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

[JoeCamel]

Well I could argue KC or I could refer to the Breaking news on Gangster BB that Denver has in fact been a viable family all along but just to flip a breaker and cause a tear to develop in the fabric of time and space and create a black hole emanating from black hand forum.im going to just not argue Either and say NOLA. No matter what evidence you may or may not have I’m going to refer to sources I will never publicly cite until the end. Like Roy Cohn says if all else fails deny everything......but Nick Prango just said that NOLA is an active and viable family and I think that’s better ammunition than cammasino and that other guy getting indicted in 2010 And a living boss that the fbi labelled boss at one time. So no, I’m gonna go NOLA

[NothingNew44]

People love breaking news on Gangster BB like they love their dick slammed in a steel door. Your sources you will never cite are just as intriguing as the aforementioned door. Nick Prango, the alleged Macedonian has NOLA info nobody else does. Amazing. You know I have stuff on the Birmingham Family, but I’ll never tell.....do you see how stupid I sound?

[Extortion]

There are hints that the Gambinos have quite a decent presence out there. Whether or not they run it as a family or it’s structure who knows. Tommy Gambino who was recently arrested seemed to be in charge out there.

According to the internet/wikipedia

[Extortion]

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 forever

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

Doesnt any of that count? If they extend there, they have activity there. I heard Florida were really hardline and aggressive with them down there just like in Vegas (even though Vegas was built by them).

[Extortion]

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.

Mongols being highly hispanic I can see that but no way in hell no pun intended are the hells angels paying tribute to mexican mafia. Theyre too big and too powerful, also they are primarily a white gang with probably some hispanic whites

[Grouchy Sinatra]

Best way to find out if there's mob activity in any city is to go there and start an illegal sports book. Believe me if there's any action there you'll find out fast.

What would happen? I am curious? What would the mobsters do?

That's my point. I mean, get involved with some kind of illegal racket like gambling and see who pays you a visit. Who would show up first? That's who's running things in that town. I'm guessing most likely it's crooked cops or Russians. Except for NY, South Philly, etc. Still the Italians firmly in charge.

[Nick Prango]

Best way to find out if there's mob activity in any city is to go there and start an illegal sports book. Believe me if there's any action there you'll find out fast.

What would happen? I am curious? What would the mobsters do?

That's my point. I mean, get involved with some kind of illegal racket like gambling and see who pays you a visit. Who would show up first? That's who's running things in that town. I'm guessing most likely it's crooked cops or Russians. Except for NY, South Philly, etc. Still the Italians firmly in charge.

I would bet on crooked cops. In my country they are the worst. In my town https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohrid_Municipality there is a network of crooked cops. They are almost openly extorting drug dealers and thieves. It is a small town, so everyone knows about that.

[Nick Prango]

Best way to find out if there's mob activity in any city is to go there and start an illegal sports book. Believe me if there's any action there you'll find out fast.

What would happen? I am curious? What would the mobsters do?

That's my point. I mean, get involved with some kind of illegal racket like gambling and see who pays you a visit. Who would show up first? That's who's running things in that town. I'm guessing most likely it's crooked cops or Russians. Except for NY, South Philly, etc. Still the Italians firmly in charge.

Personally i think that the Russian crime groups don't even come close to Italian crime families in USA. The varied criminal organizations which are generally lumped together as being the “Russian Mafia” are not native born Americans in the same manner as the Italian crime families members. They are usually foreign nationals, or recent immigrants, who simply view the United States as a large target to plunder. They aren’t looking for “territory” as it is portrayed in films and television; they are looking for opportunities to make legal and illegal profits. Russians probably control most of the organized crime in Brighton Beach, NY. Which is a largely Russian community. But that's it.

The so-called Russian Mafia is an international criminal organization. It operates in the US, Russia, the former Soviet states, Europe…basically on every continent, excluding Antarctica (for now). The Russian mafia heavily favor smuggling and trafficking schemes. They have, or can find, lucrative criminal and legal enterprises across the globe, and so they have little need to extort illegal sports bookies in USA cities.

[Wiseguy]

Doesnt any of that count? If they extend there, they have activity there. I heard Florida were really hardline and aggressive with them down there just like in Vegas (even though Vegas was built by them).

Not really in regards to what we're talking about. When someone says the __________ crime family is active in, say Nevada, the insinuation usually is the family has a crew or some type of significant ongoing physical presence there.

When I say their bookmaking networks extend there, a good example is a sports betting bust out of Queens back in 2014. It was run by Gambino associate Robert Baselice and Charles Cicalo through a few different offshore websites. And under Baselice and Cicalo were a number of super agents who, in turn, oversaw a number of agents responsible for the actual collections and payouts. In this case, Baselice and Cicalo were based in New York where the Gamino family obviously has a presence. There were super agents and agents in a number of states, including New York, Florida, Nevada, Michigan, etc. that used Baselice's and Cicalo's websites, money laundering abilities and overall operation to conduct their business.

But it wouldn't really be accurate to say the Gambinos are active or have a presence in Nevada or Michigan.

Personally i think that the Russian crime groups don't even come close to Italian crime families in USA. The varied criminal organizations which are generally lumped together as being the “Russian Mafia” are not native born Americans in the same manner as the Italian crime families members. They are usually foreign nationals, or recent immigrants, who simply view the United States as a large target to plunder. They aren’t looking for “territory” as it is portrayed in films and television; they are looking for opportunities to make legal and illegal profits. Russians probably control most of the organized crime in Brighton Beach, NY. Which is a largely Russian community. But that's it.

It depends on where you're talking about. In the U.S., the Russians are categorized under what the FBI refers to as Eurasian criminal enterprises. In 2011, it was reported that Eurasian (and Asian) criminal enterprises were a larger priority for the FBI in Las Vegas than the LCN. That same year, it was also reported Eurasian (mainly Russian) organizations had become a larger priority in South Florida. However, while there are obviously Eurasian groups active in New York, they haven't become a bigger priority for law enforcement than the LCN there.

The so-called Russian Mafia is an international criminal organization. It operates in the US, Russia, the former Soviet states, Europe…basically on every continent, excluding Antarctica (for now). The Russian mafia heavily favor smuggling and trafficking schemes. They have, or can find, lucrative criminal and legal enterprises across the globe, and so they have little need to extort illegal sports bookies in USA cities.

There's no single international organization called the Russian Mafia. That's an umbrella term that many groups from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, etc. get lumped under. Some are operate only locally, others are international in their scope. Some operate or have ties to Eurasian criminal enterprises here in the U.S. Most Eurasian groups here aren't very hierarchical, but horizontally structured and fluid. They favor various schemes like healthcare fraud, securities fraud, insurance fraud, etc. more than anything else.

[Grouchy Sinatra]

Personally i think that the Russian crime groups don't even come close to Italian crime families in USA. The varied criminal organizations which are generally lumped together as being the “Russian Mafia” are not native born Americans in the same manner as the Italian crime families members. They are usually foreign nationals, or recent immigrants, who simply view the United States as a large target to plunder. They aren’t looking for “territory” as it is portrayed in films and television; they are looking for opportunities to make legal and illegal profits. Russians probably control most of the organized crime in Brighton Beach, NY. Which is a largely Russian community. But that's it.

The so-called Russian Mafia is an international criminal organization. It operates in the US, Russia, the former Soviet states, Europe…basically on every continent, excluding Antarctica (for now). The Russian mafia heavily favor smuggling and trafficking schemes. They have, or can find, lucrative criminal and legal enterprises across the globe, and so they have little need to extort illegal sports bookies in USA cities.

In the western US the Russians are more powerful than the Italians. There is no Italian mob presence out here. The Russians have a presence. You here mumblings about them. They do run a lot of booking operations. You don't hear anyone in places like California talking about the Italian mob unless they're talking about movies or the Sopranos. There is just no presence on the streets. Maybe a presence in business sectors, that's it.

[Wiseguy]

In the western US the Russians are more powerful than the Italians. There is no Italian mob presence out here. The Russians have a presence. You here mumblings about them. They do run a lot of booking operations. You don't hear anyone in places like California talking about the Italian mob unless they're talking about movies or the Sopranos. There is just no presence on the streets. Maybe a presence in business sectors, that's it.

While you're right about the Russians having a presence in the west and the Italians not, there's only been one bookmaking bust involving the Russians in recent years that I'm aware of. That was the one in 2013 involving the Taiwanchik-Nahmad-Trincher organization, which operated in both New York and California and catered to wealthy bettors from Russia, the Ukraine and the U.S. They operated two sportsbooks, as well as high stakes poker games. It's actually the latter (poker games) that we've seen more involvement from Russian and other Eurasian groups in. But even they are more the exception to the rule compared to other things they're involved in.

[scagghiuni]

In the western US the Russians are more powerful than the Italians. There is no Italian mob presence out here. The Russians have a presence. You here mumblings about them. They do run a lot of booking operations. You don't hear anyone in places like California talking about the Italian mob unless they're talking about movies or the Sopranos. There is just no presence on the streets. Maybe a presence in business sectors, that's it.

'russians' and 'italians' are generic terms and they mean little anyway, there are not lcn local families but sure some italian mob presence in some way from europe, and italians members in the local bikers for example; russian mafia is not a single and hierarchical criminal group, i think armenian power street gangs is the strongest among eurasian oc over there

[Nick Prango]

In the western US the Russians are more powerful than the Italians. There is no Italian mob presence out here. The Russians have a presence. You here mumblings about them. They do run a lot of booking operations. You don't hear anyone in places like California talking about the Italian mob unless they're talking about movies or the Sopranos. There is just no presence on the streets. Maybe a presence in business sectors, that's it.

'russians' and 'italians' are generic terms and they mean little anyway, there are not lcn local families but sure some italian mob presence in some way from europe, and italians members in the local bikers for example; russian mafia is not a single and hierarchical criminal group, i think armenian power street gangs is the strongest among eurasian oc over there

Is there Ndrangheta presence in California? What do you think?

[scagghiuni]

In the western US the Russians are more powerful than the Italians. There is no Italian mob presence out here. The Russians have a presence. You here mumblings about them. They do run a lot of booking operations. You don't hear anyone in places like California talking about the Italian mob unless they're talking about movies or the Sopranos. There is just no presence on the streets. Maybe a presence in business sectors, that's it.

'russians' and 'italians' are generic terms and they mean little anyway, there are not lcn local families but sure some italian mob presence in some way from europe, and italians members in the local bikers for example; russian mafia is not a single and hierarchical criminal group, i think armenian power street gangs is the strongest among eurasian oc over there

Is there Ndrangheta presence in California? What do you think?

not 'locali' or ndrine but sure somebody connected to the sale group based in colombia

[Nick Prango]

Mexican cartels are paramilitary, if a hypothetical war broke out between Italian crime family and Mexican cartel in NYC the feds would come down hard Rounding up cartel members, you can’t walk the streets of NYC with an assault rifle… especially given recent events police are very much on guard and on the look out for anything suspicious in Large metropolitan areas.

Cartels don't operate like that inside of the United States, they set up 3-10 man cells in an area with the goal being to fly under the radar.

Cartels operating in any form of conflict with LCN is ridiculous at best.

1. Cartels currently feud with each other over plazas along the border - routes to smuggle their drugs INTO the United States. The Mexican and Central American authorities are so damn corrupt, they can get away with it. Remember, these guys FEAR extradition into the United States. Look at how an all powerful Cartel God like El Chapo is in side of a maximum security prison.

2. Can any of the cartel sicarios speak english? If so, what are they going to do? Shake down a bunch of degenerate gamblers they don't even know in the middle of Brooklyn? Their paths would never cross with LCN. The mafia is going to fight over a tortilla stand fronting for a drug operation? Doubt it. If ANYTHING, members of LCN are customers - not rivals. Plus, whenever a conflict takes place, the guys fighting each other always know one another.

3. Any group that operates in the United States that is not native there tends to fly under the radar. Whether this is cartels, chinese, italian, russian or albanian groups. LCN has become americanized and in many ways - is now native to the U.S. Everyone else is cleaning their money.

I couldn't agree more. Cartels are good for drugs, human trafficking, and murder. The low life crimes. But cartel members in USA don't blend into society and straight successful people don't want to mingle with them so Italians have more power and potential because although they are feared, politicians and business people are not too scared to work with them. People run at the thought of being mixed up with Cartels.