Mafia expert and author Selwyn Raab published his book Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires back in 2005.
At that time Raab called the mafia “a crushed colossus” and it was clear that decades of RICO indictments had Cosa Nostra on its heels. Raab spent four decades investigating the American mafia and his book was hailed by many as the definitive account of all things Cosa Nostra. He detailed the history of the New York mafia and chronicled the unrelenting attacks by the FBI and federal prosecutors that left them staggered but made sure to also devote the last 20 pages to the likelihood of a resurgence. He believed the terrorist attacks on 9/11 four years earlier would have a major impact on the FBI’s New York bureau and the fight against organized crime according to a recent interview with Rollingstone.
Raab said “The Mob was on the ropes and really needed only one or two more crushing blows before the FBI could really turn these people into old street gangs. That changed after 9/11.” and this has seemingly allowed to mafia to gain ground and regroup. Resources that the FBI, NYPD, and other organized crime task forces once devoted to the New York mob were shifted to anti-terrorism. This mafia resurgence has prompted Raab to give his book Five Families and update in the form of an anniversary edition that will clue readers into more recent developments. He made note of more recent mafia news like the massive 2011 mafia bust targeting over 100 members and associates and the more recent East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise case.
When asked about this ongoing mafia resurgence Raab pointed to several aspects that should be considered. Here are some of the interesting quotes made by Raab during the interview:
Historically the Mafia is a carbon copy, or a mirror of American capitalism. The Internet is an important tool for the business and a lot of them use it for Internet gambling. And why not? People aren’t going to bookies the way they used to, they couldn’t compete by just having some old fashioned bookmaking with some guy with a telephone, and now that you can do it on the internet, they’re taking it over. It’s big, it’s a lot of money, and a lot that is transacted offshore so it’s easy to do and you don’t have to worry about it. They’re modern, they know what works.
Most of the old Italian-American neighborhoods no longer exist, so mafia members, like everybody else, are now living in the suburbs. And there’s money to be made there. Besides that, the law enforcement there traditionally was never looked upon as a major threat, so it’s easier for them. And now that they’ve moved there, that’s where they want to operate. The market for traditional mafia bread and butter ideas – gambling, drugs, extortion – is there too, and so is the constituency.
The long established rule was that anyone who was a civilian — not implicated in mafia activities — was immune. One of the reasons that’s changed is because of these so called “Zips.” That’s a nickname for Sicilian newcomers who are not members of the Sicilian mafia but recent immigrants, and they’ve pretty much taken over the Gambino family. And one of their effective methods [in the old country] was that if you became a rat or you in any way betrayed the Italian or Sicilian mafia, it wasn’t just you, but anybody in your family could be victimized. The Americans have now also taken that over and spread the word. It’s an effective tool, and again, they’re still getting reinforcements, they’re shipping more blood over from Sicily and Southern Italy.
When it comes to mafia books Raab’s is definitely one of the most informative ever written and this updated Five Families anniversary edition will be sought after by plenty of mob enthusiast. His extensive insight also landed him a gig as a consultant for a 10 part series on AMC called The Making of the Mob along with some other mob related programs.
One of the best mafia books I have read. Heck of a read and the insight and information is definitely unsurpassed. We hear about the mafia being back on the rise esp in New York and that definitely seems to be the case and I think this new edition is another sign that the mob in New York is at least somewhat regaining some of its swagger.
i cant wait to get my hands on the new edition for Christmas, after that fat rat massino spilled his guts over 10 yrs ago you would never have thought the mob would be gaining strength, I have heard bellomo(Genovese) cali(Gambino) and crea (lucchese) who are the other 2 leaders ?
Mancuso is boss of bonnano’s. (although it’s not a strong leadership, he is official boss) first official since Massino. Colombo is still Persico. He’s boss until he dies. Most of their leadership is in prison, most agree they are the weakest. Although some say they are stronger than Bonanno’s. both are small potatoes compared to the three you mentioned. Especially Genovese and Gambino.
i aknow mancuso and persico are boss in name but I was wanting to know who are running the families ? and is it 100% certain that bellomo is leader of Genovese ? I read that cefalu stepped down for cali and crea is doing a good job staying under the radar their is no doubt hes the leader for lucchese.
Bellomo is widely considered boss. So is Cali and crea. In terms of running things. Colombos man on the street is Thomas Farese. bonanno’s recently named joe cammorano as street boss. Although, he was busted at his celebration party, so who knows.
joe was not busted at the chritmas party no one was “busted” a few guys violated there parole. Mancuso is boss in name he got moved to a prison in texas recently now we will see how able he is to run a family from prison. Joe is the boss on the streets he is the power a real gangster like his father
Farase main man not a chance the man is in his mid 70s now he is not the boss not saying he is fully retired but he is not the main guy he is sem retired these days billy russo is one to watch andys kid capo and young never done time either he will get busted eventually
Not busted in that he was arrested/jailed. Busted in that he gets nailed breaking parole, meeting with other members at his own celebration party. Dumb move for someone just named street boss. The idea is for the Feds not to know who is in charge. That is what I meant by busted. Busted being stupid.
You may be right about Colombos, I read Farese was in charge on final decisions. But they might not be true. I do know that their entire leadership is jailed or about to be. Colombos are only family not stabilizing in my opinion. Once again, my opinion.
he dident even get arrested joe he Is not on parole dident obiuously think feds would find out about the meeting feds were following vinny asaros nephew he was one of driver
colombos doing fine they had the last big rat that capo who flipped Anthony russo would claim to be a real gangster flipped as soon as he was looking at a bit of time andy was fuming when that Colombo associate got stabbed up by the gambinos he felt the colombos should have got revenge. Andys kid a big player a lot of big players getting out of prison next year should be interesting to see what happens with that family
There have def been rumors of Cefalu’s retirement but so far the feds and other still believe he is the boss of the family although Cali def is close to the big chair. From all accounts Bellomo is the current boss of the Genovese family. As BB mentioned Joseph Cammarano Jr is the new street boss for the Bonanno family but it still seems like they are somewhat of a mess and the exact hierarchy is well sketchy at best.
it cant be as bad as the colombos, if reports are correct their main man farnese is runnin things from south florida lol
Who knows for sure. I do know that Persico almost always has a blood relative running things. It’s almost always a cousin of some kind . and if I’m not mistaken for Farese is somehow a relative
I think genovese, gambino, and Luchese are back in a big way. Just more underground, like it was meant to be. Bellomo, crea, and cali, have been free for some time.
Definitely a big uptick in the quality of the new leadership of the families you mentioned and they def seem to be an upward swing because of it.
You probably celebrated when 9/11 happened because it meant the Feds would shift their resources towards terrorism.
You probably rant at your orthodontist black neighbor and dentist Muslim neighbor for “destroying this neighborhood, this used to be a good, Eyetalian neighborhood.” while wearing a Free John Gotti t-shirt with month-old calzone stains on it.
Not sure what you are implying here, as English is clearly second language. No one here mentioned politics, or hate for any group, race, religion. Quit creating rascim where there is clearly none. And for the record, I spilled spaghetti on my free john gotta pajamas, not shirt.
For some reason he thinks Mafia members didn’t associate/do business w/other races. Well i for one no that’s not true. Anyway you and @JohnGrant213 are one of the reasons i like this site, you are respectful when i misstate/ask a question and when someone says something stupid. THANK YOU! !!!!
Thanks mate. It’s a cool site. I enjoy mafia conversations, learning. Have a great evening
Agree completely. Its a subject we all seem to enjoy and its one where information is sometimes limited allowing for discussions to be very interesting and sure we will all have varying opinions at times but that just makes it even more interesting. Happy Holidays bellomo!
Thanks brother, happy holidays to you are yours!
It is great when conversations can be informative and civil. A great group of guys here for most part posting in the comment section and I learn as much from you guys as I ever supply for sure. Always willing to toss in my two cents and help when possible eddiea, you have a great Christmas holiday!
Luciano and those of his generation were more Americanized and so this meant they didn’t see the need to only work with Italians. I once heard a story where Vito Genovese had said something against Meyer Lansky because he was Jewish. Frank Costello told him,”shut up Vito, you’re an immigrant too”.
They should of been on terrorism along time before 9/11 but they were to busy bothering people like John Gotti when they should of been more aware about the radical Muslims whom wanted to cause harm to the west and especially the USA. You know if we elected someone tough like Putin there wouldn’t be a Middle East? We would whipe the Middle East off the map and claim it as USA if Putin was our leader or if we had someone tough like that.
Your right the terrorism factor was a real threat before 9/11 and should of had more resources devoted to it way before that and if so may have been able to avoid that tragedy.
Yea I know I was just telling this Omar or whatever his name that because he was making fun of a guy on here because he’s into mob news, and was being a little racist to him cause he’s italian or has an italian name on here. And he was pretty much being supportive of the radical muslims on 9/11 pretty much saying he didn’t like that law enforcement switched over to terrorism when it should of been switched over to terrorism after the famous Mafia commission trial i don’t care what anybody says the italian cosa nostra haven’t had the same power or the wealth like that ever since those bosses all got 100 years. They the FBI had reports about a cheque cashing place in new jersey that should of been surveillance on throughout the late 1980’s and throughout the 1990’s that had the muslims there planning and plotting 9/11 they said if they would of dedicated %25 of the agents against the Gambino crime family they would of prevented the 9/11 attack just shows how important the mafia was though for the government to stop.
You do know the Italian mob profited from the 9/11 attacks and the debris cleanup, right?
And the whole reason the towers came down so easily in the first place is because of the shitty job mob connected companies did building the f*****g things after winning the contracts illegally in the first place.
So enough of the forever bothering Italians nonsense.
Yah it probably was shitty craftsmanship. I’m sure if more able competent workers constructed those skyscrapers that a full size jet hitting them at full speed would have caused minimal damage or possibly richotched off the side of building.
Dude, that had to me the most idiotic blatantly biased ignorant accusation you made.
The skyscrapers probably wouldn’t have collapsed within the hour if it wasn’t for corners being cut everywhere during their construction.
No rebuttal about the mob families profiteering from the debri removal and cleanup in the immediate aftermath?
How does profiting from debris removal after the fact play into them collapsing?
Again another baseless claim “probably wouldn’t have collapsed within the hour if it wasn’t for corners being cut everywhere”. Do you have anything to substantiate this claim. By the off chance you do, you really think corners aren’t cut in basically all business to maximize profit??
IDK you seem to one of the people moralizing them and saying the feds should leave them to their own devices and let them do whatever they want?!!
And unsubstantiated? Really?
Educate yourself.
I’m not moralizing them in any way. I was just stating you are throwing out accusations with zero fact. I know that the vast majority of them are absolute narcissists who lack a moral compass.
”
TOWERS FELL AND MOB SCHEMES BEGAN.
How organized crime civvied up Ground Zero work”: NYDailyNews article about how the mob began plans to profit from 9/11 hours after the first collision.
Colombo Capo, Thomas Petrizzo, shook down debris haulers in the aftermath of the attacks.
Need I go on?
Five Families is a good book you know.
Yeah I know they profited after that’s been well documented and many have been convicted. I was referring to your claims that any ties they had to organized labor in past while Towers were constructed playing a part in their collapse.
*See my other comment.
Trust me I’m sure many other shady businesses and politicians also profited off of the clean up of WTC site. Nothing new, it’s what opportunistic narcissist s do. They seize on any opportunity that profits them.
I just want to see some facts behind your claim that them being involved on the construction played any part in the collapse.
It’s well documented in books, articles and documentaries.
“,in 1989 he (Louis Di Bono) was involved in a lucrative contract to install fireproof
foam in the walls of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.He secured the
contract through bribery. He pocketed millions from the funds for the
project by cutting corners; in some cases entire floors of the Twin
Towers had no fireproofing foam applied to the steel infrastructure.”
And please save us with this nonsense comparing drug dealing, murdering, lazy sociopaths who have never worked an honest day in their lives to (unnamed) businessmen and politicians.
So you bring a mobster profiting his legitimate business through bribery yet they ve never worked an honest day in their lives??? Can you make any statements without contradicting other statements you ve made?
Legitimate? Spare me.
Legitimate being a licensed insured tax paying company.
Any Organized Crime member who owns a business are probably only businesses out there who use bribery of any means be it cash, wine and dining, sports tickets, use of private jets, vacations, etc…..
I take it your Italian American?
Must be some reason why you defend them, surely?
Legitimate in the sense that Joey Merlino’s restaurant is legitimate.
Judging by other forums you comment on, you re either a dipshit kid with a lot to learn. Or worse a grown man still obsessed with WWE or whatever wrestling called these days.
So would could logically come to one of two other conclusions as well. Middle aged man living in parents basement. Or someone whose house has a trailer hitch and sits in a certain type of park.
Says the mafia fanboy slob defending a bunch of lazy, deplorable subhumans who’ve never worked a day in their lives and are a burden on the entire country.
I have a masters degree and I’m currently doing a postgraduate in accounting BTW.
I probably earn more in a month than you do in a year.
Yuppy,guppy…your a broke bitch….
Who cares if they profited from it thats what they do they’re an organized crime family they make money illegal and now a days a lot legally. That is way different then some stupid muslims who want to kill themselves because they think they’re doing such a good deed for their fake god by killing themselves and other westerners whom they believe are christians or jews. Get off of here with this terrorism and mob stuff the mob is about money not killing themselves when they kill people its an order and its usually over money unless its a respect thing. Please talk about the wiseguys on here not the radical muslims they don’t need any glorification, they sure are not gangsters.
I don’t know where to begin with this comment. Utterly delusional on so many levels.
Its not delusional its speaking the truth. You’re trying to state that the twin towers fell apart so easily because the mob did a shitty job and you said the mob profited on the towers. The mob is all about money i don’t know what you think its about if you don’t think its about money. And yes the mob controlled construction in new york city so they would of controlled the product that was used to make the twin towers in no way did they built it those guys couldn’t do something like that. You brought terrorism into the conversation by stating that the mob was so happy that the FBI moved from organized crime to terrorism when they should of been on terrorism along time ago Khalid Sheik Mohammad a guy who helped planned the 9/11 attacks said if George Bush didn’t come after us we would of attacked more. They attacked our embassies not on US soil and we did nothing about it they thought we weren’t going to do nothing about the 9/11 attacks and they planned the 9/11 attacks in the 90’s when the FBI was bringing down guys like John Gotti, Vincent Gigante etc. George Bush acted like a cowboy and brought it to them when we went there, if we had a really tough leader we would of claimed/annex Iraq and Afghanistan and made it USA.
http://mafia.wikia.com/wiki/Louis_DiBono
So the FBI should stop going after mobsters period LMAO?
Let them do whatever they want because they are Italian and not black or muslim?
They’re practically domestic terrorists anyway.
No but they should of had way fewer FBI agents working against organized crime and focused on terrorism groups. I wasn’t saying stop focusing on organized crime just when people from another country are trying to blow your country up it should be more of a priority then a group trying to scheme to make money. There in no way terrorist though they commit murders on other wiseguys or people who get involved with them they don’t just randomly light people up in broad day light like the radical muslims do with suicide bombings.
You’re talking out of your ass again.
I can list at least a dozen verified instances where mobsters have murdered innocent people.
Do you want me to do it again?
And for the sake of argument, how do you know resources that should have been going towards fighting terrorisms were going towards fighting the mafia?
And why do you think the mafia should be immune from prosecution or federal attention, fanboy?
Do you know how much the mafia steal from the average taxpayer on a yearly basis?
Your list are meaningless. Once again if we’re focusing on the mafia in this country, which the majority of our conversations are, there is no instance or list you can provide which the body count would compare even remotely to what terrorist have done in this country . I don’t have to go any further than 911 as I stated previously, this death toll alone would exceed any kind of list that you could provide . Do you even bother to read people’s responses? if you did you might see that no one ever suggested they should not be prosecuted or they should not be investigated . Furthermore no one ever claimed that they are not a burden on the taxpayer. But yet again if you want to talk about the cost of the mafia versus the cost of the war on terror, it’s not even a conversation. we’re talking billions and trillions of dollars to fight the war on terror . I still can’t wrap my head around why you would want to come to a site where people clearly enjoy discussing the mafia and rant and rave about how terrorism is nearly equivalent to the mafia . or let me rephrase that, not that you’re implying there are equivalent, or so you say. but rather hear we are still discussing how the mafia compares to terrorism. Why are we still making these comparisons ? Let me make this as simple as I possibly can for you . No one on this site is saying the mafia should be void of prosecution investigation or attention from law-enforcement . No one is saying the mafia is a good rightists or law abiding group of people . Hell in several instances were not even implying there all that intelligent. We simply enjoy discussing them because it something that fascinates us, it’s a part of American history. And for the record you brought terrorism into the conversation from the very beginning, go back and read our post. you brought them up. And one final time and then I will quit responding to your ignorance, when discussing domestic terrorism and the American mafia,there is absolutely no comparison as to who has caused more innocent lives to be lost . There is absolutely no comparison as to which is a greater threat to our security and nation . Even when the mafia was at the peak, it did not cause as much bloodshed. We never had to worry about the mafia getting their hands on nuclear weapons . We never had to worry about the mafia flying planes into buildings. Does this mean that they’re good guys of course not don’t be ridiculous . But to compare them to any sort of a domestic terrorist truly shows your lack of education and keenly developed a sense of moral bankruptcy.
I’m saying the two things are not mutually exclusive. I am saying it is completely moronic to blame 9/11 on the FBI spending too much time going after mobsters – which you and other fanboys seem to be implying.
Dude you are reaching so hard. there was never a single comment here that said 911 would have been prevented had the attention been on terrorist instead of the mafia. you were making assumptions that are purely false and then going on rants just to hear yourself speak. it’s funny how you invented things that we said and then argued with things that were never actually said . I think it’s safe to say you need an education and a life. Quit mentioning the mutually exclusive claim no one here ever said that they needed to be. what people did say is it one is clearly more of a threat than the other at the current time
You don’t know what mutually exclusive is.
The implication from a couple of posters here has been that terrorism in America would have been presented if the FBI hadn’t have gone after Gigante and Gotti so hard!
Which any educated person knows is completely absurd.
I do know what it is. It means because you investigate one, the other can still be investigated too. Comprehension is not issue. The issue is you are making assumptions, reading indirect messages that were never implied. The message was never leave mafia alone. It was terrorist pose greater threat, thus resources should be reallocated. Dude, I’m done. You have proven wrong countless times. Get a life, go troll another forum. You are trying so hard to sound intelligent, but ignorance overshadows your every statement
I have read over all your comments; obvious fanboy.
You can take an interest in organized crime and acknowledge that mobsters are scum of the earth.
Right. When you encounter someone who has much higher degree of education and intelligence, you resort to fanboy. Truth hurts. You came here to start arguments with people based upon your own incorrect assumptions. Go back to posting memes on social media. I’m sure it’s the source of your “knowledge”. That and Wikipedia. Go to school Omar.
I am not the person excusing criminals.
Fanboy.
Dear god, you are literally retarded. No one excused anything. We simply said it’s not the threat terror is. It’s clear you are a kid, likely a high school dropout still at home with mommy. Good luck in life Omar, good news, we will always need burger flippers too.
Retards think people like John Gotti and Barney Bellomo are cool.
Your handle is “BellomoBoss”.
Says it all in a nutshell.
I would guess the amount a minuscule percent of the amount pissed away in Washington through Cronyism and taking care of special interests backing elected officials
*Racist as well.
I replied to you query. And shut you down doing so.
It’s a fact that the mafia made money on almost all major construction in years past. Even today they still own a share, although much smaller share. I also have no doubt they continue to profit from sanitation, clean up, etc. these points are accurate. Now trying to compare the mafia, who only kill other members. (For the most part, always exceptions) to terrorist who kill thousands of innocent people. Not even remotely close to a valid argument, it’s down right ridiculous.
No one here ever said “poor Italian” anything. Quite the contrary. we simply enjoy engaging in mafia conversations, speculation. Yes the mafia breaks the law, yes they kill. But a terrorist, or supporter of terrorist is a far greater threat to our country than the mafia today.
I didn’t compare them to terrorists. I compared them to domestic terrorists, which is true.
And I never said terrorism was a greater threat than the mafia. I’m saying comparing one to the other for any reason whatsoever is completely absurd and is something only the most deluded fanboys preach with no basis in fact whatsoever.
They are not mutually exclusive. Both can be targeted.
And if you want to continue to try and justify the mafia, I can rebut all day long.
George Aronwald, prosecutor, murdered by the mafia; prosecutor, targeted for murder by Vincent Basciano; mob plots on a sitting President (Kennedy’s) life; peddlers of child pornography (De Meo, DiBernardo); peddlers of child prostitution (Horseface Ianniello); profiteering from domestic tragedies; the myth that innocents have never been targeted by the mob – cop murdered by Genovese mobsters in 80’s, Everett Hatcher, Nicky Guido, Mary Bari, several innocents during the Colombo war in the 90’s.
Domestic terrorism plain and simple.
Want me to go on?
Want to continue justifying peddlers of kiddie p**n?
I get that you like discussing the mob. I do too. But it sickens me that people (fanboys) continue to defend them.
You couldn’t go on long enough to ever compare to terrorist list. If you are not comparing, then why all the list and justifications. Even at a domestic level, it’s not comparable. 9/11 alone surpasses anything the mafia has ever done. End of discussion. Thus, the attention is rightly focused on radical terrorist hell bent in killing masses for Allah.
Simple solution, if you hate our conversations so much, don’t come here. Go to a pro terror site
I’m not the one bringing terrorists into the discussion, saying that the FBI should leave the mafia alone because of terrorism. It’s asinine.
Which is why no one said that. Submit quote from forum or it’s fake. I do however believe the resources are better used to fight terrorist. As the mafia is a much smaller threat. I’m not saying let them do whatever, but we don’t need 50 task forces anymore. If you don’t see that, you need to educate yourself on terrosim.
Kid you.are.clueless it would be best if you only talked about things you.may.know about because.mob history is definitely not your Forte.
I know a good bit.
I’m not a fan of mobsters like a lot of you guys, but I do find organized crime interesting as a topic – with a sense of detachment and pragmatism.
Yawn!
The only thing racist was having 90% of the FBI organized crime investigators targeting one community when you had Cubans, blacks, and motorcycle gangs involved in the same kinds of stuff.
Also, with the rise of terror, drug cartels, and other street gangs there is much more need to confront other groups, rather than just one group. As for racism, most terror is motivated by hate for others, for religions and cultures, the same is true for BLM and their attack on whites in Milwaukee. You’re barking up the wrong tree with this “Italians are racist” nonsense when anyone looking around today can see where the real racism is coming from.
As a neutral, when it comes to people who have grievances with being unfairly targeted by federal agencies the Italians are a long, long, long, long way behind the blacks.
It’s utter bullshit that Italians have been the only focus of the FBI too. They targeted the Irish mob and Tongs equitably.
What, you expect them to devote equal resources to Irish and Russian street gangs when the Italians have traditionally dwarfed them in numbers?
For God’s sake Joe Colombo, a leader of an organized crime family, was leader of an Italian civil rights group.
At what point, do people start looking in the mirror?
Never said Italians are racist either.
But let’s face it. There is an agenda from certain people that Italian-Americans should be let off the hook and more focus should be turned on Mexicans and blacks for reasons that are easily decipherable to, well, anybody.
It will never.be as good as it was the late 60s early 70s even into the 80s were some of the best times being around those type of guys they seemed larger.than life if you were a street kid hanging around the spots back then. The days of bath ave 86th street ave x 18th ave are long gone i think it was big pauls funeral down by ave u was the begining of the end for what was known as the mob.the real wise guys of the mob.
The New York Mafia Families are not so strong how many people think.
They are so weak today as never before.
Also only a new york think, nothing much more than this. outside the usa nothing, and also nothing in the rest of the country only a little thing in the east coast area.
In this time other mafia organisation much more stronger.
Eh i have to disagree, the bosses Cali, Crea, Bellimo and you can even throw in Joe C from the Bonanos have managed to stay out of prison for almost 10+ yrs now, stabalizing the hiearchy which can really stabalize the family. Each family has about over 100-200 made guys maybe even more who really knows. Plus the Outfit with Vena at the top now some say seems to be picking it back up along with New England who hierachy is mostly due to get out or prison soon and Matty G doing a great job over there im hearing & who could forget about Philly for the first time since Scarfo all the top players are on the streets (for now) besides Joey’s troubles seem to be on the up. With anti terror only getting worse the Nypd and the Fbi have to put resources else where..yeah people will always be getting pinched thats part of the game but bosses being put away on Rico cases days are long gone, the top guys have learned had to adapt..so yeah give it another ten yrs and these families might be as strong as ever.
I disagree as well. As stated, the current bosses are old school, smart, leaders. Look no further than how hard it still is to say for sure whose in charge. There are plenty that still think Cefula, Amuso, are still bosses. In the age of information, these guys have stayed low profile. This speaks to their intelligence,and desire to get back to old school mafia. I do agree outside NYC, most families are over. Chicago, Philadelphia, are still legit threats. Are any of them as powerful as the 50-70’s? No. but terrorism has been a blessing for the mafia. Look at Canada, it’s a blood bath. People don’t go war over small potatoes. This is big business
I disagree.
The families each have at least 100 made men, the Gambino and Genovese families have around 200 and 300 made men respectively. But I have also heard another source saying that there are 1200 made men in NY alone.
Plus, not to mention there are several thousand associates, in NY alone. Philly mob has the same # of made guys on the street as they did during the late Scarfo era, and Chicago is corrupt to it’s core, and there have only been a few major law enforcement operations there, the last one taking place around 8-9 years ago.
Florida has been pretty much taken over by the NY families. Plus Detroit has been able to remain intact through marriages, and has had very few informants.
Plus the New England Family has been reported to be pretty strong in a long time.
Not to mention the other organized crime syndicates, such as the Camorra and the ‘Ndrangheta and the Sicilian Mafia moving to the US, forming groups here and joining the ranks of the American LCN.
The New England family A.K.A. Patriarch is alive and well..The recent arrests are old and Non Factors or players …i agree with Anthony M….Matty G is taking care of business in Federal Hill R.I. And in Boston’s North End Cheeseman and his relatives has young blood infused into the family
New England def seems to be stabilizing and they def seem like they could be in for a solid resurgence if the new hierarchy can stay out of the can for a substantial amount of time. From all indications the Cheeseman is a competent guy at the top.
Anyone know if the updated edition will be available on Kindle or ebook?
Have not seen any info yet on kindle edition but would imagine it will be soon after if not right away when it is released since the previous is avail.
As far as South Philly goes it’s a positive advantage that you have multiple factions involved in separate enterprises….If Joey M….crew Johnny Chang,..Mikey Lance Gayton go down that won’t effect Joey Pung and his crew…and Philip Narducci and Windows N…won’t be effected in his crew and George Borgesi also…..So Philly mob will survive absolutely because 4 Factions doing different types of business separately…..so one faction goes 3 more crews left with own Capos not like Nicky Scarfo when 95% went away at o ce
It should be very interesting when Gene Gotti gets out in a couple of years…
real gangster only gotti still holds respect him and maybe Richie senior and junior
This is a pretty cool.conversation guy im not a big reader in fack im 52 and have never read a book cover to.cover. i was told i had a learning disorder back in the late 70s when i dropped out of the 8th grade and never returned because of what now we know as adhd. But i did grow up in Bensonhurst brooklyn back when the gambino family was was very big and well known to us kids back then. These guys were larger than life to us as we would run into some of them while hanging around the. Neighborhood at wedding and clubs things like that. Once john went to jail its was like the begining of the end of the real tough guys who would strike fear in guys just with their.presence and reputations of what they habe done or what was believed they had done. Sometimes its hard to decipher between fact and fiction when it comes to some of those fascinating stories told by some of the folks that were there and somemof those the were not. Anyway im going to.read on.and hope to see more fact than fiction.
can anyone recommend mafia books ? I have this one but I am on the lookout for more
Mafia Bosses and Hierarchies Heading into 2021 | About The Mafia
[…] take a look at how things stand today within the remaining La Cosa Nostra families including the Five Families of the New York Mafia and more. Please note that these charts will be updated for accuracy […]