You brought up Colombos 1920 liason to Buffalo. And you're pissy because I'm calling into question 2024 'relations'?
Ok bud. Appreciate the history lesson.
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You brought up Colombos 1920 liason to Buffalo. And you're pissy because I'm calling into question 2024 'relations'?
I remember a National Post article referring to the fact that the Bonannos, Colombo and... I wanna say Gambinos(?) were contacted regarding Violi's upcoming induction, or something along those lines. That information, as far as I know, was based on RCMP and court documents. I'm willing to take that at face value and assume there is at least one liaison between the Colombos and Buffalo. We can't forget; the Colombos allegedly had contact with L.A. captain Jimmy Caci in the early 2000s, if I'm remembering Kenji's book correctly. In the mid-1990s, high-ranking Philly members met with Colombo heads on President Street.SonnyBlackstein wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:05 pmYou brought up Colombos 1920 liason to Buffalo. And you're pissy because I'm calling into question 2024 'relations'?
Ok bud. Appreciate the history lesson.
Good point and yeah, I recall what you're saying.gohnjotti wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:01 amI remember a National Post article referring to the fact that the Bonannos, Colombo and... I wanna say Gambinos(?) were contacted regarding Violi's upcoming induction, or something along those lines. That information, as far as I know, was based on RCMP and court documents. I'm willing to take that at face value and assume there is at least one liaison between the Colombos and Buffalo. We can't forget; the Colombos allegedly had contact with L.A. captain Jimmy Caci in the early 2000s, if I'm remembering Kenji's book correctly. In the mid-1990s, high-ranking Philly members met with Colombo heads on President Street.SonnyBlackstein wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:05 pmYou brought up Colombos 1920 liason to Buffalo. And you're pissy because I'm calling into question 2024 'relations'?
Ok bud. Appreciate the history lesson.
We can't overlook the social connections that overlap with "organized crime" connections. The Buffalo family and Colombo family may not have had any real "business" together for decades, but older members who did have those connections may have continued those and helped forge new friendships/relationships. Not to mention shared prison sentences.
A very knowledgeable and reliable source has told me that Russell Papalardo in Cleveland still enjoys this sort of treatment as a "brother" in this way by other mafia figures and Cleveland is still regarded as "represented" amid mafia matters by him even though the family is defunct and he's the only made guy still living.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:49 am If these two groups have any connections whatsoever (even down to a Colombo using a laundrymat that Buffalo owns), there would be formal introductions made, that's the mafia at play as a network. It's not exciting or sexy. It's as simple and easy as a Buffalo member attending a Gambino party and encountering one of the few remaining New Orleans' members (or a Chicago member or a Philly member, take your pick). They'll be formally introduced as brothers and what, if anything, they decide to do is their own business.
It's truly the essence of what makes the mafia the mafia. If criminality were the sole factor "the Italians" would have died out long ago.Ivan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:11 amA very knowledgeable and reliable source has told me that Russell Papalardo in Cleveland still enjoys this sort of treatment as a "brother" in this way by other mafia figures and Cleveland is still regarded as "represented" amid mafia matters by him even though the family is defunct and he's the only made guy still living.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:49 am If these two groups have any connections whatsoever (even down to a Colombo using a laundrymat that Buffalo owns), there would be formal introductions made, that's the mafia at play as a network. It's not exciting or sexy. It's as simple and easy as a Buffalo member attending a Gambino party and encountering one of the few remaining New Orleans' members (or a Chicago member or a Philly member, take your pick). They'll be formally introduced as brothers and what, if anything, they decide to do is their own business.
And on a slightly different note, at Bongiovanni's detention hearing about his ankle bracelet the government indicates that Bongi was involved in Witness Intimidation referring to his interaction with another DEA Agent Anthony Casullo.But after Militello’s prosecution, Kaiser was no longer comfortable being a confidential source for the DEA, because he said Bongiovanni blew his cover.
“By him telling Mr. Militello that I wore a wire, it got to the neighborhood that I wore a wire,” Kaiser testified. “So everywhere I went – drug court, streets – I’m fighting for my life. People trying to stab me, everything. Because he told them I wore a wire.”
“So, safe to say at that point in time then you were burned as a confidential informant?” Singer asked, giving jurors an alternative explanation for why Bongiovanni did not ask Kaiser to try to get evidence against Serio.
“Yeah, because I thought the C (in confidential informant) meant confidential – not we tell everything and we just put the person on the street to die. But you see I’m still here, I’m still walking the streets.”
Thinking Militello must be cooperating now? Not in BOP custody. Unless it wasnt updated after he was subpoenaed?NickleCity wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 8:39 am Bobby Kaiser, another witness in the ongoing Bongiovanni case has died before he could testify in the retrial. See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... 765c9.html
And on a slightly different note, at Bongiovanni's detention hearing about his ankle bracelet the government indicates that Bongi was involved in Witness Intimidation referring to his interaction with another DEA Agent Anthony Casullo.But after Militello’s prosecution, Kaiser was no longer comfortable being a confidential source for the DEA, because he said Bongiovanni blew his cover.
“By him telling Mr. Militello that I wore a wire, it got to the neighborhood that I wore a wire,” Kaiser testified. “So everywhere I went – drug court, streets – I’m fighting for my life. People trying to stab me, everything. Because he told them I wore a wire.”
“So, safe to say at that point in time then you were burned as a confidential informant?” Singer asked, giving jurors an alternative explanation for why Bongiovanni did not ask Kaiser to try to get evidence against Serio.
“Yeah, because I thought the C (in confidential informant) meant confidential – not we tell everything and we just put the person on the street to die. But you see I’m still here, I’m still walking the streets.”
Additionally, the government alleges they are investigation Bongiovanni for possible witness retaliation.
Interesting... he was sentenced to prison till 2039.Newyorkempire wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 9:14 am
Thinking Militello must be cooperating now? Not in BOP custody. Unless it wasnt updated after he was subpoenaed?
Got slammed with a huge sentence.
He was all about Omerta a few months ago. His dad was Mike i believeNickleCity wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 10:11 amInteresting... he was sentenced to prison till 2039.Newyorkempire wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 9:14 am
Thinking Militello must be cooperating now? Not in BOP custody. Unless it wasnt updated after he was subpoenaed?
Got slammed with a huge sentence.
Joe Gorgone was extremely close to both Todaro Sr. and Jr. and he just died in 2010. I don't know that they were hanging out as much as they did in the 1980s but these guys never stopped going to Florida and people greatly underestimate how many guys from the remaining Families socialize there. Lovaglio of the Bonannos said he was meeting up with Merlino, DeCavalcante, and Genovese members all at the same time in FL. The Todaros made tons of friends from around the country in FL and Todaro Jr. has continued to spend a ton of time there. When he made and promoted Violi, it doesn't sound like he had to jump through hoops to contact NYC, he just had the ability to reach them.gohnjotti wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:01 amI remember a National Post article referring to the fact that the Bonannos, Colombo and... I wanna say Gambinos(?) were contacted regarding Violi's upcoming induction, or something along those lines. That information, as far as I know, was based on RCMP and court documents. I'm willing to take that at face value and assume there is at least one liaison between the Colombos and Buffalo. We can't forget; the Colombos allegedly had contact with L.A. captain Jimmy Caci in the early 2000s, if I'm remembering Kenji's book correctly. In the mid-1990s, high-ranking Philly members met with Colombo heads on President Street.SonnyBlackstein wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 6:05 pmYou brought up Colombos 1920 liason to Buffalo. And you're pissy because I'm calling into question 2024 'relations'?
Ok bud. Appreciate the history lesson.
We can't overlook the social connections that overlap with "organized crime" connections. The Buffalo family and Colombo family may not have had any real "business" together for decades, but older members who did have those connections may have continued those and helped forge new friendships/relationships. Not to mention shared prison sentences.
One of the more mind-blowing epiphanies I've had about the mafia is that the reflexive and cynical they're-just-after-money take on the mafia, while having a grain of truth to it, is for the most part pseudo-sophisticated bullshit, while the corny Joe Bonanno thing about it being an old tradition of brotherhood/honor/respect is more or less true.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 4:01 amIt's truly the essence of what makes the mafia the mafia. If criminality were the sole factor "the Italians" would have died out long ago.Ivan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:11 amA very knowledgeable and reliable source has told me that Russell Papalardo in Cleveland still enjoys this sort of treatment as a "brother" in this way by other mafia figures and Cleveland is still regarded as "represented" amid mafia matters by him even though the family is defunct and he's the only made guy still living.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:49 am If these two groups have any connections whatsoever (even down to a Colombo using a laundrymat that Buffalo owns), there would be formal introductions made, that's the mafia at play as a network. It's not exciting or sexy. It's as simple and easy as a Buffalo member attending a Gambino party and encountering one of the few remaining New Orleans' members (or a Chicago member or a Philly member, take your pick). They'll be formally introduced as brothers and what, if anything, they decide to do is their own business.
Cleveland is a really fascinating example of the network that encompasses associates, legit businessmen, labor, unmade criminals etc. surviving the family's "death." What was once a "structured crime family" has evolved into a network of shady but mostly legit guys centered on a certain staffing agency, with a lot of familiar surnames popping up if you examine who's a part of that network.But when you think of it as a network, what incentive is there to let it die? That could equate to keeping communication with Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh (if there is anything left) and New York. It doesn't have to be Papalardo plotting to "rebuild" (ie a Family structure complete with captains with Moltistanti-style grunt 'made men') which is what most outsiders would expect and in fact, would argue he's nonviable if he doesn't.
Sidari from Cleveland knows Todaro well due to both being in the food wholesale business and I believe Ciangalinis/Martaranos from Philly for whatever reasonIvan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 11:30 amOne of the more mind-blowing epiphanies I've had about the mafia is that the reflexive and cynical they're-just-after-money take on the mafia, while having a grain of truth to it, is for the most part pseudo-sophisticated bullshit, while the corny Joe Bonanno thing about it being an old tradition of brotherhood/honor/respect is more or less true.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 4:01 amIt's truly the essence of what makes the mafia the mafia. If criminality were the sole factor "the Italians" would have died out long ago.Ivan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 3:11 amA very knowledgeable and reliable source has told me that Russell Papalardo in Cleveland still enjoys this sort of treatment as a "brother" in this way by other mafia figures and Cleveland is still regarded as "represented" amid mafia matters by him even though the family is defunct and he's the only made guy still living.Angelo Santino wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2024 2:49 am If these two groups have any connections whatsoever (even down to a Colombo using a laundrymat that Buffalo owns), there would be formal introductions made, that's the mafia at play as a network. It's not exciting or sexy. It's as simple and easy as a Buffalo member attending a Gambino party and encountering one of the few remaining New Orleans' members (or a Chicago member or a Philly member, take your pick). They'll be formally introduced as brothers and what, if anything, they decide to do is their own business.
Cleveland is a really fascinating example of the network that encompasses associates, legit businessmen, labor, unmade criminals etc. surviving the family's "death." What was once a "structured crime family" has evolved into a network of shady but mostly legit guys centered on a certain staffing agency, with a lot of familiar surnames popping up if you examine who's a part of that network.But when you think of it as a network, what incentive is there to let it die? That could equate to keeping communication with Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh (if there is anything left) and New York. It doesn't have to be Papalardo plotting to "rebuild" (ie a Family structure complete with captains with Moltistanti-style grunt 'made men') which is what most outsiders would expect and in fact, would argue he's nonviable if he doesn't.
Anyway, I would be shocked if Papalardo and Todaro were not personally acquainted, given the above factors and the fact that their cities are "right down the road" from one another.