Arrests in NY, induction ceremony taped

[Lupara]

^^^^
Morena was not inducted before becoming a police agent. That is, he was still an associate at the time he became a police agent

The following information from a Public Prosecution Service of Canada webpage helps distinguish between informers and police agents (the PPSC is a Canadian government organization):

8 a)

Distinguishing Agents from Informers

One of the most difficult problems in this area is determining when the privilege applies to the actions of persons cooperating with the police. Informer privilege does not apply when the information-provider is characterized as a “police agent” or “agent provocateur,” rather than an “informer.”

A helpful explanation of the distinction between informers and agents is found in the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Babes^39

In general terms, the distinction between an informer and an agent is that an informer merely furnishes information to the police and an agent acts on the direction of the police and goes “into the field” to participate in the illegal transaction in some way. The identity of an informer is protected by a strong privilege and, accordingly, is not disclosable, subject to the innocence at stake exception. The identity of an agent is disclosable.

Generally speaking, passive observers to criminal activities will be considered informers. In contrast, individuals who participate in the criminal activities under investigation as a result of being directed by the police will generally be considered police agents or agents provocateurs. A person may have dual status as a confidential informer and police agent in relation to separate investigations or targets.^40

Makes more sense now. That also means that this is bigger than Donnie Brasco!

[B.]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who wonders whether Domenico and Giuseppe Violi are not 'ndrangheta members but were instead made into either the Buffalo Family or Bonanno Family.

Like Wiseguy said, the mention of the Todaro family in the case could be a reference to them, though here are some things to consider:

- In many if not most cases, the sons of murdered mafia members are not "released" from their association with the organization they're affiliated with and even take orders from the father's murderer(s). Paul Castellano's sons continued as associates of the Gambino family under Gotti, one of the made Narducci sons continued on under Scarfo (who ordered Narducci Sr.'s murder) and the other Narducci son was a loyal hitman for Scarfo and later inducted by him, Jerry D'Aquila becoming a made member of his murdered father's former family, and many other examples along these lines. Point being, many of these guys seem to more or less "get over" the fact that they're working for their fathers' murderer(s), so not impossible for the Violis to have worked under the Bonanno Montreal Sicilians despite any "bad blood".

- The above point aside, the Violi sons were just boys when their father was murdered so they weren't exactly active associates "on record" with the Bonanno family. There are examples of associates/members who end up affiliated with a certain group seemingly by birthright, but no reason to believe that happened here. One important factor would be whether the Violis gravitated toward the remaining Cotroni faction as they grew older. Frank Cotroni remained an influential member and there were likely others from that group who had fallen in line with the new leadership who the younger Violis could have taken influence from.

- The Violis had close relatives in the Buffalo family with 'ndrangheta ties, which in both cases would make for an obvious "out" from the Bonanno family umbrella. This seems to be the most obvious assumption but who knows, the mafia tends to surprise us even after all of these years.

[JeremyTheJew]

^^^^
Morena was not inducted before becoming a police agent. That is, he was still an associate at the time he became a police agent

The following information from a Public Prosecution Service of Canada webpage helps distinguish between informers and police agents (the PPSC is a Canadian government organization):

8 a)

Distinguishing Agents from Informers

One of the most difficult problems in this area is determining when the privilege applies to the actions of persons cooperating with the police. Informer privilege does not apply when the information-provider is characterized as a “police agent” or “agent provocateur,” rather than an “informer.”

A helpful explanation of the distinction between informers and agents is found in the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Babes^39

In general terms, the distinction between an informer and an agent is that an informer merely furnishes information to the police and an agent acts on the direction of the police and goes “into the field” to participate in the illegal transaction in some way. The identity of an informer is protected by a strong privilege and, accordingly, is not disclosable, subject to the innocence at stake exception. The identity of an agent is disclosable.

Generally speaking, passive observers to criminal activities will be considered informers. In contrast, individuals who participate in the criminal activities under investigation as a result of being directed by the police will generally be considered police agents or agents provocateurs. A person may have dual status as a confidential informer and police agent in relation to separate investigations or targets.^40

Makes more sense now. That also means that this is bigger than Donnie Brasco!

why is this better then Brasco? I don't see this really venturing any farther then it has already.

[Lupara]

^^^^
Morena was not inducted before becoming a police agent. That is, he was still an associate at the time he became a police agent

The following information from a Public Prosecution Service of Canada webpage helps distinguish between informers and police agents (the PPSC is a Canadian government organization):

8 a)

Distinguishing Agents from Informers

One of the most difficult problems in this area is determining when the privilege applies to the actions of persons cooperating with the police. Informer privilege does not apply when the information-provider is characterized as a “police agent” or “agent provocateur,” rather than an “informer.”

A helpful explanation of the distinction between informers and agents is found in the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Babes^39

In general terms, the distinction between an informer and an agent is that an informer merely furnishes information to the police and an agent acts on the direction of the police and goes “into the field” to participate in the illegal transaction in some way. The identity of an informer is protected by a strong privilege and, accordingly, is not disclosable, subject to the innocence at stake exception. The identity of an agent is disclosable.

Generally speaking, passive observers to criminal activities will be considered informers. In contrast, individuals who participate in the criminal activities under investigation as a result of being directed by the police will generally be considered police agents or agents provocateurs. A person may have dual status as a confidential informer and police agent in relation to separate investigations or targets.^40

Makes more sense now. That also means that this is bigger than Donnie Brasco!

why is this better then Brasco? I don't see this really venturing any farther then it has already.

Because with Brasco the Bonannos almost inducted a police agent. Now they did and so the "police" were able to attend a making ceremony for the first time in law enforcement history.

[JeremyTheJew]

^^^^
Morena was not inducted before becoming a police agent. That is, he was still an associate at the time he became a police agent

The following information from a Public Prosecution Service of Canada webpage helps distinguish between informers and police agents (the PPSC is a Canadian government organization):

8 a)

Distinguishing Agents from Informers

One of the most difficult problems in this area is determining when the privilege applies to the actions of persons cooperating with the police. Informer privilege does not apply when the information-provider is characterized as a “police agent” or “agent provocateur,” rather than an “informer.”

A helpful explanation of the distinction between informers and agents is found in the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Babes^39

In general terms, the distinction between an informer and an agent is that an informer merely furnishes information to the police and an agent acts on the direction of the police and goes “into the field” to participate in the illegal transaction in some way. The identity of an informer is protected by a strong privilege and, accordingly, is not disclosable, subject to the innocence at stake exception. The identity of an agent is disclosable.

Generally speaking, passive observers to criminal activities will be considered informers. In contrast, individuals who participate in the criminal activities under investigation as a result of being directed by the police will generally be considered police agents or agents provocateurs. A person may have dual status as a confidential informer and police agent in relation to separate investigations or targets.^40

Makes more sense now. That also means that this is bigger than Donnie Brasco!

why is this better then Brasco? I don't see this really venturing any farther then it has already.

Because with Brasco the Bonannos almost inducted a police agent. Now they did and so the "police" were able to attend a making ceremony for the first time in law enforcement history.

a police AGENT is someone who the police will give objectives and tell them what they need out of them for convictions.

as well as as AGENTS introduce undercovers into the fold.

the article u quoted explained what i just said lol

[Lupara]

Still law enforcement used one of their people to attend a ceremony LOL.

[antimafia]

The link farther below is to the recently published article by Dr. Anna Sergi, the Calabrian-born academic teaching at the University of Essex (UK), that discusses collaboration between American LCN groups in NYC, 'ndrangheta groups in NYC and upstate New York, and Canadian-based 'ndrangheta groups. Mention is made of Project OTremens. The article can be saved as a PDF.

There are some minor factual errors--for example, "Long Island, Brooklyn"--and probably some errors that the American posters on here will be able to spot that I could not. There is also the odd sentence that raises eyebrows--for example, "Some of those arrested [in Project OTremens] were connected to a Buffalo-based family, the Todaro syndicate, which had once belonged to La Cosa Nostra (LCN)."

https://www.academia.edu/36827024/New_Y ... ollaborate

[Lupara]

Some of those arrested [in Project OTremens] were connected to a Buffalo-based family, the Todaro syndicate, which had once belonged to La Cosa Nostra (LCN)."

https://www.academia.edu/36827024/New_Y ... ollaborate

This could deserve its own thread. Interested in what you, B. and Wiseguy would make of it.

Seems like there are 3 possibilities:

1. The Luppinos were a Buffalo branch after all (dual recognition of ndrangheta and Cosa Nostra?)

2. Luppino pushed for his grandsons to be under the protection of Buffalo, then when the Todaros retired the family continued its branch in Hamilton.

3. The Hamilton branch being absorbed into the Bonanno family.

[johnny_scootch]

For example, Project OTremens court filings detail how an undercover agent became a member of the Bonanno family, with law enforcement recording the induction ceremony and the agent later introducing others to the Bonanno group. The initiation occurred in Canada, in the presence of Domenico and Giuseppe Violi, two Calabrian mafia figures from Hamilton, Ontario, whose father Paolo Violi was killed in 1978 by the rival Rizzuto crime family, the ‘Sixth Family’ of New York that ran business in Quebec. A new alliance between Bonanno associates and the Violi family againstthe Rizzutos is significant, as it suggests a growing prominence for Calabrian mafia the 'Ndrangheta within the New York families and in Canada.


Would two members of the 'Ndrangheta be allowed to attend a Bonanno family induction??????

[johnny_scootch]

If I remember correctly it was said somewhere 5 people were at the induction ceremony it looks like they were Damiano Zummo, Vincenzo Morena, a John LNU, Domenico & Paolo Violi.

I wonder if the guy named John is from NYC?

[gohnjotti]

For example, Project OTremens court filings detail how an undercover agent became a member of the Bonanno family, with law enforcement recording the induction ceremony and the agent later introducing others to the Bonanno group. The initiation occurred in Canada, in the presence of Domenico and Giuseppe Violi, two Calabrian mafia figures from Hamilton, Ontario, whose father Paolo Violi was killed in 1978 by the rival Rizzuto crime family, the ‘Sixth Family’ of New York that ran business in Quebec. A new alliance between Bonanno associates and the Violi family againstthe Rizzutos is significant, as it suggests a growing prominence for Calabrian mafia the 'Ndrangheta within the New York families and in Canada.


Would two members of the 'Ndrangheta be allowed to attend a Bonanno family induction??????

Very interesting article. Obviously there is a hell of a lot more to the Bonanno-Ndrangheta connection than previously thought.

[Wiseguy]

Interesting article indeed. More of a scholarly/peer-reviewed paper really. Probably did deserve it's own thread.

Some of those arrested were arrested were connected to a Buffalo-based family, the Todaro syndicate, which had once belonged to La Cosa Nostra.

It's been apparent that some of those involved were members or associates of the the Buffalo family, which isn't viewed by the feds as viable anymore, but it's interesting how she puts it in terms of the family once belonging to the LCN.

A new alliance between Bonanno associates and the Violi family against the Rizzutos is significant, as it suggests a growing prominence for Calabrian mafia –
the'Ndrangheta – within the New York families and in Canada.

This would certainly seem to confirm the split between the Bonannos and Rizzutos.

Since approximately 2013, according to sources in the NYPD speaking to Jane’s on 16 April, US authorities have observed a "shift towards a Calabrian management, primarily in the rankings of the Gambino and Genovese families; these people have always been here…but they now can raise to a position of power." This has been the case most notably since 2014, when Operation New Bridge – a joint FBI-Italian project –uncovered a drug-trafficking network importing cocaine to Europe and heroin to the US. This network was headed by Calabrian mafia clans, using Gambino affiliates tasked with debt collection and money laundering and Genovese associates handling the actual movement of drugs.

Unless I'm missing or forgetting something, she made a mistake here. The Operation New Bridge case involved the Gambino and Bonanno families, not the Genovese family. She probably means the Gambinos and Bonannos too when talking about a shift towards Calabrian management.

[Lupara]

Would two members of the 'Ndrangheta be allowed to attend a Bonanno family induction??????

I don't think so. This would mean the Violis are Bonanno members.

[gohnjotti]

Would two members of the 'Ndrangheta be allowed to attend a Bonanno family induction??????

I don't think so. This would mean the Violis are Bonanno members.

According to that article they are members of Calabrian OC.

[Lupara]

Would two members of the 'Ndrangheta be allowed to attend a Bonanno family induction??????

I don't think so. This would mean the Violis are Bonanno members.

According to that article they are members of Calabrian OC.

Another reason this deserves its own thread.