As the new year begins we take our annual look at who currently leads the mafia families that remain active across the country.
The last year produced some very interesting mafia news and developments including what seems to be a restabilization for some of the American mafia families also known as Cosa Nostra. These organized crime groups continue to generate millions of dollars in revenue through various rackets as they fight to maintain a certain level of power and influence. Even though we constantly see stories of its demise the mob remains active and continues to show an uncanny knack for being able to adapt and survive.
While its growth and prosperity as a whole can be debated the establishment of new and stable hierarchies has definitely benefited multiple families. Various factors including the changing focus of law enforcement toward the war on terror have seemingly opened the door for the five families of the New York mafia and others around the country to rebound at least to an extent. Multiple families have been able to install and maintain these new hierarchies over the past couple of years leaving fewer of them in disarray. This latest mafia resurgence even prompted mob expert Selwyn Raab to update his Five Families book this year. While this is far from an exact science About the Mafia using multiple sources has put together this list of current mafia leaders including mafia bosses and administrations heading into 2017. For a more in-depth look at some of the families as a whole, you can check out our recently updated mafia family charts section.
GAMBINO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)
Boss: Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu/Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali
Underboss: Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali
Consigliere: Bartolomeo “Bobby/Pepe” Vernace
LUCCHESE CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)
Boss: Steven “Stevie Wonder/Herbie” Crea
Underboss: Matthew Madonna
Consigliere: Joseph “Joe C.” Caridi
GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)
Boss: Liborio “Barney” Bellomo
Underboss/Street Boss: Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara
Consigliere: “Unknown”
New Jersey Crew Boss: “Unknown”
COLOMBO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)
Boss: Carmine “Junior/The Snake” Persico
Street Boss: Andrew “Andy Mush” Russo
Underboss: Benjamin “The Little Guy” Castellazo
Acting Underboss: Dominick “Donnie Shacks” Montemarano
Consigliere: “Unknown”
Acting Consigliere: Thomas “Tom Mix/Mr. T” Farese
BONANNO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)
Boss: Michael “The Nose” Mancuso
Acting Boss: Joseph Cammarano Jr.
Consigliere: Anthony “Fat Tony” Rabito
PHILADELPHIA MAFIA FAMILY
Boss: Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino
Acting Boss/Street Boss: Steve Mazzone/Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi
Underboss: John “Johnny Chang” Ciancaglini
Consigliere: Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi/Joseph “Chickie” Ciangcaglini
DETROIT MAFIA FAMILY
Boss: Jack “Jackie the Kid” Giacalone
Underboss: Anthony (Chicago Tony) La Piana
Consigliere: Anthony (Tony Pal) Palazzolo
Street Boss: Peter (Specs) Tocco
NEW JERSEY MAFIA FAMILY (DeCAVALCANTE FAMILY)
Boss: Charles Majuri (?)
UnderBoss: “Unknown”
Consiglieri: Frank Nigro
NEW ENGLAND MAFIA FAMILY (PATRIARCA FAMILY)
Boss: Peter (The Crazy Horse) Limone (?)
Acting Boss: Carmen (The Cheeseman) DiNunzio
UnderBoss: Matthew Guglielmetti (?)
Consiglieri: Anthony “Ponytail Tony” Parillo
CHICAGO MAFIA FAMILY (CHICAGO OUTFIT)
Acting Boss/Boss: Salvatore “Solly D” DeLaurentis
Underboss: Salvatore “Sammy Cards” Cataudella
Street Boss: Albert Vena
Consigliere: Marco D’Amico
KANSAS CITY MAFIA FAMILY
Boss: John “Johnny Joe” Sciortino
UnderBoss: Peter “Las Vegas Pete” Simone
Consigliere: “Unknown”
CLEVELAND MAFIA FAMILY
Boss: Joseph “Joe Loose” Lacobacci (possibly retired)
Acting Boss: Russell “RJ” Papalardo
Underboss: “Unknown”
Consigliere: “Unknown”
BUFFALO MAFIA FAMILY
Boss: Robert “Bobby” Panaro/Anthony “Lupiania” Todaro (?)
Underboss: Robert “Bobby” Panaro (?)
Consigliere: Victor Sansanese
