Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[NickleCity]

Amherst police detective indicted, charged with lying to FBI about dealings with strip club owner Peter Gerace
Patrick LaKamp | The Buffalo News

...Snip...

"Accompanying the criminal complaint in November was an affidavit by Jason A. Kammeraad, a special agent with the FBI’s Buffalo field office. Kammeraad said the investigation into Gerace has established that Gerace has substantial contacts in law enforcement, including at the federal, state and local level, and with members of the judiciary.

“The investigation has further determined that Gerace has at times attempted to improperly leverage these relationships,” Kammeraad said in his affidavit.

Federal investigators have worked to identify the nature and extent of Gerace’s contacts and communications with members of law enforcement and determine if any of them have shared information about incidents, law enforcement sensitive techniques, investigations, arrests or sensitive information with Gerace."

Link to the article: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... -top-story

[NickleCity]

Pharaoh's trial likely to be delayed again as judge deals with 'mess that this case is in right now'
Patrick Lakamp

…Snip…
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tripi said in court Friday that information was uncovered that led to another investigation that caused a “conflict” for Soehnlein.

Tripi did not describe the new information or the conflict. But the judge told Tripi that Soehnlein and his ethics counsel, Brian Melber, should be provided information before Vilardo decides how to respond to the government motion.

“I want Mr. Soehnlein and Mr. Melber to have everything they need to know about the disqualification motion,” Vilardo said.

Vilardo called it a matter of fairness that prosecutors turn over “everything you are alleging against Mr. Soehnlein. Everything.”

….

For the rest of the article see: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... -top-story

Interesting that Soehnlein was a partner at Lippes Mathias since 2019 and an associate since 2013… but left in September to start his own firm.



Remember Soehnlein Soehnlein was allowed to withdrawal from the case because of a conflict back in July. The reason for withdrawal was not in any publicly available court documents.

Soehnlien was then was allowed to rejoin the case in September.

Government willing to severe Bongiovanni from Gerace case if they go to trial by Feb. 8. Wonder if this means Soehnlein was removed? If so it will be interesting to see if anything comes from the impanelled grand jury that brought light to this alleged conflict.

See: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap ... .695.0.pdf

Court finds no possibility Gerace’s lawyer committed crime in Judge Sinatra’s recusal

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... -top-story

This is the right ruling to protect a persons right to a robust defense.... It does however create some thorny issues, and Judge Vilardo recognizes this:



Here is Judge Vilardo’s Ruling
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap ... .889.0.pdf

This might be some relevant information: Buffalo Police Officers Christopher M Mordino cousin to Judge Sinatra and Michael A Mordino is Uncle to Judge Sinatra.

See: https://openoversight.com/officers/84313

See also: https://openoversight.com/officers/84314

Here is the other court document indicating Mordino is Sinatra's uncle: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63 ... es-v-hicks

See also: https://buffalonews.newspapers.com/arti ... 139607189/

This means Michael Mordino is brother to Camille “Mordino’ Sinatra - Judge Sinatra’s mother and brother to Leonard Mordino - Mob Associate convicted of in Wing murder and for drug trafficking. Camille, Leonard, and Michael’s father is Salvatore Immordino who is from Pittston, PA. I wonder if there is any relations to the Imordino's in the Utica area.

Don't forget Camille and John Sinatra Sr. had the who is who of future mobsters/mob associates involved with her wedding.

[NickleCity]

^^^
Should read Michael’s father Joseph Was from Pittston… not sure where is grandfather Salvatore Immordino was from but could have been San Cataldo.

[SlipperyPete]

Don't know if any of them are made, I think the article says maybe made in LA, if that's possible or even makes sense? It was the detailed information that caught my eye, seems like too specific for a newspaper article.

Says right in the article

Ok, ya, it's a wild article, maybe the journalist was misquoted. I think they all had something to do with SOA when that show was relevant, so the LA link could make sense, seems like bs imo. Seems like they were East Enders of Hamilton, never heard of it lol. I've know of the East End Toronto Angels, so they might be linked through tattoos and Hollywood. The Darkside is the brand. Anyways, these guys tried to whack some guy in Woodbridge and killed a women instead, was it about legal weed?

btw, I hated SOA lol I'm a sopranos guy haah

Its like the same thing thing that happened with Wang Fung and the Colacurcios in Boise and Missoula

Sorry man, I don't know what that means, my bad.

Here's the press conference about the bust with Iavarone kid and the guy who murdered Baressi. I thought it was heavier stuff than THC. They had another bust like this maybe it's the same network? The Watson guy is from Hamilton, it's all legal weed stuff, maybe its how Musitanos were linked with Baressi or something. Serrano had a legal weed company I think.

Watson guy might of been busted from blow in 2015, same bust as Diego Serrano or something similar.

https://www.insauga.com/two-hamilton-re ... -bust-opp/

https://youtu.be/N7YNKBBoW7Q?si=vBxD-OiGZ7kxUDlU

[NickleCity]

In letter from jail, Gerace accuses feds of causing two witnesses to kill themselves

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/pete ... 1172c.html

[NickleCity]

Witness in the federal investigation arrested again. Prosecutors also seeking to interview juror in previous trial.
Charlie Specht | WGRZ

See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... 2ba0602ec4

[NickleCity]

Judge allows prosecutors to interview Bongiovanni juror
Patrick Lakamp

"Prosecutors received permission Monday to interview a member of the jury that delivered a partial verdict in the bribery and corruption trial of former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Joseph Bongiovanni.

But U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo required the interview to be conducted in his presence and on-the-record, either in his courtroom or the judge's chamber.

Vilardo, who received the prosecution's sealed motion Thursday, said he found a "compelling state interest" in allowing the interview of the juror to take place.

Vilardo acknowledged the risks of prosecutors talking to the juror, but said the risks would be reduced if they interview the juror in his presence."

For the rest of the article see: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/jose ... 7c844.html

[NickleCity]

Witness in Bongiovanni trial charged with stealing rent payment that prosecutors provided her

…snip…

Because of threats against various federal witnesses in the case, the federal government made arrangements to pay for safe and secure housing for Hunt upon her release last year from the inpatient rehabilitation facility. Starting in December, the government provided $1,200 on a monthly basis for the express purpose of paying rent at a safe, privately owned location known to the FBI, according to the court filing.

…snip…


But for April, even though Hunt sent a text message to a federal agent that contained an image of a rental payment receipt, bearing her signature and that of the landlord, the landlord told the FBI that he did not receive the $1,200 rent payment for April.

Hunt was charged with theft of government money, and she’s now in jail.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cooper and defense lawyer Carla J. Benz told U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy on Wednesday that they agree Hunt needs treatment. But Cooper asked the judge to order Hunt to wear a location monitoring device. The treatment center will not allow her into the program if she’s wearing the ankle monitor.

“She is not safe if she is in a jail facility,” Benz told the judge, noting that publicly available court records identify her as a cooperating witness.

But if Hunt leaves the facility without permission, “where she is not safe, is to leave her to her own devices on the street,” Cooper countered.

…snip…

For the whole article see: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... 1b0d4.html

[NickleCity]

Prosecutors hear from juror in Bongiovanni trial, but judge says 'nothing will come of that'
Patrick Lakamp

See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... -top-story

[NickleCity]

apparently he was collecting debts for anthonys Geraces gambling operation
Louis Turchiarelli

anyone know of a guy with the nickname fern ?

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories ... /whil.html

Although this could be referring to Lou Turchiarelli, and I thought it was. Now it appears Joe Mesi is the more likely. candidate. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

[Stroccos]

apparently he was collecting debts for anthonys Geraces gambling operation
Louis Turchiarelli

anyone know of a guy with the nickname fern ?

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories ... /whil.html

Although this could be referring to Lou Turchiarelli, and I thought it was. Now it appears Joe Mesi is the more likely. candidate. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

thanks for the update , really haven't been following this case once it was apparent no direct mafia involvement ,

[NickleCity]

apparently he was collecting debts for anthonys Geraces gambling operation
Louis Turchiarelli

anyone know of a guy with the nickname fern ?

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories ... /whil.html

Although this could be referring to Lou Turchiarelli, and I thought it was. Now it appears Joe Mesi is the more likely. candidate. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

thanks for the update , really haven't been following this case once it was apparent no direct mafia involvement ,

Your welcome… I would disagree about the there was no direct mafia involvement in this case though. After all, Serio had Michael Masecchia arrange a meeting for him with Butch BiFulco in order to enlist BiFulco’s Canadian connections so he, Serio, could control the marijuana trade in WNY. Micheal was not only alleged to be a made man by his associates Lou Salva and Ron Serio, but by LE as evidenced by the internal email to Bongiovanni. Not to mention, I think it would have been difficult if not outright impossible for Masecchia to arrange that meeting between Serio and BiFulco if Mesecchia wasn’t made. That my opinion anyway.

[OcSleeper]

apparently he was collecting debts for anthonys Geraces gambling operation
Louis Turchiarelli

anyone know of a guy with the nickname fern ?

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories ... /whil.html

Although this could be referring to Lou Turchiarelli, and I thought it was. Now it appears Joe Mesi is the more likely. candidate. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

How was Turchiarelli or Mesi linked to collecting debts for Anthony Gerace? I remember when police searched Gerace's home they found evidence consistent with gambling but I don't recall any other gambling/debt collection related info coming out about Gerace.

[NickleCity]

apparently he was collecting debts for anthonys Geraces gambling operation
Louis Turchiarelli

anyone know of a guy with the nickname fern ?

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories ... /whil.html

Although this could be referring to Lou Turchiarelli, and I thought it was. Now it appears Joe Mesi is the more likely. candidate. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

How was Turchiarelli or Mesi linked to collecting debts for Anthony Gerace? I remember when police searched Gerace's home they found evidence consistent with gambling but I don't recall any other gambling/debt collection related info coming out about Gerace.

Anthony Gerace’s plea agreement indicated an ex-boxer collected debts for him.



I had thought it to be Lou because he had collected debts before and was arrested for doing it in a Rochester case. Also, his dad had connections to the Gerace family.

Opening arguments in the Bongiovanni case mentioned Joe Mesi. And although the news didn’t tie Mesi directly to being an enforcer for gambling belts through its reporting… I did hear that was part of the opening arguments and even if it wasn’t it would be a good assumption since Mesi came up as part of this and as part of the drug investigation. See: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime ... dbc6fdf92d

[OcSleeper]

Thanks, I must've missed that first part when it came out.