Buffalo/Ontario Mob Acitivity

[antimafia]

Wonder who’s behind this one since there’s been a “truce” called between mafia and HA

Rob Barletta is another significant HA from the Project Hobart investigation who, so far, has had one attempt on his life when he was living in Toronto, and later on, after moving to Quebec, whose residences were respectively set on fire and shot at. He’s still in Quebec, where he’s believed to have become a member of the Hells in that province who is assisting the influential HA Martin Robert with increasing the Hells’ share of revenue from illegal gambling in Quebec (and probably elsewhere).

We don’t know yet whether Craig McIlquham is the latest casualty of a particular conflict in a particular territory. Burlington, where he was killed (as was Pat Musitano), is in Halton Region, but McIlquham’s ties to the Niagara region are important. We do know that he and Barletta continued to partner with ’ndranghetisti in the Greater Toronto Area after, IMHO, Vito Rizzuto lost overall authority over the Platinum Sportsbook, which is exclusively illegal Internet gambling. Rizzuto, the Figliomenis, and the HAs were all partners when Platinum was born.

Excerpts below from an older article are relevant in this discussion. NB: OPP=Ontario Provincial Police.

Thursday, December 19, 2019
By Louie Rosella | InsideHalton.com
Hells Angels member from Oakville among 7 Halton residents charged in illegal gaming operation tied to ‘an escalation in violence across Ontario’
OPP focus was on an illegal gaming organization controlled by members of the Hell’s Angels
https://www.insidehalton.com/news/crime ... 000af.html

Nearly 30 people are facing more than 200 criminal charges in connection with a multi-million dollar illegal gaming operation tied to a series of attempted murders, arsons, extortion threats, shootings and assaults.

One of those charged, 49-year-old Oakville resident Craig McIlquham, is a member of the notorious Hells Angels motorcycle gang, the OPP said in a release.

OPP launched Project Hobart as a result of “an escalation of violence across Ontario and Quebec” between August 2017 and May 2018 which included attempted murders, arsons, extortion threats, shootings and assaults.

[snip]

Their focus was on an illegal gaming organization controlled by members of the Hell’s Angels outlaw motorcycle gang.

[snip]

The investigation suggests the sportsbooks have been in operation for more than five years and have brought in gross revenues of more that [sic] $131 million, police said.

Police linked the operators of this illegal gaming organization to the Figliomeni crime family.

Article below is about permanent Canadian resident Giorgio Campagna. In the chart that I've posted below the article link, he is seen in the CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION section as one of two gaming-house collectors under the individual Alessandro Ortolano, who in turn is shown under Vito Sili. NB: The article has misspelled Sindacato, appearing as "Sindicato."

‘Guilt by association’: Attempts to send Hells Angels gambling probe player back to Italy, halted
A man sentenced as part of a Hells Angels’ gambling den investigation, which uncovered alleged ties to the Figliomeni crime family, has been granted a judicial review as the government attempts to send him back to Italy.

https://www.yorkregion.com/news/guilt-b ... 5c5a7.html

[antimafia]

^^^^
Man facing deportation to Italy over alleged organized crime ties in Ontario
https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/local/pe ... n-ontario/

[NickleCity]

Feds oppose early release of reputed Mafia member who reported help from Bongiovanni

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

Some relevant portions of the court filing:

[NickleCity]

^^^
Judge grants early release to reputed Mafia member who reported help from Bongiovanni

This is an update of Patrick’s article above reflecting the judges decision.
See: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crim ... ff782.html

[NickleCity]

Does anyone remember the name of the Sicilian restaurant owner in Buffalo who was indicted for selling cocaine and (I believe) messing around with a minor some years back? When I looked into him it seemed he was from Agrigento and his surname shows up in the Sicilian mafia there.

Also does anyone know who the guy is on the far left? He's an American who visited Montallegro with the Todaros, curious if he's a relative. There are other photos of them with who I presume to be Sicilian relatives.

B. was it Filippo Inglima. He has owned restaurants and has faced deportation to Italy for abuse of a 13 year old girl. I believe he was involved in the Amoia, Vacanti, Piccione, Gambino drug business and if I remember correctly worked at the Lovejoy Bar and Grill that was burned to the ground-but that could have been one of the Piccione’s.

It appears that Peter Gerace was involved in this drug ring. At Gerace's trial, a closing argument transcript reveals that a DEA agent obtained a 2008 chart where Peter is pictured to have a high position. That chart was received from homeland security by BPD and then to the DEA agent. (This is likely the organization of the DTO, but we don't know for sure from this testimony. This chart could relate to the organization of this DTO, some other organized crime group, or some combination thereof.)

The DEA's agent's testimony was that Bongiovanni was going to see if he could flip Gerace cause he knew him from the neighborhood, but in actuality was protecting him.

Here is a relevant portion of the transcript:



Here is where Inglima is sentenced:



Here are those who were indicted in the David Gambino drug operation on 11/18/2009: David Gambino (1) count(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18-22, 35, Filippo Inglima (2) count(s) 2, 3, 4, 17, 35, David Heidt (3) count(s) 2, 3, 8-9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23-33, 35, Patrick Higgins (4) count(s) 2, 3, 4, 15, 35, Javier Feliciano (5) count(s) 2, Patrick Callea, Jr (6) count(s) 2, 3, Salvatore Tafarella (7) count(s) 2, 3, Dana Iser (8) count(s) 2, Steven Godinho (9) count(s) 2, 5-7, Jonathon Schiavone (10) count(s) 2, Jason Schiavone (11) count(s) 2, 34, David Koch (12) count(s) 2, Rosalie Toth (13) count(s) 2, Dwayne Brinson (14) count(s) 2, Timothy Higgins (15) count(s) 2, Jason Brennan (16) count(s) 2, 18-22, Richard Foose (17) count(s) 2, 26-29, Dennis Heidt (18) count(s) 2, 24-25, Veronica Irene (19) count(s) 2, 12, 30, Jonathan Sawulak (20) count(s) 2, 23, Mark Plauman (21) count(s) 2, 31-33, James Aronica (22) count(s) 2, Peter Danna (23) count(s) 2, Salvatore Montana (24) count(s) 2. (DR) (Entered: 11/20/2009)

If you will recall that posters on the now defunct Topix Forum allege that David Gambino along with a couple Amoia's helped hide the gun that was allegedly used by Sam Vacanti to murder Monty Massimi in 2007.

I plan to get DEA Agent Chris Wisiewski's transcipt when it is released.

[B.]

Is it saying Gerace was near the center-top of a Buffalo Family organizational chart or an organizational chart of the drug operation?

[NickleCity]

I can’t gauge the context… It does say it is a case related to OC, but that could mean the DTO, an Outlaw MC, IOC or any combination thereof. I hope to get this DEA agents testimony when it is released. Maybe it will shed some light.

[B.]

If it's a Buffalo Family chart, it would likely be implying Gerace was listed as a captain (I think it's entirely plausible Gerace is at least made) but if it's a drug or operational OC chart it would mean he's higher up in the chain of the particular operation being investigated, which is going to be a given regardless of his formal position.

[NickleCity]

Ronald Serio, drug trafficker who first mentioned Bongiovanni to investigators, gets two years in prison

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