The Bufalino crime family built an empire from coal mines and dress factories
In short: Based in Pennsylvania's Coal Region, the Bufalino crime family exerted influence far beyond its local roots. By infiltrating labor unions and the garment industry, this organization maintained power for decades. Its history reveals a complex network of racketeering, national Mafia summits, and a slow decline fueled by federal prosecutions.
The Bufalino crime family, also known as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Mafia, emerged in the 1880s when Sicilian immigrant Stefano La Torre established a group of criminals in Pittston. The organization initially focused on bootlegging, counterfeiting, and extortion. Under later leadership, including Santo Volpe and Giovanni Sciandra, the family expanded its reach by infiltrating coal-mining companies and the United Mine Workers Union. This control allowed them to dominate the anthracite Coal Region, eventually extending their influence into New York state and beyond.
Rosario Alberto 'Russell' Bufalino, who became boss in 1949, transformed the family into a significant power. He owned at least seven dress factories and controlled the garment industry in the Pittston area while expanding into New York City's Garment District. In 1957, Bufalino co-hosted the infamous Apalachin meeting, a national gathering of about 100 Mafia heads that was raided by New York State Police. Despite the arrests, the family continued to operate through alliances with the Five Families of New York and other criminal groups, maintaining a membership of 30 to 40 'made men' during the 1960s.
The family's decline began in the late 1970s as the coal industry faded and legal pressure mounted. Russell Bufalino faced multiple convictions, including a 1981 sentence for conspiring to murder a witness. Following his death in 1994, William 'Big Billy' D'Elia took over, but the organization struggled with aging ranks and federal indictments. By 2008, D'Elia had pleaded guilty to money laundering and witness tampering. Investigators now suggest that the standalone Northeastern Pennsylvania family has effectively ceased to exist, with any remaining remnants absorbed by New York-based factions.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Bufalino crime family
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