John C. Montana
President of the Van Dyke Taxicab Co. of Buffalo and a former Buffalo councilman. He testified to the McClellan Committee in 1958 about his trip of November 14, 1957, and his Apalachin conviction was reversed in 1960. Joseph Valachi testified in 1963 that he had been a lieutenant under Stefano Magaddino.
- Born
- 1893-06-30
- Aliases
- John Charles Montana, John Montana
- Role
- "originally was a lieutenant under" Stefano Magaddino, in Joseph Valachi's testimony (8 October 1963). Testimony, not a court finding; a Buffalo police witness said he had no arrest record before Apalachin.
- Rights
- Biography on this page is limited to what the cited federal records state.
On the record
- 1958 — Montana testified under oath: "I was born on June 30, 1893, in Montedoro, Italy," that he came to Buffalo in 1907, and that he was president of the Van Dyke Taxicab Co. He said he was on the way to Pittston, Pa., and New York on November 14, 1957, with Anthony Maggadino in his car, and stopped at Joseph Barbara's for help after his car failed. "The first time I knew that was Apalachin was when I read it in the paper." (Part 32, pp. 12293-12302). Testimony.
- 1958 — The McClellan Committee staff list: "Montana, John Charles (Buffalo): At Apalachin meeting. President of several companies and director, chairman, etc., of various civic associations." (Part 32, p. 12198). Committee staff memorandum, which the chairman said "is not evidence."
- 28 November 1960 — United States v. Bufalino, 285 F.2d 408 (2d Cir. 1960), lists John Montana among four men "apprehended in the fields" near Barbara's house and reverses the convictions of the appellants, including Montana, for insufficient evidence. Court opinion.
- 8 October 1963 — Asked by Senator Javits about any connection between Montana and "one of these families," Joseph Valachi said: "he has been in this family as far back as I can remember, through the years," and, of Magaddino, "He is the boss. Montana originally was a lieutenant under him." (Senate hearings 1963, Part 1, p. 299). Testimony.
- 9 October 1963 — Shown the Buffalo chart, Valachi identified "Stefano Magaddino and John Montana" (Senate hearings 1963, Part 1, p. 390). Testimony.
- 16 October 1963 — Buffalo police Lt. Michael Amico testified that "our research disclosed no arrest on either a local, State, Federal, or international level" before Apalachin, that police linked him to the Magaddino organization through observed associations, and that "at the present time" he had "terminated his activities completely, so to speak, with the mob" (Senate hearings 1963, Part 2, pp. 590-592). Police testimony.
This page is limited to federal records. The role line quotes Joseph Valachi’s sworn testimony and is not a finding. The Buffalo police lieutenant who testified the same month said police found no arrest record for Montana before Apalachin, called his link to Magaddino an inference from “his associations throughout the years,” and said he had since separated himself from the group. His conviction in the Apalachin case was reversed. The Buffalo police chart of 1963 labels him “At Apalachin”; that label is not used here. His birth date is his own testimony; no record opened gives his death.
Records
itemTestimony of John C. Montana before the McClellan Committee, 1958 (Part 32)The president of Buffalo's Van Dyke Taxicab Co. testified under oath about his birth, his businesses and his trip of November 14, 1957, saying he drove with Anthony Maggadino, "an uncle through marriage to my nephew," and stopped at Joseph Barbara's for help with his car.
itemTestimony of Buffalo Police Lt. Michael Amico on Stefano Magaddino and John C. Montana, October 16, 1963The head of Buffalo's Criminal Intelligence Bureau introduced the "Magaddino Empire of Organized Crime" chart (Exhibit 65), read a statement calling Stefano Magaddino the "titular head" of syndicated crime in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls and Toronto areas, and said police had found no arrest of John C. Montana before Apalachin.
itemMcClellan Committee staff list: "Individuals at Apalachin and Names of Some of Their Contacts and Associates" (1958)An alphabetical staff memorandum printed in Part 32 (pp. 12194-12201) giving a residence and a summary of arrests, businesses and associations for each Apalachin attendee and some contacts. The chairman admitted it "for guidance and information only" and said "It is not evidence."
itemTestimony of James V. La Duca before the McClellan Committee, 1958 (Part 32)James V. La Duca of Lewiston, N.Y., declined on Fifth Amendment grounds to answer whether he attended the Apalachin meeting, while Robert F. Kennedy read the staff's information on his work for John C. Montana's taxi company, the Maggadino Funeral Home and Local 66 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees.itemUnited States v. Bufalino, 285 F.2d 408 (2d Cir. 1960)Second Circuit opinion reversing the convictions of Russell Bufalino and nineteen others for obstructing justice and perjury after the 14 November 1957 gathering at Apalachin, New York. The court says the government offered no evidence of the meeting's purpose.itemHearing of October 8, 1963: the five New York family charts presentedNew York police Deputy Chief Inspector John J. Shanley presented Charts A to E, and Valachi answered questions about the men on them. McClellan directed that the charts be printed "exactly as they appear."itemHearing of October 9, 1963: final day of Part 1The last day of Valachi's public testimony, with further New York police and staff witnesses. The chairman stated a chart total of 338 persons, 289 of them identified by Valachi.