Cosa Nostra Landscape - Catania

[Etna]

Hey everyone.

Could someone give the layout of the various clans in Catania?

I know the Santapaola-Ercolano family is known to be Cosa Nostra and the Catania family. I've also heard of a family in Caltagirone and maybe Ramacca? Not too sure. Then, I've read about groups such as Laudani, Cursoti, Pillerra, Cappello and Ferrara etc.

Are these others independent groups? How do they interact with Cosa Nostra in the area?

[scagghiuni]

the santapaola/ercolano family is cosa nostra, and the biggest family in catania; the mazzei family is also cosa nostra, there are also two families based in caltagirone and ramacca; the cappello/pillera family was absorded by cosa nostra in the latest years but it answers to palermo; the laudani is a branch of the santapaola's; the cursoti clan is not part of cosa nostra

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

the santapaola/ercolano family is cosa nostra, and the biggest family in catania; the mazzei family is also cosa nostra, there are also two families based in caltagirone and ramacca; the cappello/pillera family was absorded by cosa nostra in the latest years but it answers to palermo; the laudani is a branch of the santapaola's; the cursoti clan is not part of cosa nostra

'absorbed by cosa nostra'....'Cursoti clan is not part of cosa nostra'
There are crime families in Sicily that are not cosa nostra? Not
mafia? Please enlighten me on this if you can. If you are a crime
family, how are you not mafia or cosa nostra? Thanks. SP

[Confederate]

the santapaola/ercolano family is cosa nostra, and the biggest family in catania; the mazzei family is also cosa nostra, there are also two families based in caltagirone and ramacca; the cappello/pillera family was absorded by cosa nostra in the latest years but it answers to palermo; the laudani is a branch of the santapaola's; the cursoti clan is not part of cosa nostra

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

the santapaola/ercolano family is cosa nostra, and the biggest family in catania; the mazzei family is also cosa nostra, there are also two families based in caltagirone and ramacca; the cappello/pillera family was absorded by cosa nostra in the latest years but it answers to palermo; the laudani is a branch of the santapaola's; the cursoti clan is not part of cosa nostra

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

Exactly brother. Just one more reason why I was confused by thier
posts. As you stated, and as I've always understood, the individual clans are 'Sicilian Mafia'.
I don't understand 'absorption'. Now if there are small upstart clans or groups that buck the
local established clans, I guess that might make sense. But even the upstarts are still mafia?
Correct?

[Dwalin2014]

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

I don't think so, the Sicilian mafia is also referred to as Cosa Nostra in Italy, both by law enforcement and the mafiosi themselves.

[Confederate]

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

I don't think so, the Sicilian mafia is also referred to as Cosa Nostra in Italy, both by law enforcement and the mafiosi themselves.

Well, okay. Then go ahead and keep using the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafia Clans and you will get some more confusion at times between the American Cosa Nostra and the Sicilian Mafia.

[Dwalin2014]

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

I don't think so, the Sicilian mafia is also referred to as Cosa Nostra in Italy, both by law enforcement and the mafiosi themselves.

Well, okay. Then go ahead and keep using the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafia Clans and you will get some more confusion at times between the American Cosa Nostra and the Sicilian Mafia.

If it's just to distinguish between the 2 organizations and to avoid confusion, ok, I misunderstood then. I thought you were saying that "Cosa Nostra" is a term correctly applied to the American mafia only.

[Confederate]

The "Cosa Nostra" is the American Mafia. All the small Sicilian Clans Constitute the "Sicilian Mafia". Two different Organizations. personally, I would not use the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafian Clans.

I don't think so, the Sicilian mafia is also referred to as Cosa Nostra in Italy, both by law enforcement and the mafiosi themselves.

Well, okay. Then go ahead and keep using the term "Cosa Nostra" when referring to the Sicilian Mafia Clans and you will get some more confusion at times between the American Cosa Nostra and the Sicilian Mafia.

If it's just to distinguish between the 2 organizations and to avoid confusion, ok, I misunderstood then. I thought you were saying that "Cosa Nostra" is a term correctly applied to the American mafia only.

Yes, my statement was to distinguish the two Organizations from each other to avoid confusion.

[B.]

The Sicilian and American groups were initially the same and there is reason to believe some groups or at least individuals in those groups still recognize each other when the right protocol is taken. Read some of Felice's posts on the Gambino Sicilian faction for modern examples of this. Also check out my thread with Frank Scalise's letters to Sicilian mafia leaders -- it's clear as of the 1950s there was mutual recognition. Definitely not a black and white issue but the grey area is there and it's fascinating.

As for Catania, I can't recommend Calderone's book enough. As someone who isn't super knowledgeable on the Sicilian mafia, this book is an excellent primer and breaks down the true nature of the mafia, Cosa Nostra, whatever you want to call it better than virtually any book I've read, including some of the classic American mafia books by high-ranking CWs. An absolute must read for anyone into this stuff.

[johnny_scootch]

I don't understand 'absorption'.

There were/are groups of criminals in Sicily who are not affiliated with the mafia and have even been there enemy in the past. From Calderone's book mafia members considered themselves above these bands of petty criminals (Laudani, Cursoti, Pillera) who engaged in crime mafiosi considered beneath them (pick pockets, pimps, con men)


I'm guessing by absorption he means that a mafia family made some or all of the members of one of these groups. Crazy to think but its almost like the Hells Angels patching over a smaller biker gang.

[Confederate]

I don't understand 'absorption'.

There were/are groups of criminals in Sicily who are not affiliated with the mafia and have even been there enemy in the past. From Calderone's book mafia members considered themselves above these bands of petty criminals (Laudani, Cursoti, Pillera) who engaged in crime mafiosi considered beneath them (pick pockets, pimps, con men)


I'm guessing by absorption he means that a mafia family made some or all of the members of one of these groups. Crazy to think but its almost like the Hells Angels patching over a smaller biker gang.

Maybe one or two members from a real small clan married somebody's relative from a larger clan and they took the smaller clan men in with them. Who knows? You know how the Sicilians are, they are very "clannish". lol

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

I don't understand 'absorption'.

There were/are groups of criminals in Sicily who are not affiliated with the mafia and have even been there enemy in the past. From Calderone's book mafia members considered themselves above these bands of petty criminals (Laudani, Cursoti, Pillera) who engaged in crime mafiosi considered beneath them (pick pockets, pimps, con men)


I'm guessing by absorption he means that a mafia family made some or all of the members of one of these groups. Crazy to think but its almost like the Hells Angels patching over a smaller biker gang.

10/4 johnny scootch. that makes sense. thanks for the info.

[scagghiuni]

There were/are groups of criminals in Sicily who are not affiliated with the mafia and have even been there enemy in the past. From Calderone's book mafia members considered themselves above these bands of petty criminals (Laudani, Cursoti, Pillera) who engaged in crime mafiosi considered beneath them (pick pockets, pimps, con men)


I'm guessing by absorption he means that a mafia family made some or all of the members of one of these groups. Crazy to think but its almost like the Hells Angels patching over a smaller biker gang.

exactly, cosa nostra sometimes absorbes some criminal group in order to control it better, it's what they did with the cappello/pillera clan, the mafia from palermo made them in order to have somebody to represent them in catania, withouth the intermediation of the santapaola family
it's what the santapaola family did with the pulvirenti clan in 1990s, they made all them, about 40 people
in sicily there is also the stidda, but it was part of cosa nostra in the past, same rituals and ranks, but they rebelled against corleonesi, and today it was absorbed by cosa nostra almost entirely