Ignazio (Sonny) Cannone

Sonny Cannone was a well-liked young associate with good Family connections who was formally inducted by the age of 30. His mob standing was clearly evidenced by his attendance at the infamous 1957 Mafia Meeting at Joe Barbara's estate in Apalachin, NY.

Ignazio (Sonny) Cannone - aka "Nat" and "Ignatius"- was born in 1925 in New York City. Cannone seems to have migrated to upstate Endicott/Binghamton, New York early on, residing for years at 3634 Rath Avenue in the Endwell section. He also resided in Florida at some point, commuting back and forth to New York state as needed.

He was the nephew of Bonanno powerhouse Natale (Joe Diamond) Evola and was related to Giuseppe (Joe) Barbara, the Apalachin host and Family boss.

Sonny Cannone

He was a well-liked young associate with good Family connections who was formally inducted by the age of 30. His mob standing was clearly evidenced by his attendance at the infamous BBQ in 1957 at Barbara’s Apalachin home.

His father Diego was a suspected early member of the upstate Family. So, his connections ran pretty deep, indeed, as several Family leaders and old Family friends were members.

He was suspected of being active in local gambling operations and illegal liquor trafficking. He also operated several local bars and restaurants including Nat’s Place and The Plaza Lounge.

After the debacle at Apalachin, and with the extensive exposure received, authorities went on a harassment campaign against Cannone rousting him and arresting him for any minor violation regardless of what it was. As an example, he was pulled over and arrested for driving 50 miles an hour in a 30-mile-an-hour speed limit zone by state troopers.

Ignazio (Sonny) Cannone arrested at Apalachin

Another example was when Sonny was arrested for serving a single beer and highball exactly 23 minutes after the legal 1 a.m. bar curfew in the city. He ended up pleading guilty and paying a $50 fine. He would also be stopped and frisked, indiscriminately, all part of a harassment campaign stemming from the Apalachin meeting.

Cannone later chose to relocate back to the New York City area. He was suspected of possibly having transferred his membership back under his uncle Natale, who subsequently rose to Family boss.

He was a suspected partner of his brother Frank in gambling operations. Frank maintained a gambling operation in the Binghamton area under the auspices of Anthony (Gov) Guarnieri and the Bufalino Family.

The Familial ties, going back to common Castellammarese heritage, bound the Bonanno, Buffalo, and Binghamton members regardless of formal Family affiliations allowing for cooperation and mutual endeavors.

Associates of Cannone included Pasquale Turrigiano, Angelo Sciandra, and Evola, among many others.

Cannone had a minor arrest record for disorderly conduct and assault, resisting arrest, and conspiracy to obstruct justice for the Apalachin meeting for which he received three years incarceration, but it was eventually overturned on appeal.

Unfortunately, the federal authorities, if unable to jail him, made sure to ruin him financially by revoking his liquor licenses for both bars. It was a move that was a factor in his relocation back to Brooklyn where he then seemed to have successfully kept a low profile avoiding any additional trouble with the law in the following years.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Ignazio (Sonny) Cannone

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Ignazio (Sonny) Cannone

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Racketeer Snapshot: Lucchese Family Soldier Carlo Piccioli

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