management it was another Italian restaurant called sasso. Always gunfire and bs erupting in nobleton it’s like the Montreal of the gta. A lot of gangster and drug dealers buy/rent expensive homes there and bums from other places come up to rob and cause trouble.

^^^^
Only Joyce Li of the [i]Toronto Star[/i] has reported on it.

The restaurant opened last October 23. Its previous incarnation was La Bella Italia in Maple, which closed last June 30.

I won’t share details yet of what I’ve been told and what I’ve learned, but most of them are easy to obtain by googling the restaurant names, the chefs’ names, and the newer restaurant’s address in Nobleton.

I have corporate information for the newer restaurant but I won’t share the information.

Like others who are closely following this incident, I do suspect that Italian organized crime is involved in this tragedy.

Oddly not mentioned in the Toronto evening news at all

https://www.yrp.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=27942ddc-f072-4c05-94fb-f12e4dd8507b

Murder and arson at a new Italian restaurant near Vaughan. Place just opened, some Arab punk got caught but I’m guessing the victim is Italian, someone probably hired him. Will find out more info

I've previously posted connection maps for the Tripi and Serio/Masecchia drug trafficking organizations that LE has alleged are connected to Italian Organized Crime in Buffalo. Here is a connection of of both of them put together.
[img]https://theblackhand.club/forum/ext/dmzx/imageupload/files/4d0365abfdd889e00d6076ed12d79fee.jpg[/img]

Here is a link: https://littlesis.org/oligrapher/10411-serio-masecchia-tripi-dto-s

[quote=antimafia post_id=218685 time=1643522283 user_id=113]
[quote=antimafia post_id=218049 time=1642859493 user_id=113]
^^^^
There’s another article that’s just been published in relation to the Giovanni Costa murdered last year.

Twisted neo-noir tale of murder and the Mob in Bolton

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/hunter-twisted-neo-noir-tale-of-murder-and-the-mob-in-bolton
[/quote]

Scarborough man charged in relation to Bolton murder investigation

https://www.thestar.com/local-caledon/news/crime/2022/01/29/scarborough-man-charged-in-relation-to-bolton-murder-investigation.html
[/quote]
Can’t pin that on me’: Man sentenced in hit of organized-crime suspect’s father
The Crown wanted 5.5 years for Jordan Andall, who allegedly refused to inform on those responsible for John Costa’s murder. The judge rejected the premise of the argument. Michael Costa has been linked to organized crime for years.

https://www.caledonenterprise.com/news/cant-pin-that-on-me-man-sentenced-in-hit-of-organized-crime-suspects-father/article_3cb051d4-d60d-5670-8219-bbd7b4060046.html

Is this Scotto connnected?

https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/ontario-man-charged-alongside-mystery-miami-party-boy-in-massive-u-s-fraud-case/article_aa77c1b0-d761-11ef-96f8-67053a8c27ee.html

[quote=NickleCity post_id=288655 time=1736818298 user_id=5614]


[b]Origin of Operation Past Due[/b]
Niagara Falls Police, NFPD, narcotics detectives contacted the Buffalo DEA task force regarding drug activity involving a collection agency, Direct Mediators, located at 1615 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York. NFPD narcotics detectives interviewed an employee that quit after one week of employment at the collection agency that remained anonymous. He/she observed illegal activity such as cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, and marijuana being sold out of the collection agency. He/she stated that Frank Tripi, the owner of the agency, stayed in the back office which was off limits to the employees.

[/quote]

Larry Panaro also owned and operated a collection agency called LTC Enterprises from the same Pine Ave address as Tripi’s Direct Mediators.

Fantastic post. Really appreciate the break down NickelCity.

Frank Tripi DTO
Alleged by HSI Agent Curtis Ryan to be connected to IOC in Buffalo during Bongiovanni trial 1

[img]https://theblackhand.club/forum/ext/dmzx/imageupload/files/a4f52512a5d5a410bb18337989cd05dc.png[/img]

Here is a link to the chart I've been putting together on Little Sis: https://littlesis.org/oligrapher/10333-frank-tripi-dto

[b]Frank Tripi DTO[/b]
-Frank was the primary target of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Past Due
-The DTO is alleged to have an international component in Canada
-The investigation involved multiple states including California and Nevada
-Local Law Enforcement included offices from the ATF, DEA, IRS, state and local agencies including the Niagara Falls Police Department
-The Tripi DTO is alleged to have trafficked cocaine, marijuana, and heroin while laundering money via bulk cash movement by air, wire transfer, business fronts, casinos, and property investments (real estate).
-Alleged to be connected to Italian Organized Crime in Buffalo by SA Curtis Ryan.

[b]Origin of Operation Past Due[/b]
Niagara Falls Police, NFPD, narcotics detectives contacted the Buffalo DEA task force regarding drug activity involving a collection agency, Direct Mediators, located at 1615 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York. NFPD narcotics detectives interviewed an employee that quit after one week of employment at the collection agency that remained anonymous. He/she observed illegal activity such as cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, and marijuana being sold out of the collection agency. He/she stated that Frank Tripi, the owner of the agency, stayed in the back office which was off limits to the employees.

[b]Scope of Frank Tripi DTO[/b]
The geographic scope of this organization has currently been identified as being Santa Cruz, California and the Western New York area, specifically Niagara Falls, New York, and Buffalo, New York.

The total number of participants in this organization has yet to be fully identified. However, it is believed that the organization consists of at least eleven identified members, and likely many more who have yet to be identified.

It is believed that this organization is currently engaged in the distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and various prescription drugs. It is currently believed, based on confidential source information, that this organization is distributing in excess of at least 2 kilograms of cocaine and multiple ounce quantities of heroin, multiple pounds of marijuana, and unknown quantities of prescription drugs per month in the Western New York area.

Tripi is obtaining his heroin from Ohio and driving it back to the Western New York area in vehicles with hidden compartments. Tripi himself is also involved with the coordination of trafficking of cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs. It is unknown at the present time how the cocaine and prescription drugs are delivered to Tripi.


[b]Goals of Operation Past Due[/b]
The overall goals of this investigation are to identify the totality of this drug-trafficking organization, including but not limited to the commanding and control elements, smuggling routes and methods, distribution networks, methods utilized to avoid apprehension by law enforcement, and money laundering methods.

[b]The Mark and Sam Zito Family[/b]
In 2021 Sam Zito and 2 others were convicted of smuggling over 600 pounds marijuana from Canada. See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-courts/niagara-falls-man-pleads-guilty-in-case-involving-600-pounds-of-marijuana/article_c142d390-ffa0-11eb-9869-476d4b55f0df.html

Sam and Mark Zito are brothers. See: https://www.mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com/obituary/477340

Their father Mark, a laborer at Local 91, was involved with shady stuff in The Falls. He was alleged to be involved in a fee splitting scheme while on the School Board. See: https://buffalonews.com/news/zito-is-arraigned-in-fee-splitting-scheme/article_3ac6cb94-9e40-5eaf-9e67-447fdcf2c047.html And he was alleged to be involved in a travel scandal while on the board: https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/zito-linked-to-travel-scandal/article_326ec4c8-8737-5bac-ab55-ae41acadd170.html

Additionally Mark Zito Sr. started the Niagara Power Coalition, but was accused of using his position with that organization for his personal gain. See: https://www.niagara-gazette.com/lawyers-inquire-about-zito/article_f28f8d28-0a6b-526a-aa41-2c1c2ceed1a2.html For payments to son Mark and Fiancé see also: https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/zito-cash-paid-to-son/article_d978c321-d06c-51d3-9395-a82eaacc9e81.html

[b]The Tripi Surname[/b]
I’ve got to do a family tree for the Tripi family but an individual named Frank Trip was is involved on criminality back to the early 30’s. I will have to find that article.

In the mid ’70 there were nursing home scandals involving a Frank Tripi and sons Robert and Dennis. Apparently they were extorting patients and families. See: https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/06/archives/home-operator-given-10-years-extortion-from-the-families-of.html See also: https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/18/archives/a-nursinghome-operator-in-buffalo-indicted-twice.html . See also: https://buffalonews.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-frank-tripi-sons-indi/162988212/.

A Frank Tripi Jr was accused being involved in a mob connected murder. See https://buffalonews.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-frank-tripi-alleged-to/162988673/

More recently the Buffalo News indicated that the Frank Tripi above had, also, been acquitted of the murder accusation and for being involved with mob connected gambling. His son Frank Tripi was listed as being involved a mob connected telemarketing business. See: https://buffalonews.com/article_815cc01c-015f-5c1c-802d-c51fd7f14983.html

[b]Lawrence Panaro[/b]
In 1990 Larry Panaro was arrested with Louis Giambrone and Joseph Amoia for being part of the Vegas to Buffalo cocaine trafficking ring connected to the Buffalo mob. See: https://buffalonews.com/article_4c204782-e3e5-5a17-8318-02135f83ada6.html

^^^
His attorney was Angelo Musitano not Anthony as the article stated. See: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ny-county-court/1191802.html

[quote=OcSleeper post_id=288416 time=1736452703 user_id=6887]
[quote=OcSleeper post_id=282844 time=1725341560 user_id=6887]
Thanks Nickle. I spoke to Manning and he confirmed when he said Avignone and this Lombardo were captains he was speaking about the "Musitano crime family" like I suspected.

I also asked about the Angelo Graci he mentioned that I wasn't familiar with and he shared an article with me. Turns out Graci and his son murdered a man back in 2020. Graci was just sentenced to time served recently and his son's trial is expected to start this month.
https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-time-served-after-manslaughter-plea-in-stabbing-death-of-mike-white/article_7fa56276-0e36-5d46-9369-b29405fd7e15.html
[/quote]
Police find $1.4 million in stolen vehicles at property of man on probation for manslaughter
https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/police-find-1-4-million-in-stolen-vehicles-at-property-of-man-on-probation-for/article_a7d0dab4-7f72-5bb1-888a-7e74d0169ef9.html

Graci caught up in another case
[/quote]

There is a Ronald K Graci, who was the proprietor of the Ole Grand inn in Niagara Falls, that was sentenced to 7 1/2 to 15 years in 2004 for running a large scale cocaine ring via city bars in Niagara Falls. (Graci was 56 at the time.) His convictions was the result of an investigation by city detectives and the NY State OC Taskforce. The article says his attorney was Anthony Musitano. (I wonder if they meant Angelo Musitano who had a practice in the falls then was barred from enter US around time issues with Musitano group were heating up. Anyone know of an Anthony Musitano who was an attorney?) Ronald Grace received the maximum sentence because, maximum sentence because the judge said "'you affected a lot of lives and helped destroy them' and because he was convicted of felony drug possession in 1999 and was on probation when he was 'doing a lot of cocaine' and selling it," according to this article: https://buffalonews.com/news/graci-plea-nets-up-to-15-years-in-cocaine-case/article_91c99379-45fa-5e17-b447-a3f142cbb080.html

It appears Ronald was the son of Vincent and Anna (DeFranco) Graci. He had a brother named Frederick (late Ann) Graci. He had two daughters Julie (Julie was arrested as part of that cocaine ring) and Sarah Garner: https://www.mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com/obituary/ronald-ronnie-k-graci. This obituary had him at 77 when he died.

[quote=OcSleeper post_id=282844 time=1725341560 user_id=6887]
Thanks Nickle. I spoke to Manning and he confirmed when he said Avignone and this Lombardo were captains he was speaking about the "Musitano crime family" like I suspected.

I also asked about the Angelo Graci he mentioned that I wasn't familiar with and he shared an article with me. Turns out Graci and his son murdered a man back in 2020. Graci was just sentenced to time served recently and his son's trial is expected to start this month.
https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-time-served-after-manslaughter-plea-in-stabbing-death-of-mike-white/article_7fa56276-0e36-5d46-9369-b29405fd7e15.html
[/quote]
Police find $1.4 million in stolen vehicles at property of man on probation for manslaughter
https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/police-find-1-4-million-in-stolen-vehicles-at-property-of-man-on-probation-for/article_a7d0dab4-7f72-5bb1-888a-7e74d0169ef9.html

Graci caught up in another case

[quote=NickleCity post_id=286255 time=1731371094 user_id=5614]
Here is a link to the diagram of the Masecchia/Serio Drug Trafficking Organization that I've been working on: https://littlesis.org/oligrapher/10183-ronald-serio-drug-trafficking-organization
[img]https://theblackhand.club/forum/ext/dmzx/imageupload/files/24600a821391e5cca96620b28a9552ea.png[/img]
[/quote]
Based on information I've found from articles and obituaries in the Buffalo News, Skip" Giambrone is Louis K Giambrone. He has a long history of drug arrests dating back to 73, when he was arrested Mike Anthony Piazza. The Piazza surname is part of the Serio/Masecchia DTO as well. Louis was part of the Vegas to Buffalo Garaziadei DTO that authorities were attempting to connect to the leadership of the Buffalo mob and he was arrested with Larry Panaro and Joe Amoia. During the Bongiovanni trial the Panaro and Amoia surnames were mentioned by law enforcement mentioned in relationship to investigations they had into drug trafficking in Vegas. Additionally we learned that Bobby Panaro was part owner of the Soho via testimony in the Bongiovanni trial and previous court documents and testimony indicated Agent Casullo had issues with the DEA having there Christmas party at the Soho. Johnny Amoia and Frank Parisi - again surnames involved with the Serio/Masecchia DTO are or have been owners of the Soho restaurant according to old Buffalo News articles.

[quote=antimafia post_id=287984 time=1735425211 user_id=113]
A nephew of Santo Scibetta (Hamilton) and of Joseph Scibetta (Buffalo) passed away earlier today. I don’t know whether the decedent was ever engaged in criminal activity.

https://www.friscolanti.com/obituary/nicolo-scibetta?fh_id=16442
[/quote]

In case anyone wants to save a copy of the newspaper obituary (e-paper).

[img]https://theblackhand.club/forum/ext/dmzx/imageupload/files/b6e9ef3eebfd94e3de15b4fe53bb9902.jpeg[/img]