Leonard Falzone the alleged boss of the Buffalo mafia also known as the Magaddino crime family passed away from natural causes.
The 81-year-old reputed mobster has been the leader of the fading Cosa Nostra family for approx a decade according to the feds. Falzone took the reigns of the beleaguered crime family back in 2006 when former boss Joseph Todaro Jr. retired and went into a legit business. He had a long history in the mafia according to reports dating back all the way to the 1970s serving as consigliere for the Buffalo mob before becoming boss. The once-powerful Western New York mafia family has dwindled down to merely a few remaining members of the old guard that once ruled.
“LEONARD FALZONE”
Falzone was a powerful force in the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) the local labor union for years according to reports. He was an outgoing and well-liked businessman from all accounts but the two-time felon was also feared on the streets. His latest prison stint ended with his release in 1999 after doing a five-year stretch on federal racketeering and loan sharking charges. At the time of his death, he was a suspect in multiple murder conspiracies according to federal records. The FBI claim that informants have linked Falzone to the 1980 mafia hit on a young wiseguy named William Sciolino who was believed to supplying the feds with information on wrongdoings of the mobbed-up Local 210 union. He was also captured by authorities in late 1989 via a bug in his car discussing a recent mob murder with former mafia captain John “Fat Johnny” Sacco.
According to some reports Falzone had semi-retired in mid-2000s and picked 72-year-old Robert “Bobby” Panaro to be the families acting boss. The recent status of the Buffalo crime family is a matter of debate as some believe the family remains viable and has even moved in a new younger direction. But most including many in law enforcement believe the Buffalo mafia is all but dead and that there is nothing left worth organizing. The old guard which includes Russ Carcone, Victor Sansanese, Frank BiFulco, and Panaro seem to be all that’s remains with little indication that they are still active in the local underworld. Perhaps some rackets remain intact but one thing is for sure the mafia in Buffalo is no longer and will never again be the powerful family it once was.
There is still some chatter around about what remains of the Buffalo family and as to how active it still is but it seems the days of them being a viable family are over. Sure there may be a few made guys left in the area and they may even have a couple rackets still going but there doesn’t seem to be the makings of a family left and probably no hierarchy.
I am guessing they are still a viable family. Fino in his book The Triangle Exit suggests LIUNA Local 210 was never rid of the mob in any real way. The guys (Peter and Sam Capitano) who fought the Federal Trusteeship are President and Vice President today. They were Joe Todaro Jr.’s right hand men and are likely Anthony’s today. Additionnally, Panepinto (related by marriage to the Todaro’s) who’s Dad Donald “The Turtle” was a soldier and 210 leader was a lawyer for the National helping fight to keep the Coaia brothers (LIUNA) national leaders out of too much trouble. When Coaia retiredvhe was replaced with a Mac with mob ties. Just a few months ago Louis Ciminelli a Buffalo Developer and former Trustee of 210’s pension fund with Falzone, Pieri, Sansanese, Caci, Gerace (mob soldiers and associates) that was indicted in a RICO suit for misuse of funds with these guys in 91, was just indicted i September 2016 for Bribery and Bid Rigging in the Buffalo Billion scandal. Here is the court case naming him as a defendant in 91: http://www.leagle.com/decision/19911255768FSupp487_11146/SOUTHMARK%20PRIME%20PLUS,%20L.P.%20v.%20FALZONE
Here is an article about his indictment in 2016: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/11/22/three-lpciminelli-execs-indicted.amp.html?client=safari
Too much of a coincidence to think the Familyvis dead and not involved in this huge scandal which 210 and it laborers and “agents” are benefiting from.
Yeah we know the magaddino crime family went in younger direction with Anthony todaro but can we get bio on him and not just Bobby panaro because Anthony is the one that is young running many of the young crews.
I don’t think Anthony is that young. I believe he is Joseph “Pizza” Todaro Jr.’s brother and a Capo in the family.
I believe the underboss of the Buffalo/Todaro Crime family was arrested on Nov. 9 in Canada. I am hearing rumors the family has 52-55 made men with 12 retired… The administration is made up Butchie Bifulco, Giuseppe (Joe) Violi, and Victor Sansanese. Their are at least 7 Capos and they run at least 2 crews in Buffalo, crews in Hamilton, one in Toronto, one in Rome/Utica, one or more in Rochester, and a crew in Vegas.