In 1986, after 15 years Tommy Vercetti was released from prison, Sonny welcomed him back but there was a problem, he didn't want him on the streets of Liberty, it was bad for business. Sonny had been thinking about expanding his operations down south so this was a perfect opportunity. He sent Tommy down to Vice City to meet up with his contact – Ken Rosenberg.
Forelli organised drug deal with some Columbians and wanted Tommy to go make the exchange. Sure enough Vercetti met up with the Columbians at Vice City docks to make the deal. However it was ambushed but Vercetti and Ken escaped without the money or drugs.
When Sonny got word of this he exploded, he ordered Tommy to get the money back by any means necessary. Vercetti had no choice.
Months past, then Sonny got word that Tommy had killed the reigning drug kingpin of Vice and had taken over all his operations among other businesses - Tommy was making big money but no tribute was being paid to Sonny. This infuriated Sonny so had his men find a weak link in chain, he found on – a friend of Tommy's called Lance Vance. Sonny secretly flew Lance to Liberty and made a deal with him. He wanted all of Tommy's action in Vice but he knew Tommy wasn't going to give it up willingly. Lance made the deal with Sonny.
Weeks after Sonny sent down a gang of his collectors to force Tommy's businesses to pay tribute. Tommy didn't like this and killed every last one of them. Sonny decided it was time for him and his men to pay Tommy a personal visit. It was the last trip Sonny would take.
Sonny's men stormed Tommy's mansion, miraculously Tommy executed them all. Sonny was all alone with Tommy – Tommy resented Sonny for sending him to prison. It was Sonny's fault he was locked up for 15 years. Sonny Forelli paid with his life.
News reached Liberty, Salvatore was overjoyed. The fall of the Forelli family had begun. Sonny's younger brother, Vincent (29) took charge of the family in 1986. After seeing what Tommy Vercetti did to Sonny and his men took no action. Tommy has his own army and the Forellis had their own battles to fight in Liberty. The Sindaccos and Leones were slowly muscling in on their rackets. Vincent was feeling the heat. When he was alive Sonny had conceived the perfect plan to kill both Salvatore and Antonio - but never gave out the fine details. He was secretive and was waiting for the right time, unfortunately with his death they would never know.
In 1986 Salvatore received news one of his men, LSPD Police Chief Sheridan had been brutally killed while driving home. Even more interestingly it looked to be a Forelli hit, a single red rose was left on the body. Salvatore had underestimated the Forellis.
For the next 6 years the Liberty city families were back to their old ways, Salvatore and the Forellis had their scuffles over turf and rackets, and the Sindaccos were slowly rising back to the top in Liberty gaining more and more influence each week. By now Anthony Sindacco had a son who joined him in his organisation – Johnny Sindacco. He was useless at anything he did and would always be getting caught and Anthony had to always bail him out.
It was in 1992 Johnny Sindacco pitched an idea to hid father about moving back to Venturas – A casino Caligula's Palace was for sale and this would be the perfect opportunity to launder all the families money. The Antonio liked the idea but it was too big a risk He needed an equally corrupt partner.
Johnny suggested an idea that was first seen as insane. Why not get the Leones and Forellis involved. That way the risk is shared. Anthony was always the optimist; this could be a way to bring the families together again. He sent Johnny to negotiate with Vincent and Salvatore.