THE BLACK HAND FORUM

Yeah, going back to the Lonardo testimony, he talks about Rockman in Cleveland being included and consulted in high-level mafia matters. We have recordings of made guys talking to associates (Italian and non-Italian) about promotions, titles, etc. in the organization. Would be no surprise if people...

Of course there is still so much we still don't know about the Cosa Nostra even with the informants etc. I remember before the Commission case many pundits doubted the very existence of a commission. Although it seems logical that there had to be some means of regulating disputes, especially in New ...

I believe Meyer Lansky could attend Commission meetings and give advice at least during the reigns of Luciano and Costello. Some people confuse the Italian-Jewish confederation formed in 1929 with the Cosa Nostra Commission.

Thanks for the chart. I wasn't aware that Zerilli and Bruno were "demoted". And I remember now that Maggadino lost control of his family before his death.

I have read at numerous times and in numerous places about various bosses being on the Commission. In particular, Russell Bufalino, Sam DeCavalcante, and Jack Dragna. It's my understanding that the Commission historically consisted of the heads of the Five Families, the Chicago Outfit, and Maggadino...

I see can see why Rochester got away with it since the Commission was dealing with the Bonanno and Colombo wars. Good timing for Rochester.

Did the Commission have a standard, as far as anybody knows, to consider a family as independent and not just a large crew?

I always thought that the Madison bunch was a Milwaukee crew headed by a capo named Caputo.

I've read that the Decavalcante Family didn't become an independent family until Sam the plumber took over. Is this true, and if true whose jurisdiction were they under?

I borrowed this from the Italian article in Wikipedia if permitted. I found it interesting since there is little in the way of information about the historic leadership of old Cosa Nostra families on the web. I know it's Wikipedia but I cross referenced with other sources. Sorry about it being in It...

The information in this forum is amazing. Love the charts too. I have a question regarding other crew succession charts or lists. Are there others say for New England for instance? I have found those for the Five Families, Chicago, Philadelphia and Jersey but nothing for the Patriarcas.

Now as far as Buffalo wasn't there a report that Domenico Violi, head of the Luppino 'ndrina in Hamilton, made underboss recently? He reportedly said that he beat out 30 other guys for the post. Thus he was the highest ranking mobster in the American Cosa Nostra. The Luppino's aren't a 'ndrina, the...

Now as far as Buffalo wasn't there a report that Domenico Violi, head of the Luppino 'ndrina in Hamilton, made underboss recently? He reportedly said that he beat out 30 other guys for the post. Thus he was the highest ranking mobster in the American Cosa Nostra. The Luppino's aren't a 'ndrina, the...

Canadian mobster I meant

"Operation Button Down, the codename for the FBI's campaign to crush the Mafia, reduced the number of families operating in the United States from 24 to only nine, FBI officials said." (CNN article, 2004) So the FBI determines status by level of activities as a family. Roger that. Now as ...