Daniel Renaud's 2018 book on Vito Rizzuto

[antimafia]

^^^^
You didn't have to go to all that trouble. You could have just provided the link to the thread I started last May -- see below.

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3528

[CabriniGreen]

lmao...... Jesus Christ, lol

Okay, I'll be Donkey of the Day...

[CabriniGreen]

Sorry about that...

I was going through files on my tablet, and found that article..... I most likely downloaded it from THE SAME THREAD.....

lol, maybe wiseguys right, I might need adderall, lol

[antimafia]

From the excerpt that was posted, I didn't see anything about the order for the LoPresti murder coming from the Bonanno administration, only an order being given to Rizzuto from a nonspecific source. That could be referring to Sciascia issuing the order to Rizzuto, given that he was the captain, living in New York, and said by Vitale to have been involved in the murder conspiracy. That excerpt also doesn't make it clear why the investigator thought Rizzuto contracted out the murder to another gang and we can't be sure if that's a fact, only that it's his theory. If I'm missing some information, let me know.

I'm not under the impression based on Vitale's info that Sciascia was purposely pulling off a "sneak hit" in the sense that the phrase is usually used. These guys don't typically take credit for a "sneak hit" and seek approval for it immediately after the fact. If it is true that Sciascia had LoPresti killed before seeking approval from the administration, we still don't know what the exact circumstance was that led them to carry out the murder with such urgency.

Most important to all of this -- we don't even know if Vitale was correct that LoPresti was killed before Sciascia sought approval. The way I've seen it described, Vitale and Anthony Spero had a feeling or hunch that LoPresti had already been murdered based on the way Sciascia spoke to them, but Vitale didn't seem to know the exact date Sciascia approached him so we can't map out an exact timeline and compare it to the date when LoPresti was actually murdered. It's possible Vitale's "feeling" was wrong and LoPresti was killed after Sciascia received approval.

I never posted the excerpts I had promised to back in January. Significant events started occurring in Canada's Italian underworld in late January, and I forgot about this thread. I'm responding in it now because in another thread, "Montreal Mafia status - Post Rizzuto Era," Slumpy today has asked a question about Joe Lo Presti's murder.

From chapter 7, Les fantômes du passé:

Revenons au témoignage des délateurs. Massino, lui, est plutôt froid avec les enquêteurs montréalais. Il sait peut-être qu’il n’a pas grand-chose à gagner en leur en disant trop. Il n’a que de bons mots pour Vito Rizzuto, qui était, selon lui, toujours avenant et offrait un bon service en cas de besoin. Il confirme toutefois que le parrain de la mafia montréalaise est devenu plus froid après le meurtre de son ami Gerlando Sciascia, en 1999.

Salvatore Vitale est plus loquace. C’est lors de cette rencontre avec les policiers et procureurs montréalais qu’il raconte ses deux visites à Montréal, après l’assassinat de Sciascia. C’est au cours de ces deux voyages qu’il a cru mourir et qu’il a rencontré les hommes d’honneur de la mafia montréalaise et ressenti leur colère (ces deux moments sont décrits dans le chapitre 1).

Vitale confirme que c’est Massino qui a commandé l’élimination de Gerlando Sciascia, car il trouvait que ce dernier commençait à prendre trop de place. Son beau-frère a demandé à ce que le crime ait l’apparence d’un règlement de comptes du milieu de la drogue. Vitale ajoute que le chef du clan Bonanno se doutait très bien que le meurtre de Sciascia provoquerait la colère du clan Rizzuto. Il explique que lorsqu’il est revenu auprès de son beau-frère pour lui annoncer que Vito Rizzuto ne voulait pas du titre de parrain et qu’il fallait l’offrir à son père, Massino n’était pas content, mais qu’il se satisferait de cette réponse si cela pouvait permettre de calmer les esprits et d’arranger les choses. Puis, Vitale donne une information qui est peut-être une réponse à une question que policiers et observateurs se sont longtemps posée sur le moment où la rupture a été complète entre les clans Rizzuto et Bonanno : il dit qu’après le meurtre de Sciascia, les Rizzuto ont cessé d’envoyer des enveloppes d’argent à la famille Bonanno, ce qui laisse croire que c’est à ce moment précis que les Montréalais ont unilatéralement déclaré leur indépendance et volé de leurs propres ailes.

Vitale affirme que Sciascia n’est pas le seul ami de Vito Rizzuto dont Massino a ordonné l’élimination : Giuseppe Lo Presti également, car le chef du clan Bonanno le soupçonnait de consommer de la drogue et trouvait qu’il ne le respectait plus. « Big Joe doit partir », avait dit Massino à Vitale. Seulement quatre mots. Ce fut assez pour que son second comprenne le message. Joseph Massino avait ordonné que le travail soit fait par le clan de Vito Rizzuto, grand ami de Lo Presti. La commande a été passée, mais le temps a filé sans que rien se produise. Vitale a fait pression sur Sciascia pour qu’il reparle aux Rizzuto et que le contrat soit rempli. « Je n’ai pas de nouvelles, mais c’est certain que ce sera fait », a répondu Sciascia, qui tempérait et cherchait visiblement à gagner du temps.

Lo Presti a finalement été tué le 29 avril 1992 d’une façon que le milieu considère comme « propre ». Encore aujourd’hui, les policiers ne savent pas qui a tué « Big Joe ». Des sources ont parlé, des noms ont été évoqués, mais une tonne de soupçons ne valent pas une once de preuve. La police croit toutefois que le clan Rizzuto a obéi à la commande de New York, ce qui démontre, selon Lorie McDougall, qu’au début de 1992 le clan montréalais était encore le vassal de son homologue new-yorkais.

Google Translate translation:

Let's go back to the testimony of the informers. Massino is rather cold with Montreal investigators. He may know that he does not have much to gain by telling them too much. He has only good words for Vito Rizzuto, who he said was always friendly and provided good service when needed. However, he confirms that the sponsor of the Montreal mafia became colder after the murder of his friend Gerlando Sciascia in 1999.

Salvatore Vitale is more loquacious. It was during this meeting with Montreal police and prosecutors that he recounted his two visits to Montreal after the assassination of Sciascia. It was during these two trips that he thought he died and he met the men of honor of the Montreal mafia and felt their anger (these two moments are described in chapter 1).

Vitale confirms that it was Massino who ordered the elimination of Gerlando Sciascia, because he found that it was starting to take up too much space. His brother-in-law asked that the crime look like a settling of the drug scene. Vitale adds that the leader of the Bonanno clan suspected very well that the murder of Sciascia would provoke the wrath of the Rizzuto clan. He explains that when he returned to his brother-in-law to tell him that Vito Rizzuto did not want the title of godfather and that he had to offer it to his father, Massino was not happy, but that he would be satisfied with this answer if it could calm people's minds and fix things. Then, Vitale gives information that is perhaps an answer to a question that policemen and observers have long wondered about when the rupture was complete between the Rizzuto and Bonanno clans: he says that after the murder of Sciascia, the Rizzuto stopped sending money envelopes to the Bonanno family, suggesting that it was at this moment that Montrealers unilaterally declared their independence and stumbled on their own.

Vitale says that Sciascia is not the only friend of Vito Rizzuto whose Massino ordered the elimination: Giuseppe Lo Presti also, because the leader of the Bonanno clan suspected him of using drugs and found that he no longer respected him. "Big Joe has to leave," Massino told Vitale. Only four words. It was enough for his second to understand the message. Joseph Massino had ordered that the work be done by the clan of Vito Rizzuto, great friend of Lo Presti. The order was placed, but the time went by without anything happening. Vitale lobbied Sciascia to talk to the Rizzuto again and the contract was completed. "I have no news, but it is certain that it will be done," said Sciascia, who was tempered and was obviously looking to save time.

Lo Presti was finally killed on April 29, 1992 in a way that the community considers "clean". Even today, the police do not know who killed Big Joe. Sources have spoken, names have been mentioned, but a ton of suspicions are not worth an ounce of proof. The police, however, believe that the Rizzuto clan has obeyed the New York order, which shows, according to Lorie McDougall, that in early 1992 the Montreal clan was still the vassal of his New York counterpart.

[B.]

This is opposite from the other information about Sciascia asking for Vitale and Spero's approval (allegedly after the fact) to kill LoPresti. He is saying here that Massino straight ordered the LoPresti murder.

Now we have conflicting information on both the LoPresti and Sciascia murders. It is hard enough to get a clear picture of the Bonanno and Montreal relationship as it is, but it becomes more difficult as previously accepted information changes.

[Slumpy]

So Massino ordered LoPresti's murder? I understood this all wrong, I thought the Rizzutos had gone off reservation and clipped LoPresti in an unsanctioned hit... and that Sciascia had been defending that decision to Vitale, but now it looks like he was defending Rizzuto's unwillingness to follow through on the job?

[scagghiuni]

Then, Vitale gives information that is perhaps an answer to a question that policemen and observers have long wondered about when the rupture was complete between the Rizzuto and Bonanno clans: he says that after the murder of Sciascia, the Rizzuto stopped sending money envelopes to the Bonanno family, suggesting that it was at this moment that Montrealers unilaterally declared their independence and stumbled on their own.

what does it mean exactly? that the rizzuto have created their own family without the consent of cosa nostra? maybe some members followed the rizzuto's and others ramained bonanno's and started the war at some point

[Lupara]

This new book by Renaud is definitely another gem. When it's in English I'll be one of the first to order it. Also still hoping that Laurentian's books will be translated, his and Renaud's offer Montreal's entire history. Then what remains is a Massino autobiography that will likely fill in the missing gaps, confirm or refute Vitale's dubious statements and provide some definitive answers.

[CabriniGreen]

You really think LoPresti was a dope head?

Or was it politics?

I find it compelling, that Massino ordered Sciascia to kill LoPresti because he " uses drugs", and a few years later, Sciascia kinda gives it back to him, insisting one of Massinos top guys was " stoned" all the time...

Are the Bonnanos some hopheads, or is this internal politics at play?


I kinda always assumed there could be a few reasons...

1. The Rizzutos killed him for unauthorized drug deals with either the Gambinos, or, maybe , other families..

2. The Gambinos actually ordered it...

3. The Bonnanos ordered it, because they didnt like the freewheeling, independent way Sciascia and his crew did business. Like maybe it was a message to Sciascia....

4. Is it possible there was a Massino - Sciascia cold war that went on for awhile?

[JCB1977]

Awesome thread, thanks Antimafia

[outfit guy]

Is this book available in English?

[motorfab]

I only see it in French for now

[John W]

Writing books in other languages but not publishing an English version seems like a very stupid thing to do, don't authors want to sell as many copies as possible, why limit the readership.

[Lupara]

Writing books in other languages but not publishing an English version seems like a very stupid thing to do, don't authors want to sell as many copies as possible, why limit the readership.

It's all about profit potential. If the publisher thinks the target audience is limited it will be released in its original language and if the sales are good only then will a translation be considered. A good example is Mafia Inc. which was first released in French and later translated into English. But back then the Rizzutos were a popular subject thanks to the Sixth Family as well as the Montreal mob war that erupted around the same time as Mafia Inc.'s release.

Canadian Mafia is still a niche even though the real stuff is happening over there now. Montreal today is 1980s New York. As long as there will be nothing similar to RICO it will remain so indefinitely.