Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[NickleCity]

Judge keeps search warrant applications sealed in Buffalo organized crime case
Lou Michel Jun 29, 2021

“Citing government concerns of possible witness intimidation, a judge refused Tuesday to unseal federal agents' requests for warrants to search the homes, computers and phones of a former DEA agent and the Cheektowaga strip club owner who is accused of bribing him.”

Link: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... e-trending

[NickleCity]

^^^^
“Those documents also leave no doubt of what the government’s overall intentions are – to go after organized crime. The Bongiovanni search warrant allowed investigators to seize, for instance, ‘Notes and ledgers relating to association and illegal activities of members or associates of organized crime, including IOC (Italian Organized Crime) and the Buffalo LCN (La Cosa Nostra) Family.’”

[TommyNoto]

“ IOC and Buffalo “ hmm , separate entities

That’s interesting and I wonder if this ties back to that brilliant Calabrian author ( Serge ? ) POV on how the Mafia worldwide has evolved . Traditional Cosa Nostra and the emerging Calabrians the last 10 years who have made a real impact on mafia activity. I think that was the jist of her views

[Wiseguy]

“ IOC and Buffalo “ hmm , separate entities

That’s interesting and I wonder if this ties back to that brilliant Calabrian author ( Serge ? ) POV on how the Mafia worldwide has evolved . Traditional Cosa Nostra and the emerging Calabrians the last 10 years who have made a real impact on mafia activity. I think that was the jist of her views

Her exact words were originally (referring to the Violi bust), "Some of those arrested were connected to a Buffalo-based family, the Todaro syndicate, which had once belonged to La Cosa Nostra(LCN)."

When I emailed her, asking her to expound on what she meant, this was her response -

"Sorry the question is way too broad and would require a lot more background. LCN is a social construction these days - it has changed from what it used to be - the mafia families such as the Todaro were once allied to what used to be LCN and today are engrained in the new hybrid order between LCN ‘ndrangheta and whoever else - things are way more fluid these days."

[TommyNoto]

That was it

I think I agree with her on this new hybrid world, at least in Canada

[Dave65827]

Gang leader Arsene Mompoint killed
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/just ... satake.php

According to the article he partook in multiple murder contracts for the mafia

[Dave65827]

There’s a pic of him and Andre Scoppa

[Newyorkempire]

Smart journalist who realizes the evolution of what the Mafia in Buffalo is now and what its historical reference still means from a control point.

[Cheech]

“ IOC and Buffalo “ hmm , separate entities

That’s interesting and I wonder if this ties back to that brilliant Calabrian author ( Serge ? ) POV on how the Mafia worldwide has evolved . Traditional Cosa Nostra and the emerging Calabrians the last 10 years who have made a real impact on mafia activity. I think that was the jist of her views

Her exact words were originally (referring to the Violi bust), "Some of those arrested were connected to a Buffalo-based family, the Todaro syndicate, which had once belonged to La Cosa Nostra(LCN)."

When I emailed her, asking her to expound on what she meant, this was her response -

"Sorry the question is way too broad and would require a lot more background. LCN is a social construction these days - it has changed from what it used to be - the mafia families such as the Todaro were once allied to what used to be LCN and today are engrained in the new hybrid order between LCN ‘ndrangheta and whoever else - things are way more fluid these days."

seemed like an intelligent response. thanks for reaching out to her

[antimafia]

‘Ndrangheta Dynamics In The Greater Toronto Area: The Story Of An Internal Mafia Clash (Part 1)

https://bit.ly/3uTnmuZ

By Andrew Machin.

‘Ndrangheta Dynamics In The Greater Toronto Area: The Story Of An Internal Mafia Clash (Part 2)

https://www.cosanostranews.com/2021/07/ ... ronto.html

[NickleCity]

Peter Gerace’s lawyer, Joe LaTona, has filed a number of pretrial motions that include:

1. Striking IOC language in the Gerace indictment, or
2. Severing Gerace from the Bongiovanni indictment
3. Dismissal of counts 7 and 9
4. A bill of particulars
5. Suppression of evidence from cell phone seized in Florida for omitted tine periods on search warrant application
6. Ask the court to reconsider unsealing of search warrant materials the government had sealed to prevent witness intimidation based on alleged “deception” in Florida cell phone search warrant application

I can't upload the court documents from Pacer here but can put them in the indictment thread if you are interested.

Also, I find it interesting that a Bongiovanni, LaTona, and Vic Randaccio worked together at Local 210 controlling mob interests for Fred Randaccio.





Interesting that Judge Jacob LaTona was seen at adjoining table with Buffalo mobsters, 210 officials and the teamsters even though Joe LaTona wasn't there.



Does anyone know if Joe LaTona is related to Gerace's lower or if Sam Bongiovanni is related to defendant Joe Bongiovanni?

[B.]

Sam Bongiovanni was married to a DiCarlo and was at one point business agent for the local. Business agent is vital to the mafia's control of a union (the DeCavalcantes' historically put made members and captains there) so no doubt he was at least an associate.

A Salvatore "Sam" Bongiovanni retired to Las Vegas where he died in 1999. He was a relative of the other Bongiovannis who moved to LV from Buffalo, including the former judge Gerard. These Bongiovannis are still socially connected to the Randaccios today.

Not sure what the corrupt DEA agent's relation is but when I looked into it a while back I got the impression he is related somehow.

[antimafia]

Trying to determine whether any Italian OC groups were targeted by law enforcement in this Project Southam.

22 charged, $10M in drugs seized in major bust of alleged GTA-based organized crime groups

https://o.canada.com/news/local-news/22 ... ime-groups
______

Tweet by Chief of York Regional Police:

Through Project Southam, @YRP and our partners are making it clear that organized crime and drug trafficking have no place in our community. Great work by our Traditional Organized Crime Task Force and all services involved.
@OPP_News

https://twitter.com/chiefmacsween/statu ... 83559?s=20

[NickleCity]

Sam Bongiovanni was married to a DiCarlo and was at one point business agent for the local. Business agent is vital to the mafia's control of a union (the DeCavalcantes' historically put made members and captains there) so no doubt he was at least an associate.

A Salvatore "Sam" Bongiovanni retired to Las Vegas where he died in 1999. He was a relative of the other Bongiovannis who moved to LV from Buffalo, including the former judge Gerard. These Bongiovannis are still socially connected to the Randaccios today.

Not sure what the corrupt DEA agent's relation is but when I looked into it a while back I got the impression he is related somehow.

Good info on Sam. Thanks B!

[Wiseguy]

Doing some more file dumping. Makeshift timeline, color-coded for easier viewing. Red - Buffalo. Blue - Canada.


In April 2016, 7 people including Peter Militello were charged in Buffalo with trafficking in fentanyl-laced heroin. (Militello was later identified as a CI for Bongiovanni).

In November 2016, 5 people including Massimigliano Carfagna were charged in Hamilton and Burlington with drug trafficking and weapons charges. 2.3 kilos of cocaine, 380 grams of meth, 284 grams of marijuana, 63 ecstasy pills, and small amounts of ketamine and crack were confiscated.

In March 2017, Musitano associate Saverio Serrano was shot and wounded in Vaughn, Ontario.

In April 2017, the house of Ronald Serio (had dealings with Bongiovanni, Masecchia, etc.) was raided in Buffalo and 50 kilos of marijuana and weapons were confiscated.

In May 2017, Angelo Musitano (Hamilton-based 'Ndrangheta affiliate of the Buffalo LCN) was shot and killed in Hamilton, Ontario. It was later alleged Angelo Musitano was owed money from a man involved in gambling who worked for mobsters in New York state. When he demanded payment or a piece of the gambling operation, he was murdered by a crew of Niagara region men connected to the gambler. However, none of those involved in the actual murder were made members and had no backing from those in New York.

In November 2017, Canadian authorities conducted raids in Hamilton, York region, Niagara, Innisfil, Vancouver and Montreal and charged 14 people, including Buffalo LCN members sons of late Canadian Bonanno mafioso Paolo Violi in Montreal and grandsons of late Giacomo Luppino of Hamilton - an Ndrangheta member/Buffalo LCN associate) and Massimigliano Carfagna (who was also charged with drug and weapons offenses in November 2016) with conspiracy, trafficking in 6 kilos of fentanyl and carfentanil, over 20 kilos of cocaine, 1 kilo of heroin, 250,000 tablets of meth, MDMA, MDA, LSD, and 3 million contraband cigarettes, weapons trafficking, sports bookmaking and video poker machines.

In March 2018, Anthony Iavarone was charged in Hamilton with marijuana trafficking.

In April 2018, a home invasion took place at the home of member Natale Luppino and his nephew Giuseppe Capobianco was stabbed.

In September 2018, Albert Ivarone (real estate agent with reported ties to organized crime in Hamilton) was shot and killed in Hamilton. It was alleged Ivarone was killed as part of a dispute between two Niagara region groups of mobsters who were both tied to the "New York State mob, “all supposed to be under Buffalo'' who would "have to give approval for high level killings," and that it was believed mob leaders had turned their backs on one side while giving tacit approval to the other." Wiretaps suggested Ivarone had been allied with the Musitano brothers in the 1990s but was not at the time he was killed.

In January 2019, Cece Luppino (son of Hamilton-based Buffalo LCN captain Rocco Luppino) was shot and killed in Hamilton, Ontario.

In April 2019, Pat Musitano was shot and wounded in Mississauga, Ontario.

In May 2019, Anthony Gerace (Todaro nephew) was indicted in the Western District of New York on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and firearms possession.

In June 2019, Musitano associate Jason Lalonde was shot and wounded in Hamilton, Ontario.

In August 2019, the home of Erie County Sheriff's Deputy Louis Selva (best friend of Bongiovanni) was raided.

In August 2019, Michael Messechia (tied to DEA agent Bongiovanni) was indicted in the District of Western New York on charges of marijuana trafficking and weapons possession.

In November 2019, former DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni was indicted in the Western District of New York on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., distribution of controlled substances, public official accepting bribes, obstruction of justice, and false statements to a U.S. agency involving taking $250,000 in bribes from 2008-2019 from drug dealers (who had moved 1,000 kilos of marijuana, as well as cocaine) whom he believed had ties to Italian organized crime. As part of the investigation, the Pharaoh strip club was raided. Club owner Peter Gerace (Todaro nephew) was a known associate of Bongiovanni.

In February 2020, Giorgio Baressi, a local realtor who was involved in a sports bookmaking operation connected to Pat Musitano in 1999, was shot and killed in Hamilton.

In July 2020, Pat Musitano was shot and killed in Burlington, Ontario.

In March 2021, Peter Gerace was arrested in Florida by the Department of Homeland Security on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children by force, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., distribution of controlled substances, and bribery of a public official.

In March 2021, Joseph Bella, owner of a medical staffing business and alleged to be a Buffalo LCN associate, was indicted on charges of wire fraud, loan fraud, money laundering (involving bogus Covid-19 test kits) as well as cocaine and gun possession charges.