Authors: Lee Lamothe
The Sixth Family (78 page)
CHAPTER 6
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The Boucherville arson comes from contemporary newspaper accounts supported by the criminal record of Vito and Paolo Renda. The Sixth Family’s relationships come from confidential police and FBI files, interviews and documents filed in
R. v. Caruana, et al
(F-0383, Ontario Superior Court). Bill Bonanno’s arrest comes from police files, an interview with Bonanno, a newspaper account and photographs of the event examined by the authors; Vito’s wedding and citizenship information from the Montreal police dossier; his pre-nuptial contract from documents filed in court; and Cammalleri family history from an internal report on the “Lake Muskoka Conference” by police intelligence officers in 1985 and a 1986 RCMP report entitled “Traditional Organized Crime, Ontario.” The NK 2461-C wiretap comes from police files; information on more recent phone calls to Montreal by Joe Bonanno is from an interview with a retired federal agent and confirmed by Bill Bonanno.
CHAPTER 7:R. v. Caruana, et al
(F-0383, Ontario Superior Court). Bill Bonanno’s arrest comes from police files, an interview with Bonanno, a newspaper account and photographs of the event examined by the authors; Vito’s wedding and citizenship information from the Montreal police dossier; his pre-nuptial contract from documents filed in court; and Cammalleri family history from an internal report on the “Lake Muskoka Conference” by police intelligence officers in 1985 and a 1986 RCMP report entitled “Traditional Organized Crime, Ontario.” The NK 2461-C wiretap comes from police files; information on more recent phone calls to Montreal by Joe Bonanno is from an interview with a retired federal agent and confirmed by Bill Bonanno.
The Marchettini shake-down, some details on Paolo Violi’s interaction with New York and the Quebec crime commission quotes come from the report of the
Commission d’enquête sur le crime organize
(CECO) (Éditeur official du Québec, Quebec City, 1977). Details on Greco’s life come from interviews with Bill Bonanno and police and FBI files; details on his death come from contemporary newspaper accounts.
The New York Times
quote is from a May 9, 1967 story. FBI, DEA and RCMP files added context to the Sicilian-Calabrian feud; interviews with current and retired investigators and underworld figures were also helpful.
CHAPTER 8:Commission d’enquête sur le crime organize
(CECO) (Éditeur official du Québec, Quebec City, 1977). Details on Greco’s life come from interviews with Bill Bonanno and police and FBI files; details on his death come from contemporary newspaper accounts.
The New York Times
quote is from a May 9, 1967 story. FBI, DEA and RCMP files added context to the Sicilian-Calabrian feud; interviews with current and retired investigators and underworld figures were also helpful.
Understanding the downfall of Violi, here and elsewhere, was aided by discussions with Robert Menard, a retired Montreal policeman who lived undercover above the Reggio Bar for six years in an operation that placed and monitored secret microphones. Violi’s trip to Italy is documented in
Men of Dishonor
by Pino Arlacchi and Antonino Calderone (William Morrow & Co., New York, 1992). Nick Rizzuto’s cross-border travels are from border sources. Violi’s drug interest comes from court documents in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in
Sentenza contro Paolo De Stefano + 59
, filed in 1979, translated from Italian. Some information on Settecasi’s intervention and interest in drugs, here and elsewhere, comes from the Tribunale Civile e Penale di Palermo in
Lucia Beddia + 12,
filed in 1996, and Canadian police reports.
CHAPTER 9:Men of Dishonor
by Pino Arlacchi and Antonino Calderone (William Morrow & Co., New York, 1992). Nick Rizzuto’s cross-border travels are from border sources. Violi’s drug interest comes from court documents in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in
Sentenza contro Paolo De Stefano + 59
, filed in 1979, translated from Italian. Some information on Settecasi’s intervention and interest in drugs, here and elsewhere, comes from the Tribunale Civile e Penale di Palermo in
Lucia Beddia + 12,
filed in 1996, and Canadian police reports.
The visits to Montreal by New York intermediaries are documented in the CECO reports and Italian court files, and captured for posterity on the Reggio Bar recordings. The testimony from Cuffaro comes from Italian and American intelligence reports from the “Big John” case. Information on the Arcuris comes from interviews with police and family sources, FBI reports and Italian and American court documents, including
U.S.A. v. Baldassare Amato
. The chat between Nick and Violi is from the Reggio recordings.
CHAPTER 10:U.S.A. v. Baldassare Amato
. The chat between Nick and Violi is from the Reggio recordings.
Activities in Venezuela come from: a visit to the locations involved; interviews with officials in Venezuela, the United States, Italy and Canada; police and law enforcement files; the Buscetta testimony; and three volumes of debriefings of mob turncoat Oreste Pagano, including
Disclosure Re: Statement of Oreste Pagano
(April 7, 1999);
Project Omertà: Pagano Interview/Statement
(September 21, 1999); and
Transcript, Project Omertà
(November 18, 1999). Major Lauretti’s remarks are from his testimony in Ontario Provincial Court on September 25, 1998, observed by the authors. Other information comes from police files and interviews.
CHAPTER 11:Disclosure Re: Statement of Oreste Pagano
(April 7, 1999);
Project Omertà: Pagano Interview/Statement
(September 21, 1999); and
Transcript, Project Omertà
(November 18, 1999). Major Lauretti’s remarks are from his testimony in Ontario Provincial Court on September 25, 1998, observed by the authors. Other information comes from police files and interviews.
Recent RCMP files, CECO reports, the Reggio Bar recordings and FBI documents released under the FOI Act were helpful in understanding the Calabrian-Sicilian feud. Sphinx quote is from
Blood Brothers
by Peter Edwards (Key Porter, Toronto, 1990) and archival footage was useful in describing people and events.
CHAPTER 12:Blood Brothers
by Peter Edwards (Key Porter, Toronto, 1990) and archival footage was useful in describing people and events.
Information on Licata’s murder and the changes in Brooklyn’s underworld comes from testimony of turncoat Luigi Ronsisvalle at the President’s Commission on Organized Crime, 1985; contemporary media accounts; court files; interviews; and a visit to locations involved. Information from Kenneth McCabe, a legendary New York organized crime investigator who recently passed away, was helpful. Vitale’s, Lino’s and Frank Coppa’s words come from their testimony in 2004. The “highest American boss” quote comes from interviews with an underworld source by the authors in 2005. Falcone’s quotes, here and elsewhere, come from
Men of Honour
by Giovanni Falcone (Warner, London, 1993) and Tripodi’s quotes, here and elsewhere, from
Crusade
by Tom Tripodi and Joseph P. DeSario (Brassey’s, McLean, 1993).
Last Days of the Sicilians
by Ralph Blumenthal (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1989) was also helpful.
CHAPTER 13:Men of Honour
by Giovanni Falcone (Warner, London, 1993) and Tripodi’s quotes, here and elsewhere, from
Crusade
by Tom Tripodi and Joseph P. DeSario (Brassey’s, McLean, 1993).
Last Days of the Sicilians
by Ralph Blumenthal (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1989) was also helpful.
Information on Pietro Sciarra and the downfall of the Violis comes from interviews with police officers who were involved, law enforcement files (particularly the FBI’s March 1985 report and the RCMP’s “The Mafia: A Canadian Update, 1990”), CECO, archival footage and police crime scene and surveillance photos. Manno’s statement and police contact with Violi’s killers come from the Montreal police dossier. Information on the wreath from Bonanno is from Edwards. The “pig” phone calls come from a television documentary directed by Daniel Creusot. Pizza Connection information comes from police files, interviews and documents filed in
U.S.A. v. Gaetano Badalamenti, et al
(84-CR-236, Southern District of NY) a.k.a. “the Pizza case,” and its subsequent appeal (887 F.2d 1141/1989). Information on the Sixth Family’s enclave in Montreal comes from several visits to the area over many years and a study of aerial photographs. The “key that turns the lock of America” quote and other information comes from a lengthy author interview in 2006 with a ranking Carabinieri officer in Italy, who requested anonymity.
CHAPTER 14:U.S.A. v. Gaetano Badalamenti, et al
(84-CR-236, Southern District of NY) a.k.a. “the Pizza case,” and its subsequent appeal (887 F.2d 1141/1989). Information on the Sixth Family’s enclave in Montreal comes from several visits to the area over many years and a study of aerial photographs. The “key that turns the lock of America” quote and other information comes from a lengthy author interview in 2006 with a ranking Carabinieri officer in Italy, who requested anonymity.
The Brasco and Lefty quotes come from
Donnie Brasco
by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley (Signet, New York, 1987) and Pistone’s testimony in court in several related criminal cases, particularly
U.S.A. v. Joseph Massino
(81-CR-803, Southern District of NY). The authors were aided by interviews and discussions with former FBI agent Pistone in 2004. Massino’s criminal career and his interaction with Galante and Rastelli come largely from sworn testimony by Bonanno turncoats, particularly Vitale. The Green Acres surveillance comes from police testimony given in the Pizza case. Galante’s murder is told from court testimony and FBI debriefings of Bonanno turncoats, particularly Lino, and government reports and documents, much of it filed in
U.S.A. v. Anthony Salerno, et al
(85-CR-139, Southern District of NY) and in the Pizza case.
CHAPTER 15:Donnie Brasco
by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley (Signet, New York, 1987) and Pistone’s testimony in court in several related criminal cases, particularly
U.S.A. v. Joseph Massino
(81-CR-803, Southern District of NY). The authors were aided by interviews and discussions with former FBI agent Pistone in 2004. Massino’s criminal career and his interaction with Galante and Rastelli come largely from sworn testimony by Bonanno turncoats, particularly Vitale. The Green Acres surveillance comes from police testimony given in the Pizza case. Galante’s murder is told from court testimony and FBI debriefings of Bonanno turncoats, particularly Lino, and government reports and documents, much of it filed in
U.S.A. v. Anthony Salerno, et al
(85-CR-139, Southern District of NY) and in the Pizza case.
The Bono wedding comes from myriad police reports from American, Canadian and Italian authorities, a study of dozens of photographs taken at the event and a visit to locations involved. Sterling provided the dollar values. Additional details on Bono come from
Republic of Italy and Minister of Justice v. Alfonso Caruana
(C-42781, Ontario Court of Appeal). Charles Rooney’s testimony comes from
U.S.A. v. Massino
(2003). Bonventre’s and Amato’s mad dash to Canada is documented in the Pizza case files. Law enforcement files, both public and private, were again invaluable.
CHAPTER 16:Republic of Italy and Minister of Justice v. Alfonso Caruana
(C-42781, Ontario Court of Appeal). Charles Rooney’s testimony comes from
U.S.A. v. Massino
(2003). Bonventre’s and Amato’s mad dash to Canada is documented in the Pizza case files. Law enforcement files, both public and private, were again invaluable.
The Bucks County murder comes largely from contemporary news accounts and a study of crime scene photos; the significance of it comes from law enforcement files and interviews with agents and officers. The early Sixth Family incursion into Detroit is from old U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Department of State files. The early heroin seizures are from Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) files and the later ones are from the Pizza case files. For more information on America’s early war on drugs, read
The Strength of the Wolf
by Douglas Valentine (Verso, New York, 2004).
CHAPTER 17:The Strength of the Wolf
by Douglas Valentine (Verso, New York, 2004).
Information on Phil Rastelli and the Bonanno leadership comes from numerous case files and court documents, including the various court testimonies of Vitale and Lino and interviews with gangsters and cops. The graveyard encounter comes from author interviews during a visit to Cattolica Eraclea in 2004. Sciascia’s personal information comes from: a transcript of his interrogation by Canadian consular officials; his affidavits, letters and documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada (IMM-61-96); law enforcement files in the U.S., Italy and Canada; and interviews with police and U.S. Homeland Security officials.
CHAPTER 18:The dispute with Sonny Red comes from court testimony by Bonanno turncoats, particularly Vitale and Lino; law enforcement files; a study of dozens of surveillance photographs; and interviews with lawyers and federal agents. Some biographical details on Sonny Red come from the files of mob historian Andy Petepiece. Details on the murders, here and elsewhere, comes largely from testimony of Vitale, Lino, Duane Leisenheimer and James Tartaglione in
U.S.A. v. Massino
(2002) and
U.S.A. v. Basciano
, supported by law enforcement reports, court filings and visits to locations involved.
CHAPTER 19:U.S.A. v. Massino
(2002) and
U.S.A. v. Basciano
, supported by law enforcement reports, court filings and visits to locations involved.
Vito’s statements about the three captains’ murders come from his allocution in Brooklyn court in 2007. The clean-up comes from informant testimony and from interviews with Pistone. The shooting of Santo Giordano was colorfully told by Gaspare Bonventre and Dr. Ed Salerno during the 1987 racketeering trial of Massino. The hospital encounter is from Blumenthal. The Capri surveillance is from testimony of Special Agent William Andrew in 2004, a study of his photos and various law enforcement reports filed over two decades. The discovery of Sonny Red’s body comes from police incident reports prepared at the time, the medical examiner’s report, crime scene photos, a summary of evidence filed in Quebec court and court testimony of Vitale and Lino. Information on “Donnie Brasco” coming out from undercover is from interviews with Pistone, his court testimony and his book. Vitale’s search for bugs comes from his testimony; Colgan’s quote is from “The Last Don” by Richard Corliss and Simon Crittle,
Time
magazine, March 29, 2004. Lefty’s quote on drugs comes from recordings secretly made by Pistone.
CHAPTER 20:Time
magazine, March 29, 2004. Lefty’s quote on drugs comes from recordings secretly made by Pistone.
Details on the Ruggiero plane crash come from the National Transportation Safety Board,
Aircraft Accident Report NTSB / AAR-83-01
, Washington D.C. Heroin usage rates are from Sterling. Information on the Sixth Family’s heroin distribution in New York comes from interviews with law enforcement and legal sources, FBI reports, wiretap recordings of Sciascia and Joe LoPresti in action from the “Quack Quack” tapes, filed in
U.S.A. v. Angelo Ruggiero, et al
(83-CR-412, Eastern District of NY) and the 341-page sealed complaint against the traffickers in the Pizza case. Vito Agueci’s Mafia induction is from BNDD files.
CHAPTER 21Aircraft Accident Report NTSB / AAR-83-01
, Washington D.C. Heroin usage rates are from Sterling. Information on the Sixth Family’s heroin distribution in New York comes from interviews with law enforcement and legal sources, FBI reports, wiretap recordings of Sciascia and Joe LoPresti in action from the “Quack Quack” tapes, filed in
U.S.A. v. Angelo Ruggiero, et al
(83-CR-412, Eastern District of NY) and the 341-page sealed complaint against the traffickers in the Pizza case. Vito Agueci’s Mafia induction is from BNDD files.
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The FBI’s assault on Sciascia is from the Bureau’s extensive case notes compiled over several years and released under the FOI Act, supplemented by DEA and RCMP records, the testimony of agent Charles Murray in
U.S.A. v. Gerlando Sciascia, et al
(Eastern District of NY) and of Rooney and McCabe in
U.S.A. v. Massino
(2004). The investigation into Nick Rizzuto is contained in Polizia di Stato files. Cesare Bonventre’s death is detailed in testimony by Vitale, Leisenheimer and Tartaglione; the discovery of his body from Joseph Keely, a former New Jersey State Trooper.
CHAPTER 22:U.S.A. v. Gerlando Sciascia, et al
(Eastern District of NY) and of Rooney and McCabe in
U.S.A. v. Massino
(2004). The investigation into Nick Rizzuto is contained in Polizia di Stato files. Cesare Bonventre’s death is detailed in testimony by Vitale, Leisenheimer and Tartaglione; the discovery of his body from Joseph Keely, a former New Jersey State Trooper.
LoPresti’s capture is detailed in his arrest report. His personal history comes from FBI, RCMP and Montreal police files and interviews with current and former investigators. Sciascia’s fight to stay in Canada comes from his extradition case file; the quote about his arrest is from “Why the Mob Loves Canada,” by Jerry Capeci,
Financial Post Magazine
, February 1, 1992. Details on the legal proceedings are from the records in
U.S.A. v. Sciascia.
The jury bribe is from the FBI’s debriefing notes of Salvatore Gravano. LoPresti’s interaction with Vito is largely from the Montreal police dossier and his murder from police files and interviews with officers involved in its investigation. Sciascia’s declarations on LoPresti’s murder are from Vitale’s testimony.
CHAPTER 23:Financial Post Magazine
, February 1, 1992. Details on the legal proceedings are from the records in
U.S.A. v. Sciascia.
The jury bribe is from the FBI’s debriefing notes of Salvatore Gravano. LoPresti’s interaction with Vito is largely from the Montreal police dossier and his murder from police files and interviews with officers involved in its investigation. Sciascia’s declarations on LoPresti’s murder are from Vitale’s testimony.
The “fish” investigation is from Tripodi, supported by Italian police records. Vito and Sabatino Nicolucci’s trip to Caracas is from the Montreal police dossier and the Aruba hotel stay is from Blickman. Nicolucci’s history comes from a criminal records check, the Montreal dossier, National Parole Board records and interviews with a former colleague. The expatriate Mafia in South America material comes largely from Pagano’s statements to police and from a visit to locations involved. Information on Nick’s arrest comes from Cuerpo Técnico de Policía judicial records and FBI and RCMP files. Information on consular contact and visits during Nick’s incarceration comes from an author interview with a diplomatic source in 2001. Material on the impact of Nick’s arrest is from U.S. Department of Justice records, the Montreal police dossier and RCMP files. Tozzi’s claims are from the Montreal police dossier and interviews with investigators involved in the case; his denial comes from an author interview with his close relative in 2001.
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