Does the Italian Mafia still exist in Los Angeles? Is the Los Angeles crime family still active today?

[Nick Prango]

Law enforcement at the federal and local level in Southern California is almost 1000% dedicated to black and Hispanic gang activity and the Cartels. You’d think Cosa Nostra would be able to fly under the radar a bit if they made a go of it.

I agree with you. Armenian power, Hispanic and African American gangs etc. much more noticeable in 2020 then some 70+ year old wiseguy playing cards with the other geriatric gangsters.FBI still keep tabs for sure, but they have their hands full with thousands of others street gangs and crime syndicates in California now. Modern day Italian American mobsters have learned the very hard way that they can do almost anything they want if they keep a low profile. A black Chevy Malibu gets you anywhere a Cadillac stretch can and draws no second looks. Maybe modern day LA family has little street presence but still making a lot of money each year illegally, more white collar crimes I’d say in this day and age. Maybe drugs as well.

[Nick Prango]

Why aren’t families attempting to have a presence out there? There’s seems to be a renewed attempt to have a larger presence in Florida, but why not California? are they scared of the black and Latino gangsters ?

There's stiff competition from gangs that operate out there, and there aren't really any Italian communities to recruit from.

I agree. From what I read the biggest problem in California is the lack of a large Italian population relative to other ethnic groups. Even in the heyday the California family was reliant on bringing in talent from Chicago and the East Coast.

[JoeCamel]

I want to believe in the LA family too man. I really really do.


I wasn’t around Back when it came out but rumor has it this guy Jiggy on one of the other forums has the info your looking for. I know AC Cowlings is a top non Italian associate though.

[Nick Prango]

Why aren’t families attempting to have a presence out there? There’s seems to be a renewed attempt to have a larger presence in Florida, but why not California? are they scared of the black and Latino gangsters ?

The trend today, and for a long time now, is remaining families holding on to what they have just within their geographic base. The resources, manpower and frankly ambition aren't there anymore. At least to where they're going to send guys somewhere to plant a flag and set up an ongoing operation of some kind.

Forget about the other side of the country. Like we were saying in another thread, only a couple of the five families have standing crews in New Jersey now. What's left of the Genovese crew in Springfield is now merged/overseen by a New York-based crew. Much less activity by both them and Gambinos in Connecticut over the past decade. Same with Florida (see below).

And even Florida has seen less and less of an LCN presence. Other than that pain cream scam bust there been almost no Florida busts since all those the crews were busted up in 2010 and 2011. A big contrast to all the cases in the 1990s and 2000s..


Pogo

Beat me to it.

I recently went back and compared the mob cases in Florida 2000-2010 vs 2011-2020. HUGE drop off in the latter decade.

The mob presence and activity there is shrinking, not expanding. It doesn't appear any of the NY families have a crew based there anymore. The last Genovese crew based there was busted in 2006. The last Gambino crew in 2008. There was a Bonanno crew busted in 2009 but it was simply the South Florida wing of the New York-based Chilli crew. Then the Colombos in 2011. For whatever reason, the Luccheses have had virtually no presence in Florida for years now.

In more recent years, the Genovese have had the most activity but that's been mostly their bookmaking operations extending down there.

You can't always trust FBI reports. I recently read a report about the New Orleans family. One report said the family was dead. Then I found another recent report that said it may be one of the stronger families. I think the LCN went back to what they are. An underground organization. On many sites, the Detroit family is said to still be the number one crime group in Michigan. I know they have ties to Chicago and St. Louis and I believe they still have major power. I think LA Italian crime family is small but not nearly as dead as reports would have you believe. Like I said, back underground. You don't have to have bodies in the trunk every week to have power.

[JoeCamel]

In all seriousness though, plenty of LCN members probably have plenty of rackets that expand to LA. As far as the classic Milano family, defunct. Joe isgro is still alive. Donnie shacks is still alive. Tommy Gambino and Anthony both made members in the family. But like we said above legit. Cosa Nostra is everywhere. It just is entirely different organization nationwide then the 80s. The negotiating power of a guy with a button has waned immensely in the upper echelon if criminals.

[outfit guy]

The Mafia in all of SoCal - ALL - is ONLY La Eme. Everyone works for La Eme with the exception of a handful of street gangs that probably travel in groups given the green light on them. Illegal numbers rackets dominated by one of the largest L.A. gangs who essentially are OWNED by the Eme. The "dreaded" Mongols pay a street tax; and they were green lighted prior to groveling back to have it lifted. Wake Up!

[Nick Prango]

The Mafia in all of SoCal - ALL - is ONLY La Eme. Everyone works for La Eme with the exception of a handful of street gangs that probably travel in groups given the green light on them. Illegal numbers rackets dominated by one of the largest L.A. gangs who essentially are OWNED by the Eme. The "dreaded" Mongols pay a street tax; and they were green lighted prior to groveling back to have it lifted. Wake Up!

What about African American gangs, Armenian gangs or Hells Angels. I don't believe they pay street tax to La Eme.

[JoeCamel]

Nick prango,I’m saying this to be nice. These guys will eat you alive so be careful how you portray yourself. There is plenty of peripheral LCN involvement in every major American city. Definitely, but they are very different from even 15 years ago

[JoeCamel]

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6546&hilit=Los+Angeles

Great posts on this thread, some more modern stuff

[outfit guy]

African-American gangs have become shooting practice in East L.A. for Latino gangs; they may have certain neighborhoods that they still control but they've shrunken to insignificance; SoCal is predominantly Latin and predominantly Mexican American. The Hells Angels couldn't take the Mongols. California was HA territory - only where they didn't cross paths with La Eme and Nuestra Famiglia. Like the Asians and what's left of black street gangs, they may have a small piece and be left alone as long as they don't encroach. The Mongols, in the late seventies Took southern Cal from the HA. The HA agreed to peace terms and have northern Cal (don't know their relationship with Nuestra Famiglia). There is a video story -story within a story - of the HA wanting to kill someone but were told no as the guy is with a formal La Eme member. Only one -ONE - Eme member has ever been murdered by someone other than Eme themselves. They dominate. OK, Armenians and Russians may have rackets but they are not moving on traditional rackets in SoCal: Not Happening.

[JoeCamel]

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5690&hilit=Tommy+G ... os+Angeles

[JoeCamel]

Check out Breakshot Blog and the book too. Kenji what’s his name
He touches on more recent LA events (2000s)

[Hired_Goonz]

It seems like people are abandoning Commiefornia in droves - why would Italian mobsters be any different?

[Amershire_Ed]

Law enforcement at the federal and local level in Southern California is almost 1000% dedicated to black and Hispanic gang activity and the Cartels. You’d think Cosa Nostra would be able to fly under the radar a bit if they made a go of it.

Theoretically speaking, what would they make a go of?

I mean it’s probably a little late now but the medicinal/legal marijuana industry seems to be something that could’ve provided some fairly healthy revenue streams on and off the books.

[Amershire_Ed]

Law enforcement at the federal and local level in Southern California is almost 1000% dedicated to black and Hispanic gang activity and the Cartels. You’d think Cosa Nostra would be able to fly under the radar a bit if they made a go of it.

Theoretically speaking, what would they make a go of?

I mean it’s probably a little late now but the medicinal/legal marijuana industry seems to be something that could’ve provided some fairly healthy revenue streams on and off the books.