Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[TommyNoto]

^^^^
From WIVB 4 in Buffalo

"The source, who asked not to be identified, said the FBI agent asked a lot of questions about alleged prostitution, the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, specific parties that Gerace Jr. allegedly put on, and whether the person saw any judges or attorneys at these parties. Members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club worked at Pharaoh’s, court records state."]

Additionally this article states: "The charges are part of a decade-long federal investigation into local ties to Italian Organized Crime, according to court records."

Link: https://www.wivb.com/news/police-state- ... -by-train/

Well this is getting interesting AF lol

[stubbs]

Using the New Orleans example, they have reportedly one made member still alive in Joseph Gagliano. He may not be active today in running mafia-style crimes, but if an outside family wants to setup shop down in the Crescent City, they’d likely still be required to ask Gagliano for permission to operate.

So, to the current made members in the Five Families (and others), New Orleans is still an active family. There’s a representative in New Orleans who is their point of contact in the city. But, in reality there’s very likely zero active LCN rackets left in New Orleans today.

I'm not sure that's automatically the case. Going into the 1990s, the New Orleans family was basically finished but there were still some members left. According to Gravano, if I remember correctly, the New York families (specifically the Gambinos and Genovese) saw this as an opening. In fact, Gravano was told not to worry about the Marcellos because "they don't mean nothin' down here anymore."

Fast forward a few years, members and associates of the Gambino, Genovese, and New Orleans families were rounded up in the video poker bust, as they had ended up working together after all, but it appeared the NY families were going to get involved in the local video gambling racket regardless of what anyone there said.

It's anecdotal but you also have DiLeonardo's account of the time he met with Pete Milano and how he made it clear Milano, despite being the boss in LA, wasn't in a position to make demands of anyone coming into that area.

In both cases, one would think formal protocol would mean the NY families had to touch base, get approval, etc. from the mafiosi in these areas. But the actual state of both the New Orleans and Los Angeles families obviously was a major factor in how they were approached and dealt with.

My point is the families from out east still asked for permission. Anthony Carolla was the boss in New Orleans during this time period and when he was asked if the other families could operate, he gave his okay.

Carlos Marcello reportedly never let the five families operate in New Orleans for a fear of losing control. When Carolla said the Marcellos were nothing by that point, he was telling New York nobody would stand in their way.

New York still followed protocol by running it by the local family's representative, even if New Orleans no longer had the manpower to stop them if they had wanted.

But either way, New York likely wanted to follow protocol because they worked together on the scamming those casinos.

[B.]

Things with the ndrangheta and with Ontario ndrangheta are different..

What I know is
- In the early 1960s, Luppino was capodecina of the Hamilton faction under buffalo and Magaddino.
- in early 60s he was nominating people like Cosimo Stalteri from Siderno into the chamber of control of the ndrangheta in Sider o
- in early 70s he was invited to a ceremony in Toronto for an initiation ceremony of the son of Michele Commisso and other new ndrangheta member (which indicates he was part of the Copiata or indeed something similar to the copiata for Siderno).
-In 1971 he acted as mediator to calm things down when a series of men (racco, commisso boy. de Leo - an associate of Remo Commisso all ndrangheta men) got into a shooting
This shows he had a high ranking in the ndrangheta (this function is for high rankings)
This is to say that yes, he was clearly in both. I think the whole point is that the chamber of control was supposed to act to prevent those situation of families vs one another. Having a double status in both organisation was not uncommon in those years essentially because in the ndrangheta you are born you are not made so technically you don’t have a conflict of interest if you play at high levels.

I know very little about the 'ndrangheta's internal processes, but I agree with your take and I'm glad you're on the board here. Great new addition to this discussion.

We know now that US Cosa Nostra is willing to induct 'ndrangheta and Camorra members, and has been since at least the 1910s. We know multiple US families across different parts of the US and through different eras have inducted Camorristi and 'ndranghetesi.

However, I've never seen any indication that they forced a Camorrista or 'ndranghetista to outright "renounce" his membership or cease working with the other group. We have such little info I'm not confident saying anything one way or another, but here are some of the details:

- SF boss Tony Lima inducted a Camorrista into the SF family on the advice of his uncle (the former SF consigliere) in order to better control the Camorrista in a business deal they had going. When the Camorrista didn't live up to his end of the bargain, Lima shelved him. Interestingly, Lima's relatives were involved with the "Society of the Banana," an early US mafia network that included both Sicilians and mainlanders.

- Cosmo Sandalo was an 'ndranghetista who was an associate on record with the Gambino family's Connecticut crew and appears to have been inducted into Cosa Nostra when the books opened in the 1970s. He maintained close ties to his compaesani in Canada and he was from the same town as the Luppinos, suggesting a connection. He doesn't appear to have ever ceased his association with 'ndrangheta figures.

- Giacomo Luppino appears to have been brought into the Buffalo Cosa Nostra family and maintained heavy involvement in 'ndrangheta affairs, as CalabrianWatch has pointed out. At the time of his presumed induction, Cosa Nostra was vastly more influential than any other Italian underworld group and information has surfaced that Luppino showed great deferrence to Stefano Magaddino. It certainly doesn't appear he ever "renounced" his 'ndrangheta affiliation, though his sons and grandson continue to be Cosa Nostra members with no information indicating they joined the 'ndrangheta.

- The Sicilian Cosa Nostra inducted Camorristi like Michele Zaza following ongoing business together. From what's available, this was an honorary gesture and not intended to prevent figures like Zaza from continuing their involvement in Camorra affairs. Interestingly, it appears to have also been a decision made to strengthen ongoing business that Cosa Nostra had with Zaza, much like Lima's decision to induct a Camorrista in SF to better control him in relation to a specific business deal. It seems Cosa Nostra on both sides of the ocean and in different eras sees induction as a way to strengthen business opportunities.

- Magaddino was recorded discussing a Longo cousin who was apparently proposed for 'ndrangheta membership in Canada. It appears someone was confused and attempted to get Magaddino to "vouch" for Longo's induction, but Magaddino was adamant that the Buffalo Cosa Nostra family cannot be involved in that process and the 'ndrangheta must rely on its own "societies" (a word he used) and Longo's Calabrian hometown (which he shared with other Ontario figures). The impression I took is that Longo was an associate of the Buffalo Cosa Nostra family in Canada and that Magaddino did not protest Longo's induction into the 'ndrangheta, and actually showed that he was quite aware of the 'ndrangheta, but was adamant that it would be a significant violation of protocol for the Buffalo Cosa Nostra family to involve itself in internal 'ndrangheta matters.

One thing is clear, and that's that Cosa Nostra sees itself as number one. While it appears in exceptional cases they allow dual membership and there is no current info suggesting they ask 'ndrangheta members to "renounce" their previous affiliation (something they can't technically do, as they are outsiders to the organization), we can be sure that a Cosa Nostra family would not let 'ndrangheta membership get in the way of Cosa Nostra membership. If a man with dual membership attempted to manipulate or shirk his responsibilities to Cosa Notra to the benefit of the 'ndrangheta, it would be a problem.

Most importantly, despite its reputation for violence, the mafia trends far more often toward cooperation. Having 'ndrangheta members as associates or even Cosa Nostra members greatly expands Cosa Nostra's network and gives the mafia far more opportunities as a result. Unless the 'ndrangheta was outright disrespecting Cosa Nostra, it is only mutually beneficial for them to collaborate and in some cases even share members.

I must again bring up John Pennisi's experience meeting a crew of 'ndranghetisti in NYC. They couldn't be formally introduced to each other as they're not the same thing, but he said the 'ndrangheta guys really wanted to meet him and were friendly. They sat around a cafe casually talking and the 'ndrangheta members showed him great respect. I would bet that's pretty typical -- these guys aren't going to stand on opposite street corners scowling at each other, but might see each other like distant cousins who followed similar paths. Despite all of the mafia violence we've seen throughout history, we don't see that much conflict between these types of groups. That speaks volumes.

The mafia trends toward cooperation more often than it does conflict.

[SantoClaus]

The only instance since the 1931ish timeframe, of real cross organization violence that I’m aware of would be the battle in Quebec and Ontario, involving Quebec based Rizzuto and allies (Cosa Nostra Sicily, NYC or both) vs Ontario based Calabrese and allies (Ndrangheta) which is an outlier in business, to say the least.

[Cheech]

^^^^Dan and Lou updated their story:
"State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski either fell or lay down on railroad tracks shortly before a freight train hit him nine days ago, according to three law enforcement sources.

The judge was not standing upright or walking when the train hit him, the sources told The Buffalo News."

Snip

"Detectives are investigating to determine why Michalski wound up in the path of the train, authorities told The Buffalo News.

Detectives are trying to figure out how the judge got to the scene from his Amherst home, said one law enforcement official familiar with the case. The judge resides about 7 miles from the Amtrak station in Depew."

Thanks bro. Really interesting. Keepem coming

[johnny_scootch]

Things with the ndrangheta and with Ontario ndrangheta are different..

What I know is
- In the early 1960s, Luppino was capodecina of the Hamilton faction under buffalo and Magaddino.
- in early 60s he was nominating people like Cosimo Stalteri from Siderno into the chamber of control of the ndrangheta in Sider o
- in early 70s he was invited to a ceremony in Toronto for an initiation ceremony of the son of Michele Commisso and other new ndrangheta member (which indicates he was part of the Copiata or indeed something similar to the copiata for Siderno).
-In 1971 he acted as mediator to calm things down when a series of men (racco, commisso boy. de Leo - an associate of Remo Commisso all ndrangheta men) got into a shooting
This shows he had a high ranking in the ndrangheta (this function is for high rankings)
This is to say that yes, he was clearly in both. I think the whole point is that the chamber of control was supposed to act to prevent those situation of families vs one another. Having a double status in both organisation was not uncommon in those years essentially because in the ndrangheta you are born you are not made so technically you don’t have a conflict of interest if you play at high levels.

What I'm saying poorly is that I think Luppino was totally subservient to Magaddino, he had no other superiors except the Buffalo administration while at the same time holding a rank within the Ndrangheta that allowed him to attend the high level Ndrangheta functions you mentioned but all his practical power came from Cosa Nostra and that's what he represented when he sat down with Ndrangheta bosses or attended Ndrangheta ceremonies.

[SantoClaus]

Don’t know if this has been referenced, it’s an arrest from 2014 in NYC and Calabria. Involving the Gambinos, Bonannos and the Ursino Ionica.

https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/11/world/eu ... afia-raids

[B.]

What I'm saying poorly is that I think Luppino was totally subservient to Magaddino, he had no other superiors except the Buffalo administration while at the same time holding a rank within the Ndrangheta that allowed him to attend the high level Ndrangheta functions you mentioned but all his practical power came from Cosa Nostra and that's what he represented when he sat down with Ndrangheta bosses or attended Ndrangheta ceremonies.

Yeah, I don't know about his power being limited to representing Buffalo connections in 'ndrangheta affairs, but his sons and grandson still see the use (or necessity) of Buffalo membership and his grandson boasted about his position in Cosa Nostra. That didn't come out of nowhere in recent generations. Makes me think of the passage in one of the Canadian books about Luppino gushing over Magaddino at a wedding... not sure the source on it but it fits what we've seen recently.

[OcSleeper]

and to add to this - Carmelo Bruzzese was a Ndrangheta man for Toronto, but he was also a Vito's man,

I'm sorry but earlier you said the Bruzzese's were one of the Ndrangheta clans who opposed the Rizzutos. So did you mean before Vito's arrest they supported him but after it became one of the clans that opposed the Rizzutos?

[Angelo Santino]

I'm calm... but I have to defend Wiseguy here, all he said was "I'm not sure I agree" which speaks to his dedication to the truth because he could have just not posted it at all if he didn't agree with it. And I- as a mod- went back and edited the message once I learned she didn't want her emails posted. He didn't dismiss her outright.

Regarding the Todaro's affiliation it's very simple to me- Violi was made Underboss (this is a Mafia rank, not a Ndrangheta one), the connections were within the Mafia network- NY and Montreal. The protocol for entering the organization- ceremony or not- was a Mafia one.

Had this been reversed and Violi said that Todaro made him Crimine (equiv to Mafia Underboss) and they had meetings with the GTA Ndrangheta that would have been a headfuck and it would have collaborated the Todaros being something other than LCN. But it's not. Violi is Calabrian but he joined the Mafia, we'd have to ask him why. But his family had a history of Mafia affiliation so it's not like it's a big question mark or something extraordinary.

If I can add something here, indeed the 'affiliation' to the 'ndrangheta are not the same as the mafia - in the 'ndrangheta you have three people 'the copiata' to give you a ranking in the società maggiore (from the santa ranking onward). The Crimine is not the same as the Underboss by the way, also because the 'ndrangheta is not a hierarchical structure in the same way the mafia is. Underboss might be the Mastro di Giornata in a Locale, certainly not the Crimine. I think the picture is more complicated than just the family in Buffalo, whatever they are.

When Vito died in Montreal, Musitano remained the only one 'officially' linked to Montreal in Hamilton/Ontario. And now Musitano is over and done. The Violis were not exactly in a good relationship with Vito (for obvious reasons). They have always been in the middle - from Calabrian/ndrangheta past (and the time of the run from Montreal) to their own crime family in Hamilton - they have family relationships in Buffalo, people travel for funerals, weddings etc, so their Buffalo 'official' connection make sense in that sense, to avoid losing any residual family power altogether. Giacomo Luppino was linked to Buffalo, but he was also very influential in the ndrangheta in Toronto, in the 1970s he was in happy relationships with Michele Commisso. His son Vincenzo was close to De Leo as well. With Cece Luppino unwilling to follow on his family's path and their family links back down to Siderno, and with the growing influence of the Commisso/Figliomeni side from Toronto, the Violi have to make choices, why couldn't one of these choices to hold hands onto both sides, as the family Luppino-Violi has always pretty much done?

Mastro da giornata? I stand corrected. But when you say "might" I think you're saying there's no true equivalent because both Societies are extremely different? To call the 'Ndrangheta the Calabrian Mafia is a gross, gross misunderstanding when we compare both organizations. So I'm glad you're here and on the ball.

I'm working on a project on the early stuff (pre-1930) and what I know doesn't apply to today because it's gone through many changes. Back in the day Da Giornata was an assistant but to compare pre and post 1950 is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly in some respects. Either way, thank you for the correction.

I'm glad we have someone here to focus on the Calabrese side of things and I genuinely look forward to more of your thoughts and contributions. Salut.

[CabriniGreen]

I'm calm... but I have to defend Wiseguy here, all he said was "I'm not sure I agree" which speaks to his dedication to the truth because he could have just not posted it at all if he didn't agree with it. And I- as a mod- went back and edited the message once I learned she didn't want her emails posted. He didn't dismiss her outright.

Regarding the Todaro's affiliation it's very simple to me- Violi was made Underboss (this is a Mafia rank, not a Ndrangheta one), the connections were within the Mafia network- NY and Montreal. The protocol for entering the organization- ceremony or not- was a Mafia one.

Had this been reversed and Violi said that Todaro made him Crimine (equiv to Mafia Underboss) and they had meetings with the GTA Ndrangheta that would have been a headfuck and it would have collaborated the Todaros being something other than LCN. But it's not. Violi is Calabrian but he joined the Mafia, we'd have to ask him why. But his family had a history of Mafia affiliation so it's not like it's a big question mark or something extraordinary.

If I can add something here, indeed the 'affiliation' to the 'ndrangheta are not the same as the mafia - in the 'ndrangheta you have three people 'the copiata' to give you a ranking in the società maggiore (from the santa ranking onward). The Crimine is not the same as the Underboss by the way, also because the 'ndrangheta is not a hierarchical structure in the same way the mafia is. Underboss might be the Mastro di Giornata in a Locale, certainly not the Crimine. I think the picture is more complicated than just the family in Buffalo, whatever they are.

When Vito died in Montreal, Musitano remained the only one 'officially' linked to Montreal in Hamilton/Ontario. And now Musitano is over and done. The Violis were not exactly in a good relationship with Vito (for obvious reasons). They have always been in the middle - from Calabrian/ndrangheta past (and the time of the run from Montreal) to their own crime family in Hamilton - they have family relationships in Buffalo, people travel for funerals, weddings etc, so their Buffalo 'official' connection make sense in that sense, to avoid losing any residual family power altogether. Giacomo Luppino was linked to Buffalo, but he was also very influential in the ndrangheta in Toronto, in the 1970s he was in happy relationships with Michele Commisso. His son Vincenzo was close to De Leo as well. With Cece Luppino unwilling to follow on his family's path and their family links back down to Siderno, and with the growing influence of the Commisso/Figliomeni side from Toronto, the Violi have to make choices, why couldn't one of these choices to hold hands onto both sides, as the family Luppino-Violi has always pretty much done?

Mastro da giornata? I stand corrected. But when you say "might" I think you're saying there's no true equivalent because both Societies are extremely different? To call the 'Ndrangheta the Calabrian Mafia is a gross, gross misunderstanding when we compare both organizations. So I'm glad you're here and on the ball.

I'm working on a project on the early stuff (pre-1930) and what I know doesn't apply to today because it's gone through many changes. Back in the day Da Giornata was an assistant but to compare pre and post 1950 is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly in some respects. Either way, thank you for the correction.

I'm glad we have someone here to focus on the Calabrese side of things and I genuinely look forward to more of your thoughts and contributions. Salut.

It's in the Ndrangheta article Antimafia posted in this very thread....


The investigations of the Project Bene Comune made it possible to ascertain that he was the “Mastro di Giornata” ("Master of the Day"), an important position within a Locale which can only be granted to high-ranking members (the “Mastro di Giornata” deals with conveying, as a spokesperson, the orders and wills of the Capo Locale to his subordinates and, in the opposite direction, the news that the subordinates bring to the top of the Locale; thus a sort of filter to ensure distance, in case of ascertainment of responsibilities in court, between the boss and the actions of his subordinates).

[Angelo Santino]

I'm calm... but I have to defend Wiseguy here, all he said was "I'm not sure I agree" which speaks to his dedication to the truth because he could have just not posted it at all if he didn't agree with it. And I- as a mod- went back and edited the message once I learned she didn't want her emails posted. He didn't dismiss her outright.

Regarding the Todaro's affiliation it's very simple to me- Violi was made Underboss (this is a Mafia rank, not a Ndrangheta one), the connections were within the Mafia network- NY and Montreal. The protocol for entering the organization- ceremony or not- was a Mafia one.

Had this been reversed and Violi said that Todaro made him Crimine (equiv to Mafia Underboss) and they had meetings with the GTA Ndrangheta that would have been a headfuck and it would have collaborated the Todaros being something other than LCN. But it's not. Violi is Calabrian but he joined the Mafia, we'd have to ask him why. But his family had a history of Mafia affiliation so it's not like it's a big question mark or something extraordinary.

If I can add something here, indeed the 'affiliation' to the 'ndrangheta are not the same as the mafia - in the 'ndrangheta you have three people 'the copiata' to give you a ranking in the società maggiore (from the santa ranking onward). The Crimine is not the same as the Underboss by the way, also because the 'ndrangheta is not a hierarchical structure in the same way the mafia is. Underboss might be the Mastro di Giornata in a Locale, certainly not the Crimine. I think the picture is more complicated than just the family in Buffalo, whatever they are.

When Vito died in Montreal, Musitano remained the only one 'officially' linked to Montreal in Hamilton/Ontario. And now Musitano is over and done. The Violis were not exactly in a good relationship with Vito (for obvious reasons). They have always been in the middle - from Calabrian/ndrangheta past (and the time of the run from Montreal) to their own crime family in Hamilton - they have family relationships in Buffalo, people travel for funerals, weddings etc, so their Buffalo 'official' connection make sense in that sense, to avoid losing any residual family power altogether. Giacomo Luppino was linked to Buffalo, but he was also very influential in the ndrangheta in Toronto, in the 1970s he was in happy relationships with Michele Commisso. His son Vincenzo was close to De Leo as well. With Cece Luppino unwilling to follow on his family's path and their family links back down to Siderno, and with the growing influence of the Commisso/Figliomeni side from Toronto, the Violi have to make choices, why couldn't one of these choices to hold hands onto both sides, as the family Luppino-Violi has always pretty much done?

Mastro da giornata? I stand corrected. But when you say "might" I think you're saying there's no true equivalent because both Societies are extremely different? To call the 'Ndrangheta the Calabrian Mafia is a gross, gross misunderstanding when we compare both organizations. So I'm glad you're here and on the ball.

I'm working on a project on the early stuff (pre-1930) and what I know doesn't apply to today because it's gone through many changes. Back in the day Da Giornata was an assistant but to compare pre and post 1950 is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly in some respects. Either way, thank you for the correction.

I'm glad we have someone here to focus on the Calabrese side of things and I genuinely look forward to more of your thoughts and contributions. Salut.

It's in the Ndrangheta article Antimafia posted in this very thread....


The investigations of the Project Bene Comune made it possible to ascertain that he was the “Mastro di Giornata” ("Master of the Day"), an important position within a Locale which can only be granted to high-ranking members (the “Mastro di Giornata” deals with conveying, as a spokesperson, the orders and wills of the Capo Locale to his subordinates and, in the opposite direction, the news that the subordinates bring to the top of the Locale; thus a sort of filter to ensure distance, in case of ascertainment of responsibilities in court, between the boss and the actions of his subordinates).

Sounds like more of a messenger than an Underboss. I was going to say that but held back because the modern 'Ndrangheta isn't my area. But it sounds like its function hasn't changed which is interesting and enlightening. Thanks.

[CabriniGreen]

I'm calm... but I have to defend Wiseguy here, all he said was "I'm not sure I agree" which speaks to his dedication to the truth because he could have just not posted it at all if he didn't agree with it. And I- as a mod- went back and edited the message once I learned she didn't want her emails posted. He didn't dismiss her outright.

Regarding the Todaro's affiliation it's very simple to me- Violi was made Underboss (this is a Mafia rank, not a Ndrangheta one), the connections were within the Mafia network- NY and Montreal. The protocol for entering the organization- ceremony or not- was a Mafia one.

Had this been reversed and Violi said that Todaro made him Crimine (equiv to Mafia Underboss) and they had meetings with the GTA Ndrangheta that would have been a headfuck and it would have collaborated the Todaros being something other than LCN. But it's not. Violi is Calabrian but he joined the Mafia, we'd have to ask him why. But his family had a history of Mafia affiliation so it's not like it's a big question mark or something extraordinary.

If I can add something here, indeed the 'affiliation' to the 'ndrangheta are not the same as the mafia - in the 'ndrangheta you have three people 'the copiata' to give you a ranking in the società maggiore (from the santa ranking onward). The Crimine is not the same as the Underboss by the way, also because the 'ndrangheta is not a hierarchical structure in the same way the mafia is. Underboss might be the Mastro di Giornata in a Locale, certainly not the Crimine. I think the picture is more complicated than just the family in Buffalo, whatever they are.

When Vito died in Montreal, Musitano remained the only one 'officially' linked to Montreal in Hamilton/Ontario. And now Musitano is over and done. The Violis were not exactly in a good relationship with Vito (for obvious reasons). They have always been in the middle - from Calabrian/ndrangheta past (and the time of the run from Montreal) to their own crime family in Hamilton - they have family relationships in Buffalo, people travel for funerals, weddings etc, so their Buffalo 'official' connection make sense in that sense, to avoid losing any residual family power altogether. Giacomo Luppino was linked to Buffalo, but he was also very influential in the ndrangheta in Toronto, in the 1970s he was in happy relationships with Michele Commisso. His son Vincenzo was close to De Leo as well. With Cece Luppino unwilling to follow on his family's path and their family links back down to Siderno, and with the growing influence of the Commisso/Figliomeni side from Toronto, the Violi have to make choices, why couldn't one of these choices to hold hands onto both sides, as the family Luppino-Violi has always pretty much done?

Mastro da giornata? I stand corrected. But when you say "might" I think you're saying there's no true equivalent because both Societies are extremely different? To call the 'Ndrangheta the Calabrian Mafia is a gross, gross misunderstanding when we compare both organizations. So I'm glad you're here and on the ball.

I'm working on a project on the early stuff (pre-1930) and what I know doesn't apply to today because it's gone through many changes. Back in the day Da Giornata was an assistant but to compare pre and post 1950 is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly in some respects. Either way, thank you for the correction.

I'm glad we have someone here to focus on the Calabrese side of things and I genuinely look forward to more of your thoughts and contributions. Salut.

It's in the Ndrangheta article Antimafia posted in this very thread....


The investigations of the Project Bene Comune made it possible to ascertain that he was the “Mastro di Giornata” ("Master of the Day"), an important position within a Locale which can only be granted to high-ranking members (the “Mastro di Giornata” deals with conveying, as a spokesperson, the orders and wills of the Capo Locale to his subordinates and, in the opposite direction, the news that the subordinates bring to the top of the Locale; thus a sort of filter to ensure distance, in case of ascertainment of responsibilities in court, between the boss and the actions of his subordinates).

Also, as far as Ndrangheta and it's own autonomy...


.Umile Arturi then confirmed the deposition of the collaborator Franco Pino in the account of the meeting in 1992, in a village of Nicotera Marina, to examine the proposal of the Corleonesi of Totò Riina and of the Catania of Santapaola to join the massacre strategy after the attack in via D'Amelio in Palermo cost the lives of judge Paolo Borsellino and the men of the escort. Compared to Franco Pino's deposition, however, Umile Arturi indicated among the participants in the meeting three names that had not been mentioned by the first collaboratorwho had indeed underlined its absence: Pino Piromalli from Gioia Tauro, Peppe Pesce from Rosarno and Giuseppe Farao from Cirò. Franco Pino had instead spoken of the presence of Nino Pesce and Silvio Farao accompanied by Cataldo Marincola (the latter name also made by Umile Arturi). Among the others - according to the two collaborators - were present at the meeting, the "landlord" Luigi Mancuso of Limbadi and Franco Coco Trova of Marcedusa, resident in Lombardy and related to the De Stefano family of Reggio Calabria. “Luigi Mancuso - said Arturi - explained the Sicilians' proposal but clearly said he was against itbecause if we had adhered to the Sicilian massacre strategy we would have transferred the mess that happened to Sicily also in Calabria and this was not convenient for the 'Ndrangheta , in addition to the fact that Mancuso supported the opposition to the killing of innocent people , including magistrates ".


There are a few on here that read about ALL the mafias....

[CabriniGreen]

I'm calm... but I have to defend Wiseguy here, all he said was "I'm not sure I agree" which speaks to his dedication to the truth because he could have just not posted it at all if he didn't agree with it. And I- as a mod- went back and edited the message once I learned she didn't want her emails posted. He didn't dismiss her outright.

Regarding the Todaro's affiliation it's very simple to me- Violi was made Underboss (this is a Mafia rank, not a Ndrangheta one), the connections were within the Mafia network- NY and Montreal. The protocol for entering the organization- ceremony or not- was a Mafia one.

Had this been reversed and Violi said that Todaro made him Crimine (equiv to Mafia Underboss) and they had meetings with the GTA Ndrangheta that would have been a headfuck and it would have collaborated the Todaros being something other than LCN. But it's not. Violi is Calabrian but he joined the Mafia, we'd have to ask him why. But his family had a history of Mafia affiliation so it's not like it's a big question mark or something extraordinary.

If I can add something here, indeed the 'affiliation' to the 'ndrangheta are not the same as the mafia - in the 'ndrangheta you have three people 'the copiata' to give you a ranking in the società maggiore (from the santa ranking onward). The Crimine is not the same as the Underboss by the way, also because the 'ndrangheta is not a hierarchical structure in the same way the mafia is. Underboss might be the Mastro di Giornata in a Locale, certainly not the Crimine. I think the picture is more complicated than just the family in Buffalo, whatever they are.

When Vito died in Montreal, Musitano remained the only one 'officially' linked to Montreal in Hamilton/Ontario. And now Musitano is over and done. The Violis were not exactly in a good relationship with Vito (for obvious reasons). They have always been in the middle - from Calabrian/ndrangheta past (and the time of the run from Montreal) to their own crime family in Hamilton - they have family relationships in Buffalo, people travel for funerals, weddings etc, so their Buffalo 'official' connection make sense in that sense, to avoid losing any residual family power altogether. Giacomo Luppino was linked to Buffalo, but he was also very influential in the ndrangheta in Toronto, in the 1970s he was in happy relationships with Michele Commisso. His son Vincenzo was close to De Leo as well. With Cece Luppino unwilling to follow on his family's path and their family links back down to Siderno, and with the growing influence of the Commisso/Figliomeni side from Toronto, the Violi have to make choices, why couldn't one of these choices to hold hands onto both sides, as the family Luppino-Violi has always pretty much done?

Mastro da giornata? I stand corrected. But when you say "might" I think you're saying there's no true equivalent because both Societies are extremely different? To call the 'Ndrangheta the Calabrian Mafia is a gross, gross misunderstanding when we compare both organizations. So I'm glad you're here and on the ball.

I'm working on a project on the early stuff (pre-1930) and what I know doesn't apply to today because it's gone through many changes. Back in the day Da Giornata was an assistant but to compare pre and post 1950 is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly in some respects. Either way, thank you for the correction.

I'm glad we have someone here to focus on the Calabrese side of things and I genuinely look forward to more of your thoughts and contributions. Salut.

It's in the Ndrangheta article Antimafia posted in this very thread....


The investigations of the Project Bene Comune made it possible to ascertain that he was the “Mastro di Giornata” ("Master of the Day"), an important position within a Locale which can only be granted to high-ranking members (the “Mastro di Giornata” deals with conveying, as a spokesperson, the orders and wills of the Capo Locale to his subordinates and, in the opposite direction, the news that the subordinates bring to the top of the Locale; thus a sort of filter to ensure distance, in case of ascertainment of responsibilities in court, between the boss and the actions of his subordinates).

Sounds like more of a messenger than an Underboss. I was going to say that but held back because the modern 'Ndrangheta isn't my area. But it sounds like its function hasn't changed which is interesting and enlightening. Thanks.

These same ranks were outlined for the first time to me when the Piscopisani clan was arrested. They broke down the entire locale, rank by rank, the first locale I've ever seen mapped out like that. I wanted to try to do the same for Toronto, this article antimafia posted is the closest I've seen anyone come.....

[Angelo Santino]

I read about all the mafias, but post 1950 I'm a curious observer, it's not my area. I can only concentrate on so much. I also have a life outside of this. To coincide with the above, I read an interview from a Neapolitan who said Riina's attempt was stupid and instead of murder of politicians, they instead conduct a "delegitimization" against them politically.

Interesting shit, all the same.