by Snakes » Wed Aug 07, 2024 7:12 am
Maybe I was too harsh in my initial response, so I'll explain. I'm obviously not an agent, but this is my understanding about how cases are opened, investigated, and ultimately brought to a conclusion:
The FBI is (obviously) tasked with investigating organized criminal groups, including LCN. Their main goal is to dismantle the LCN families and a large part of that goal is done through convicting and imprisoning the leadership of LCN families.
Let's use Mancuso as the example since he is the subject of this thread. They receive information that Mancuso is involved with the Bonanno family. The FBI later discovers Mancuso is boss of said family. They open a case file on him (they may already have one, but I want to keep it simple). They receive information about the illegal activities that Mancuso supervises, either through CW's, CI's, wiretaps, etc. They collect this information until they have enough to put it before a DA, who will then make a determination over whether or not it's a prosecutable case. The more damning the information contained in the investigative file, the better chance the DA has to recommend advancing it. If they do recommend prosecution, the evidence is presented before a grand jury where a final determination is made. If the grand jury determines there is probable cause, an indictment is issued by the Federal Department of Justice.
I'm almost certain Mancuso has a file where the FBI is accumulating source information and evidence of him being engaged in illegal activity. I'm certain the same can be said about Bellomo, although I'm sure the agents assigned to him are tasked with a much more difficult investigation considering the contrasting natures of Mancuso and Bellomo's leadership styles.
Remember in the Sopranos when the agent told Adriana "it took years to build a case against Joe Massino"? Well, she was right. It sometimes takes years. Years of accumulating information and collecting evidence. The FBI wants to make sure that they have enough there to make a prosecutable case against their target. Sometimes it's shorter than "years." Sometimes it never happens. But there are almost certainly pending cases open against the bosses/acting bosses of the Five Families, probably most of the admin, and some of the more prominent crews, members, and associates.
Maybe I was too harsh in my initial response, so I'll explain. I'm obviously not an agent, but this is my understanding about how cases are opened, investigated, and ultimately brought to a conclusion:
The FBI is (obviously) tasked with investigating organized criminal groups, including LCN. Their main goal is to dismantle the LCN families and a large part of that goal is done through convicting and imprisoning the leadership of LCN families.
Let's use Mancuso as the example since he is the subject of this thread. They receive information that Mancuso is involved with the Bonanno family. The FBI later discovers Mancuso is boss of said family. They open a case file on him (they may already have one, but I want to keep it simple). They receive information about the illegal activities that Mancuso supervises, either through CW's, CI's, wiretaps, etc. They collect this information until they have enough to put it before a DA, who will then make a determination over whether or not it's a prosecutable case. The more damning the information contained in the investigative file, the better chance the DA has to recommend advancing it. If they do recommend prosecution, the evidence is presented before a grand jury where a final determination is made. If the grand jury determines there is probable cause, an indictment is issued by the Federal Department of Justice.
I'm almost certain Mancuso has a file where the FBI is accumulating source information and evidence of him being engaged in illegal activity. I'm certain the same can be said about Bellomo, although I'm sure the agents assigned to him are tasked with a much more difficult investigation considering the contrasting natures of Mancuso and Bellomo's leadership styles.
Remember in the Sopranos when the agent told Adriana "it took years to build a case against Joe Massino"? Well, she was right. It sometimes takes years. Years of accumulating information and collecting evidence. The FBI wants to make sure that they have enough there to make a prosecutable case against their target. Sometimes it's shorter than "years." Sometimes it never happens. But there are almost certainly pending cases open against the bosses/acting bosses of the Five Families, probably most of the admin, and some of the more prominent crews, members, and associates.