Latest Arrests in Italy Are Bigger Than You Think
The Inzerillo's returned, and the FEDS pounced. One of the more interesting questions I have had is in regards to what would happen after Salvatore "Toto" Riina died. History usually repeats itself, and in this case, it sorta has.
On July 17, in the early hours Italian authorities went to work. They would arrest 19 alleged members of the Mafia. 18 of the 19 suspects were arrested just outside Palermo. 200 FBI and police officers conducted the raid in the predawn hours. Specifically it appears as if this was a coordinated effort to clip the ties between the Gambino crime family, and the Inzerillo crime family.
This mainly comes on the heels of the Frank Cali hit, which happened a few months ago. It's long been asserted that Frank Cali was the go between the Sicilian faction and the Gambino crime family. Frank Cali married into the Inzerillo family years ago, and has been widely considered over the years to be the bridge gap of sorts. That all ended when Cali was gunned down outside of his home by Anthony Comello.
What we do know, is that the Inzerillo's were effectively, at least according to law enforcement sources as being "chased out of Sicily," by Toto Riina. Riina had a firm grip on Palermo, and was relentless in making his point known.
The Inzerillo's were essentially founded in the 1950's by Salvatore Inzerillo. At one time the Inzerillo's were considered the strongest of the clans in Palermo. There ties went all the way back to Carlo Gambino.
It's worth noting that the Inzerillo's were cousins of Carlo Gambino, which is likely why that bond was so strong. Between 1981-83 all hell broke loose in Italy, and there was massive warfare. Salvatore Inzerillo would be gunned down with a machine gun on May 10, 1981 in Palermo. It was a moved designed by Toto Riina, and he wouldn't stop there. Shortly after Riina would kill Santo Inzerillo and Pietro Inzerillo, in New Jersey of all places. It was Pietro's daughter whom Frank Cali would marry. The Inzerillo's left in the United States would flee according to law enforcement out of fear that they were next.
The American commission here, wanted to end the bloodshed, and reached a deal with Riina, that they would stop and leave the Inzerillo's alone. Riina was hell bent on killing the entire bloodline. Riina would agree but only on one condition. That condition was that the Inzerillo's would never ever step foot in Sicily again. For 20 years they stayed away, that was until around 2000.
From multiple sources, the Inzerillo's became a semi player again, using contacts within the Gambino crime family, and more specifically Frank Cali to forge relationships and ties. According to law enforcement sources, they have been watching the Inzerillo's and Gambino's closely and have even video taped the hierarchy meeting together, specifically Thomas Gambino, Tomasso Inzerillo, Christian Zito, and Giuseppe Spatola. It's worth noting that Thomas Gambino, Rosario Gambino, Tomasso Inzerillo, Francesco Inzerillo, were all arrested.
Since Riina's death in 2017, the foundation of the organization has seen a power vacuum, and authorities have been wait
ing to see whose going to step out front, and it appears that at least on the outside that the Inzerillo's have. How much power they wield is anyone's guess, but with Riina out of the way, it wouldn't surprise me to know that the Inzerillo's were looking to absorb some of the power.
In these raids the police uncovered property, money, and cars, all things the Italian government has done traditionally for a decade when investigating organized crime. They follow the money because if they can cut off the profits, they can draw these guys out into the open. Traditionally Italian authorities haven't been able to use RICO like laws, and one of the better ways they've been able to capitalize on the mafia's misgivings is to dry up the well. Without money they can't hide, without money they can't move.
What this all means for the Gambino's here in New York remains to be seen. It's long been asserted by law enforcement that narcotics is the hub of the money that the Gambino's bring in, along with construction and other rackets, but it's often been said that Cali was the link to it all, much to my own personal dismay.
The one thing that every journalist has gotten wrong, was that Frank Cali was the boss. While peering from the inside out, it's easy to say that. He was low key, rarely seen, and just did his thing. Cali had a ton of legitimate interests in New York and in Italy. Sometimes whose out front isn't really the guy, but it hasn't stopped everyone from pointing the finger and saying "that's him." What the Gambino's have done, like many other families, is put out a front boss. While Cali looked the part, acted the part as far as being low key, the fact is, there was a force behind Cali nobody knows, and fails to know. It's not to say Cali wasn't powerful, he was, which is probably what has led to all these weirdo QANON conspiracies. Cali's power base was in Italy. He was well loved and respected in New York, but I think the public and the press has really made a mountain out of a mole hill.
The FBI knows about Cali's European endeavors and relations. They also know about the relationships between the Gambino's and other factions overseas. It's not a hidden secret, but one of the things this does prove, is that the Gambino's have in fact moved away from traditionally US based crime membership. If we step back in time, the Bonanno's had serious roots in Sicily and kept them close, and the Gambino's are no different. Even under Gotti they had the same roots but it's not like it is now. When this specifically happened is anyone's guess, I think it's always been somewhat like that, but I think under Cali, those roots grew and became more powerful, which was beneficial to the Gambino crime family. These arrests won't handicap those relationships, but I think they lost a lot of weight when Frank Cali was killed.
Front bosses are simply that. They are put in charge to be the face of the mob. Reality is, many use front boss facade's now. They have to insulate themselves a great deal, so was Frank the man behind the curtain or just the curtain itself? The press would have you believe Cali was Don Corleone, when in reality he was a face in front of a face in front of a face. I don't think this is the end of the arrests either. With some trepidation, I wonder when the other shoe will drop. It's not enough to just have photos, you have to have wiretaps, and rats, and we haven't even reached that part yet. When the shoe drops, it's damage can be far reaching, but I think it's a safe bet, that considering 25 guys weren't arrested in New York City, it's a good sign that this is mainly an overseas issue, but then again maybe it's just a matter of weeks before something else drops, and if I were a betting man, I'd tell you that something bigger is coming.
This mainly comes on the heels of the Frank Cali hit, which happened a few months ago. It's long been asserted that Frank Cali was the go between the Sicilian faction and the Gambino crime family. Frank Cali married into the Inzerillo family years ago, and has been widely considered over the years to be the bridge gap of sorts. That all ended when Cali was gunned down outside of his home by Anthony Comello.
What we do know, is that the Inzerillo's were effectively, at least according to law enforcement sources as being "chased out of Sicily," by Toto Riina. Riina had a firm grip on Palermo, and was relentless in making his point known.
 |
| Francesco Inzerillo |
It's worth noting that the Inzerillo's were cousins of Carlo Gambino, which is likely why that bond was so strong. Between 1981-83 all hell broke loose in Italy, and there was massive warfare. Salvatore Inzerillo would be gunned down with a machine gun on May 10, 1981 in Palermo. It was a moved designed by Toto Riina, and he wouldn't stop there. Shortly after Riina would kill Santo Inzerillo and Pietro Inzerillo, in New Jersey of all places. It was Pietro's daughter whom Frank Cali would marry. The Inzerillo's left in the United States would flee according to law enforcement out of fear that they were next.
The American commission here, wanted to end the bloodshed, and reached a deal with Riina, that they would stop and leave the Inzerillo's alone. Riina was hell bent on killing the entire bloodline. Riina would agree but only on one condition. That condition was that the Inzerillo's would never ever step foot in Sicily again. For 20 years they stayed away, that was until around 2000.
 |
| Rosario Gambino |
Since Riina's death in 2017, the foundation of the organization has seen a power vacuum, and authorities have been wait
ing to see whose going to step out front, and it appears that at least on the outside that the Inzerillo's have. How much power they wield is anyone's guess, but with Riina out of the way, it wouldn't surprise me to know that the Inzerillo's were looking to absorb some of the power.
In these raids the police uncovered property, money, and cars, all things the Italian government has done traditionally for a decade when investigating organized crime. They follow the money because if they can cut off the profits, they can draw these guys out into the open. Traditionally Italian authorities haven't been able to use RICO like laws, and one of the better ways they've been able to capitalize on the mafia's misgivings is to dry up the well. Without money they can't hide, without money they can't move.
 |
| Thomas Gambino |
The one thing that every journalist has gotten wrong, was that Frank Cali was the boss. While peering from the inside out, it's easy to say that. He was low key, rarely seen, and just did his thing. Cali had a ton of legitimate interests in New York and in Italy. Sometimes whose out front isn't really the guy, but it hasn't stopped everyone from pointing the finger and saying "that's him." What the Gambino's have done, like many other families, is put out a front boss. While Cali looked the part, acted the part as far as being low key, the fact is, there was a force behind Cali nobody knows, and fails to know. It's not to say Cali wasn't powerful, he was, which is probably what has led to all these weirdo QANON conspiracies. Cali's power base was in Italy. He was well loved and respected in New York, but I think the public and the press has really made a mountain out of a mole hill.
 |
| Francesco Cali |
Front bosses are simply that. They are put in charge to be the face of the mob. Reality is, many use front boss facade's now. They have to insulate themselves a great deal, so was Frank the man behind the curtain or just the curtain itself? The press would have you believe Cali was Don Corleone, when in reality he was a face in front of a face in front of a face. I don't think this is the end of the arrests either. With some trepidation, I wonder when the other shoe will drop. It's not enough to just have photos, you have to have wiretaps, and rats, and we haven't even reached that part yet. When the shoe drops, it's damage can be far reaching, but I think it's a safe bet, that considering 25 guys weren't arrested in New York City, it's a good sign that this is mainly an overseas issue, but then again maybe it's just a matter of weeks before something else drops, and if I were a betting man, I'd tell you that something bigger is coming.
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