THE BLACK HAND FORUM

My tolerance for Scott is higher than a lot on here, but nothing in that video other than maybe the “3 dozen”number seems outlandish to me based on what we know.

[quote=NorthBuffalo post_id=292288 time=1744755700 user_id=8087]
Nikolas 'Snuffy' Stravapoulos, longtime Chicago greektown gambling figure who co-owned Snuffy's diner in McCook, IL, which served as a gambling establishment. He is also the father of current Outfit figure Demitri 'Jimmy' Stravapoulos, the same individual targeted by Mandell a few years ago - I think that is Jimmy in this photo as a kid.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/MGVpWC62/Nick-Stravapoulos.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/63h6ZC4M/snuffys.jpg[/img]
[/quote]

Just an update - a very knowledgeable source I share / receive photos from says this is William 'Smokes' Aloisio in the background holding the pool cue with the pinky ring. I am unsure the resemblance matches - if anyone knows better, would welcome another opinion.

[quote=NorthBuffalo post_id=292309 time=1744807949 user_id=8087]
You gotta be a stunad of the first magnitude to pay for that website.
[/quote]

I subscribed a couple years ago for the full 12 months to show support. Forgot to cancel before it renewed for another 12. After I read the article he wrote about Ralph Balsamo "breaking bread" at Thanksgiving with a Bronx blood member and being the "liaison" to the bloods in the Bronx for the genovese just because a picture got posted on Instagram of some guys in the can I just went ahead and cancelled it with several months left of the subscription. The sensationalism was just unbearable to me.

You gotta be a stunad of the first magnitude to pay for that website.

[quote=aray22 post_id=292301 time=1744774083 user_id=7334]
[quote=InCamelot post_id=292300 time=1744773767 user_id=4353]
[quote=RushStreet post_id=292263 time=1744731301 user_id=8773]
[url]https://youtu.be/32YG6v9qGjA?si=-DxiCGtgB23TXTbx[/url]
[/quote]

Doesn't mention Rainone I think? Whatever Rainone's last interaction was with Scott, it seemed to have worked.
[/quote]

What happened?
[/quote]

Rainone was displeased with an article Scott wrote identifying him as a mobster and contacted Scott, who actually posted an article about the interaction. He hasn't mentioned him by name since, instead referring to him indirectly. Scott does the same with the LoBues, just calling them "two Sicilian brothers" instead of their names.

https://gangsterreport.com/louie-rainone-to-gangster-report-you-guys-are-cnn-peddling-fake-news-sources-say-another-person-not-rainone-chi-outfits-future/

[quote=InCamelot post_id=292300 time=1744773767 user_id=4353]
[quote=RushStreet post_id=292263 time=1744731301 user_id=8773]
[url]https://youtu.be/32YG6v9qGjA?si=-DxiCGtgB23TXTbx[/url]
[/quote]

Doesn't mention Rainone I think? Whatever Rainone's last interaction was with Scott, it seemed to have worked.
[/quote]

What happened?

[quote=RushStreet post_id=292263 time=1744731301 user_id=8773]
[url]https://youtu.be/32YG6v9qGjA?si=-DxiCGtgB23TXTbx[/url]
[/quote]

Doesn't mention Rainone I think? Whatever Rainone's last interaction was with Scott, it seemed to have worked.

Nikolas 'Snuffy' Stravapoulos, longtime Chicago greektown gambling figure who co-owned Snuffy's diner in McCook, IL, which served as a gambling establishment. He is also the father of current Outfit figure Demitri 'Jimmy' Stravapoulos, the same individual targeted by Mandell a few years ago - I think that is Jimmy in this photo as a kid.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/MGVpWC62/Nick-Stravapoulos.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/63h6ZC4M/snuffys.jpg[/img]

[quote=JoePuzzles234 post_id=292265 time=1744732451 user_id=7469]Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion[/quote]

And some people wonder why he gets so much flack.

[quote=JoePuzzles234 post_id=292265 time=1744732451 user_id=7469]
Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion
[/quote]

FWIW, if you add up every single confirmed made guy as well as all the somewhat plausible rumored made guys (Mitria, Rovito, Marino, Gagliano, everyone) I think it does come to about 50.

I watched it last night and unfortunately there are no more specifics on who makes up the "Sarno Boys", outside of like Rovito and Carparelli. Otherwise it seemed to be Scott mostly repeating stuff from last year for the rest of the family and recapping some more recent GR articles.

Notably, he also says there are 50-75 "buttons" in Chicago today which I guess is keeping in line with the whole 24+ members made by Sarno notion

^^^ New Podcast discussing the State of the Outfit in 2025. Check it out.

[url]https://youtu.be/32YG6v9qGjA?si=-DxiCGtgB23TXTbx[/url]

[quote=Coloboy post_id=292243 time=1744690094 user_id=6473]
Then boss Monteleone died in January 2001. Chiaramonte was killed in November of that year later on. I think it’s likely that it was decided sometime in that period that when Marcello got out, it was his spot. He certainly spoke as if he was the boss on the prison tapes with his brother around this time.

Tornabene is often thought to have kept things running for Marcello in this period. I would not be surprised based on that timeline if Marcello approved the hit on Chiaramonti from prison. He was seemingly well informed of goings on based on his prison tapes.
[/quote]

I agree - I think you also look at the timeline. Chiarmonte, Tournabene, Marcello and Zizzo are all Carlisi guys. Sarno and the Cicero guys were Infelise crew. There is always this idea of a power struggle because of Dublino and Sarno later beefing - but I do think that could have been one off.

Chiaramonte gets hit in 2001 and Marcello comes home 2003. Marcello goes back to prison in April 2005 and Zizzo is hit a few months later in August. It always looks, reads and sounds as if Zizzo was killed in a power struggle between Marcello and Sarno - however, one wonders if this was Marcello perhaps tying up loose ends. Perhaps the feds were pressuring Zizzo on Family Secrets or there was more going on there. I think a lot of people too often look at Sarno for the hit on Zizzo, while perhaps forgetting he may have still been working for Marcello at the time and following orders.

I also think you need to look at 2005 for the Outfit - they have the first made guy in history flipping and giving information. Indictments are coming for all of the top brass at that time. I just wonder if Zizzo was hit out of fear things could get worse - I'm not sure Sarno would simply 'usurp' the boss position from Marcello after he goes to prison and then hit Marcello's main guy (Zizzo) within a few months and not wonder if this would cause Marcello to flip himself and put Sarno behind bars.

Then boss Monteleone died in January 2001. Chiaramonte was killed in November of that year later on. I think it’s likely that it was decided sometime in that period that when Marcello got out, it was his spot. He certainly spoke as if he was the boss on the prison tapes with his brother around this time.

Tornabene is often thought to have kept things running for Marcello in this period. I would not be surprised based on that timeline if Marcello approved the hit on Chiaramonti from prison. He was seemingly well informed of goings on based on his prison tapes.