Yes, in the article it also mentions that it has a chance to come back. 98 was 20 years ago, a lot of things change. Buffalos undergoing a redevelopment renaissance. The local 210 was never cleaned up fully nor was the local 91, Fino even admits it in his book, go online and read whos in charge. The build of 2 casinos in the last 5 years beings in automatic rackets. The rebirth of relationships in Canada, etc. etc., etc. Go back to the huge thread about Buffalo and youll gain some insight. Theres a hierarchy whether you believe it or not. Just because an FBI squad is removed doesnt mean racket control and structure dont exist. Weaker than their heyday of course, but stronger than theyve been in 15 years. Recent busts just mean priority shifts for law enforcement and little violence, money is still being made in many areas and tribute is paid.

You have yet to provide any sources/proof.

Also could you link me the thread you're talking about?

SEARCH THE THREADS HERE WITH KEY WORDS WE HAVE BEEN USING. GOOGLE FINOS ADMISSIONS. GOOGLE LOCAL 210 AND LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE. GOOGLE CIMINELLI AND PROJECTS IN BUFFALO. GOOGLE. JUST LIKE YOU GOOGLED THOSE ARTICLES YOU POSTED.

IF AFTER ALL THAT YOURE STILL CONFUSED, THEN WELL ALL JUST ADMIT THAT YOUR RIGHT AND THERE IS NO ACTIVE CREWS OR STRUCTURE IN BUFFALO SO WE CAN All sleep easier tonight.

Rooster - Please don't post in all caps.

Nice post rooster

Rooster. You criticized me for citing a 20-year-old article, saying "a lot can change in 20 years." Yet you cite Ron Fino, even though he flipped two decades ago. Yes, Fino thinks it's possible that the FBI cleanup of Local 210 didn't go far enough. But the article in which he said that also notes: "While admitting he has no direct information about current wrongdoing in the local, Fino said he is skeptical of the Justice Department's claims that mob influences were totally removed from Local 210 and the Laborers international."
Here is another excerpt from that same article:
"Local 210 is now an aggressive but clean union that works hard to represent its members, according to Hill and James C. Logan, who represents 25 area contractors as executive vice president of the Construction Industry Employers Association. Both described Capitano, 46, as a tough but honest labor leader. Two other local contractors reached out to The News to speak in favor of Capitano.
Retired FBI Special Agent John "Jack" McDonnell said he believes the government cleanup of Local 210 and the Laborers - with Fino's help - was a major success. From 2000 until 2006, McDonnell oversaw all of Local 210's operations as a court-appointed liaison officer to the local.
"I know that Ron Fino supplied interesting and accurate information about how unions worked and how organized crime infiltrated Local 210," McDonnell said. "As for Sam Capitano, he was a very active, very vocal union guy who did fight against the takeover. He's an old-style, combative guy, but I have no information that he is involved with the mob.""

"The rebirth of relationships in Canada." There is no evidence that the Buffalo Mafia has reached back out to Canada. The only evidence you have to go on is the fact that some guys in Canada that were arrested were cited as being members of the "Todaro crime family" although Canadian LE has not released the names of said members. Mafia members from certain families have been arrested well over the families themselves were made defunct. A likely explanation is that this was the case for those "Todaro crime family" members considering the relationship between the Canadian wing of the Buffalo mob was pretty much severed in the 1990s.

Just because Buffalo is undergoing a redevelopment renaissance does not mean the Mafia is involved. Simple as that.

Just because 2 casinos were built in the city does not mean the Mafia is involved. If anything, legitimate casinos hurt the mob nowadays, since it cuts into their own rackets. The heydey of the mob's infiltration of Vegas does not happen anymore, and it would certainly not happen in Buffalo.

There is no mafia in Buffalo. The old timers are all dead or dying like Calzone Falzone, Lead Pipe etc. butchie bifocals and Bobby snowball are getting old. There is no talent to draw from in Buffalo. It's a small city. This isn't NYC. Even if it was relaxed as just having an Italian Surname/father, where are you finding young ambitious money hungry young males of Italian descent ? Going to school or working legit that's what, not join a dead end family. There is little $ in Buffalo now a days. Who would honestly kick up in their right mind now a days? Like some 20 something is going to give a sizeable nut every week to his capo he hardly knows for what reason ? This isn't the 70s or 80s, there are virtually no mob hits in America anymore period. What was there, Meldish 5 years Ago? Canadian mafia have more whacking.

Ok, I believe you guys. Thanks for clearing everything up.

So does this mean your sleeping easier tonight rooster?

Italian population in Buffalo is 149,003, the Mafia didn't just run Buffalo but also the surrounding areas, just from bookmaking and loan sharkingwhen was buffalo's last making ceremony

When was buffalo's last making ceremony

Yes, I dont think Ill wake up once in the middle of the night. Last known ceremony was in early 2000s, James Feliciano was made in it, dont know who else possibly. This is just my opinion, but I think its important to understand the Canadian influence currently, especially Hamilton/Niagara connection to Buffalo/Niagara and realize that making ceremonies mean less outside of New York City and even in New York City in the current era.

Let them believe what they want rooster. They are not from around the area, they don't know anything. They think every family in the country are a bunch of giacchiarones like in Philly or new York, where everyone knows everything. People in Detroit and Buffalo know how to keep their mouth shut and keep a real low profile, if you don't live in the area you won't hear a thing. The Buffalo guys are now alot like the Canadians in Ontario, they are a different breed.

Latest big bust shows the connection but technically there was busts 02, 03, 05, 09, 12

According to the last bust it's something like a buffalo - Canadian hybrid mafia

Which busts were the 2012, 2009 and 2005 ones? Not saying you're wrong, but I don't recall any.

By the last bust, do you mean the 2017 Bonanno bust? I seriously hope not...

If that's the case, I suppose I'll start claiming that the Trafficante crime family has a fully functioning hierarchy with 60+ made members. Hey, since I'm from the area I guess no one can question me.

Really? Tampa is really going strong then. I remember that bust in 2015 involving the pirates near St. Pete Beach, that was crazy.

love clearwater and dunedin.

I meant 2010 not 2009

What was the 2010 bust though? As well as 2012 and 2005.

Also, I was just kidding around about the Tampa mob. They simply just stopped making people in Tampa in the 1990s, and the Miami crew was taken over by an Irish guy.

Cohen in 2010. One of Nicolettis close friends.

Answer this, when do you believe Hamilton stopped answering to Buffalo? This will answer all your speculation you have.

Sorry, but could you give any more insight into the Cohen arrest? E.g. what was he arrested for, news articles on the bust. Also, what are the other busts you mentioned?

I have not seen evidence of a Buffalo-Canada connection in over 20 years. Probably ended with the assassination of Johnny Pops Papalia.

Search the internet. The Nicoletti bust featured his friend from Welland, Ontario. They are a joint crime family, several Canadian members were at Falzones funeral. Do you consider the Ciminelli bust a connection at all? What do you think the younger members do? They answer to no one right? Tribute is paid and people are still in line with a hierarchy, sorry, its just not deabeli

So you believe they stopped answering to Buffalo in 1998 or earlier? Wrong

Move this thread, finally, to the Buffalo thread if you want to keep talking about it.

I have searched the internet and have not found anything related to a Buffalo family bust from 2012, 2010 or 2005. If you could provide some links to said busts, I would be very grateful. I am not going to say that these busts don't exist, but I'm truly puzzled as to why you won't send me any articles about them.

Do you have any evidence to that "several Canadian members were at Falzone's funeral." Again, I have searched the internet and haven't found any information to support that claim. I'm sure you have the evidence but I'm afraid I couldn't find it from 5-10 minutes of google searching.

I don't really consider the Ciminelli bust a connection at all. Most construction bigwigs in Buffalo were associated with the mob in the late 20th century, because of the Buffalo mob's widespread union control. Ciminelli is no exception and just because he was involved in fraud in 2016 does not mean the mob.

"What do you think the younger members do?" There aren't any younger (made) Buffalo guys. The youngest confirmed made guy (to the best of my knowledge) is Russ Carcone, who is 63. Also, no doubt there are younger guys committing crimes. But what makes you think they have this burning desire to pay tribute to somebody?

Also, since I'm new to this forum, I don't know how to move this thread to the other Buffalo thread. Maybe a moderator or somebody could help me.

Maybe the Italian Population in the Buffalo-Niagara Region but definitely not the city of Buffalo, which has a population of under 300,000. I live in NB right near the old Italian Fest. During the 90's there was definitely a known mafia presence in the area but today there is almost zero. Like mentioned before what's benefit does bing connected to the Magaddino family and having to pay tribute give a young Italian American in joining besides being known to LE even sooner? Buffalos family is nothing compared to the 5 families so if your about to say "gain access to the family's loansharking $ at half a point to put out there" or something I just highly doubt the family is functioning let alone thriving. Of course there are soldiers and associates still active in crime in WNY. It's just that there are probably very few under the age of 50.

Good post WhackWhack. Of course, whilst I don't believe that the Buffalo family as an entity is still active, I wouldn't dispute you if you said Frank Bifulco or Russell Carcone are still active in crime.

Can anyone help with merging the forums like Rooster suggested?

It aint dead until the last remaining member dies