Buffalo Billion, Ciminelli, & Mob

[NickelCity]

Given the recent indictments for bribery and bid rigging, Does anyone think Ciminelli and/or the Buffalo Billion scandal has ties to the Buffalo Mob? Bharara the prosecutor say the indictment read like something from a Sopranos episode?

[NickelCity]

Evidence for possible mob ties: Undercover FBI operative and former Buffalo Mob Associate turned FBI informant in his book The Triangle Exit writes:

By now we had developed good alter-ego cases against around 20 western New York contractors and we were getting ready to file a legal suit against them. Joey Pizza and Leonard Falzone compelled me to drop the cases against Ciminelli Construction and Frank Ciminelli, who was connected, and the Mader Corporation run by Lawrence Reger (a Buffalo businessman indirectly controlled by the family) who made a fortune for the mob cleaning up the Love Canal hazardous waste. Falzone spoke in a nice manner, which was rare, “You know they are connected Ron and know that their construction companies are off limits.”

Fino, Ronald; Michael Rizzo (2014-01-20). Covert Operations: The Triangle Exit: The True Story of a Secret Undercover Operative for the FBI and CIA (Organized Crime) (Kindle Locations 2823-2827). Contento De Semrik. Kindle Edition.

Additionally it appears Louis P. Ciminelli served as a trustee of long time mob controlled LIUNA local 210 and was named in a '91 RICO lawsuit against the local. His name appears as a defendant with many known and alleged Buffalo Crime Family members/associates including: Leonard Falzone, Salvatore J. Caci, Louis P. Ciminelli, Peter G. Gerace, Joseph R. Pieri, and Daniel J. Sansanese. Here is a link to a legal article that verifies my claim:

http://www.leagle.com/decision/19911...20v.%20FALZONE

Given the above association with known crime family members, his father's alleged connection with the Buffalo Mob family, and the recent bribery and bid rigging charges one can't help but ask the questions:

1. Is the Buffalo mob still active in Western New York?
2. If so, does the Buffalo Billion Scandal have its roots in organized crime/the Buffalo Mob; and
3. If so, to what extent does this crime family influence New York state government and expenditures.

What say ye?

[joe d.]

Evidence for possible mob ties: Undercover FBI operative and former Buffalo Mob Associate turned FBI informant in his book The Triangle Exit writes:


Fino, Ronald; Michael Rizzo (2014-01-20). Covert Operations: The Triangle Exit: The True Story of a Secret Undercover Operative for the FBI and CIA (Organized Crime) (Kindle Locations 2823-2827). Contento De Semrik. Kindle Edition.

Additionally it appears Louis P. Ciminelli served as a trustee of long time mob controlled LIUNA local 210 and was named in a '91 RICO lawsuit against the local. His name appears as a defendant with many known and alleged Buffalo Crime Family members/associates including: Leonard Falzone, Salvatore J. Caci, Louis P. Ciminelli, Peter G. Gerace, Joseph R. Pieri, and Daniel J. Sansanese. Here is a link to a legal article that verifies my claim:

http://www.leagle.com/decision/19911...20v.%20FALZONE

Given the above association with known crime family members, his father's alleged connection with the Buffalo Mob family, and the recent bribery and bid rigging charges one can't help but ask the questions:

1. Is the Buffalo mob still active in Western New York?
2. If so, does the Buffalo Billion Scandal have its roots in organized crime/the Buffalo Mob; and
3. If so, to what extent does this crime family influence New York state government and expenditures.

What say ye?

If the Mob is alive and kicking...perhaps it could be sent to clean up Est side of Buffalo and West side where there is a terrific crime problem...history has shown where the organization flourished...crime in neighborhoods was minimal...except for of it's own making!

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Given the above association with known crime family members, his father's alleged connection with the Buffalo Mob family, and the recent bribery and bid rigging charges one can't help but ask the questions:

1. Is the Buffalo mob still active in Western New York?
2. If so, does the Buffalo Billion Scandal have its roots in organized crime/the Buffalo Mob; and
3. If so, to what extent does this crime family influence New York state government and expenditures.

What say ye?

1 - Of course it's still active.
2 - Have little doubt it's not connected to the Buffalo Billion as the mob is interwoven into labor unions and construction.
3 - To the same extent other deep pocketed groups do.


I don't think the mob is 'breaking legs' these days. I do think they are just as much criminals as say bank executives, preachers, poverty pushers and lawyers however.

[NickelCity]

1 - Of course it's still active.
2 - Have little doubt it's not connected to the Buffalo Billion as the mob is interwoven into labor unions and construction.
3 - To the same extent other deep pocketed groups do.


I don't think the mob is 'breaking legs' these days. I do think they are just as much criminals as say bank executives, preachers, poverty pushers and lawyers however.

You say the mob is intewoven in construction and the unions. Many in Buffalo think the unions in Buffalo were cleaned of mob influence in the late '90's. Do you think they are still influenced by the Buffalo Mob?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

You say the mob is intewoven in construction and the unions. Many in Buffalo think the unions in Buffalo were cleaned of mob influence in the late '90's. Do you think they are still influenced by the Buffalo Mob?

Yes.

Local 91 is dirty as hell.

[grump]

Leftie, I have to disagree to some extent. Cuomo & his friends are scumbags pure and simple. His old man never ran for president because the old bastard knew what would be dug up about his "family" connections. His a-hole son does not seem so inhibited. The obvious "in your face" nature of his bid rigging schemes across upstate show just the opposite. But I wouldn't indict all lawyers, some of them were part of the scams but certainly not all lawyers.

[NickelCity]

Yes.

Local 91 is dirty as hell.

I know '91 had several indictments a few years back... but was definitely and maybe still is dirty.

What do you think about Local 210?

Ron Fino told the Buffalo News the cleanup didn't go far enough and intimated the Capitano brothers who are back in charge were and continue to be mobbed up. Here is a excerpt from The Buffalo News article Life after Local 210 for the FBI's Inside Guy by Dan Herbeck on Sept 30, 2012:

When the feds took control of Local 210 in the 1990s, Fino helped the government establish trusteeships that ran the local and the Laborers International Union of North America, removing most of its leadership. Wearing a hood to conceal his face, he testified before Congress in 1996, accusing laborers union leaders of taking orders from mobsters.

Today, Fino maintains that the government's cleanup of the Laborers international - and of Local 210 - didn't go far enough.

I think Fino is intimating if the takeover of the union by the Trusteeship was for real, the Capitano Brother would have been ousted for good for their involvement with know mobeters. In his book Fino say Sam and Peter Capitano were heavily involved with the then Boss and Underboss of the family to ensure their interests in Local 210 were represented. This is a what he says about the Capitano Brothers' leadership in LIUNA Local 210:

Peter Capitano Jr.: Strong associate of Joe Todaro Jr. and Victor Sansanese. Came from the Pizza gang and was placed into his leadership role by the Todaros. At first fought the takeover of Local 210 Laborers Union International. Today, now that he is back in the leadership states it was a good idea. Samuel Capitano: Brother of Peter and a member of the Pizza Gang; a confident of Joseph Todaro Jr.

Fino, Ronald; Michael Rizzo (2014-01-20). Covert Operations: The Triangle Exit: The True Story of a Secret Undercover Operative for the FBI and CIA (Organized Crime) (Kindle Locations 5071-5075). Contento De Semrik. Kindle Edition.

Today Sam Capitano is listed as the Business Manager and Peter Capitano as the Vice President of Local 210. Here is the link:http://www.laborers210.org/index.cfm...lay&page_id=28

But on the other side of the coin, I've heard that Peter Capitano is now a born again Christian? So maybe they aren't involved. Sam and Pete have truly reformed. And the union is no longer mobbed up.

Thoughts?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Thoughts?

If they are not the 'mob' they appear to act as 'a mob'.... semantics.