Unpopular opinion. Feds don’t know nearly as much about present day active LCN families as they did in the old days.

[Nick Prango]

Because present day Italian mobsters don’t congregate in the same spots, and all communications have about 3 or 4 layers between the Boss and whoever it needs to go to.

There are no more meeting at the social clubs, every single day, making it extremely easy to get surveilled and identified. Also, even if they happen to identify a guy as “connected,” it’s not against the law to belong to a group of socialize with criminals.

Despite modern technology, it’s actually much harder to make a case against these guys, nowadays, as there are easy ways to disguise communications, and everything between these mobsters is highly compartmentalized. No one knows too much.

And that’s not to even mention that The Mob really doesn’t bring public heat on the Feds, like they used to, because they use murder as a VERY last resort nowadays. Fed resources are also down about 75% from what they used to be.

As an agent, you can only try to see and bring so many bullshit cases for “illegal gambling,” loansharking, minor drug deals, etc., before your unit FBI chief realizes you’re wasting time and resources on small stuff, and reallocates you. Murder is the big one that will bring heat.

[chin_gigante]

What do you mean by the 'old days'? Pre-1960s? 1960s-1970s? 1980s onward?

[Teddy Persico]

By the 80s, the Feds were on top of most the families, but by the 2000s we saw a decline in LE resources that was greater than the mob's actual decline. Without bodies on the street, traditional OC isn't a priority anymore.

[Nick Prango]

What do you mean by the 'old days'? Pre-1960s? 1960s-1970s? 1980s onward?

I mean 1980s/1990s

[eboli]

Budget cuts after the War on Terror launched is the main reason Cosa Nostra is doing relatively good these days. They stopped being a major target for the feds, and they were upstaged by other organized crime groups nationwide. Despite that, mob busts still get major headlines. In the early to mid 00s, they were one major operation away from being reduced to marginal street gangs. They were forced to stop the violence. Look at the latest Lucchese hit. Everybody involved got life.

[OcSleeper]

How's this a unpopular opinion

[cavita]

How's this a unpopular opinion

Because the Great and Powerful Oz is going to see this and comment with about 5-10 paragraphs explaining why this is wrong.

[sdeitche]

Not unpopular. Definitely true to some extent. Scott B. and I were talking the other day about how state and local law enforcement especially have little idea. I've called twice by two different intelligence detectives (form two different local agencies) over the years to help them update their list of "active mobsters".

[Pogo The Clown]

Because present day Italian mobsters don’t congregate in the same spots, and all communications have about 3 or 4 layers between the Boss and whoever it needs to go to.

There are no more meeting at the social clubs, every single day, making it extremely easy to get surveilled and identified. Also, even if they happen to identify a guy as “connected,” it’s not against the law to belong to a group of socialize with criminals.

Despite modern technology, it’s actually much harder to make a case against these guys, nowadays, as there are easy ways to disguise communications, and everything between these mobsters is highly compartmentalized. No one knows too much.

This is not accurate though. These guys still regularly talk on phones, meet in social clubs, congregate in large groups, don't delegate, etc.nothing has really changed in that regard.


Pogo

[Nick Prango]

Because present day Italian mobsters don’t congregate in the same spots, and all communications have about 3 or 4 layers between the Boss and whoever it needs to go to.

There are no more meeting at the social clubs, every single day, making it extremely easy to get surveilled and identified. Also, even if they happen to identify a guy as “connected,” it’s not against the law to belong to a group of socialize with criminals.

Despite modern technology, it’s actually much harder to make a case against these guys, nowadays, as there are easy ways to disguise communications, and everything between these mobsters is highly compartmentalized. No one knows too much.

This is not accurate though. These guys still regularly talk on phones, meet in social clubs, congregate in large groups, don't delegate, etc.nothing has really changed in that regard.


Pogo

Not like they used to in 70s/80s/90s

[Pogo The Clown]

It may be on a smaller scale but that is only because the mob itself is operating on a much smaller scale but the way they operate and conduct themselves in general is the same as it was back then.


Pogo

[Wiseguy]

Outside of New York, the LCN is no long a priority for law enforcement. But they know who the members are in the few cities elsewhere that still have an active family and the occasional bust keeps them in check. Beyond that, it wouldn't surprise that much if things aren't really being monitored anywhere else - beyond keeping a dead list pool - because all you're going to find is a handful of old, inactive members at most.

As for New York itself, despite the considerable reduction in law enforcement resources, we continue to see regular, ongoing cases. In those press releases/indictments, officials will list people in the administration, captains, soldiers, etc. There's less murders in these cases because the mob is committing less murders.

I'm not concerned about what is or isn't popular. The opinion is just not correct from what I can tell.

[givememysocks]

Idk man I feel like the feds nowdays have a much larger number of informents then the past decades. I think its true that their attention and funding has shifted to other things but all their advanced bugging tech combined with far less loyalty among mobsters outweights all that.

[Pogo The Clown]

To further expound on what I posted.


-In the last 5 years we have had confirmation that the Genovese, Luccheses, Bonannos and Philly still congregate and operate out of social clubs. I'm sure it was mentioned that the Gambinos and Colombos do as well but I can't think of any off the top of my head.


-Many cases over the last few years of guys getting cought on bugs or phone taps.


-Plenty of cases in the last few years of big congregations. A prime example were the Bonanno captains meeting from 2015 where practically the whole leadership (more than 20 members) were meeting in one spot which of course was recorded by LE.


-In the last 5 years the Bonannos and Philly have each had a making ceremony bugged.


-In the last 5 years both Philly and the DeCavalcante have been infiltrated by undercover agents.


-Ditto for being compartmentalized. Case in point Pennisi who as a Soldier was meeting with members and associates in various crews and and several different families.


Pogo

[Grouchy Sinatra]

The mob doesn't have as much power or money as they did in the mid 20th century. More like an organized gang now. I don't think the FBI even has individual family squads anymore. Just one unit that covers all of "LCN"