Interesting because other sources have labeled Constenze to be the Rochester head prior to Stanley (in the same article that, when interviewed about Stanley, one officer said Rochester is not a rackets town.) Perhaps Constenze was Rochester's Ronald Carabbia- unmade until later. "The Old Man" might have been Frank Amato who was the dominating figure from 1937 until 1964-8 etc.B. wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:45 pm Valenti info:
- In a late 1964 conversation with Joe Falcone, Magaddino identifies "Franco Valenti" as a member of Cosa Nostra who was in prison and upon his release the organization tried to help him. Valenti opened a restaurant and supported a political candidate who was opposing a cop named "Mahoney". However, Valenti was given three years probation which forced him to spend three years in Pittsburgh.
- In connection to the above, we know Valenti owned restaurants in both Pittsburgh and Rochester, and "Mahoney" is likely a reference to Lawrence Maloney, a former Police Assistant Superintendent who was at one time accused of accepting a cut of Pittsburgh family numbers action. Valenti had been convicted of election fraud which resulted in his legal troubles mentioned by Magaddino.
- Magaddino says Valenti was the only person he (Magaddino) was "able to help" and implied that Valenti belonged to another family but this family "washed their hands" of Valenti.
- In context with Valenti and his former family, Magaddino mentions a "younger brother" of Valenti (probably Stanley), a cousin, and an old man. Magaddino says "he" (Valenti?) wants to "turn them into 'picciotti'" (i.e. soldiers). Confusingly, Magaddino also says "He wants to become a 'picciotto' at all costs". Joe Falcone, who was in attendance, asked if "the other boss" had anything to say about it and Magaddino said "No" but that "this old man" has put in his "call (application)" and made all of the "proper" arrangements, and because the man is old, Magaddino said "What the hell?" and agreed to the request. Falcone asks Magaddino where "he" (Valenti?) is from and Magaddino replies "Rochester".
- My take on the above is that Frank Valenti was eager to transfer into the Buffalo family in Rochester because of a falling out with the Pittsburgh family. The latter part suggests the transfer was done with the approval of Pittsburgh's leadership. Like other older Sicilian members Magaddino uses "piccioto" almost exclusively to mean "soldier" in Cosa Nostra. When talking about Valenti wanting to "become" a soldier, from context it's clear he means that he wants to transfer his membership to Buffalo, not that he isn't yet made. With this in mind, he seems to be saying that Frank Valenti wished to transfer his membership and wants his brother, a cousin, and an old man to become members under Buffalo as well. The "old man" who put the "call" in to Magaddino to arrange the transfer could be Tony Ripepi.
- A Pittsburgh area informant claimed that Valenti was a member in Pittsburgh and may have been inducted in 1947 or 1948 and had been sponsored by John Cancellieri or Sebastian LaRocca. However, another Pittsburgh informant close to the Ripepis claimed that in addition to Tony Ripepi arranging the marriage of his daughter to Stanley Valenti, Ripepi also sponsored Frank Valenti for membership. The informant also said that after moving to Rochester, Stanley Valenti didn't allow his wife to visit her parents in Pittsburgh due to "bad blood" between them. Curious if this relates to the problems Frank Valenti had in Pittsburgh that led to his transfer.
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- Sam Campanella, ID'd as having transferred back to Buffalo later in the 1970s, was beaten up by Charlie Russo in Rochester in 1967. Russo beat up Campanella for allegedly being a "stoolie" for Valenti. Russo also allegedly made comments about wanting to kill Valenti. Russo was the brother of murdered Rochester captain Jake Russo(lesi) so it stands to reason that he resented the group's new regime.
- The above close relationship between Campanella and Valenti and resulting problems with other members could have played a role in Campanella's later transfer to Buffalo. Valenti moved to Arizona in 1977 and Campanella's transfer was reported in 1978.
So Frank transfers to Buffalo, did he become the Rochester capo upon entry or was there another member/capo there prior? I always assumed there was a long-term Buffalo-affiliated crew there that tried/succeeded in becoming its own entity.