1965 FBI-RCMP communication re: Montreal Bonanno membership

[Lupara]

I also have a question about Giuseppe Settecasi. It says in the report that he is the boss of Leo Caruana. Is it true ? I always thought that the Caruana-Cuntrera clan was independent and my knowledge about LCN Italy is quite poor

settecasi was the provincial boss of cosa nostra in the province of agrigento, leonardo caruana was the boss of siculiana family (killed in the early 1980s by the corleonesi) so yeah, caruana was under him
caruana-cuntrera are an independent family but not all members, some are members of other families, like agostino cuntrera in montreal for example

It's the Family and the family thing.

[CabriniGreen]

I have just finished reading the first part of the CECO report. Two points concerning the Crew's membership seemed interesting to me. I attach each time a photo for each example (no panic, I will translate;))

The first point concerns Nicola DiIorio



Translation: [At the end of 1973 or in early 1974, the commission heard from two political organizers, Jean-Jacques Coté and René Gagnon, about the approaches they were subjected to by two members influential members of the Cotroni-Violi Clan, Nicola DiIorio & Frank Dasti. It is clear that DiIorio was a big character. According to Gagnon, he exercised real leadership over his companion Dasti, who was silent and faded during the discussions.]

If we take into account the fact that Dasti is often shown as a member of the Bonanno family, there is no doubt that DiIlorio is too. This sounds obvious, but DiIorio is not often mentioned when talking about the Montreal crew.

The second point concerns Joe DiMaulo. We often talk about him on the Rizzuto era, but from what I've read, it seems obvious to me that he is a member at least since the early 1970s.

* Note: I cut the first passage where it is said that a member of the Gambino family (John DeMatteo) contacts Violi to go to New York to elect a new Boss for the Bonanno family



Translation: [On October 23, Violi informed Cotroni that business had to be settled before he left for NY.
On November 6, Rastelli contacted Violi to ask him to meet him at the Americana hotel with Frank Cotroni. The next day Violi met Vic at Reggio Bar and told him about Rusty's message. Vic told him that his brother was not quite a man "because he was too closely watched by the police"
On November 9, Violi had an interview with DiMaulo. The latter mentioned that they would go to NY. The two got to know what to do if one of them was intercepted by the police and could not go to the meeting. DiMaulo left the next day by car in the early afternoon accompanied by his brother Raynald Desjardin and Robert Théoret (note: this is the first time I see this name). On his side, Violi flew on Sunday morning. At the appointed hour, they met Rusty at the Americana Hotel, and two other family members, Joseph Buccelatto & Nicky Marangello. FBI agents testified before the commission and filed photographs of the meeting.]

If I take into account it seems to me logical that DiMaulo is a member, because I can not see Violi brought a simple partner to take part in the vote of a new Boss.

If I take this into account more various elements that we know the crew in the early 70's might look like this:

-Vic Cotroni
-Paolo Violi
-Nick Rizzuto
-Vincent Soccio
-Nico DiIorio
-Joe Di Maulo
-Pepe Cotroni
-Frank Cotroni
-Romeo Bucci
-Joe Cocoliccio
-Louis Grecco (died in 72)
-Frank Dasti
-Joseph Asaro (member in NY but on the run in Montreal)

Possible members:
-Angelo Lanzo who is widely mentioned in the report
-Calogero Renda not mentioned in the report but in photo with other members of Bonanno but in photo in the book with other "stars" of the family, like Alfano & Buttafuoco (to see the photo here is http: //theblackhand.club/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=4687). I also think I remember that he mentioned in the book the sixth family. As Chris Christie who mentions it in one of these fabulous charts

I also have a question about Giuseppe Settecasi. It says in the report that he is the boss of Leo Caruana. Is it true ? I always thought that the Caruana-Cuntrera clan was independent and my knowledge about LCN Italy is quite poor

Small bonus, I attach a picture of DiIorio

On the question of Settacasi.... The way I understood it, Settacasi was boss of the Agrigento madamento, and the Caruana- Cuntreras were bosses of the Siculiana family, which was under the Agrigento madamento...

So he was within the Sicilian mafia structure Leonardo Caruanas superior, I guess....

[scagghiuni]

On the question of Settacasi.... The way I understood it, Settacasi was boss of the Agrigento madamento, and the Caruana- Cuntreras were bosses of the Siculiana family, which was under the Agrigento madamento...

So he was within the Sicilian mafia structure Leonardo Caruanas superior, I guess....

settecasi was the capomandamento of alessandria della rocca and the provincial boss of agrigento, a sort of boss of bosses in that province, caruana was the capomandamento of siculiana and the provincial underboss, so under settecasi, they were both killed by corleonesi in 1981

[CabriniGreen]

On the question of Settacasi.... The way I understood it, Settacasi was boss of the Agrigento madamento, and the Caruana- Cuntreras were bosses of the Siculiana family, which was under the Agrigento madamento...

So he was within the Sicilian mafia structure Leonardo Caruanas superior, I guess....

settecasi was the capomandamento of alessandria della rocca and the provincial boss of agrigento, a sort of boss of bosses in that province, caruana was the capomandamento of siculiana and the provincial underboss, so under settecasi, they were both killed by corleonesi in 1981

Great stuff my man, Mr. Sicily .....

[motorfab]

Thank you guys for clarifying this

[B.]

Excellent post, motorfab.

JD discovered that the elder Vito Rizzuto murdered in the 1930s had been associated with Nick Alfano in NYC and presumably Calogero Renda was as well given the photo you shared. So the involvement of the Rizzutos and Rendas in the Bonanno family appears to go back further and deeper than them simply moving to Montreal.

Most Cattolicensi were members/associates of the Bonannos in both NYC and Canada but we also have Sebastiano Nani of the Gambino family, whose mother was a Renda, as well as Buffalo member Pasquale Sciortino, whose surname connects to the Rizzuto crowd as well.

An earlier FBI report from the early 1970s identified Rastelli and Marangello as the official liaisons between the Bonanno family and the Montreal crew, so there was an existing relationship to those two on top of Rastelli and Marangello being new family leaders by 1974.

--

If Di Maulo was made by the early 70s he must've been made in the 60s when he was very young. It's possible this happened during the Bonanno war when Montreal was temporarily given more independence which may have included the ability to induct new members. Otherwise I think Di Maulo was made in the mid 70s just before the war broke out between Violi and Rizzuto. Information about Di Maulo in the late 70s strongly indicate he was a made member. But in the early 70s Violi requested Rastelli to induct new members but was specifically told it wasn't possible at the time.

Haven't seen any indications that Montreal inducted members on its own during the Bonanno war, but conversations on the Magaddino and DeCavalcante tapes and other context suggest that Joe Bonanno directed Montreal to induct more than their allotted 10 sometime after the NYC books were closed and before the conflict started. It's likely that Violi was one of the members inducted during this period.

I believe Laurentian or Antimafia posted about DiMaulo some years back and made some good points, re: his membership in the early 1970s. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but one of them believed there were indications that DiMaulo was not yet a made member and may have been there to familiarize him with the Bonanno leadership prior to induction.

--

I've wondered myself what the Sicilian element was like in early Montreal prior to the arrival of the Agrigento group(s). It's hard for me to believe that Carmine Galante simply walked into Montreal and recruited all of the prominent mainland Italians without some existing "in". Maranzano's connections and Bonanno's 1938 visit, in addition to Bonanno's investment in Montreal businesses and attempt to establish Canadian residency suggest that there may have been more history than we know about.

There were Buccellatos and other Castellammaresi in Ontario with ties to the Castellammaresi in Buffalo/NF, and we have both Maranzano and Montagna with relatives in Quebec generations apart. Pietro Scarcella in Ontario was from CDG and his exact affiliation hasn't been made totally clear to me.

[scagghiuni]

There were Buccellatos and other Castellammaresi in Ontario with ties to the Castellammaresi in Buffalo/NF, and we have both Maranzano and Montagna with relatives in Quebec generations apart. Pietro Scarcella in Ontario was from CDG and his exact affiliation hasn't been made totally clear to me.

the man scarcella tried to kill in canada (michele modica) is a member of the same mandamento of the scaduto brothers who killed pimental and joe bravo in sicily, the order came from vito rizzuto

[Lupara]

I believe Laurentian or Antimafia posted about DiMaulo some years back and made some good points, re: his membership in the early 1970s. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but one of them believed there were indications that DiMaulo was not yet a made member and may have been there to familiarize him with the Bonanno leadership prior to induction.

It was me who said that. I believe it was in a similar thread you started about Montreal membership. In that same debate Laurentian believed Di Maulo was already made because he attended the vote for Rastelli (but did he?). I thought Violi brought Di Maulo with him to introduce him and propose him for membership when the books would open. If so, I think Di Maulo would then have been made in '76. I doubt there were any ceremonies held during the power shift in the late 70s. Vito and Renda would've probably been made afterwards.

I think the new generation of guys made in Montreal were Di Maulo, Vito Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Giuseppe Lo Presti, Agostino Cuntrera, Moreno Gallo, Valentino Morielli, Emanuele Ragusa and Domenico Arcuri.

[B.]

I believe Laurentian or Antimafia posted about DiMaulo some years back and made some good points, re: his membership in the early 1970s. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but one of them believed there were indications that DiMaulo was not yet a made member and may have been there to familiarize him with the Bonanno leadership prior to induction.

It was me who said that. I believe it was in a similar thread you started about Montreal membership. In that same debate Laurentian believed Di Maulo was already made because he attended the vote for Rastelli (but did he?). I thought Violi brought Di Maulo with him to introduce him and propose him for membership when the books would open. If so, I think Di Maulo would then have been made in '76. I doubt there were any ceremonies held during the power shift in the late 70s. Vito and Renda would've probably been made afterwards.

I think the new generation of guys made in Montreal were Di Maulo, Vito Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Giuseppe Lo Presti, Agostino Cuntrera, Moreno Gallo, Valentino Morielli, Emanuele Ragusa and Domenico Arcuri.

Ah, I'm giving your own theories back to you in that case, ha. I would guess DiMaulo was made after the books opened in the 1970s, as even if those unapproved inductions happened in the early 1960s he would have been incredibly young unless there is a relation or other connection.

[Lupara]

I believe Laurentian or Antimafia posted about DiMaulo some years back and made some good points, re: his membership in the early 1970s. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but one of them believed there were indications that DiMaulo was not yet a made member and may have been there to familiarize him with the Bonanno leadership prior to induction.

It was me who said that. I believe it was in a similar thread you started about Montreal membership. In that same debate Laurentian believed Di Maulo was already made because he attended the vote for Rastelli (but did he?). I thought Violi brought Di Maulo with him to introduce him and propose him for membership when the books would open. If so, I think Di Maulo would then have been made in '76. I doubt there were any ceremonies held during the power shift in the late 70s. Vito and Renda would've probably been made afterwards.

I think the new generation of guys made in Montreal were Di Maulo, Vito Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Giuseppe Lo Presti, Agostino Cuntrera, Moreno Gallo, Valentino Morielli, Emanuele Ragusa and Domenico Arcuri.

Ah, I'm giving your own theories back to you in that case, ha. I would guess DiMaulo was made after the books opened in the 1970s, as even if those unapproved inductions happened in the early 1960s he would have been incredibly young unless there is a relation or other connection.

I agree. It makes little sense that Violi asked for permission to make new guys and was told he needed to wait if they made guys nevertheless in the years before. But in early mid 60s when Cotroni became capo and with less supervision from the Bonannos in New York it might be possible. I also think Violi was probably made then. When would he otherwise? He certainly was made before 1972 so he is already an example of being "sneaked in" during Joe's tenure. Then when he was ousted, the new bosses obliged to the rules imposed by the Commision such as the books being closed. So either Di Maulo was somehow made in the mid or late 60s or otherwisw it would be after in the mid 70s. Antimafia stated Nicolo Rizzuto installed Di Maulo to act in his interest in the late 70s and Di Maulo had a crew of his own at the time. It's confusing and Di Maulo has always been somewhat of a mysterious figure.

Would love to have some intake from Laurentian and Antimafia concerning Violi and Di Maulo's induction timelines.

[Lupara]

I believe Laurentian or Antimafia posted about DiMaulo some years back and made some good points, re: his membership in the early 1970s. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but one of them believed there were indications that DiMaulo was not yet a made member and may have been there to familiarize him with the Bonanno leadership prior to induction.

It was me who said that. I believe it was in a similar thread you started about Montreal membership. In that same debate Laurentian believed Di Maulo was already made because he attended the vote for Rastelli (but did he?). I thought Violi brought Di Maulo with him to introduce him and propose him for membership when the books would open. If so, I think Di Maulo would then have been made in '76. I doubt there were any ceremonies held during the power shift in the late 70s. Vito and Renda would've probably been made afterwards.

I think the new generation of guys made in Montreal were Di Maulo, Vito Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Giuseppe Lo Presti, Agostino Cuntrera, Moreno Gallo, Valentino Morielli, Emanuele Ragusa and Domenico Arcuri.

Ah, I'm giving your own theories back to you in that case, ha. I would guess DiMaulo was made after the books opened in the 1970s, as even if those unapproved inductions happened in the early 1960s he would have been incredibly young unless there is a relation or other connection.

No worries. [emoji2]

I agree. It makes little sense that Violi asked for permission to make new guys and was told he needed to wait if they made guys nevertheless in the years before. But in early mid 60s when Cotroni became capo and with less supervision from the Bonannos in New York it might be possible. I also think Violi was probably made then. When would he otherwise? He certainly was made before 1972 so he is already an example of being "sneaked in" during Joe's tenure. Then when he was ousted, the new bosses obliged to the rules imposed by the Commision such as the books being closed. So either Di Maulo was somehow made in the mid or late 60s or otherwise it would be later on in the mid 70s. Antimafia stated Nicolo Rizzuto installed Di Maulo to act in his interest in the late 70s and Di Maulo had a crew of his own at the time. It's confusing and Di Maulo has always been somewhat of a mysterious figure.

Would love to have some intake from Laurentian and Antimafia concerning Violi and Di Maulo's induction timelines.

[antimafia]

I also have a question about Giuseppe Settecasi. It says in the report that he is the boss of Leo Caruana. Is it true ? I always thought that the Caruana-Cuntrera clan was independent and my knowledge about LCN Italy is quite poor

settecasi was the provincial boss of cosa nostra in the province of agrigento, leonardo caruana was the boss of siculiana family (killed in the early 1980s by the corleonesi) so yeah, caruana was under him
caruana-cuntrera are an independent family but not all members, some are members of other families, like agostino cuntrera in montreal for example

Like you, felice also believes that Agostino Cuntrera is an example of someone who was not a member of the Caruana-Cuntrera Family. On the RealDeal, felice indicated that Cuntrera "was made in montreal by vito rizzuto." Do you have any details about when Cuntrera was made? into which Family?

Is there a possibility that Agostino transferred from the Caruana-Cuntrera Family to the Bonanno Family? Because there is at least one example in the early 1970s of a Sicilian Cosa Nostra member temporarily transferring to Vic Cotroni's decina -- this nomadic member is one of the issues discussed in the Reggio Bar tapes -- and of course there is reason to believe that Nick Rizzuto transferred back and forth, based on information provided by Gennaro Scaletta, who was an associate to both Rizzuto and Cuntrera.

Below is what I wrote over at http://www.theblackhand.club/forum/view ... ino#p97723.

Recall that early on in Nicaso and Lamothe’s 2002 Bloodlines book, Agostino Cuntrera is described in a sidebar on p. 2 as follows:

Agostino “Dino” Cuntrera (b. 1944) is a resident of Montreal, Quebec. He is variously described as the number-one member of the Caruana-Cuntrera in Montreal, or as the number-two man in the city, operating under Mafia godfather Nicolò Rizzuto.

In Renaud’s 2016 book, Cellule 8002 vs mafia, Cuntrera is identifed by Renaud as a made man in the Caruana-Cuntrera clan (p. 235) (I added the copy "[Paolo]" below for clarification):

À la suite de la disparition de [Paolo] Renda, Agostino Cuntrera, homme d’honneur et membre de la famille sicilienne des Caruana-Cuntrera –- une alliée indéfectible des Rizzuto –-, devient le nouveau chef du clan, mais pas nécessairement parce qu’il en a envie.

Incidentally, in the same book, Renaud lists Cuntrera as a (brief) leader of the Montreal Mafia, holding the "title" (my quotation marks) for June 2010. (insert following p. 36)

[scagghiuni]

Like you, felice also believes that Agostino Cuntrera is an example of someone who was not a member of the Caruana-Cuntrera Family. On the RealDeal, felice indicated that Cuntrera "was made in montreal by vito rizzuto." Do you have any details about when Cuntrera was made? into which Family?

Is there a possibility that Agostino transferred from the Caruana-Cuntrera Family to the Bonanno Family? Because there is at least one example in the early 1970s of a Sicilian Cosa Nostra member temporarily transferring to Vic Cotroni's decina -- this nomadic member is one of the issues discussed in the Reggio Bar tapes -- and of course there is reason to believe that Nick Rizzuto transferred back and forth, based on information provided by Gennaro Scaletta, who was an associate to both Rizzuto and Cuntrera.

Below is what I wrote over at http://www.theblackhand.club/forum/view ... ino#p97723.

i think agostino cuntrera was made in montreal by the bonanno's... the caruana-cuntrera were authorized by the sicilian mafia commission to form a family abroad, it was based in venezuela at first, riina pretended they had to sent tributes to sicily because they were subservient to the cupola according to him,he ordered to kill leonardo caruana in the early '80 and later he planned to kill alfonso caruana
i think the cosa nostra family based in venezuela is still active like a turncoat said 10 years ago, and several mafia fugitives arrested there, messina denaro invested millions although the local political crisis

[CabriniGreen]

Like you, felice also believes that Agostino Cuntrera is an example of someone who was not a member of the Caruana-Cuntrera Family. On the RealDeal, felice indicated that Cuntrera "was made in montreal by vito rizzuto." Do you have any details about when Cuntrera was made? into which Family?

Is there a possibility that Agostino transferred from the Caruana-Cuntrera Family to the Bonanno Family? Because there is at least one example in the early 1970s of a Sicilian Cosa Nostra member temporarily transferring to Vic Cotroni's decina -- this nomadic member is one of the issues discussed in the Reggio Bar tapes -- and of course there is reason to believe that Nick Rizzuto transferred back and forth, based on information provided by Gennaro Scaletta, who was an associate to both Rizzuto and Cuntrera.

Below is what I wrote over at http://www.theblackhand.club/forum/view ... ino#p97723.

i think agostino cuntrera was made in montreal by the bonanno's... the caruana-cuntrera were authorized by the sicilian mafia commission to form a family abroad, it was based in venezuela at first, riina pretended they had to sent tributes to sicily because they were subservient to the cupola according to him,he ordered to kill leonardo caruana in the early '80 and later he planned to kill alfonso caruana
i think the cosa nostra family based in venezuela is still active like a turncoat said 10 years ago, and several mafia fugitives arrested there, messina denaro invested millions although the local political crisis

Well, that's always been the crux of the argument to me......

Bonnanos or Cupola? Where did the loyalty lie?
At one point, the Caruanas had a boss in Sicily, the Provincial boss ( Settacasi) as a strong ally, the family in Venezuela, and the Clan in Canada. The whole chain, basically.

They had a lock on all points, except who moves the stuff in the streets. (And even then, there were sicilians doing that as well).....This is where NY came in... imo... the Bonnanos I mean... like when you read about Rastellis crew of "80 guys, all moving junk"......


I've never been able to buy into the idea that their authority trumps all... they didnt control the Madamento in Sicily ( contrast with the influence the Gambinos have in Passo di Rigano and by extension the new Dome, or whatever...), or the Cupola or the Family in Venezuela, and Rizzuto basically had a renegade crew, I dont think NY picked his guys like that.....

It's why the relations between the Inzerillos and Gambinos are FASCINATING to me..

Like I REALLY believe the Rizzutos at the very least THOUGHT, they had a similar type relationship with the Bonnanos as the Inzerillos had with the Gambinos.

The MAJOR difference is there isnt the deep family ties like the Gambinos have....

Sorry fellas had to get that out.. I wont waste any more time... carry on.... dont let this get derailed...

[scagghiuni]

Well, that's always been the crux of the argument to me......

Bonnanos or Cupola? Where did the loyalty lie?
At one point, the Caruanas had a boss in Sicily, the Provincial boss ( Settacasi) as a strong ally, the family in Venezuela, and the Clan in Canada. The whole chain, basically.

They had a lock on all points, except who moves the stuff in the streets. (And even then, there were sicilians doing that as well).....This is where NY came in... imo... the Bonnanos I mean... like when you read about Rastellis crew of "80 guys, all moving junk"......


I've never been able to buy into the idea that their authority trumps all... they didnt control the Madamento in Sicily ( contrast with the influence the Gambinos have in Passo di Rigano and by extension the new Dome, or whatever...), or the Cupola or the Family in Venezuela, and Rizzuto basically had a renegade crew, I dont think NY picked his guys like that.....

It's why the relations between the Inzerillos and Gambinos are FASCINATING to me..

Like I REALLY believe the Rizzutos at the very least THOUGHT, they had a similar type relationship with the Bonnanos as the Inzerillos had with the Gambinos.

The MAJOR difference is there isnt the deep family ties like the Gambinos have....

Sorry fellas had to get that out.. I wont waste any more time... carry on.... dont let this get derailed...

the caruana-cuntrera seems to lose the influence they used to be over cocaine trafficking after the operation 'cartagine' when italian police seized almost 6 tons in north italy in 1994 imported by them... in the previous years cosa nostra was the dominant force in cocaine trafficking in italy/europe because of the links with cali and medellin cartels, it owned even refineries all across north italy led by the fidanzati clan, when these cartels were dismantled they lost that position, but of course also because of the huge pressure of government in italy after the slaughters done by corleonesi
in colombia the dominant forces are the paramilitary groups now (farc/auc/eln) and ndrangheta has the biggest links to them