Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[NickleCity]

Dancer became a go-between for Pharaoh's customers and drug dealer
Patrick Lakamp

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... 493f6.html

[NickleCity]

Testimony in Bongiovanni trial centers around Sycamore Street building

From WGRZ’s 6pm newscast: https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/a ... a96f160a29

[NickleCity]

Buffalo DEA agent claims Bongiovanni discouraged surveillance on suspected drug spot
A former agent is accused of taking bribes to protect operators of large-scale drug ring in Western New York.
Dave McKinley WGRZ

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... 76c5a0ca33

[NickleCity]

Pharaoh's witness death seen as 'mega case,' but prosecution won't seek death penalty
Patrick Lakamp

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... 5bbd8.html

[NickleCity]

A former performer at Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club testified that she and club owner Peter Gerace did cocaine with the former DEA agen

On WGRZ News by Dave McKinley

See: https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/w ... 1004c2791c

Also mentions that Gerace provided women to we’ll know Buffalo restauranteur and philanthropist Russel Salvatore.

[NickleCity]

Sheriff's Office avoided using DEA database, so federal agent did not see an arrest coming
Patrick Lakamp

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... d1abc.html

[OcSleeper]

Antonio Luppino passed away
https://baygardens.permavita.com/site/A ... ppino.html

[antimafia]

^^^^
You can also view the obituary at https://obituaries.thespec.com/obituary ... 1089441235, where you can anonymously sign up for notifications about changes to it, such as new online condolences posted.

[antimafia]

Antonio Luppino passed away
https://baygardens.permavita.com/site/A ... ppino.html

In July 1982, RCMP Insp. Dino Chiarot testified at the trial of Antonio Luppino, John Luppino, and Geraldo Fumo that those two Luppino brothers were likely members of the Hamilton 'ndrangheta that was headed by their father (Giacomo). While the judge accepted the existence of the 'ndrangheta, he didn’t see evidence linking Antonio and John to such an organization.

Law enforcement in Canada might have known as early as the early 1960s that Domenico Rugolo, married to Giacomo’s daughter Carmela, was an important member of the Mammoliti 'ndrina of Oppido Mamertina. There was intermarriage between the Mammolitis and Rugolos, enough so that it was common to write of a Mammoliti-Rugolo clan.

[NickleCity]

Bongiovanni claimed relationship with Gerace was casual; evidence and testimony showed otherwise
WGRZ | Dave McKinley

See: https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/a ... c6e9ecdab0

[NickleCity]

Drug dealer testifies he believed trafficking operation was under Bongiovanni's protection
WGRZ I Dave McKinley

....Masecchia called a teacher by day and a "mafia strongman by night."

See: https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/a ... 0a2ea8ff05

[NickleCity]

Despite his absence, Gerace looms over ex-DEA agent's trial
Bongiovanni case inextricably linked to strip club owner

PATRICK LAKAMP

See: https://buffalonews.com/despite-his-abs ... user-share

[NickleCity]

Star witness testifies in Bongiovanni trial today in court
WGRZ | Dave McKinley

Ron Serio “Greeny” testified that Masecchia was a mob member and asked him if he could become a made man to which Masacchia replied, “Just shut up and keep making money.”


See: https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/a ... c3b50e1ff9

[Newyorkempire]

When someone tells you what they are believe them

[NickleCity]

Drug trafficker who owned mansion tells all about his criminal rise and how it suddenly fell apart
From the Complete coverage: The case of ex-DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni series
Patrick Lakamp

With money pouring in from his marijuana and cocaine trafficking, Ronald Serio got a meeting in Canada with Frank J. “Butch” BiFulco, once viewed by federal authorities as a longtime leader in the local Mafia.

Ronald C. Serio is awaiting sentencing on felony drug and weapons charges stemming from a 2017 raid at his former Lebrun Road mansion in Amherst. The case against Serio is part of a federal investigation into organized crime in Buffalo. Serio pleaded guilty to the charges.

Serio, 47, testified Monday that he sought the 2014 meeting with “Butchie BiFocals," arranged by Serio's drug-trafficking partner Michael Masecchia, because he was looking for more marijuana suppliers in an attempt to control the market in Western New York.

BiFulco, who died in 2020, was not the only person who Serio identified in his testimony against former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Joseph Bongiovanni. Serio said he paid at least $250,000 in bribes to Bongiovanni between 2010 and 2017 as a way to get names of anyone informing law enforcement officials about his drug-trafficking organization. On Monday, the 13th day of testimony in Bongiovanni's bribery and corruption trial, Serio emerged as a pivotal witness naming names. Serio identified or confirmed the roles of more than two dozen people who he said helped him grow, buy, sell or transport illegal drugs.

...Snip...

Serio became the second government witness to talk about organized crime connections in the case, with Masecchia figuring in both accounts.

Earlier in the trial, Selva, who said he negotiated the bribe payments with Bongiovanni, said he once asked Masecchia, "Are you connected? Are you a made guy?”

Selva recounted that Masecchia said yes.

Serio said he asked Masecchia what it took "to be a made guy."

"He told me to shut up and keep making money," Serio said.

Serio said BiFulco was Masecchia's "godfather," enabling Masecchia to arrange the meeting.

Masecchia, who was sentenced to prison in May 2022 on felony drug charges, admitted getting law enforcement sensitive information from Bongiovanni. But Masecchia made no admission of being a member of the Mafia in his plea agreement.

After Serio's arrest in April 2017, Serio hesitated to tell law enforcement officials what he knew about local people involved in his drug-trafficking operation, partly because he didn't want to inform on his friends but also because he was scared of Masecchia.

"It got to the point I had to come clean," he said.

...Snip...

For the whole article see: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... c2f77.html