When (and how) the gangs of Rocca di Neto found America

[furiofromnaples]

https://news.italy24.press/local/299867.html

When (and how) the gangs of Rocca di Neto found America

CATANZARO It all began in March 2020, when the Central Operations Service received some reports from the FBI in New York. The Americans report a name they are investigating: Teodoro Matozzo, 65, known as Terry, originally from Satriano, described as a «prominent exponent of American organized crime, believed to be closely linked to the well-known “Gambino” and “Colombo” families of “La Cosa Nostra “American”. According to overseas investigators, Matozzo is allegedly dedicated to drug trafficking, the laundering of precious metals and the management of clandestine gambling.
Not only.
The New York investigators underline suspicious activities that a certain Ernesto Toscano, 56, from Rocca di Neto, would have carried out on behalf of Matozzo between America and Italy. The investigations by the FBI in New York lead to a small town in the Crotone area, Rocca di Neto, where Toscano would have sent his fellow citizen Ennio Lerose «to make direct contact with his uncles Pietro Corigliano and Martino Corigliano, so as to convince them to intervene in the implementation of a serious extortion against a Manhattan businessman».
The Coriglianos – it is written in the information of almost 1500 pages ended up on the desks of the prosecutor Nicola Gratteri and the deputies Domenico Guarascio and Paolo Sirleo – would have accepted the proposal and would have immediately done their utmost to entrust some associates, already established in New York, with the extortion . This is the American side of an investigation which led the Catanzaro DDA to arrest 18 people on 19 December. However, subjects not paid attention to by the detention but very attentive to the investigations by American investigators also ended up in the report.

Successful assignment and request for new “services”

According to the investigators, Toscano, given his movements in Italy and the restart for the United States, presumably “entrusted the criminal assignment to his friend Ennio Lerose during the first ten days of August 2019, since, as has been ascertained , on the 12th he left the United States to go to Italy, followed on the 24th by Lerose himself».
The criminal action commissioned by Teodoro Matozzo would have had a successful outcome on December 10, 2019, so much so that «Matozzo would have instructed the Calabrian criminal group to provide him with similar “services”, to be implemented against different subjects present in the State of New York».

The retreat of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans in Glen Cove

An interrogation of 12 May 2012 to the collaborator of justice Francesco Oliverio is included in the information prepared by SCO and the Crotone mobile squad, regarding the deadly ambush carried out against Francesco Iona on 9 October 1999. Oliverio specifies that two of the creators of the ambush “they had decided to go to the United States a few days before the action, so as to create an alibi for the murder”.
The investigators note that «The expedient devised by the two associates to provide a possible plausible justification to the investigators is undoubtedly justified in the fact that numerous exponents of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans have moved to the United States of America for several years, and precisely to Glen Covein the State of New York, where a real Calabrian colony would seem to exist».
In the same territory lives the Iona family. The collaborator of justice Francesco Tornicchio, from Belvedere Spinello, states “that his clan had long been allied with the “Iona” families of Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto”. Tornicchio also reports «on the vast “patrimony” that the “Iona” family had managed to accumulate in the United States, especially Antonio Iona with various properties in the commercial sector: “For my direct knowledge, the Iona family has a considerable in the United States (Antonio Iona owns supermarkets and shopping centers in the United States)”.

Follow the money

The American investigators follow the money and discover that between December 2016 and October 2017 there had been “suspicious transactions carried out by Ernesto Toscano at the check exchange agency “Sabrina’s Check Cashing Inc.”, located in Hempsteadal”. Particularly, Toscano had changed 33 checks for a total of 780,424.25 dollars (about 670 thousand euros) into cash. Checks issued by the construction company “Roccaway Construction Corp.” of Massimiliano Guarascio (a subject residing a few meters from Antonio Iona), in favor of the company “M&E Construction”, attributable to Toscano. Non-banking operations that had cost around 15 thousand euros in taxes and services.
In 2019, FBI agents traced similar suspicious operations, still in the same Hempsteadal agency, carried out by Ennio Lerose and Antonio Iona. Lerose had changed multiple checks for a total of 1,168,879 dollars (about one million euros). Iona had changed several securities for an amount of 797,268 dollars (approximately 675,000 euros). Both, for these operations, had spent the equivalent of 22 thousand euros.
According to investigators, there is a “clear contrast” between the $670,000 in revenues for the year 2019 indicated by the Iona firm and the foreign exchange operations carried out by the same.
The report drawn up with the support of the SCO, Squadra Mobile and FBI would reveal “a dense network of contacts which, thanks also to the development of the telephone records of the users used by the Italian suspects, has made it possible to prefigure a graphic scheme of direct relationships and relationships of contiguity between the criminal group headed by Teodoro Matozzo, the members of the “Iona” family present in America and the leaders of the “Corigliano” clan of Rocca di Neto».
And as regards the agency to which Toscano, Lerose and Iona turned, the investigators note: «According to what is reported, although they operate in full legality, the “cheque exchange” agencies are often used by criminal groups to launder the proceeds of its illicit activities, even in the face of fleeting and generic money tracing procedures, released from the control systems of the American Central Bank”.

The “Calabrian manpower” at Matozzo’s disposal

The interceptions charged to Ernesto Toscano would have brought out the “method” of Matozzo which would have usually use of «Calabrian subjects to be employed in unspecified activities, certainly including “illegal” work, in various areas of the State of New York». Toscano, intercepted, explains how the system worked: the Calabrians, after the release of an Esta certificate for tourism (Electronic System for Travel Authorization, electronic system for the authorization to travel without a visa, issued by the Government of the United States) would have remained for a three month stay. And their “services” would have yielded even 5,000 euros a month.
«A channel of “work” – write the investigators – undoubtedly profitable, for which Matozzo did not require his “boys” to have any specific competence, other than that of adopting the utmost discretion towards environments outside the context”.
Ernesto Toscano, unaware of being intercepted, “discussed this flourishing prospect with various friends and acquaintances, to some of whom – specifying that they already possessed the necessary travel documents to return to New York – he envisaged the possibility of following him to America . A reality that he boasted of knowing very well, thanks also to the particular adherence he enjoyed through Matozzo and Ennio Lerose ».
“‘Now that they’re starting to run out a bit… [con il denaro] – says Toscano – I take it again… I go to America when I have to buy something… last time I had to buy a car… without financing and nothing… in three months you make fifteen thousand euros!”, “I got off [ovvero, sono tornato in Calabria] and I bought the car!”».

[johnny_scootch]

The retreat of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans in Glen Cove

The investigators note that «The expedient devised by the two associates to provide a possible plausible justification to the investigators is undoubtedly justified in the fact that numerous exponents of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans have moved to the United States of America for several years, and precisely to Glen Cove in the State of New York, where a real Calabrian colony would seem to exist».
In the same territory lives the Iona family. The collaborator of justice Francesco Tornicchio, from Belvedere Spinello, states “that his clan had long been allied with the “Iona” families of Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto”. Tornicchio also reports «on the vast “patrimony” that the “Iona” family had managed to accumulate in the United States, especially Antonio Iona with various properties in the commercial sector: “For my direct knowledge, the Iona family has a considerable in the United States (Antonio Iona owns supermarkets and shopping centers in the United States)”.

Very interesting, maybe these were the Ndrangheta guys that Pennisi mentioned he met at a restaurant on Long Island.

[CabriniGreen]

The retreat of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans in Glen Cove

The investigators note that «The expedient devised by the two associates to provide a possible plausible justification to the investigators is undoubtedly justified in the fact that numerous exponents of the Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto clans have moved to the United States of America for several years, and precisely to Glen Cove in the State of New York, where a real Calabrian colony would seem to exist».
In the same territory lives the Iona family. The collaborator of justice Francesco Tornicchio, from Belvedere Spinello, states “that his clan had long been allied with the “Iona” families of Belvedere di Spinello and Rocca di Neto”. Tornicchio also reports «on the vast “patrimony” that the “Iona” family had managed to accumulate in the United States, especially Antonio Iona with various properties in the commercial sector: “For my direct knowledge, the Iona family has a considerable in the United States (Antonio Iona owns supermarkets and shopping centers in the United States)”.

Very interesting, maybe these were the Ndrangheta guys that Pennisi mentioned he met at a restaurant on Long Island.

Lol.. I asked him that in a question.... one of the videos where he asked people for questions.

It's a good question, I thought. But maybe they are too active for him to feel comfortable speaking on.....

[CabriniGreen]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

[scagghiuni]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

"bastarda" is the equivalent of Stidda in Calabria

[PolackTony]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

My understanding is that the Corigliano-Comito of Rocca di Neto is a legitimate/recognized ‘ndrina under the locale of Belvedere di Spinello. The Iona are an ‘ndrina based in Belvedere and thus under the same locale as Rocca di Neto. The Belvedere di Spinello locale was apparently dissolved from the 1980s until 2005, but at least since then I believe that these ‘ndrine there are recognized. While the exact ties between the locali in Crotone and Reggio are not totally clear to me, it is my understanding that the system in Crotone is recognized by the mammasantissima in San Luca (someone correct me if I’m wrong about this).

Now, who knows if all of these guys operating in NY from these places are actually recognized. If there is an “organization” operating in Nassau County, of example, it may not have formal recognition as such even if some of the men in its network have connections to the Belvedere di Spinello locale.

The December/January operation (involving FBI along with Italian LE) targeting Belvedere di Spinello revealed some interesting pentitti, who might hopefully clear some of these questions up. In particular, they have Francesco Oliverio, former capo locale of Belvedere di Spinello. At least from some of the info attributed to him in press coverage that I’ve seen, some portion of the operations in NY would seem to have been under the control or direction of the organization back in Belvedere/Rocca di Neto (though, again, I don’t pretend to really know what’s going on with this and hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong).

https://www.iacchite.blog/supermercati- ... -spinello/

[furiofromnaples]

https://calabria.gazzettadelsud.it/arti ... 5a8e4924c/


Extortion, drugs, weapons and "business" in New York: 33 suspects of the Rocca di Neto gang are accused
The investigation into the Corigliano clan has closed

by Antonio Morello

April 15, 2023

Mafia association, drug trafficking, drug dealing, extortion and weapons. These are the allegations contained in the notice of investigation conclusions that the Catanzaro DDA notified to the 33 people involved in the investigation against the Corigliano-Comito gang of Rocca di Neto.
Among those accused are, among others, the alleged head of the Rocchisano clan Pietro Corigliano and the Papanice boss Mico Megna who is under investigation at large. With the raid started on 19 December 2022 with 18 arrests carried out by the Crotone Flying Squad, the prosecutors Paolo Sirleo and Domenico Guarascio said they were convinced that they had dismantled the 'ndrina of Rocca di Neto which would have been capable of extending its "tentacles" up to the United States. The investigations, in fact, began in March 2020 following an FBI report on the alleged extortion that some members of the Neto Valley criminal organization allegedly carried out against premises in Manhattan in New York.

The 33 suspects:
Domenico Barbaro
Rosario Barberio
Fortunato Barone
Salvatore Benincasa
Michele Bernardi
Francesco Bevilacqua
Virgilio Antonio Bruno
Francesco Comito
Martino Comito
Michele Antonio Comito (b.1963)
Michele Antonio Comito Salvatore Comito
Umberto Comito
Luigi Corigliano (b.1995)
Luigi Corigliano
Martino Corigliano
Pietro Corigliano
Patrizia Cundari
Alessandro Curto
Antonio Curto
Antonio Donato
Luca Frustillo
Mario Vito Funaro
Mattia Lagani
Raffaele Lagani
Donatello Mancuso
Pietro Marangolo
Pantaleone Marino
Mico Megna
Antonio Piperato
Gabriele Stefanizzi
Daniele Tallarico
Giuseppe Martino Zito.

[OcSleeper]

Here's the original post on this from page 2 on with some additional details.
viewtopic.php?t=9200&hilit=Teodoro+Matozzo&start=15

[CabriniGreen]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

My understanding is that the Corigliano-Comito of Rocca di Neto is a legitimate/recognized ‘ndrina under the locale of Belvedere di Spinello. The Iona are an ‘ndrina based in Belvedere and thus under the same locale as Rocca di Neto. The Belvedere di Spinello locale was apparently dissolved from the 1980s until 2005, but at least since then I believe that these ‘ndrine there are recognized. While the exact ties between the locali in Crotone and Reggio are not totally clear to me, it is my understanding that the system in Crotone is recognized by the mammasantissima in San Luca (someone correct me if I’m wrong about this).

Now, who knows if all of these guys operating in NY from these places are actually recognized. If there is an “organization” operating in Nassau County, of example, it may not have formal recognition as such even if some of the men in its network have connections to the Belvedere di Spinello locale.

The December/January operation (involving FBI along with Italian LE) targeting Belvedere di Spinello revealed some interesting pentitti, who might hopefully clear some of these questions up. In particular, they have Francesco Oliverio, former capo locale of Belvedere di Spinello. At least from some of the info attributed to him in press coverage that I’ve seen, some portion of the operations in NY would seem to have been under the control or direction of the organization back in Belvedere/Rocca di Neto (though, again, I don’t pretend to really know what’s going on with this and hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong).

https://www.iacchite.blog/supermercati- ... -spinello/

Her actual response was pretty interesting..... here..

I would assume it's the usual "seeking business opportunity" https://icalabresi.it/rubriche/new-york ... sa-nostra/ - but their mafia status is highly debatable,

When you say their status is debatable, do you mean, you don't believe they have recognition from Reggio?

If so, that is pretty interesting, as there is an upcoming book on Nicolino Grande Aracri and the Ndrangheta of Crotone. It has been said that he " challenged the authority of Reggio", though in what way I have no idea.
It has also been stated thst Aracri was the #2 of Ndrangheta in Calabria, which kinda blew me away.
Not a Gio Tauro clan, not Plati, Siderno, or Vibo, or even San Luca, but a boss from Crotone. It has me VERY interested in Crotone. Also, I've been blown away that of all the clans from the most known provinces, it's Crotone that gets a presence ( either ndrine or full locale) in New York.

Where would you place Crotone in the Ndrangheta hierarchy?

It has been ascertained juridically and it's kind of a given informally, that Nicolino Grande Aracri created its own Provincia-like structure. The Crimine of Cutro was separate from Reggio and is currently moved to Cirò - nearby - under the Farao-Marincola leadership. The crimine of Cutro/cirò in the mind of Nicolino Grande Aracri encompasses the provinces of Crotone and Cosenza and Catanzaro, which is not nothing. Indeed, it's a whole other story than the 'ndrangheta in Reggio, they are very similar structures, but with no overarching strategy

So as you see... The Crimine of Cutro seems to exist in parallel to the Reggio, Vibo, Crimine.

[CabriniGreen]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

My understanding is that the Corigliano-Comito of Rocca di Neto is a legitimate/recognized ‘ndrina under the locale of Belvedere di Spinello. The Iona are an ‘ndrina based in Belvedere and thus under the same locale as Rocca di Neto. The Belvedere di Spinello locale was apparently dissolved from the 1980s until 2005, but at least since then I believe that these ‘ndrine there are recognized. While the exact ties between the locali in Crotone and Reggio are not totally clear to me, it is my understanding that the system in Crotone is recognized by the mammasantissima in San Luca (someone correct me if I’m wrong about this).

Now, who knows if all of these guys operating in NY from these places are actually recognized. If there is an “organization” operating in Nassau County, of example, it may not have formal recognition as such even if some of the men in its network have connections to the Belvedere di Spinello locale.

The December/January operation (involving FBI along with Italian LE) targeting Belvedere di Spinello revealed some interesting pentitti, who might hopefully clear some of these questions up. In particular, they have Francesco Oliverio, former capo locale of Belvedere di Spinello. At least from some of the info attributed to him in press coverage that I’ve seen, some portion of the operations in NY would seem to have been under the control or direction of the organization back in Belvedere/Rocca di Neto (though, again, I don’t pretend to really know what’s going on with this and hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong).

https://www.iacchite.blog/supermercati- ... -spinello/

Her actual response was pretty interesting..... here..

I would assume it's the usual "seeking business opportunity" https://icalabresi.it/rubriche/new-york ... sa-nostra/ - but their mafia status is highly debatable,

When you say their status is debatable, do you mean, you don't believe they have recognition from Reggio?

If so, that is pretty interesting, as there is an upcoming book on Nicolino Grande Aracri and the Ndrangheta of Crotone. It has been said that he " challenged the authority of Reggio", though in what way I have no idea.
It has also been stated thst Aracri was the #2 of Ndrangheta in Calabria, which kinda blew me away.
Not a Gio Tauro clan, not Plati, Siderno, or Vibo, or even San Luca, but a boss from Crotone. It has me VERY interested in Crotone. Also, I've been blown away that of all the clans from the most known provinces, it's Crotone that gets a presence ( either ndrine or full locale) in New York.

Where would you place Crotone in the Ndrangheta hierarchy?

It has been ascertained juridically and it's kind of a given informally, that Nicolino Grande Aracri created its own Provincia-like structure. The Crimine of Cutro was separate from Reggio and is currently moved to Cirò - nearby - under the Farao-Marincola leadership. The crimine of Cutro/cirò in the mind of Nicolino Grande Aracri encompasses the provinces of Crotone and Cosenza and Catanzaro, which is not nothing. Indeed, it's a whole other story than the 'ndrangheta in Reggio, they are very similar structures, but with no overarching strategy

So as you see... The Crimine of Cutro seems to exist in parallel to the Reggio, Vibo, Crimine.

I planned some follow up questions, but I wanted to read more about Crotone first......

[CabriniGreen]

Here's the original post on this from page 2 on with some additional details.
viewtopic.php?t=9200&hilit=Teodoro+Matozzo&start=15

Lol the original post is on page 1... I MADE the thread...lol

[OcSleeper]

Page 1 has nothing to do with the guys talked about in this post... that STARTS on page 2... lol

[PolackTony]

What's interesting g is I asked Anna Sergi whst she thought about them on here.

She seemed to doubt their " Mafia status" I think thsts how she phrased it. I guess without a confirmation that they have Reggio recognition she sees them as.... I forget again.. "Bastardio"? Whatever they call a " bastard" or unrecognized Locale.


But this Iona family seems to be firmly established, so it's intriguing...

My understanding is that the Corigliano-Comito of Rocca di Neto is a legitimate/recognized ‘ndrina under the locale of Belvedere di Spinello. The Iona are an ‘ndrina based in Belvedere and thus under the same locale as Rocca di Neto. The Belvedere di Spinello locale was apparently dissolved from the 1980s until 2005, but at least since then I believe that these ‘ndrine there are recognized. While the exact ties between the locali in Crotone and Reggio are not totally clear to me, it is my understanding that the system in Crotone is recognized by the mammasantissima in San Luca (someone correct me if I’m wrong about this).

Now, who knows if all of these guys operating in NY from these places are actually recognized. If there is an “organization” operating in Nassau County, of example, it may not have formal recognition as such even if some of the men in its network have connections to the Belvedere di Spinello locale.

The December/January operation (involving FBI along with Italian LE) targeting Belvedere di Spinello revealed some interesting pentitti, who might hopefully clear some of these questions up. In particular, they have Francesco Oliverio, former capo locale of Belvedere di Spinello. At least from some of the info attributed to him in press coverage that I’ve seen, some portion of the operations in NY would seem to have been under the control or direction of the organization back in Belvedere/Rocca di Neto (though, again, I don’t pretend to really know what’s going on with this and hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong).

https://www.iacchite.blog/supermercati- ... -spinello/

Her actual response was pretty interesting..... here..

I would assume it's the usual "seeking business opportunity" https://icalabresi.it/rubriche/new-york ... sa-nostra/ - but their mafia status is highly debatable,

When you say their status is debatable, do you mean, you don't believe they have recognition from Reggio?

If so, that is pretty interesting, as there is an upcoming book on Nicolino Grande Aracri and the Ndrangheta of Crotone. It has been said that he " challenged the authority of Reggio", though in what way I have no idea.
It has also been stated thst Aracri was the #2 of Ndrangheta in Calabria, which kinda blew me away.
Not a Gio Tauro clan, not Plati, Siderno, or Vibo, or even San Luca, but a boss from Crotone. It has me VERY interested in Crotone. Also, I've been blown away that of all the clans from the most known provinces, it's Crotone that gets a presence ( either ndrine or full locale) in New York.

Where would you place Crotone in the Ndrangheta hierarchy?

It has been ascertained juridically and it's kind of a given informally, that Nicolino Grande Aracri created its own Provincia-like structure. The Crimine of Cutro was separate from Reggio and is currently moved to Cirò - nearby - under the Farao-Marincola leadership. The crimine of Cutro/cirò in the mind of Nicolino Grande Aracri encompasses the provinces of Crotone and Cosenza and Catanzaro, which is not nothing. Indeed, it's a whole other story than the 'ndrangheta in Reggio, they are very similar structures, but with no overarching strategy

So as you see... The Crimine of Cutro seems to exist in parallel to the Reggio, Vibo, Crimine.

Yeah, this is the crux of the issue: whether or not the Crimine in Crotone (and by extension, as I understand it, locali in Catanzaro and Cosenza that are under the Crotonesi) is recognized or “licensed” by Reggio. I’ve seen some things that seem to say that Grande Aracri was recognized by the system in RC, but obviously I’d defer to Sergi on this question.

Now, if Crotone is really it’s own system, which has also encompassed the clans in parts of Catanzaro and Cosenza since the ~70s, my question is whether this makes them “bastardi”, as, at least in my reading, this seems to have been used to refer to unrecognized criminal groups in Reggio or overseas. Is the entire Crotone-centered Crimine, from the perspective of Reggio, illegitimate? Or are they more like American and Sicilian CN, complementary and equivalent entities but with independent and totally separate institutions/hierarchies? Does the mammasantissima see the Crotonesi as “bastardi”, or just as their “own thing”, parallel to but organizationally independent of RC? At least with respect to their own Crimine, then, the ‘ndrine we’re discussing here, to me, aren’t “bastardi” as they belong to a recognized locale.

In Sergi and Lavorgna’s 2016 book, they take the perspective that the phenomenon is better thought of as ’ndranghete (plural), as multiple permutations that reflect the fractured economic and social history of the different provinces of Calabria. From page 27 of the book (which also characterizes the locali in Vibo Valentia as independent of the RC Crimine):

[CabriniGreen]

Page 1 has nothing to do with the guys talked about in this post... that STARTS on page 2... lol

Shit my bad my good sir...

I thought you were referencing a thread I missed, then I clicked and I was like..." wait... I've seen this stuff before"..

Apologies..my mistake .....