THE MAFIA LIVES ON

Secret recording gives rare glimpse into mob induction ceremony

By Emily Saul

New York Post
November 9, 2017

Newly unsealed court documents reveal a fresh peek into the closely-guarded secret that is a mob induction ceremony.

As part of an international drug bust, the FBI covertly recorded audio and video of the ceremony of one unnamed man “getting made” during a 2015 mafia rite in Canada.

“The reason why we’re here is from this day forward, you’re gonna be an official member of the Bonanno family,” one of the men, nabbed as part of a drug trafficking ring, is heard saying, according to court papers.

“From this guy, this guy, this guy, everybody approved it, so from this day forward, you’re a member of the Bonanno family. Congratulations,” the papers cite Damiano Zummo, a reputed Bonanno capo, as saying.

Zummo goes on to introduce the man making the recording to a “friend of ours with the Bonannos.”

“You only answer to the Bonanno family,” adds the 44-year-old, who was held without bail following his arraignment in Brooklyn federal court on various charges, including drug dealing, weapons possession, and loansharking.

The wiseguy and one of his co-defendants, associate Paul Ragusa, are accused of selling some $40,000 worth of cocaine out of an unnamed Manhattan Gelato shop.

Ragusa is caught on another recording offering to whack someone with an ice pick, the papers say. He’s not charged in relation to that statement.

“The recording of a secret induction ceremony is an extraordinary achievement for law enforcement, and deals a significant blow to La Cosa Nostra,” Acting Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde said in a statement.

Both Zummo and Ragusa were held without bail.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Deals a significant blow to La Cosa Nostra? Where have I heard that before? Over the years, every time there is a bust of Mafia mobsters, the U.S. Attorney claims it is a mortal blow to the mob.

The only thing that has diminished the Mafia is the takeover of crimes associated with the mob by African-American, Dominican, Jamaican and Russian gangs.