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

[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?

[Nick Prango]

I’ve been trying to find information on La Cosa nostra activity in California for ages now and there isn’t much information about them post 2003. Today, they are very much under the radar with the police shifting their attention towards Russian and Chinese syndicates in the city. Because of this, almost nothing is known about the organisation. The focus from the feds on crime families outside of the northeast and Midwest has seemed to have died off post 1990’s. I have read online that the LA Mafia has thought to have been taken over as a puppet family of the Gambino Crime Family. Is it possible?

Los Angeles had an Italian neighborhood at one time. Mostly the area around Lincoln Heights, Elysian Valley. This was Jack Dragna's neighborhood. This was the birthplace of the Italian mob in LA. Like the San Francisco family, they probably saw their peak in power during prohibition. Since the families out west were very traditional Sicilian without a lot of non-Italian partnerships in high society, they didn't adapt well to the post-prohibition era of the mob when big industrialized rackets took hold. In fact these industrial rackets never really did take hold in LA since LA was never much of a union town. LA's downtown brass, the LA Times, etc, were very anti-union. The only real active unions were in show business and Chicago had an inside track on those. After Bioff, Roselli, etc got busted that was the end of the outfit's labor racket infiltration in Hollywood.

Yes,the Dragna family was called the Mickey Mouse Mafia and at its peak in the 1950s had 50 or few more made men some of them come from the east coast families.I have read on Reddit that the Dragna crime family was so weak that Mickey Cohen was the real boss of LA;and was so less respected that Joe Bonanno tried to made his son Bill as LA family boss. Is this true?

[Nick Prango]

I forgot to add, when William Parker took over the LAPD he weeded out all of the cops that were on the take for the LA mob, whether it be the Dragna family, Cohen's crew or the Outfit guys in LA. At this time most of LA's wiseguys moved to Vegas.

Since then, as others have pointed out, mostly gambling rackets and drug dealing.

So LA italian ctime family never controlled construction, unions, garbage like in NYC?

[Wiseguy]

What would the LA rackets BE exactly? If a mob was still there? Outta curiosity.......

Gambling rackets , it’s always about the book and given time a crew like Tommy Gambinos could be managing a pretty big book with very little to worry about. I wonder how big his crew is as I can see NY guys wanting to try something out there. From the gambling comes the loansharking, really sky’s the limit. Not to mention whale gamblers and sharps a few hour drive away.

Did TG have a restaurant in LA area ? I felt like I read that he does and would make sense

You also already have crews mananaging hundred LB + weed shipments into NY from CA

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Westside has gambling rackets in the area either. We know they had a weed crew out there supplying Larca’s crew

If I could play out a fantasy live , being a big mob loanshark to the 80s CA porn industry is probably top 10 lol

Last I knew he’s still got interest in TElecom industry and has the Gambino Prosecco wine distribution company. I would lean towards legit with him. He’s high profile enough he pops up once inawhile as a C list celeb in page six like publications. If anything he does have status as “Boss of LA” and was specifically made there with his brother probably as some kind of bridge gap to hand over Milanos LA rackets to the inzerillo Gambino faction Of the Gambinos so I’d imagine when Pete Milano died whatever unknown made guys or associates were folded in to them. We also know tony gambino (his brother) was made as LA Milano family but worked for Joe isgro at his record company. Joe Isgro is inducted gambino soldier so it seems as the Cleveland and Chicago/KC ties died off the Gambino ties increased. This is pure spec, but I think if any family has real rackets in LA it’s the Gambinos and even then Tommy G was tied in with Donnie montemarano in the telecom and entertainment (Colombo) who’s still alive but as for active I don’t know: Inzerillos and Gambinos dig in everywhere like ticks and associates don’t need to be made
To be kicking up or referring business both legit and illegitimate to the family from LA or guys putting money on the street out there

So Nick Prango your wish might be reality in terms of it being a Gambino Stronghold but too big and too many different criminal groups to be anything more then an open city. They would be just one of many many crews stemming from many groups, but there might be some number of associates to chase leads if the Feds and Locals were more concerned with Italian OC vs cartel and violent Rico indictable street gangs.

Gambino was partners with Donnie Shacks in a payphone installation business called Progressive Telecom but that was nearly 20 years ago. His line of wines is more recent.

There's no "stronghold," or toehold for that matter, of any LCN family in LA or anywhere out west. There's not even a basis to speculate there could be. Plenty of reasons to think the exact opposite however.

[Nick Prango]

What would the LA rackets BE exactly? If a mob was still there? Outta curiosity.......

Gambling rackets , it’s always about the book and given time a crew like Tommy Gambinos could be managing a pretty big book with very little to worry about. I wonder how big his crew is as I can see NY guys wanting to try something out there. From the gambling comes the loansharking, really sky’s the limit. Not to mention whale gamblers and sharps a few hour drive away.

Did TG have a restaurant in LA area ? I felt like I read that he does and would make sense

You also already have crews mananaging hundred LB + weed shipments into NY from CA

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Westside has gambling rackets in the area either. We know they had a weed crew out there supplying Larca’s crew

If I could play out a fantasy live , being a big mob loanshark to the 80s CA porn industry is probably top 10 lol

Last I knew he’s still got interest in TElecom industry and has the Gambino Prosecco wine distribution company. I would lean towards legit with him. He’s high profile enough he pops up once inawhile as a C list celeb in page six like publications. If anything he does have status as “Boss of LA” and was specifically made there with his brother probably as some kind of bridge gap to hand over Milanos LA rackets to the inzerillo Gambino faction Of the Gambinos so I’d imagine when Pete Milano died whatever unknown made guys or associates were folded in to them. We also know tony gambino (his brother) was made as LA Milano family but worked for Joe isgro at his record company. Joe Isgro is inducted gambino soldier so it seems as the Cleveland and Chicago/KC ties died off the Gambino ties increased. This is pure spec, but I think if any family has real rackets in LA it’s the Gambinos and even then Tommy G was tied in with Donnie montemarano in the telecom and entertainment (Colombo) who’s still alive but as for active I don’t know: Inzerillos and Gambinos dig in everywhere like ticks and associates don’t need to be made
To be kicking up or referring business both legit and illegitimate to the family from LA or guys putting money on the street out there

So Nick Prango your wish might be reality in terms of it being a Gambino Stronghold but too big and too many different criminal groups to be anything more then an open city. They would be just one of many many crews stemming from many groups, but there might be some number of associates to chase leads if the Feds and Locals were more concerned with Italian OC vs cartel and violent Rico indictable street gangs.

You are probably right. Gambinos and the remnants of the LA family's rackets are illegal gambling, some shy, investing money for East Coast guys...that's it. But you must agree that they could still make some good cash, with little competition.There are tons of opportunities in California for the Mob. They could be involved with massage parlors, strip joints and never mind the porn business. There are 1,000's of companies still operating in the valley.
LA street gangs are no competition for Italian Mafia. In reality street gangs aren't involved in many of the same rackets the mob is.None of them are into shy or sports book. Only thing they fuck with is drugs.

[JoeCamel]

What would the LA rackets BE exactly? If a mob was still there? Outta curiosity.......

Gambling rackets , it’s always about the book and given time a crew like Tommy Gambinos could be managing a pretty big book with very little to worry about. I wonder how big his crew is as I can see NY guys wanting to try something out there. From the gambling comes the loansharking, really sky’s the limit. Not to mention whale gamblers and sharps a few hour drive away.

Did TG have a restaurant in LA area ? I felt like I read that he does and would make sense

You also already have crews mananaging hundred LB + weed shipments into NY from CA

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Westside has gambling rackets in the area either. We know they had a weed crew out there supplying Larca’s crew

If I could play out a fantasy live , being a big mob loanshark to the 80s CA porn industry is probably top 10 lol

Last I knew he’s still got interest in TElecom industry and has the Gambino Prosecco wine distribution company. I would lean towards legit with him. He’s high profile enough he pops up once inawhile as a C list celeb in page six like publications. If anything he does have status as “Boss of LA” and was specifically made there with his brother probably as some kind of bridge gap to hand over Milanos LA rackets to the inzerillo Gambino faction Of the Gambinos so I’d imagine when Pete Milano died whatever unknown made guys or associates were folded in to them. We also know tony gambino (his brother) was made as LA Milano family but worked for Joe isgro at his record company. Joe Isgro is inducted gambino soldier so it seems as the Cleveland and Chicago/KC ties died off the Gambino ties increased. This is pure spec, but I think if any family has real rackets in LA it’s the Gambinos and even then Tommy G was tied in with Donnie montemarano in the telecom and entertainment (Colombo) who’s still alive but as for active I don’t know: Inzerillos and Gambinos dig in everywhere like ticks and associates don’t need to be made
To be kicking up or referring business both legit and illegitimate to the family from LA or guys putting money on the street out there

So Nick Prango your wish might be reality in terms of it being a Gambino Stronghold but too big and too many different criminal groups to be anything more then an open city. They would be just one of many many crews stemming from many groups, but there might be some number of associates to chase leads if the Feds and Locals were more concerned with Italian OC vs cartel and violent Rico indictable street gangs.

Gambino was partners with Donnie Shacks in a payphone installation business called Progressive Telecom but that was nearly 20 years ago. His line of wines is more recent.

There's no "stronghold," or toehold for that matter, of any LCN family in LA or anywhere out west. There's not even a basis to speculate there could be. Plenty of reasons to think the exact opposite however.

Okay now I see why these guys get annoyed with you. But once again I reground myself in reality. Stronghold was an innacurate term to use. I regress and say instead “If any of the surviving twelve families Have LA rackets earning any money the most likely and most documented would be the Gambinos. “

Although to even be called out by Wiseguy makes me feel like a Real member of the forum. I’m now obviously being held to higher standard. Feel like I’ve got my button. But as Chrissy would say “this being made ain’t all its cracked up to be”

[JoeCamel]

Of course wiseguy You forget that AC cowlings Still kicks up to Michael Franseze In 2020. I have FBI 302s John Alite got smuggled in in Corozzos ass to Brazilian prison while he was representing his extradition to prove it

[JCB1977]

I’ve been trying to find information on La Cosa nostra activity in California for ages now and there isn’t much information about them post 2003. Today, they are very much under the radar with the police shifting their attention towards Russian and Chinese syndicates in the city. Because of this, almost nothing is known about the organisation. The focus from the feds on crime families outside of the northeast and Midwest has seemed to have died off post 1990’s. I have read online that the LA Mafia has thought to have been taken over as a puppet family of the Gambino Crime Family. Is it possible?

Check out The Los Angeles Mafia group on Facebook. Some great resources for you there if LA is your interest

[JCB1977]

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 ?

Because they’re having difficulty maintaining control over their own cities. The 5 families of NY, Philly are truly the only active families with structure. Chicago is on its death bed, NJ is anybody’s guess and New England has been crippled. The U.S Mafia is a shell of its former self, they don’t have that kind of steam anymore.

[Wiseguy]

Okay now I see why these guys get annoyed with you. But once again I reground myself in reality. Stronghold was an innacurate term to use. I regress and say instead “If any of the surviving twelve families Have LA rackets earning any money the most likely and most documented would be the Gambinos. “

Twelve families?

Although to even be called out by Wiseguy makes me feel like a Real member of the forum. I’m now obviously being held to higher standard. Feel like I’ve got my button. But as Chrissy would say “this being made ain’t all its cracked up to be”

Welcome to the NFL, rookie.

[NothingNew44]

Okay now I see why these guys get annoyed with you. But once again I reground myself in reality. Stronghold was an innacurate term to use. I regress and say instead “If any of the surviving twelve families Have LA rackets earning any money the most likely and most documented would be the Gambinos. “

Twelve families?

Although to even be called out by Wiseguy makes me feel like a Real member of the forum. I’m now obviously being held to higher standard. Feel like I’ve got my button. But as Chrissy would say “this being made ain’t all its cracked up to be”

Welcome to the NFL, rookie.

[NothingNew44]

That’s hilarious

[JoeCamel]

Okay now I see why these guys get annoyed with you. But once again I reground myself in reality. Stronghold was an innacurate term to use. I regress and say instead “If any of the surviving twelve families Have LA rackets earning any money the most likely and most documented would be the Gambinos. “

Twelve families?

Although to even be called out by Wiseguy makes me feel like a Real member of the forum. I’m now obviously being held to higher standard. Feel like I’ve got my button. But as Chrissy would say “this being made ain’t all its cracked up to be”

Welcome to the NFL, rookie.

I’m not going to battle over Detroit and buffalo all night. You know where I stand

[JoeCamel]

I am going to go start a book in Madison though and see what happens. What happened to the guy that says the grandkids of Caputo approached the commission saying they had rights to start a new family there? I want to stoke that fire. You Guys Will See! LCN hasn’t breathed its last breath In the Big Cheese yet!

[Wiseguy]

I’m not going to battle over Detroit and buffalo all night. You know where I stand

That would be 11 families if you added those two.