U.S. Mafia Families
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the United States of America there is a core of organized criminals, selected from Italian-Americans. Although many of these criminal organizations encompass members from various ethnic groups, to become a full-member being Italian is required. Totally, there were 26 mafia Families across United States, ranging from giant powers with international influence like the Outfit and Gambino Family to small-size mafia groups with only about 30-50 made members. The whole Cosa Nostra in the United States was believed to have about 2,500 - 3,000 made members across the country. Despite its relatively small membership, its power was greatly influential (beginning from Luciano era, the Cosa Nostra operated on basic principle 'minimum membership with maximum profit' - because minimum membership made the organization more efficient and there would be less people to share the profit with). For more than half a century, it was undoubted that Cosa Nostra was the most powerful organized crime in the United States and probably in the world.
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[edit] New York
New York has 5 Families (with capital F to differ it with usual family), they established the Commission in the 1930s, which decided on the rules for the entire American Mafia. This ruling board was established shortly after the end of the bloodiest war in U.S. mob world, the Castellammarese War. One of its most famous founders was Lucky Luciano, which inherited the giant turf of Joe Masseria - his former boss whom he had killed.
The most powerful of the all of the Families' boss is called the Capo di tutti Capo, in English, 'The boss of bosses'. Probably the only Capo di tutti capi to reign over significant period was Carlo Gambino.
The families are:
The Gambino
The Bonanno
The Genovese
The Lucchese
The Colombo
New York has been the topic of most discussion, in recent years, on the U.S. Mafia, because it holds most power in all respects. Films like GoodFellas and The Godfather mainly focus on New York's mafia.
[edit] New Jersey
The smaller and less powerful DeCavalcante crime family operated in New Jersey, but it was brought down in a crackdown from 1997-2000.
It spanned several decades and is allegedly the inspiration for HBO's hit series The Sopranos.
[edit] Chicago
The Chicago runs a lot of operations in Chicago, quite obviously, but also extends its interests to Las Vegas, running many of the town's gambling establishments. The mob was also known as 'Chicago Outfit'. The Outfit was the only non-New York mafia Family, which holds such power that nearly equalizes them with the New York Families.
[edit] Los Angeles
Due to the massive influence of the film and art industries in LA the mafia has historically taken a great deal of interest in controlling the entertainment business. Due to an influx of Hispanic and African-American crime gangs in California the mafia has very little control over crime, although they still operate and run rackets across the town. The Family was at its height under the boss Jack Dragna.
[edit] Cleveland Mob
The Cleveland mob seems to have burgulary and robbery, of all nature, as it's primary rackets. although it has been involved in some more brutal acts, such as several car bombings against its rivals, including its nemesis, Irish mobster Danny Greene.
[edit] Florida
Due to being approximately 30 miles north of Cuba organized crime began taking place in Florida in the late 1920s. Many infamous mobsters are known to this particular region. Mainly drug cartels operate in Florida now, but a few Sicilian/Italian families are known to this region. Florida mafia once thrived under the leadership of Santo Trafficante Jr - which reigned for over 3 decades.
[edit] New England
New England mafia was known as Patriarca Family, named after its leader, Raymond Patriarca - who operated with Jerry Angiulo as his underboss. The Family was in decline by late 1970s as its Irish rival mobsters had a desperate attempt to take it down by snitching on it.
[edit] Buffalo Family
Also known as 'The Arm', the Family was recognized when it was led by Stefano Magaddino - a cousin to Joe Bonanno. Magaddino had crucial role in the Banana War that occurred by 1960s. Buffalo Family also had influence over the Canadian mafia based in Montreal.
[edit] Detroit Family
It sometimes also called as 'The Partnership'. Its size was far smaller than New York Families or the Chicago Outfit, but it had some businesses outside Detroit and strong influence over the Giordano Family of St. Louis.
[edit] Bruno Family
Bruno Family was based at Philadelphia. Its most prominent boss was surely Angelo Bruno - who was killed by 1980 due to internal conflict against younger mobsters in the Family. One of its most significant ownings was gambling businesses of Atlantic City.
