Body of Former N.Y. Mafia Boss Fished Out of River in Canada
- Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:33am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Alleged former mafia boss Salvatore Montagna was found dead along a river in Canada Thursday. (Image source: New York Daily News)
MONTREAL (The Blaze/AP) — The body of an alleged Mafia boss, who U.S. authorities said once led New York’s notorious Bonanno crime family, was fished out from a river north of Montreal on Thursday.
Reports identified the body as Salvatore Montagna, although police wouldn’t immediately confirm or deny the identity.
The FBI once called him the acting boss of the Bonanno crime family — prompting one of New York’s tabloids to call him the “Bambino Boss” because of his rise to power in his mid-30s. Nicknamed “Sal The Iron Worker,” he owned and operated a successful steel business in the U.S.
Montagna’s death is the latest in a series of Mafia-related killings and disappearances over the last two years. He was considered a contender to take over the decimated Rizzuto family.
A provincial police spokesman said Thursday that a private citizen called after seeing a body along the shores of the L’Assomption River. The same person also reported that he heard gunshots, but Sgt. Benoit Richard said he couldn’t confirm how the victim died.
According to the National Post, Montagna may have jumped into the water in a bid to avoid the gunman.
“When [police] arrived, they saw a man lying near the river, they took him out of the water and started doing CPR with the help of the emergency personnel,” Richard said.
Richard said police will await the results of an autopsy, scheduled for Friday, to determine the cause of death.
Montagna was born in Montreal but raised in Sicily and, although he moved to the United States at 15, he never obtained U.S. citizenship.
The married father of three was deported to Canada from the United States in 2009 because of a conviction for refusing to testify before a grand jury on illegal gambling.
He pled guilty to the minor charge, but it made him ineligible to stay in the U.S. Montagna had no criminal record in Canada and re-entered without trouble.
His arrival in Montreal occurred just months before members of the Rizzuto family began being killed.
The FBI had called Montagna the acting boss of the Bonanno crime family, an allegation his lawyer denied.
The Bonanno crime family is one of the five largest Mafia families in New York — one of the notorious criminal gangs that formed the original Commission, along with Al Capone and Lucky Luciano.
There had been speculation that Montagna had been part of the new Mafia leadership in Montreal and was trying to reorganize the leaderless group.
His death comes just two months after another man with Mafia ties, Raynald Desjardins, narrowly escaped death in a shooting in a suburb north of Montreal. Desjardins had close ties to Vito Rizzuto, the reputed head of the Montreal Mafia who is currently imprisoned in the United States.
A rash of killings and disappearances in late 2009 and early 2010 decimated the operation and have robbed him of many of his closest family members. Rizzuto’s father and son were gunned down, as were other friends, while his brother-in-law simply vanished.
Montagna became the latest name on the list.
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Comments (64)
drillsetc
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:25pmI was surprised when I saw the picture. I expected an older guy.
Report Post »heyjim55
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:47pmThe mafia is running out of old mobsters most of them are dead or in prison, the amount of time a mob boss has to rule is much shorter than in years past. So they are getting younger and are less experienced and one might say more foolish. The Italian mafia that is so famous here is much weaker than most people know and less sophisticated when you compare it to lets say the Russian mob. If you take out a Russian boss another equally capable man steps up, there is not enough space here to explain it further other than to say they are structured differently because the of where the Russian mafia was created (Gulags). the other difference is that the Russian mafia is relatively new to America and very difficult to penetrate because Russia is now a mafia type state.
Report Post »sweetgold
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:43pmYou don’t know the age of the photo. The quality of the photo means the cops used a cheap camera or the photo is old 70‘s or early 80’s.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on November 27, 2011 at 7:53amThe Bonanno crime family is one of the five largest Mafia families in New York — one of the notorious criminal gangs that formed the original Commission, along with Al Capone and Lucky Luciano.
Report Post »Al capone had nothing to do with forming the commission yet he was named first here.. Al Capone WAS there at the commissions meeting and did partake in the vote but was just another mafioso sitting at the table.. Amazing, they deport the Italian/sicilian but let all the mexicans stay…
grayling646
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:25pmHe shouldn’t have refused that last offer….whatever it was.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:33pmOnce you are a captive… none of the choices may seem reasonable!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:17pmPoor fish…imagine the grease content of that water…a sure killer to wildlife
Report Post »Tightroper2
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:13pmBut daddy, I thought you could swim – Your loving daughter, Carmella
Report Post »loveliberty83
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:35pma Bonano came to visit a patience in Scotsdale Az.-after surgery this patient aspirated on his own fluids & died 9 this guy had left to get his son away from the mafia)
Report Post »Ferrarello
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:27pmUnkie Sal…Is That You ?
Report Post »Anna Fallaxis
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:13pmOur politicians make these guys look like Girl Scouts.
Report Post »Trowerpower
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:09pmLmao!!!
Report Post »JeannieNC
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 3:50pmI’ve have often wondered if some of our politicians have “friends in low places”? So to speak.
Report Post »Proudmexican
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 4:23pmThats funny stuff lol
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:34pmYou bet. Our politicians get money from the mobsters so they, the crooks, can operate with impunity. I guess that sentence didn’t make much sense. They’re both crooks :-)
Report Post »felix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:03pmhe was also on our dear DICTATORS job creating business advisory board !
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:28pmSo thats what they mean by “ swimmin wit da fishes ” bummer.
Report Post »Itchee Dryback
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:50pmfelix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:03pm
________________________________
Really?
Report Post »TPartyXpress
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:19pm@Detroit paperboy I believe you mean sleepin’ with the fishes.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:57amSorry to the wife and kids, but he made his bed now has to lie in it; in this case now his bed will six-feet under. The world is better off with this man gone. Now we just need to eliminate the others. My guess they are now teaming up again or continue to team up with the unions, as well as all the commie’s of the world. It is time we deal with the riff raff.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:22pmHe knew too much and the corrupt unions rub each other out. Did he have cement shoes on?
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:49amNow thats what I call a tough Union – fishing w/o a pole
Report Post »Bada bing bada boom!
RightPolitically
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:39amIf he had any brains, the guy would have become a Congressman. At least then he’d have been better protected and stolen “legal” instead of outside the law.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:44amcouldn’t have happened to a better banana, gives meaning to ‘swims with the fishes’, now to all the rest to jump in too! the world would be a better place
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:45amhe must have messed with Joe Biden!
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:30pmYes, these corrupt folks do remind us of Congress, except they can do it legally. Kinda like Pelosi and her husband using private info to do insider trading to add a few million more to their coffers as if they haven‘t gotten filthy rich off all the things they’ve gotten away with while she’s been in Congress and especially Speaker, using her power to turn things her way. Her millions have been gained on the backs of Americans who keep voting her in office. But, they’re all corrupt. When will we learn?
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:35ammovin on
Report Post »green_manalishi
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:29amNancy Pelosi is queenpin of all organized crime in America, the tutte de fruti of all the bananas and gambinos and is the head of the Truman Capote crime family. She unique leads her own FBI crime list as Americas #1 Not Wanted list
Report Post »PATRIOTGRUNT
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:17amThat’s Tony Montagna , he forgot his “ Lille Frend ”. Can you believe that they are remaking Scarface.
Report Post »GUNNSUP
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:52pmThats all the leftists in commiewood can do anymore is remake old classic films. They have no talent to create their own materials so they ride the coattails of the old salts of the business that had some class & real imagination….
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:11amDid Barry confiscate the Mafia “BIG Tuna”??
Uncle Sam is now in the fish confiscation business. Any infraction, like netting a big tuna or hooking a Mr Big Mafia Tuna, will not be allowed.
Report Post »SLARTIBARTFAST
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:09amSmall time criminals compared to our government…. THOSE guys know how to rake in the dough!
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:06amQuick, look for Richard Klukinsky.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:30pmThe Iceman is dead. Died in prison. He was a ‘scary dude’.
Report Post »Seneca264
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:06amProbably a contract carried out by one of Obama’s lieutenants.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:04amIt’s no big deal folks, just the Mafias’ early retirement program!
Report Post »classicalgas
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:01pmI wonder what his union death benefit package is? Probably millions.
Report Post »Itchee Dryback
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 12:52pmDeath panels.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 2:38pmI like it: Can we get it expanded to Government Workers?
Report Post »Affirmative Blaction
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:03amSo this guy ran a steel factory…and he was an illegal…who wants to bet it was unionized.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:47ami’ll bite
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:01amQuery then — is is a new family trying to seize power, new gang moving in from another nation, or could it be the administration via union thugs and the like seeking to settle matters?
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:51amNew faction appears more evil than the Canadian and U.S. mafia … can’t be good for us.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:43amit sounds like the government mafia is moving on the old mafia.
Report Post »AFL-CIO, SEIU, UAW, CWA, etc. are the enfrorcement arm of Obama’s government corruption empire.
NOBALONEY
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:42am“He sleeps with the fishes”
Report Post »fixer
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:49amDamn,I was gonna say that….lol
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 11:02am“Take me to the river…throw him in the water..”
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:42amSo what.
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