Born in Buffalo to Sicilian immigrants, Sansanese began his criminal career as a juvenile. Unlike many who started with petty theft, Sansanese was comfortable with extreme violence from the start.
- The Drug Store Shootout (1927): At just 19, he was critically wounded in a gun battle with Buffalo police during a robbery. His accomplice was killed; Sansanese survived a bullet to the back and served five years.
- The “Lucky” 30-Year Term (1936): In a legendary bit of legal timing, Sansanese was sentenced to 30 years at Attica for a barber shop robbery on March 28, 1936. Had he been sentenced a single day later, a new law would have mandated a 60-year sentence.
- The Attica Connection: While in Attica, he met Joseph Fino. This partnership would eventually control the gambling and loan-sharking rackets of Western New York for decades.
The Chief Enforcer (1945–1969)
After his parole in 1944, Sansanese became the “muscle” for the Buffalo family’s top leadership.
- The Enforcer: By the late 1950s, he was the chief collector for Frederico “The Wolf” Randaccio. His name became synonymous with fear; he was the prime suspect in several of Buffalo’s most notorious gangland slayings, including the murders of the Agueci brothers and Charles Gerass.
- Capodecina: By 1963, the McClellan Senate Committee officially identified him as a capodecina (captain) in the Buffalo Mafia.
Revolution and the Underboss Era (1970–1975)
When the Buffalo faction rebelled against boss Stefano Magaddino in the late 1960s, Sansanese threw his weight behind the “insurgents,” including Sam Pieri.
- Ascension: When Sam Pieri was incarcerated in the early 1970s, Joseph Fino took the top spot and named Sansanese his Underboss. This placed Danny at the absolute peak of the Buffalo underworld.
- Jury Tampering & Perjury: mirroring Sam Pieri’s tactics, Sansanese was caught in the 1972 investigation into jury tampering. He was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 5 years, but his health was failing.
Final Years
Suffering from prostate cancer, Sansanese was released from prison after serving only one year. He died in Buffalo on November 1, 1975, at the age of 67.
The Buffalo Hierarchy (Rebel Faction 1970-1972)
| Position | Name | Role/Legacy |
| Acting Boss | Sam Pieri | The political and strategic leader; focused on “fixing” cases. |
| Underboss | Danny Sansanese | The enforcer; controlled the streets and the “hitters.” |
| Key Ally | Joseph Fino | The gambling specialist and bridge between the two leaders. |
| The “Crew” | Stanley Seneca / Sacco | The specialist burglars providing high-end capital (Second Story Gang). |