by Lamothe, Lee
CHAPTER 13:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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 21:
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:
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:
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 wi
th investigators involved in the case; his denial comes from an author interview with his close relative in 2001.
CHAPTER 24:
Information on Ireland’s Eye is from Memorial University’s Maritime History Archive and conversations with area residents and visitors. The Montreal Mafia’s involvement in Lebanon, Pakistan and Libya comes from interviews with former drug investigators, the Montreal police dossier and “Death Merchants” by William Marsden in The Gazette (Montreal), February 5, 1989. The Charlotte Louise case comes from interviews with former RCMP officers, including Michel Michaud, who helped search the boat; and police records. Marsden revealed the Table 6 yarn in “Mounties bug lamp but fate pulls switch,” The Gazette, December 19, 1990. The hashish smuggling fiascos come from interviews, contemporary media accounts and police files; Dupuis quotes come from his sworn affidavit filed in Quebec court and additional details on the case are from Jean Salois, Vito’s long-time lawyer, in correspondence with the authors.
CHAPTER 25:
Conversations between Manno and his co-conspirators come from extensive wiretap recordings in the United States and Canada, filed in U.S.A. v. Domenico Manno, et al (94-CR-6042, Southern District of Florida). The Mafia’s interests in Miami comes from the Pagano statements. Background on Manno comes from genealogical records, police files, court exhibits and his statements made in court; his cross-border travel comes from confidential border files. The Florida caper comes from copious evidence and testimony filed in the case, information from FBI Special Agent William Douglas, the case agent, and visits to the locations involved.
CHAPTER 26:
The story of Girolama Sciortino’s cocaine blues comes from extensive interviews with police officers and prosecutors on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, court records and the Agreed Statement of Facts for “Project Office” obtained under the Access to Information Act. His criminal record and some background information comes from the parole records, police files and municipal records; his son’s record from the Montreal police dossier.
CHAPTER 27:
Pagano’s trips to Canada, meetings with Vito and involvement in the cocaine scheme come from his statements given to police as part of his cooperation agreement. Information on Venezuelan drug routes comes from “International Narcotics Control Strategy Report,” April 1993, Bureau of International Narcotics Matters, U.S. Department of State and statements from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Prison information comes from interviews with an investigator and “Punishment Without Trial: Prison Conditions in Venezuela,” March 1997, by Human Rights Watch. The arrests in Puerto Cabello come from contemporary news accounts supported by police files. Information on Zbikowski’s troubles and the intervention of Quebec politicians comes from Hansard, the official record of the Canadian parliament. The arrests in Canada and the U.S. come from police files; Zbikowski’s business interests come from corporate press releases issued prior to his arrest and his criminal interests from National Parole Board records. Details on the Rizzuto childrens’ weddings comes from the Amended Motion to Institute Proceedings filed by Leonardo and Bettina Rizzuto against the authors in 2007 (500-17-033610-067, Quebec Superior Court).
CHAPTER 28:
The Sixth Family’s drug scheme with the Big Circle Boys comes largely from testimony and other evidence filed in U.S.A. v. Emanuele LoGiudice, et al (97-CR-660, Eastern District of NY). The Project Onig details come from interviews with officers involved in the case, supported by private police files and public FBI records. William Zita’s statements are from his sworn court testimony. Ragusa’s personal history comes from genealogical records, police files and parole records; his family’s weddings are from the Montreal police dossier. Italy’s interest in Ragusa comes from Italian court records, particularly information prepared by the Guardia di Finanza, and the Tribunale Civile e Penale di Palermo in Beddia + 12, translated from Italian. Information on the FBI’s investigation of Ragusa comes from internal notes on the debriefing of Lino.
CHAPTER 29:
The visit to Lugano by Libertina Rizzuto and the movement of money through Swiss banks is documented in detail in the “Request for Urgent Judicial Assistance” by the Public Prosecutor from the Canton of Tessin, Switzerland, dated December 16, 1994 (Inc. MP n. 6129/94), translated from French; and the “Verbale Di Interrogatorio” of Rizzuto and Luca Giammarella, translated from Italian. Additional information comes from Salois, a Rizzuto lawyer. A visit to locations involved aided the story. Bank statistics come from The Laundrymen by Jeffrey Robinson (Simon & Schuster, London, 1998). Information on Operation 90-26C is assembled from interviews with Michaud, who worked undercover at the exchange counter; internal police documents; court files; other interviews and contemporary news stories. Particularly useful was a series of investigative stories by Andrew McIntosh for The Ottawa Citizen in June 1998. Vito’s interaction with Joe Lagana and Luis Cantieri are documented in the Montreal police dossier and with Nicolucci in parole board records. The Caruanas involvement in Switzerland and Liechtenstein comes from records filed in R. v. Caruana, et al. Police suspicions over transactions between American banks and Canadian companies come from secured diplomatic transmissions obtained by the authors. Questions by politicians come from Hansard transcripts and Vito being worried for his mother was recounted by Pagano.
CHAPTER 30:
Information on Rusty Rastelli and the rise of Joe Massino comes from FBI surveillance reports and files, photos, and Vitale’s testimony. The beef with Anthony Graziano was detailed by Vitale in testimony in U.S.A. v. Patrick DeFillipo (03-CR-0929, Eastern District of NY) in 2006. The DeCavalcante Family’s attendance at the Bono wedding comes from a study of photographs of the event. The carpet smuggling comes from both Vitale’s testimony and an interview with a Montreal gangster. Trips to Montreal by Bonanno representatives come from the court testimony and secret FBI debriefings of Lino. Historical scheduling of Major League Baseball games is from www.baseball-reference.com. Alfonso Gagliano’s background is from Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1985 (Normandin, Ottawa, 1985) and Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 2001 (Gale Group, Farmington Hills, 2002); concern in Canada’s parliament over Lino’s allegations is from Hansard and denials by Gagliano come from contemporary media reports. Amodeo’s departure from Canada comes from Immigration and Refugee Board records, interviews with family members, Hansard and contemporary reporting, including that of the authors. The new information on a claimed Mafia link to government comes from an unreleased Pagano debriefing. Sciascia’s interview by consular officials is transcribed in his immigration file.
CHAPTER 31:
Plans to kill Sciascia were recounted by Vitale in both FBI debriefings and court testimony, particularly in U.S.A. v. Patrick DeFillipo in 2006. Massino’s involvement and the “dolls” code come from a summary of Massino’s “302” information—his FBI debriefings. Spirito’s admissions are from his court appearance and plea in 2005 in U.S.A. v. John Spirito (03-CR-929, Eastern District of NY). The discovery of Sciascia’s body and its condition come from police reports, crime scene photos and the medical examiner’s report, obtained by the authors. Massino’s entreaty to Vito to be made capo-regime was told by Vitale and supported by confidential police files. The strength of the Montreal contingent under Violi was revealed in the Reggio Bar recordings. The end of the tribute from Montreal to New York comes from a private RCMP briefing. The statements from Vito about Montreal being “our own little family” were revealed by Vitale in U.S.A. v. Vincent Basciano on March 1, 2006.
CHAPTER 32:
The Pizza Hut troubles come from interviews with police investigators, a former senior company manager and the former franchise owner, who was not anxious to revisit these events. The bombing details come from contemporary news accounts with additional details from an interview with an investigator. Corporate information comes from contemporary company press releases that were unrelated to the events recounted here. Salois’s rebuttal comes from his correspondence with the authors. Penway she
nanigans are from Campbell v. Sherman (30594/88, Ontario Court of Justice). Vito’s tax woes are from Vito Rizzuto v. The Queen (98-2497-IT-G, Tax Court of Canada), the undisclosed settlement from a well-placed government source (later confirmed by Vito) and the lawyer’s quote from The Gazette. The suspicion by John Williams is contained in Canada’s parliamentary “Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers (No. 3),” October 2, 2002. The family’s “war chest” to fund the tax fight is revealed in sworn statements of account presented in court but not made public and information on the Papalia twins comes from interviews, police files and Securities and Exchange Commission records. The Marcos gold affair comes from an interview with a former Montreal police officer and the counterfeiting case comes from U.S.A. v. Joseph Baghdassarian (95-CR-209, Northern District of NY) and contemporary news accounts.