Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Staten Island's colorful mob saga spans from Sammy the Bull to "Big Ang." Both have been the borough's barometer for the state of the mob.
Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano, a former boss in the Gambino crime family, ratted out infamous mobster John Gotti in the heyday of the blood and mayhem.
Angela (Big Ang) Raiola made it big on the small screen in the now-cancelled reality TV show, "Mob Wives," after the mafia's apparent decay.
"The existence of 'Mob Wives' proves organized crime is dead," said attorney Tim Parlatore who has represented various gangsters, including an alleged Staten Island Bonanno member. "Can you imagine that show on the air during John Gotti's day?"
In the height of the mafia hysteria, Gotti was a cocky crime boss who strutted around Mulberry Street, flaunting his influence in the face of the law.
But his oversized ego and a Staten Island snitch, Gravano, led to the feds finally convicting the Gambino gangster, thus signifying the beginning of the end of the Hollywood-style mafia, mob experts and law enforcement officials said.
Read more: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/20 ... r_home_pop
Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Moderator: Capos
-
willychichi
- Full Patched
- Posts: 4291
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:54 pm
Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Obama's a pimp he coulda never outfought Trump, but I didn't know it till this day that it was Putin all along.
-
JerryB
- Straightened out
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2014 11:00 am
- Location: Milwaukee and Los Angeles
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
THE REST OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
What has emerged since is mobsters staying low-key and working underground, conspiring with other crime families and heavily dealing with drugs, experts said.
"It's a shell of its old self," said Jerry Capeci, a former crime reporter who runs the website ganglandnews.com. "They don't have the clout they used to have. I don't think they'll ever get back to what they were."
THE DECLINE
Between RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws culminating in long prison sentences and mobsters breaking traditional practices by becoming snitches, the federal government was able to crack down on the five families -- Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and Colombo -- of La Cosa Nostra (LCN) in New York City.
Capeci estimates there are approximately 600 mob members currently operating in the New York area.
In the U.S., the FBI website says, there are approximately 3,000 members and affiliates. The largest presence is in the Northeast, including New York, southern New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
"There's a perception that the mafia is dead, but that's not true," said Rob Foy, supervisory special agent at the FBI. "It's not what it was once but there are still functioning families, they may not be growing, but they are sustaining."
While less members of the crime families are operating in New York, the clans are still practicing the familiar bread-and-butter crimes, like corruption, loansharking, extortion, gambling, drugs, and racketeering.
They're also keeping the same structure and members still have to be made.
The only notable difference now, compared to the heyday, is there are less bodies sleeping with the fishes. The lack of violence, experts said, means mobsters aren't as feared. But the threat of violence still exists today.
"They're more cautious than the traditional LCN groups," Foy said. "They're a bit smarter to keep a low profile and not to make the headlines."
Recently, there's been a trend of crime families working together, mostly on drug trafficking, and getting involved with other crime groups, Foy said. Drugs, he said, are more prevalent in organized crime than before.
Staten Island man indicted in organized crime ring
Staten Island man indicted in organized crime ring
For instance, in a recent multi-defendant mob indictment involving a Staten Island man, Alex Conigliaro, 56, a panhandler allegedly getting roughed up outside an Italian restaurant in the Bronx was the most dangerous act in the complaint.
Conigliaro, an alleged member of the Genovese family, is accused of conspiracy to extort. His 45 co-defendants were arrested as authorities unsealed an indictment which included charges of racketeering, conspiracy, arson, illegal trafficking in firearms, and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering, authorities said.
"The murder and mayhem of the past is gone," Parlatore said. "All of that stuff is in the past. Now, it's just small neighborhood crews that do small neighborhood stuff."
"They don't leave bodies in the street anymore," Capeci said. "The fact that they don't kill anymore made their influence less."
In a case involving alleged Bonanno solider Anthony (Skinny) Santoro, the Great Kills man and his three co-defendants are charged with enterprise corruption in 2013.
Santoro, 52, who has been incarcerated since his arrest for a non-violent crime, was a key player in the Bonanno family's gambling operation, allegedly setting the prices for drugs and deciding on opening and freezing gambling accounts, prosecutors said.
The case went to trial earlier his year in Manhattan Supreme Court and ended in a mistrial over juror dissension. Prosecutors are expected retry the case this fall.
"They were targeted because they're Italians," a relative of Santoro told the Advance during the trial. "I really believe that. Nobody got hurt. Nobody was killed. That mafia doesn't exist anymore."
The skinny on 'Skinny' -- Man at center of mob trial
FBI FOCUS
While the members of the five families have dwindled in numbers, so has the number of law enforcement officials dedicated to monitoring their activities.
In the heyday, according to a law enforcement source, there was an FBI unit assigned to each family. Now there are two squads that are responsible for the Italian mafia.
The number of NYPD detectives working on organized crime has also dwindled. According to the Wall Street Journal, there were 5,000 detectives covering the mafia in 2014. There were 7,000 in 2002, the article said.
The FBI did not provide exact numbers, but an agency spokeswoman said the numbers have decreased and the families have been combined. Also, the FBI has added personnel for international organized crime groups, including Albanian, Middle Eastern and Eurasian rings, she said.
Federal courts in Manhattan and Brooklyn have consolidated the organized crime sections and are also responsible for gangs and violent crimes, a law enforcement source said.
After Sept. 11, the priority on organized crime was behind terrorism, cyber crimes, public corruption and protecting civil rights, the Journal reported.
"Terrorism is a major priority, but organized crime is still a priority," Foy said.
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
Law enforcement experts contend that organized crime is still a threat to the public, and while the bloody bad days are over, there have been recent connections between the 'NDrangheta Mafia in Italy and New York. 'NDrangheta is based in Calabria section of Italy and its members regard St. Michael the Archangel as their patron.
In a recent federal case, U.S. vs. Lupoi, defendant Raffaele Valente, a.k.a "Lello," is an alleged 'NDrangheta member who tried to start a cell in New York, according to court records.
Valente and Lupoi, who owned a bakery in Brooklyn, were part of a scheme to use legitimate shipping businesses to transfer cocaine and heroin between the U.S. and Italy, authorities allege. Valente was also charged in Italy with the crime of mafia association based on his role in establishing an 'Ndrangheta cell in New York, according to the FBI.
In March, Gregorio Gigliotti was arrested two months before the feds and Italian authorities rounded up 13 people allegedly involved in drug smuggling between Calabria and New York, federal prosecutors said.
In July, a federal jury convicted Gigliotti, a pizzeria owner, of importing over 50 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.
"The New York-based crime families of La Cosa Nostra continue to operate here and abroad, and the 'NDrangheta has increased its power and reach in recent years," one law enforcement source said. "Organized crime remains an active threat, both in New York City and internationally. If we let up, there will be a resurgence."
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/20 ... r_home_pop
What has emerged since is mobsters staying low-key and working underground, conspiring with other crime families and heavily dealing with drugs, experts said.
"It's a shell of its old self," said Jerry Capeci, a former crime reporter who runs the website ganglandnews.com. "They don't have the clout they used to have. I don't think they'll ever get back to what they were."
THE DECLINE
Between RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws culminating in long prison sentences and mobsters breaking traditional practices by becoming snitches, the federal government was able to crack down on the five families -- Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and Colombo -- of La Cosa Nostra (LCN) in New York City.
Capeci estimates there are approximately 600 mob members currently operating in the New York area.
In the U.S., the FBI website says, there are approximately 3,000 members and affiliates. The largest presence is in the Northeast, including New York, southern New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
"There's a perception that the mafia is dead, but that's not true," said Rob Foy, supervisory special agent at the FBI. "It's not what it was once but there are still functioning families, they may not be growing, but they are sustaining."
While less members of the crime families are operating in New York, the clans are still practicing the familiar bread-and-butter crimes, like corruption, loansharking, extortion, gambling, drugs, and racketeering.
They're also keeping the same structure and members still have to be made.
The only notable difference now, compared to the heyday, is there are less bodies sleeping with the fishes. The lack of violence, experts said, means mobsters aren't as feared. But the threat of violence still exists today.
"They're more cautious than the traditional LCN groups," Foy said. "They're a bit smarter to keep a low profile and not to make the headlines."
Recently, there's been a trend of crime families working together, mostly on drug trafficking, and getting involved with other crime groups, Foy said. Drugs, he said, are more prevalent in organized crime than before.
Staten Island man indicted in organized crime ring
Staten Island man indicted in organized crime ring
For instance, in a recent multi-defendant mob indictment involving a Staten Island man, Alex Conigliaro, 56, a panhandler allegedly getting roughed up outside an Italian restaurant in the Bronx was the most dangerous act in the complaint.
Conigliaro, an alleged member of the Genovese family, is accused of conspiracy to extort. His 45 co-defendants were arrested as authorities unsealed an indictment which included charges of racketeering, conspiracy, arson, illegal trafficking in firearms, and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering, authorities said.
"The murder and mayhem of the past is gone," Parlatore said. "All of that stuff is in the past. Now, it's just small neighborhood crews that do small neighborhood stuff."
"They don't leave bodies in the street anymore," Capeci said. "The fact that they don't kill anymore made their influence less."
In a case involving alleged Bonanno solider Anthony (Skinny) Santoro, the Great Kills man and his three co-defendants are charged with enterprise corruption in 2013.
Santoro, 52, who has been incarcerated since his arrest for a non-violent crime, was a key player in the Bonanno family's gambling operation, allegedly setting the prices for drugs and deciding on opening and freezing gambling accounts, prosecutors said.
The case went to trial earlier his year in Manhattan Supreme Court and ended in a mistrial over juror dissension. Prosecutors are expected retry the case this fall.
"They were targeted because they're Italians," a relative of Santoro told the Advance during the trial. "I really believe that. Nobody got hurt. Nobody was killed. That mafia doesn't exist anymore."
The skinny on 'Skinny' -- Man at center of mob trial
FBI FOCUS
While the members of the five families have dwindled in numbers, so has the number of law enforcement officials dedicated to monitoring their activities.
In the heyday, according to a law enforcement source, there was an FBI unit assigned to each family. Now there are two squads that are responsible for the Italian mafia.
The number of NYPD detectives working on organized crime has also dwindled. According to the Wall Street Journal, there were 5,000 detectives covering the mafia in 2014. There were 7,000 in 2002, the article said.
The FBI did not provide exact numbers, but an agency spokeswoman said the numbers have decreased and the families have been combined. Also, the FBI has added personnel for international organized crime groups, including Albanian, Middle Eastern and Eurasian rings, she said.
Federal courts in Manhattan and Brooklyn have consolidated the organized crime sections and are also responsible for gangs and violent crimes, a law enforcement source said.
After Sept. 11, the priority on organized crime was behind terrorism, cyber crimes, public corruption and protecting civil rights, the Journal reported.
"Terrorism is a major priority, but organized crime is still a priority," Foy said.
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
Law enforcement experts contend that organized crime is still a threat to the public, and while the bloody bad days are over, there have been recent connections between the 'NDrangheta Mafia in Italy and New York. 'NDrangheta is based in Calabria section of Italy and its members regard St. Michael the Archangel as their patron.
In a recent federal case, U.S. vs. Lupoi, defendant Raffaele Valente, a.k.a "Lello," is an alleged 'NDrangheta member who tried to start a cell in New York, according to court records.
Valente and Lupoi, who owned a bakery in Brooklyn, were part of a scheme to use legitimate shipping businesses to transfer cocaine and heroin between the U.S. and Italy, authorities allege. Valente was also charged in Italy with the crime of mafia association based on his role in establishing an 'Ndrangheta cell in New York, according to the FBI.
In March, Gregorio Gigliotti was arrested two months before the feds and Italian authorities rounded up 13 people allegedly involved in drug smuggling between Calabria and New York, federal prosecutors said.
In July, a federal jury convicted Gigliotti, a pizzeria owner, of importing over 50 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.
"The New York-based crime families of La Cosa Nostra continue to operate here and abroad, and the 'NDrangheta has increased its power and reach in recent years," one law enforcement source said. "Organized crime remains an active threat, both in New York City and internationally. If we let up, there will be a resurgence."
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/20 ... r_home_pop
Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
In a lot of ways this is a typical state-of-the-mob article we see every so often but a few things stand out.
Capeci says there are approximately 600 mob members currently operating in the NYC area. I suppose that is a total number (not just active on the street) if he's not counting members in New Jersey, other parts of the Northeast, Florida, or elsewhere. If he's talking active on the street, that's a rather high percentage of the 700 or so total members the 5 NY families are said to have.
Capeci talks about how less murders have made the mob less feared and decreased their influence. I can see how this would be so, to an extent anyway, but I think the responding lack of scrutiny by law enforcement, and chances of guys flipping, is probably a good trade off for them.
The article, quoting the FBI, says the NY families have increased their involvement in drugs, often working together and with other crime groups.
Capeci says there are approximately 600 mob members currently operating in the NYC area. I suppose that is a total number (not just active on the street) if he's not counting members in New Jersey, other parts of the Northeast, Florida, or elsewhere. If he's talking active on the street, that's a rather high percentage of the 700 or so total members the 5 NY families are said to have.
Capeci talks about how less murders have made the mob less feared and decreased their influence. I can see how this would be so, to an extent anyway, but I think the responding lack of scrutiny by law enforcement, and chances of guys flipping, is probably a good trade off for them.
The article, quoting the FBI, says the NY families have increased their involvement in drugs, often working together and with other crime groups.
All roads lead to New York.
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Capaci said 600..over 500 just westside and gambinos
-
johnny_scootch
- Full Patched
- Posts: 3139
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:48 am
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Even if you low balled them and said 200 each then low balled the 3 other families and said 100 each your at 700. Mean while true number is most likely between 800-900. I wonder where he got that number from?bronx wrote:Capaci said 600..over 500 just westside and gambinos
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
I think your guys' numbers are too high. Whatever Capeci meant, if you look at the estimates, they've been pretty consistent for years now. Approximately 200 each for the Genovese and Gambinos. 100 (or a little over) for each of the other families. A total of 700-750.
All roads lead to New York.
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
I believe the families were historically smaller than many people once thought also. They are smaller today than in their "heyday" for sure, but not as dramatically as some info would suggest.
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
If we go with D'Arco's figures they were.B. wrote:I believe the families were historically smaller than many people once thought also. They are smaller today than in their "heyday" for sure, but not as dramatically as some info would suggest.
All roads lead to New York.
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
Also Scarpa's report about Joe Colombo doing a headcount in the early 1960s and the family being around 110 members.Wiseguy wrote:If we go with D'Arco's figures they were.B. wrote:I believe the families were historically smaller than many people once thought also. They are smaller today than in their "heyday" for sure, but not as dramatically as some info would suggest.
Paul Sciacca was recorded saying the Bonannos had around 180 members in the early-mid 1960s.
-
BillyBrizzi
- Straightened out
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:41 am
Re: Mob's bloody heyday dead, but organized crime is not sleeping with the fishes
All the families are about a third smaller today than the alleged caps set by Luciano..Wiseguy wrote:If we go with D'Arco's figures they were.B. wrote:I believe the families were historically smaller than many people once thought also. They are smaller today than in their "heyday" for sure, but not as dramatically as some info would suggest.
FORTIS FORTUNA IUVAT