For many the lack of known arrests and indictments for the period of 2006 to the present are indicators that the Buffalo Crime family is dead and that any activity is from remnants of the family. This is certainly a reasonable argument. The issue is this: If one believes the crime family is dead he or she may overlook or dismiss possible activity. However, the opposite is true as well. Those who believe the crime family is active may find it in places where it is not.
Below I outline 17 different incidents where those involved appear to have connections to people who are/were in or have had associations with the Buffalo crime family during this time period. This doesn't mean all incidents are connected to the Buffalo mob. However, the more I look into connections the more I believe the Buffalo crime family has been active all along. At the very least it has influenced a great deal of criminal behavior even today.
1. 2006: Turchiarelli, Cimento, and Bianchi indicted for trying to collect a gambling debts in Rochester threats of extortion and violence…
Turchiarelli
Here is a link to article: https://buffalonews.com/2006/05/04/ex-c ... tion-plot/ Here is a link to Turchiarelli being accused of being mafia enforcer: https://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/St ... /whil.html
Joe Cimanto
Found no connections for Cimento to Buffalo mob accept to Turchiarelli and Bianchi
Joe Bianchi
The Bianchi’s were often associated with Rochester faction. See: http://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.c ... -list.html In the 70’s/80’s they owned restaurants frequented by the mob in Rochester.
Richard Bianchi is currently chairman of WNY OTB (Off Track Betting) which is being investigated by a Federal Grand Jury. Here is the link: https://www.investigativepost.org/2019/ ... igate-otb/ The OTB in WNY has been accused of intimidating witnesses. Here is the article: https://www.investigativepost.org/2019/ ... g-witness/
2. 2006: Leonardo Mordino, Peter Giglia, & Joseph Alaimo and 8 others are arrested for being involved in suburban Buffalo drug ring. Here is the article: https://buffalonews.com/2006/06/01/11-a ... r-in-1971/
Leonardo Mordino:
"Mordino is considered to be a close associate of the Buffalo La Cosa Nostra family," FBI Special Agent Frank J. Carden III said in court papers.
Here is the link: https://buffalonews.com/2006/06/01/11-a ... r-in-1971/
Mordino was linked to a 70's LCN related murder charge: https://casetext.com/case/people-v-mordino-3
Peter Giglia
Link to guilty plea as ringleader: https://buffalonews.com/2008/03/20/police-courts-5343/
The Giglia family was involved in a mob murder sanctioned by Jimmy Caci… https://buffalonews.com/1991/01/04/digi ... ness-says/ Are they related to Peter?
They were also part of the Grazaidei drug ring with ties to buffalo mob: https://buffalonews.com/1994/12/11/refu ... -21-years/
Here is an article identifying the Grazaidei drug ring as being run by the Buffalo mob: https://buffalonews.com/1994/10/26/9-ar ... y-dealers/
Joseph Alaimo
There were Alaimos associated with the Rochester faction. See http://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.c ... -list.html Are they related?
3. 2006-09: Large drug trafficking ring run by David Gambino: David Gambino, Filippo Inglima and 24 others are indicted included a Montana potentially related to former Magaddino underboss.
David Gambino
Called the drug ring leader and indicted with 24 others. https://www.plainsite.org/dockets/jpe5h ... ino-et-al/
Filippo Inglima
Pleads guilty to trafficking narcotics (100 Kilos of coke; 1800 kilos of marijuana) to Canada https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/wh ... ug-charges See also: https://buffalonews.com/2013/12/17/form ... drug-ring/
Gambino and Inglima were rumored to have been involved in the 2007 murder of Monty Masimmi. (See Below.)
4. 2007: Salvatore “Sam” Vacanti drug trafficking & murder of Monty Massimi. See this links for the many different connections to the Buffalo Crime Family:
Sam Vacanti Links to Buffalo Mob
See what I previously wrote here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4122&start=3200#p140550
Additionally, here is an article from 1994 that highlights the Vacanti/Amoia links to drug trafficking via Robert Vacanti, Joe and Mark Amoia: https://buffalonews.com/1994/10/26/9-ar ... y-dealers/
This article connects the Amoia’s & Navino’s (mentioned in previous BH thread highlighted above) to “one of the busiest cocaine rings in the 1980’s.”—The Graziadei Ring: https://buffalonews.com/1998/01/09/test ... ine-rings/
Monty Massimi Links to Buffalo Mob
See what I previously wrote at the BH Forum links below:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4122&start=3200#p140553
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4122&start=3200#p140555
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4122&start=3200#p140556
5. 2008-2016 Joseph Bella debt collection schemes. Here are some links:
NY Attorney General: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2013/ag ... or-buffalo
Buffalo News: https://buffalonews.com/2016/11/02/buff ... consumers/
https://www.insidearm.com/news/00013565 ... tors-oper/
Joseph Bella has telemarketing scams going back to 2002.
NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/04/us/t ... -case.html
Historically the Buffalo mafia learned the collections and call center rackets in Las Vegas and brought them to Buffalo in the early 90’s. See the following links:
RAIDS ON TELEMARKETING FIRMS FIND NUMEROUS TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME: https://buffalonews.com/1993/06/27/raid ... zed-crime/
13 INDICTED IN WNY TELEMARKETING PROBE FEDERAL GRAND JURY ALSO NAMES FOUR CORPORATIONS IN THE FRAUD INVESTIGATION: https://buffalonews.com/1994/09/09/13-i ... stigation/
LOTTERY MILLIONAIRE, 13 OTHERS INDICTED IN TELEMARKETING CASE: https://buffalonews.com/1995/04/28/lott ... ting-case/
TELEMARKETER IS INDICTED IN RACKETEERING: https://buffalonews.com/1995/06/02/tele ... keteering/
TESTIMONY BY TWO MOB FIGURES LINKS TELEMARKETER TO 1980S COCAINE RINGS: https://buffalonews.com/1998/01/09/test ... ine-rings/
Carmen Gallo Butchie BiFulco’s stepson and Joe DiCarlo’s great grandson mentioned in this article: https://buffalonews.com/1993/06/28/scam ... -pressure/
Article about Gallo’s murder identifies his mob lineage:
https://buffalonews.com/1993/05/18/frie ... stigation/
Harkins & Gallo started their own telemarketing firm in ‘92:
https://buffalonews.com/1995/03/20/hark ... t-in-life/
Article about Bifulco’s ex-wife speaks of telemarketing and outlines Galo’s mob lineage: https://buffalonews.com/1993/12/19/bifu ... ainst-him/
6. 2011: Joseph Bella confected of drug trafficking and destruction of evidence in Florida (See article on 2020 arrest below)
7. 2003-2012: Joe Bravo & Paul Citelli Las Vegas HOA scam: Bravo and Citelli were both part of the large cocaine trafficking ring (Graziadei Ring?) running cocaine from Vegas to Buffalo and up to Canada. Bravo and Chestnoff have interests in Mexican airport although Bravo, a convicted felon, and not legally able. For more information see my response to Chris Christie at this link: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4122&start=2140#p118486
8. 2005-2012: Lawyer Lou & his brother Richard Tavano plead guilty to offshore gambling in Vegas through companies they owned, operated, or led. Here are a couple of articles:
Las Vegas company pleads guilty in $2 million illegal sports betting case:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/las-vegas-co ... 00164.html or https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/busine ... -illegal-/
Jacktrade LLC enters guilty plea in illegal sports betting case: https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/cou ... ting-case/
Plea Agreement: http://lib.law.virginia.edu/Garrett/cor ... ktrade.pdf
About Lou Tavano, JR:
Lawyer; General counsel for Bally Gaming, General Manager/Founder of YouBet a subsidiary of his IRG (International Racing Group.) For much of his career, Tavano has been in the private practice of law. From 1985 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2000, he practiced in Las Vegas, representing real estate, corporate and business clients in contract negotiations, commercial transactions, corporate development and litigation. From 1993 to 1996, Tavano was General Counsel at Bally Gaming, Inc. in Nevada. Link to article wit this info: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ ... nal-Racing
Lou & Richard’s father Lou Tavano Sr. was a known associate of the Buffalo Mob and a cousin of Sonny Benjamin Nicoletti.
In 1968 he was indicted with the Magaddinos and Nicolettis on gambling conspiracy: https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-magaddino
In 1990 he was indicted for involvement in a 1 million dollar a week Vegas gambling ring with ties to WNY: https://buffalonews.com/1990/07/05/vega ... s-to-bets/
In 1994 he was sentenced to a month in halfway house, 300 hours community service, and 10K fine: https://buffalonews.com/1994/01/04/6-fa ... ting-ring/
In 1992 Lou Tavano, Sr and his brother Robert started a huge Canadian/US tobacco smuggling ring with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company during a meeting in Como Restaurant on Pine Ave. in Niagara Falls. Here are related articles:
2 NIAGARA FALLS BROTHERS CALLED KINGPINS OF SMUGGLING OPERATION: https://buffalonews.com/1997/06/25/2-ni ... operation/
OFFICIAL OF REYNOLDS MAY BE TIED TO SCHEME: https://buffalonews.com/1997/08/17/offi ... to-scheme/
CANADIAN LAWSUIT TRACES CIGARETTE-SMUGGLING RING: https://buffalonews.com/1999/12/22/cana ... ling-ring/
Tobacco Companies Linked to Criminal Organizations in Lucrative Cigarette Smuggling: https://corpwatch.org/article/tobacco-c ... -smuggling
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/di ... 5/2406906/
http://www.smoke-free.ca/litigation/US- ... plaint.pdf
Larry Miller who helped the Tavano Brothers run the US end of this smuggling business was a Las Vegas slot-machine salesman who owned a piece of a casino. See this Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tobaccos-other-secret/
Robert Tavano was the Niagara Falls GOP Chairman and involved in a 1974 insurance scam:
Another article on Robert Tavano: City Officials Deny Rumors of FBI Probe: https://buffalonews.com/1997/09/28/city ... fbi-probe/
9. 2013-2016: Ciminelli convicted in a “Buffalo Billion” and charged Niagara County Community College Culinary Institute bid rigging schemes
BUFFALO BILLION ARTICLES:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/25/nyre ... ffalo.html
https://nypost.com/2015/09/18/bharara-i ... n-project/
https://www.investigativepost.org/2015/ ... n-records/
https://buffalonews.com/2017/03/11/firi ... stigation/
https://buffalonews.com/2017/04/06/tria ... lion-case/
https://buffalonews.com/2017/05/12/feds ... lion-case/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/04/27/pros ... ion-trial/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/05/18/lpci ... n-charges/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/05/29/defe ... e-dropped/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/06/27/para ... ion-trial/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/07/12/jury ... lion-case/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/11/15/cimi ... ted-felon/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/12/02/pros ... n-profits/
https://buffalonews.com/2018/12/03/loui ... riverbend/
NCCC CULINARY INSTITUTE ARTICLES:
https://buffalonews.com/2017/02/22/nccc ... struction/
https://buffalonews.com/2017/02/23/feds ... ract-info/
https://buffalonews.com/2017/02/24/nccc ... processes/
Lou’s Ciminelli's Dad Frank was a known associate of the Buffalo Crime Family. This from Ron Fino’s Book The Triangle Exit:
In 1991 Lou, while serving as a trustee for LiUNA Local 210, was named in a RICO along with Leonard Falzone and other known Buffalo mob members and associates:By now we had developed good alter-ego cases against around 20 western New York contractors and we were getting ready to file a legal suit against them. Joey Pizza and Leonard Falzone compelled me to drop the cases against Ciminelli Construction and Frank Ciminelli, who was connected, and the Mader Corporation run by Lawrence Reger (a Buffalo businessman indirectly controlled by the family) who made a fortune for the mob cleaning up the Love Canal hazardous waste. Falzone spoke in a nice manner, which was rare, “You know they are connected Ron and know that their construction companies are off limits.”
S
Here is a link to the entire RICO document: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/di ... 7/2365373/OUTHMARK PRIME PLUS, L.P., a Delaware Limited Partnership; SOUTHMARK EQUITY PARTNERS III, LTD., a California Limited Partnership; SOUTHMARK INVESTMENT GROUP 86, INC., a Nevada Corporation; and PRIME PLUS CORP., INC., a Nevada Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. LEONARD F. FALZONE; BUFFALO LABORERS' PENSION FUND; LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, LOCAL #210; REALCAP COMPANY, a Texas General Partnership; QUANTUM REALTY CORP., a Delaware Corporation; CONCAP MANAGEMENT L.P., an Illinois Limited Partnership; WILLIAM R. ARNOLD; SALVATORE J. CACI; LOUIS P. CIMINELLI; JOHN A. DOYLE; PETER G. GERACE; EDWARD D. HERRICK; JAMES C. LOGAN; TERRY L. MOEBEL; JOSEPH R. PIERI; ROBERT C. PATTERSON; and DANIEL J. SANSANESE, Defendants
The document goes on to state:
This is an action brought by two real estate limited partnerships and their managing general partners against a host of defendants, alleging [**2] violations of the federal securities laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), arising from a threatened proxy contest. This is not the first suit between the parties, and possibly not the last. The facts of this case are involved and will be addressed in greater detail infra at section II.A.
Of Interest: Known Buffalo Mob associates Peter & Sam Capitano are back in charge of local 1 year after federal trusteeship ended in 2006:
Article on retirement of federal overseer in 2006: https://buffalonews.com/2006/01/25/loca ... -overseer/
Sam Capitano:
About: Brother of Peter and a member of the Pizza Gang; a confident of Joseph Todaro Jr. The Pizza Gang was overseen by Joe Todaro, Jr. They ran North Buffalo & The Northtowns including The Tonawandas, Amherst, & Williamsville. (per Triangle Exit by Ron Fino)
1984: Joined the local
1996: Fought federal takeover of the local and suspended 1 year, barred from leadership for 5 years.
2007: elected to President/Business manager 1year after federal trusteeship ends. Been atop the Local’s leadership with his brother Peter ever since.
Peter Capitano:
About: Strong associate of Joe Todaro Jr. and Victor Sansanese. Came from the Pizza gang and was placed into his leadership role by the Todaros. (Triangle Exit-Ron Fino)
1983: Joined Local
1996: Fought federal takeover of local and suspended 1 year, barred from leadership for 5 years.
2008: Peter Capitano back 2’nd in command of local 2 years after trusteeship ends. Been atop the local with his brother Same ever since.
John Massaro:
About: Currently the secretary treasurer and business agent. Related to Angelo Massaro: https://www.spokeo.com/John-Massaro/New-York/2 Angelo Massaro was a known Buffalo Crime Family Bookie: https://www.fbi.gov/history/field-offic ... es/buffalo
10. 2014-2016: Stephen Cino Jr. was arrested for his part in a Vegas to Western Virginia drug ring.
https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/drug ... 03885.html
Received 252 month sentence for trafficking Oxycodone, Methamphetamine, & money laundering: https://news3lv.com/news/local/final-de ... t-of-vegas
His Dad (Stephen Cino, Sr, a Buffalo native & alleged LA LCN member) & Bobby Panaro (alleged Buffalo LCN) were acquitted of involvement in the Herbie Blitstein hit in Vegas during late 90’s. Link: https://buffalonews.com/1999/05/23/buff ... las-vegas/
11. 2016: Peter Militello drug trafficking/fentanyl laced cocaine. Peter Militello was mentioned in recent Bongiovanni indictment. From the first count of the indictment, section 57:
.…(x) defendant stated that he kept a DEA case file in his house because it was an old case and he thought it would come up again and the defendant wanted to verify everything was on the up and up.; (xi) the defendant stated that he knew there was an ongoing investigation of IOC which is why the defendant kept the file; (xii) the defendant stated that Peter Millitello was the source in the DEA Case Number C2-13-0026, but Millitello was arrested for selling fentanyl and heroin; and (xiii) the defendant stated that he learned about a current investigation with a DOJ OIG SA asked him about the subject of the investigation during and interview earlier in the year
Here are links to articles about that arrest:
https://buffalonews.com/2016/11/16/fata ... ndictment/
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/sheri ... -drug-ring
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/bu ... -local-man
https://buffalonews.com/2015/11/04/hear ... oin-death/
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/drug- ... -128007299
Militello has long been a named that has been associated with narcotics and the Buffalo Mob:
Militello and Simpson investigated for cocaine distribution with Sardinia Drug Ring
https://buffalonews.com/1994/07/24/simp ... riendship/
https://gangsterreport.com/o-j-simpson- ... fl-player/
Coconspirators in this drug ring had known ties to the Buffalo Mafia: https://buffalonews.com/1997/04/05/atto ... tors-list/
Some of the coconspirators had been involved in the mob run telemarketing companies in Buffalo. "Gallo, who was 15 when he was murdered, worked in the Logik telemarketing firm with some of the dope dealers in the Sardina organization.” Here is the article: https://buffalonews.com/1993/06/27/raid ... zed-crime/
11. 2013-2017: Dom Violi, Joe Violi, & Massigla Carfagna arrest for narcotics trafficking Operation Otremens.
Domenico “Dom” Violi:
Revealed to be made in Buffalo crime family in 2015
Revealed he was made underboss of Buffalo crime family in 2017
Giuseppe “Joe” Violi:
Joe has had a strong connection to the Buffalo crime family through the Luppino crime family and and strong connections to the Bonanno’s thru his father’s involvement with the Cotroni crime family. We do not know his status.
Massimigliano Carfagna:
1992 Arrested for a murder in Niagara Falls, NY:
https://buffalonews.com/1992/07/12/man- ... tario-man/
https://buffalonews.com/1992/07/14/susp ... hout-bail/
https://buffalonews.com/1992/07/23/onta ... ing-death/
https://buffalonews.com/1993/11/04/a-cl ... -roommate/
https://buffalonews.com/1993/11/10/man- ... lls-death/
13..2017-2019: Ronald Serio drug charges…
Oct 2019 indicted for narcotics conspiracy and illegally distributing large amounts of marijuana, fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone and oxymorphone. They also found a hidden marijuana grow room in his Labran Mansion: https://buffalonews.com/2019/10/04/feds ... n-mansion/
He was previously arrested in 2017: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16 ... s-v-serio/
Ronald Serio is a local Buffalo developer and CEO of collections Agency: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-serio-38ab4bb8 His sollection agency had complaints with BBB https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/amherst/profi ... complaints
Secured Billing Solutions Address 1: https://www.google.com/amp/s/start.cort ... -services/
Secured Billing Solutions Address 2: https://www.corporationwiki.com/p/2r5nk ... rvices-llc
Thomas Serio:
1998 North Buffalo Drug Ring Smashed. Distributed 4-6 Kilos of cocaine a week: https://buffalonews.com/1998/12/17/nort ... olice-say/
1999 Cocaine & Marijuana Grown House Indictment: https://buffalonews.com/1999/05/14/gran ... g-charges/
Frank Serio:
Signed Joe Todaro Sr.’s Guestbook offering condolences to Joe and Cookie.
14. 2019: Michael Masecchia criminal complaint for drug trafficking and firearms. Made national news because he is a high school teacher. Here are the links:
https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/bu ... xplosives/
https://www.newsweek.com/new-york-teach ... ia-1456931
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/N ... 37601.html
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/cr ... 14ff7.html
https://www.apnews.com/745d4e676d724d5290312e1627f98181
https://www.timestelegram.com/news/2019 ... ms-charges
https://buffalonews.com/2019/08/29/buff ... lling-pot/
https://13wham.com/news/local/feds-raid ... -and-drugs
https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/bu ... rafficking
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local ... e07173b302
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffa ... r-arrested
He is Bart Mazarra's (made member) son-in-law: https://buffalonews.com/1993/05/30/mrs-masecchia/
Michael’s father appears to have been very close friends with John Pieri who has been operating in Las Vegas:
Also, you will recognize several of the last names of individual who signed: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ ... 201&page=8
15. 2006-2019: Anthony Gerace for drug trafficking, firearms, sports-gambling. In his 11 count indictment ,the first count indicates his drug trafficking began at the beginning of the so called “dead years” for the Buffalo mob in 2006. It states:
Here is the Courtlistner docket with link to indictment: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16 ... -v-gerace/Beginning in or before 2006 and continuing until on or about January 28, 2019, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, in the Western District of New York, and elsewhere, the defendant, ANTHONY GERACE, did knowingly, willfully, and unlawfully combine, conspire, and agree with others, known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit the following offenses, that is, to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute:
Anthony Gerace is Joe Todaro Sr.’s grandson and Joe Jr.’s nephew. Joe’s sister married Peter Gerace Sr.: https://buffalonews.com/2016/07/24/lind ... niversary/
His brother Peter, Jr. operates Pharaoh’s strip club for his father Peter Sr. who owns the club. The club was the subject of a HSI raid in December 2019:
https://buffalonews.com/2019/12/12/fede ... trip-club/
https://buffalonews.com/2019/12/15/phar ... fia-links/
https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/i-team ... -resurgenc
The club had previously come under Homeland Security scrutiny in 2012 for failing to prepare I-9’s for its employees: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/f ... 3/1189.pdf
Further, the Bongiovanni indictment alleges that an unnamed coconspirator (coconspirator 1) contacted him about what to do with a dancer who had overdosed leading many to believe that Peter Gerace could be that conspirator—see Buffalo News article: Pharaoh’s Strip Club Raid Fuels Reports of Mafia Links above.
16. 2007-2019: Joseph Bongiovanni drug trafficking, bribery, public corruption
https://buffalonews.com/2019/11/05/form ... m-the-mob/
https://buffalonews.com/2019/12/09/feds ... -mob-case/
https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/10/prom ... bery-case/
https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/exclus ... y-feds-say
You can listen to the US Attorney JP Kennedy’s press conference here: https://wben.radio.com/articles/former- ... corruption
17. 2020: Joseph Bella drug trafficking and firearms found in a Homeland Security Investigations raid: https://buffalonews.com/2020/04/24/earl ... n-charges/
