Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[antimafia]

I learned via one of Anna Sergi's tweets from earlier today that the Italian fugitive Domenico Cugliari has been extradited from Canada, which is where he was hiding. Cugliari is alleged to be an 'ndrangheta member who reported directly to Domenico Bonavota, and for those who have been following CabriniGreen's and calabrianwatch's posts, you know that the Bonavota 'ndrina in Sant'Onofrio in Vibo Valentia has some sort of presence in the Greater Toronto Area.

Here's one such article about the arrest of Cugliari:

https://catanzaro.gazzettadelsud.it/vid ... c605065f4/

Edited: I previously wrote that Cugliari was arrested in Canada -- which might be true -- but more important, authorities already knew in February 2020 that he was hiding here. So I was wrong to imply that he was discovered in Canada just today.

Link to the CanLii document dated February 23, 2023 re: Cugliari's matter:

https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fct/doc/20 ... ultIndex=1

If you want a PDF of the CanLii decision, please visit my Evernote link here:

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... 8pxWX3bVDg

Some of these 'ndranghetisti are great at multitasking. While Cugliari was a fugitive here in Canada, he found time to marry a Canadian woman.

GTA man deported to Italy as alleged member of ’Ndrangheta Mafia group
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2023/0 ... group.html

Mafia fugitive in Toronto fought for years to avoid being exactly where he is now, arrested in Italy
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/nd ... o-cugliari

[SonnyBlackstein]

Thanks anti!

[CabriniGreen]

I learned via one of Anna Sergi's tweets from earlier today that the Italian fugitive Domenico Cugliari has been extradited from Canada, which is where he was hiding. Cugliari is alleged to be an 'ndrangheta member who reported directly to Domenico Bonavota, and for those who have been following CabriniGreen's and calabrianwatch's posts, you know that the Bonavota 'ndrina in Sant'Onofrio in Vibo Valentia has some sort of presence in the Greater Toronto Area.

Here's one such article about the arrest of Cugliari:

https://catanzaro.gazzettadelsud.it/vid ... c605065f4/

Edited: I previously wrote that Cugliari was arrested in Canada -- which might be true -- but more important, authorities already knew in February 2020 that he was hiding here. So I was wrong to imply that he was discovered in Canada just today.

Whoa..OK. I gotta catch up now. Thank for this Anti..

I've been waiting for a development from this clan....

[NickleCity]

As most of you are aware, I have disagreed with Coppola’s analysis of the Buffalo mob. At the heart of my distrust is his ’98 article “The Withered Arm.” He writes:

Twenty-six years ago the son of another Buffalo godfather was destined to take his father's place. On a warm summer night, dressed in a white linen suit, he and his associates, together with wives and girlfriends, entered Eduardo's nightclub on Bailey Avenue, where Louie Prima was performing. The club grew strangely quiet as the entourage proceeded to a long table. In what could have been a scene from any number of Mafia movies, those in the nightclub who knew whispered to those who didn't who had just entered.

But between then and now, the heir apparent to Buffalo's Mafia throne, Joseph Todaro, went legitimate. He opened a pizzeria, quit his job at Local 210 and concentrated on running his business. Today, La Nova Pizza ranks as a Buffalo success story, a neighborhood pizzeria that reportedly grosses millions of dollars a year and distributes its popular chicken wings throughout the nation. Its owner, for years having dodged government efforts to put him behind bars, has never been convicted of a crime, and now reportedly shuns any contact with his former life.

I have never been able to believe that Todaro, Jr. had gone legitimate and was no longer active in the Buffalo mob as the paragraphs above suggest. Yes, he gave up his position in local 210-but insinuate he went legitimate and was no longer active in the mob is a stretch. Especially given the government filed the civil racketeering suit naming both Todaro’s in 1999. See: https://buffalonews.com/news/mobs-contr ... 8b200.html

It wasn’t until around 2006 that the rumors really began to fly and be picked up in a couple newspapers that the Todaro’s had stepped down and Falzone and/or Nicoletti had taken their place.

Were those rumors true?

I think the information that has come out regarding the Buffalo mafia in recent years disproves the notion that Joe retired. I have always believed the Todaro’s hired a public relations firm to develop a strategy to manipulate the press and the public. I also believe the rumors about them stepping down have been part of the strategy...

But to be fair to Coppola Dan Herbeck indicates that there were reports of Todaro Jr. leaving OC all together when he stepped out local 210 in 1990. This is from the March 1990 article about Sacco Singing:

[NickleCity]

Strip club owner facing trial arrested on new charges of witness tampering
Maki Becker
3/25/23

Cheektowaga strip club owner slated to go to trial on charges of bribing a DEA agent and conspiring to engage in drug trafficking and human trafficking was arrested Friday on new charges after he was accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a potential witness against him, according to federal court documents and his attorney.

A grand jury indicted Peter G. Gerace Jr., 55, on three counts of witness tampering and one count of distribution of cocaine. He was arraigned Friday and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He was being held in the Niagara County Jail, where federal prisoners are held over the weekend. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Monday afternoon.

Cheektowaga strip club owner slated to go to trial on charges of bribing a DEA agent and conspiring to engage in drug trafficking and human trafficking was arrested Friday on new charges after he was accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a potential witness against him, according to federal court documents and his attorney.

A grand jury indicted Peter G. Gerace Jr., 55, on three counts of witness tampering and one count of distribution of cocaine. He was arraigned Friday and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He was being held in the Niagara County Jail, where federal prisoners are held over the weekend. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Monday afternoon.

Snip…

Federal authorities surrounded Gerace's home in Clarence at about 7 a.m. Friday and called out to him on a bullhorn as they prepared to arrest him on a warrant on the new charges, Cohen said.

Gerace is accused in the court documents of three instances of "tampering with a witness" who is identified only as "Witness 1," all reportedly taking place on Nov. 19, 2019.

The indictment against Gerace accuses him of "sending intimidating, threatening, and harassing Facebook messages to Witness 1 with the intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of Witness 1 in an official proceeding, that is a federal grand jury investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings involving the defendant, Peter Gerace Jr."
Snip…

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

Sounds like these are charges about him intimidating his ex-wife Katrina Nigro.

[NickleCity]

After the witness tampering charges the Judge has decided not to release Peter Gerace before trial.

snip...

"This is the first time in over 30 years of practice that I have seen the probation department urge the court to release the defendant and the U.S. attorney says no and the judge says no. Again, it is disgusting," Cohen said.

Cohen said government attorneys have failed to turn over evidence of Gerace committing a crime. Until then Gerace will be behind bars preparing for his trial set in June.

snip...

See: https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/ch ... al-charges

[NickleCity]

Cheektowaga strip club owner ordered held until trial following new arrest
Aaron Besecker
3-28-2023

A federal judge has ordered a Cheektowaga strip club owner slated to go to trial in three months on bribery, drug trafficking and sex trafficking charges to remain in custody following his latest arrest on witness tampering and drug charges.

District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. ruled there was "clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community," according to court documents.

Sinatra also found that because of Peter G. Gerace Jr.'s prior criminal history, the length of prison time he faces if convicted and the "strong" weight of evidence against him, he should be detained pending trial, according to the documents.

Snip...

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

[Tonyd621]

Strip club owner facing trial arrested on new charges of witness tampering
Maki Becker
3/25/23

Cheektowaga strip club owner slated to go to trial on charges of bribing a DEA agent and conspiring to engage in drug trafficking and human trafficking was arrested Friday on new charges after he was accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a potential witness against him, according to federal court documents and his attorney.

A grand jury indicted Peter G. Gerace Jr., 55, on three counts of witness tampering and one count of distribution of cocaine. He was arraigned Friday and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He was being held in the Niagara County Jail, where federal prisoners are held over the weekend. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Monday afternoon.

Cheektowaga strip club owner slated to go to trial on charges of bribing a DEA agent and conspiring to engage in drug trafficking and human trafficking was arrested Friday on new charges after he was accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a potential witness against him, according to federal court documents and his attorney.

A grand jury indicted Peter G. Gerace Jr., 55, on three counts of witness tampering and one count of distribution of cocaine. He was arraigned Friday and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. He was being held in the Niagara County Jail, where federal prisoners are held over the weekend. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Monday afternoon.

Snip…

Federal authorities surrounded Gerace's home in Clarence at about 7 a.m. Friday and called out to him on a bullhorn as they prepared to arrest him on a warrant on the new charges, Cohen said.

Gerace is accused in the court documents of three instances of "tampering with a witness" who is identified only as "Witness 1," all reportedly taking place on Nov. 19, 2019.

The indictment against Gerace accuses him of "sending intimidating, threatening, and harassing Facebook messages to Witness 1 with the intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of Witness 1 in an official proceeding, that is a federal grand jury investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings involving the defendant, Peter Gerace Jr."
Snip…

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

Sounds like these are charges about him intimidating his ex-wife Katrina Nigro.

Haha, if if wasn't for Facebook he probably would of been released. Smh

[antimafia]

Cross-posting.
-----------------
Six new charges against Steve Sardinha, the Hamilton man behind Havana Group Supplies Inc.

https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news- ... pplies-inc

$75M lawsuit claims city conspired to dump contaminated soil on land with mob ties

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton ... -1.5919000

Steve Sardinha jailed over fraud linked to Havana soil-dumping firm
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-r ... -scam.html

You’ll hit a paywall unless you’re a subscriber; so here’s the link to my Evernote clip of the article:

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... 297a123b2d

Havana Group leader swindled ‘gullible’ investor out of more than $200,000, court hears

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... pozcaeByxg

[antimafia]

^^^^
Here’s a PressReader.com link to the article, which is easier to read than what I captured in my Evernote item:

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the- ... 6460552148

[NickleCity]

Gerace's legal team has once again made a motion to modify the protective order. In the Governments opposition they state that they are concerned with:

1. Witness statements and identities will be disseminated to third parties, putting them in danger.
2. Doesn't believe Gerace will comply with the protective order citing the following history:
--Of hurting people
--Of committing felonies
--Of lying to probation
--Access to powerful and corrupt individuals, and
--His contacts in the criminal underworld



See: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap ... .415.0.pdf

Additionally, Gerace filled a motion contesting the revocation of his release and subsequent detention after the new witness tampering indictment. In the governments opposition to this motion we learn about allegations that Gerace made false statements and fraudulently took out and modified a $2,000,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) with the Small Business Administration.



See: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap ... .413.0.pdf

[antimafia]

First, Project Sindacato, and now Project Hobart. This mafia-and-81s collaboration has been going on for at least 18 years.

Massive gambling case against GTA Hells Angels falls apart over trial delay
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/0 ... delay.html

Funny coincidence. MASSIVE Hells angels gathering/rally in Toronto as we speak.
Gotta love a good coincidnece.

Illegal gambling crackdown fizzles out as charges withdrawn
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/ill ... -withdrawn

This has become yet another interesting angle in the ongoing developments in the Canadian underworld.

So it looks like the Hells and maybe the Figliomenis (?) control the successor to the Platinum/ Ontario sportsbooks. If the Hells control the Quebec/ Montreal book as well... Well.

Whom else could the Toronto crime family be? Ursinos? Commissos? Bonvonta?

Below are links to my Evernote items for the main and secondary articles written yesterday by the London Free Press (London, Ontario) reporters Randy Richmond and Dale Carruthers, along with the Free Press newsroom. NB: 1. I did not capture any photos, but sometimes you'll see photo captions in the Evernote items. 2. The secondary article "Operation Hobart: The Barletta properties" is the only one in which Platinum Sports Book is mentioned, but "Sportsbook" is mentioned in the main article -- I'll ask the reporters in a public tweet whether the names are interchangeable. 3. There is no mention of Project Sindacato, which targeted the 'ndrangheta in the GTA in a related investigation, nor of any 'ndrangheta figures who were arrested, charged, and then only later saw their charges dropped.

Main article: How a huge probe into illegal sports betting became a $40M asset fight
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... r43kFjVNGw

Linked article (secondary): Operation Hobart: Charges and court results
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... 5iJRrF8gDQ

Linked article (secondary): Operation Hobart: The Barletta properties
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... PUvuMSbKfQ

Linked article (secondary): Operation Hobart: How police say it worked
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s229/sh/ ... N5K0V5NInQ

[Gustazul]

Recent new about statements made by Giussepe Violi in Beaver Creek prison answering questions for the Parole Board of Canada;

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ma ... joey-violi

[NickleCity]

I believe DEA Agent Joe Bongiovanni's Dad Frederick passed on Friday. Here is the link to his obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bu ... d=47592037

...snip...

Finally, does anyone have information on Frank Bongiovanni who resided in the Dunkirk, Angola areas of the Southern Tier? I've heard he was an associate of Sam Frangiamore.

Looks like Fred Bongiovanni was related to Frank A Bongiovanni of Dunkirk. Not the Frank R Bongiovanni in Niagara Fall who was an associate of Sonny Nicoletti.

Fred's mom's Margaret nee Villafranco married Joseph Bongiovanni before marrying Charles Bellanca.



Maragret had a sister Fanny (nee Villafranco) who married Frank A Bongiovanni in Dunkirk. Frank appears to have been an associate of Frangiamore and helped him unite the Dunkirk Laborers Union with 210 in Buffalo.



Frank's obituary indicates he was a 210 Official

[NorthBuffalo]

Bongiovanni was one of the agents integral to the University of Buffalo contract, which was arguably one of the largest union scams in NY. Its amazing the Capitano sons still run 210.