Bonanno Family Ceremonies (1990s)

Brief descriptions, in chronological order, of known Bonanno Family induction ceremonies from the 1990s.

The majority of this information was obtained from the Bonanno CWs of the early 2000s.

Many of the dates given are approximate. It's possible some names listed separately were made together.

More info will be added as it becomes available.

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c. Summer 1990

- Michael 'Mickey Bats' Cardello (48y) [Sponsored by S. Vitale]

Michael Cardello

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July 1990

Location: Storefront / Social Club (Bath Ave, Brooklyn)

Attendees:
- Anthony Spero (61y) (Consigliere) (Died 2008)

- Frank Lino (52y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)
- Frank Porco (61y) (Acting Captain)
- Salvatore Vitale (42y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)

- Alfred Embarrato (80y) (Soldier) (Died 2001)

Members Inducted:
- Richard Cantarella (46y) (Flipped 2002) [Sponsored by A. Embarrato]
- Robert Lino Jr. (24y) [Sponsored by F. Lino]

Ceremony presided over by Vitale.

Induction through verbal oath only. Cantarella: "It was a very quick ceremony. [We] all held hands, and I swore to secrecy, and given some of the rules, and I was [assigned] to a captain, and that was it."

Cantarella (L) and Lino (R)

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February 1991

Location: Residence (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)

Attendees:
- Anthony Spero (62y) (Consigliere) (Died 2008)

- Patrick DeFilippo (52y) (Acting Captain) (Died 2013)
- Salvatore Vitale (44y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)

- Joseph Cammarano (55y) (Soldier) (Died 2013)

Members Inducted:
- Vincent Basciano (31y) (IPL 2006) [Sponsored by P. DeFilippo]

Ceremony held in kitchen and presided over by Vitale.

DeFilippo attended as Acting Captain for the imprisoned Charles Musillo, Basciano's initial sponsor.

Vincent Basciano

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c. February 1991
- Salvatore 'Sally Horse' Tozzi (46y) (Murdered 1993) [Sponsored by A. Spero]

Tozzi proposed at same time as Basciano and possibly inducted in the above ceremony.

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c. Summer 1991

- Jerome Asaro (33y)
- Joseph Cammarano Jr. (32y)
- Peter 'Petey Boxcars' Cosoleto (44y)
- Vincenzo D'Antoni (48y)
- Vito Grimaldi (52y) (Died 2022)
- John 'Johnny Boy' Mirabile (30y)

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August 17, 1991

Location: Barbieri Residence (Astoria, Queens)

Attendees:
- Anthony Spero (62y) (Consigliere) (Died 2008)

- Patrick DeFilippo (52y) (Acting Captain) (Died 2013)
- Louis Restivo (56y) (Captain) (Died 2014)
- Gerlando Sciascia (57y) (Captain) (Murdered 1999)
- James Tartaglione (54y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)
- Salvatore Vitale (44y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)

Members Inducted:
- Generoso 'Jimmy General' Barbieri (32y) (Flipped 2005) [Sponsored by J. Tartaglione]
- Anthony 'Tony Nicole' Frascone (42y) [Sponsored by P. DeFilippo]
- Pietro Ligammari (30y) (Suicide 1999) [Sponsored by G. Sciascia]

Ceremony presided over by Spero and Vitale.

Induction through verbal oath only.

Barbieri: "They asked us do we know why we're here. Of course we all said no..Then they told us some different rules about the Bonanno Family; that if you had any problems with anybody before this day, you didn't do anything about it, you couldn't do anything about it anymore. Never to speak to law enforcement. Never go out with another guy's wife. Not to sell drugs. [Because] of the FBI surveillance, they didnt use a knife and a gun..Vitale and Spero, they went through the ceremony, telling us all different things about what to do, what not to do. Then we locked hands and basically that's how it went."

Barbieri (1991)

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The books may have been closed from late 1991 through 1994.

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1995

- Frank Coppa Jr. (37y) [Sponsored by F. Coppa]
- Anthony 'Tony Black' Furino (40y) [Sponsored by J. Massino]

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c. 1995-1996

- Anthony Calabrese (28y)
- Joseph 'Joe Shakes' DiStefano (43y) [Sponsored by S. Vitale]
- Vincent 'Vinny Green' Faraci (40y)
- Stephen 'Stevie Blue' LoCurto (34y) (IPL 2006) [Sponsored by A. Graziano]
- Thomas Mallette (Died 1999) [Sponsored by F. Coppa]
- Bari Mascitti (49y) (Died 2014) [Sponsored by J. Tartaglione]
- Nicholas Santora (44y) (Died 2018) [Sponsored by J. Massino]

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December 1996

Attendees:
- Joseph Massino (53y) (Boss) (Flipped 2004)
- Salvatore Vitale (49y) (Underboss) (Flipped 2003)

- Richard Cantarella (53y) (Acting Captain) (Flipped 2002)
- Frank Lino (59y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)
- James Tartaglione (Captain) (Flipped 2003)

Members Inducted:
- Paul Cantarella (24y) (Flipped 2002) [Sponsored by R. Cantarella]
- Joseph Lino (38y) [Sponsored by F. Lino]
- Daniel Mongelli (30y) [Sponsored by F. Lino]

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c. 1996-1997
- Michael 'Mikey Nose' Mancuso (40y) [Sponsored by P. DeFilippo]

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December 1997

Location: Hotel Room (Long Island)

Attendees:
- Joseph Massino (54y) (Boss) (Flipped 2004)
- Salvatore Vitale (50y) (Underboss) (Flipped 2003)

- Richard Cantarella (54y) (Acting Captain) (Flipped 2002)
- Frank Coppa (56y) (Captain) (Flipped 2002)
- Frank Lino (60y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)

Members Inducted:
- Nicholas 'P.J.' Pisciotti (28y) (Flipped 2005) [Sponsored by F. Coppa]
- Richard 'Fat Richie' Riccardi (48y) [Sponsored by F. Lino]

Induction through verbal oath only. See Pisciotti's bio for further details.

Pisciotti (L) and Riccardi (R)

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c. Early 1998

Attendees:
- Joseph Massino (55y) (Boss) (Flipped 2004)
- Salvatore Vitale (51y) (Underboss) (Flipped 2003)

- James Tartaglione (60y) (Captain) (Flipped 2003)
- Other Unspecified Captain(s)

Members Inducted:
- Sandro Aiosa (55y) [Sponsored by V. Asaro]
- Joseph Grimaldi (27y)
- Anthony Navarra (26y) [Sponsored by A. Urso]

CW Francesco Fiordilino later claimed he was told the following by Grimaldi: "[Grimaldi] said they drove out to the [Long Island Expressway], two cars, they went out there, they stopped [and exited the vehicles], they told him: Listen, we are not going to go through the ceremony and these guys are made, don't tell nobody."

CW Tartaglione stated he was present when the above were inducted but mentioned nothing unusual in how it was carried out.

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c. 1998

Attendees:
- Joseph Massino (55y) (Boss) (Flipped 2004)
- Salvatore Vitale (51y) (Underboss) (Flipped 2003)

- Peter Calabrese (49y) (Acting Captain)
- Richard Cantarella (54y) (Captain) (Flipped 2002)
- Frank Coppa (57y) (Captain) (Flipped 2002)
- Gerlando Sciascia (64y) (Captain) (Murdered 1999)

- Joseph DiStefano (46y) (Soldier)

Members Inducted:
- Vincent 'Vinny TV' Badalamenti (40y) [Sponsored by P. Calabrese]
- Joseph Torre (46y) [Sponsored by R. Cantarella]

Badalamenti (L) and Torre (R)

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c. Mid-1999

Location: Residence (New York)

Attendees:
- Joseph Massino (56y) (Boss) (Flipped 2004)
- Salvatore Vitale (52y) (Underboss) (Flipped 2003)

- Joseph Cammarano (63y) (Captain) (Died 2013)
- Patrick DeFilippo (60y) (Captain) (Died 2013)

Members Inducted:
- Peter Lovaglio (37y) (Flipped 2016) [Sponsored by J. Cammarano]
- John 'Johnny Joe' Spirito (40y) [Sponsored by P. DeFilippo]

Lovaglio (L) and Spirito (R)
Source: Gang Land News

Induction through verbal oath only.

Lovaglio: "[You're] asked [if you know] why you're there and you say no. And you're read some rules. Told that you're being inducted into the Family. At the time it was the Massino Family. And you're read some rules and you're inducted...There's some rules about wives and daughters. Always report when you're called. If you have to kill, you have to kill. In other words, put everything on record and don't ever tell."

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c. Mid-1999

- Alfred Altadonna (48y)
- Giacomo 'Jack' Bonventre (31y) [Sponsored by J. Asaro]

Both included with Lovaglio and Spirito on list of proposed members.

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c. Late 1990s
- Fabrizio 'The Herder' DeFrancisci (30y) [Sponsored by A. Graziano]
- Thomas Ferreri (40y)
- Ronald Giallanzo (28y) [Sponsored by V. Asaro]
- Giovanni Licata (60y)
- Philip Navarra (27y) [Sponsored by A. Urso]
- Several others

Edit1: Added addtional information on Lovaglio / Spirito ceremony.