by Wiseguy » Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:56 pm
As you said, it seems the Palermo clans are very geographically based. At least in terms of territory considered theirs, where they extort local businesses, etc. But they also often have mutual interests in things like public construction projects, drug trafficking, etc. and that may cross boundaries.
You're right about the smaller relative size. You have 5 families in NYC. There are over 30 families in Palermo City alone. Another 50 in the rest of Palermo Province. Clan sizes will vary but, from what I can tell, you're maybe looking at 25 members on average.
And you're right, whenever there is a bust, we never hear about underbosses, capos, etc. Usually just the top guy or two identified and everyone else lumped in. It's the same with the other Italian OC groups as well. Maybe they go into more detail in the court documents but I don't read Italian so I wouldn't know.
Traditionally gambling has never been as central to the Italy side as the American side. But it's definitely picked up over there over the last decade or so. Camorra clans are big into slots/video poker. All of them have formed partnerships with online betting websites.
As you said, it seems the Palermo clans are very geographically based. At least in terms of territory considered theirs, where they extort local businesses, etc. But they also often have mutual interests in things like public construction projects, drug trafficking, etc. and that may cross boundaries.
You're right about the smaller relative size. You have 5 families in NYC. There are over 30 families in Palermo City alone. Another 50 in the rest of Palermo Province. Clan sizes will vary but, from what I can tell, you're maybe looking at 25 members on average.
And you're right, whenever there is a bust, we never hear about underbosses, capos, etc. Usually just the top guy or two identified and everyone else lumped in. It's the same with the other Italian OC groups as well. Maybe they go into more detail in the court documents but I don't read Italian so I wouldn't know.
Traditionally gambling has never been as central to the Italy side as the American side. But it's definitely picked up over there over the last decade or so. Camorra clans are big into slots/video poker. All of them have formed partnerships with online betting websites.