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Morello crime family – The earliest mafia family in the US

January 18, 2016 by admin in

United States’ earliest mafia family is the Morello family, who were said to be based in the Italian Harlem of Manhattan. This family by defeating Brooklyn’s rival Neapolitan Camorra became the dominant Italian underworld gang.

Some aspects to understand

The Morello family was founded by Giuseppe Morello during the 1890’s and had Sicilian ethnicity. This mafia family was into different types of criminal activities such as murder, conspiracy, extortion, counterfeiting and racketeering.

Its mafia history

This family has its roots in Corleone, Sicily. It was in 1892 that Guiseppe had emigrated to the U.S. He along with his family had lived for a while in the city of New York, before moving to Louisiana and again in 1986 moved back to New York City.

The 107th Street Mob

After returning to New York, the brothers became popular as 107th street mob and at times known as the Morello Gang, which dominated Manhattan, East Harlem and parts of Bronx. A mobster named Ignazio Lup was the strongest ally of Giuseppe Morello, who controlled Manhattan’s Little Italy. Their alliance prospered in 1903, when a significant counterfeiting ring had began with Vito Cascio Ferro, the Sicilian Mafioso Don printing bills of $5 in Sicily to have it smuggled to the U.S. Morello is said to have employed several members belonging to the  counterfeiting operation. ‘Barrel murders’ which took place later, especially of Sr. Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Catania were assumed to have been done at the instance of the Morellos.

Rising power

The hold over Upper Manhattan was further consolidated by the Morello family. On 15th November 1909, the building that was being used by the Morellos in New York’s Highland place was raided by the city police as it was being used as a front to carry out counterfeiting operation. Huge amounts of Canadian and American counterfeit bills were recovered during this raid. About mafia members from the Morello family was arrested after letters were discovered by victims of Black Had from New Orleans. The arrested included Ignazio Lupo and Giuseppe Morello sentenced to imprisonment for 25 and 35 years respectively and sent to Atlanta Federal Prison.

Mafia of the 1920’s

January 15, 2016 by admin in

The Sicilian and Italian immigrants during the early 1920 had tried to establish their residence in the United States for forming a criminal organization. The immigrants had the intention to have their criminal organization to be reestablished from fresh palette. It is by forming the American Criminal Society that this group was able to succeed in its mission.

The American Mafia

They are regarded to be an Italian American criminal society and also popularly called Cosa Nostra or La Cosa Nostra. It was until the Prohibition was introduced, this group had very limited activities. Prohibition here is stated to be a law, which forbid sale of alcohol. An atmosphere was thus created upon passing this specific law, which only worsened the situation, thereby giving birth to some of the most exploited of all mafia related activities. The Prohibition within few years of its introduction was regarded to be a complete failure, while alcohol distribution entirely came into the hands of the Mafia members in the United States, as a whole.

Emergence of Mafia Families

The 1920 Prohibition Era is regarded to be a period when Mafia activities had been depicted to be at its peak. The U.S., in 1920s were said to have become provinces for various criminal organizations and the mafia leaders and members. Mafia activities got provoked across the globe after the Soviet bloc had opened up after the Second World War. This gave emergence to great Mafia leaders like Peter Licavoli, Bugs Moran, Al Capone, Johnny Torrio and Dutch Schultz, who had ruled the mafia world and criminal rackets of that period. They had formed own families to run organized crime and to smuggle liquor and to have an iron hand over their respective cities. Moreover, they also fought for power and command over a city or area against the other Mafia members, thereby leading to blood bath and death in most of the American cities.

Life of Al Capone

During the 1920s, he had ruled North-eastern part of the United States. He was given a nickname of ‘Scarface’. He has an important place in Mafia history and had ruled between 1920 and 1931 during the Prohibition Era. He had a made a name for himself as the most notorious Mafia gangster of the century. He had become a popular subject for several movies, games, articles and books. ‘The Godfather’, a famous movie provides a glimpse of the origin and culture of the Mafia world of the 1920s.

Mafia and the Ten Commandments

January 15, 2016 by admin in

To make a positive impact on Mafia activities, it is necessary for the FBI and different legal organizations to understand about their activities and to derive inside information with regards to Caporegimes and the Dons. It is possible to have raids on illegal gambling rings, drug deals and to arrest involved people. However, there is a need to have the Capos, Underboss and the Don to be arrested for damaging the mafia family completely. Infiltrating into the family is the only way to achieve this, a task that is undertaken by undercover agents.

The undercover’s job

The job involving the FBI agent to work as an enforcer or mob associate and tackling the mafia members is incredible dangerous and risky. In case, the truth gets discovered or if caught during act of having information leaked out, without any remorse, he is to be executed, riddled with bullets or tortured to death.

Knowing the Mafia’s Ten Commandments

The ‘Ten Commandment’ list has been found by the Sicilian police in November 2007 at Salvatore Lo Piccolo, the mafia boss’ hideout. Italian investigators are of the opinion that Salvatore, who since 1993 was on the run, was in the race to be   the Sicilian Mafia’s subsequent ‘boss of bosses’. The Mafia’s Ten Commandments are considered to be quite similar to that of the Ten Commandments of the Bible, as they are supposed to be their guiding force as to how the mafia members are to be a respectable, honorable, good Mafioso.

A preamble is said to be found in the beginning of the list, stating the following, “I hereby swear to remain loyal to the Cosa Nostra. Lest I betray, shall my flesh burn’.

Ten Commandments

  • A third person is required to be present, when presenting to another friend, something that is not to be done directly.
  • Presence along with cops is to be avoided.
  • Friends’ wives are never to be looked at.
  • Clubs and pubs are to be avoided.
  • Appointments need to be respected fully.
  • It is a duty to be present always for Cosa Nostra, even if wife is to give birth to the child.
  • Wives are to be treated with equal respect.
  • Money is not to be appropriated, in case, it belongs to other families or others.
  • Answer is to be clear, honest and complete if information is asked for.
  • Who cannot be in the group: people having close relative as police, two timing relative present within the family, those not holding to moral values and behaving badly.

About the California based Los Angeles Mafia Family

January 15, 2016 by admin in

Los Angeles Mafia family is said to be based in the state of California. This mafia family rose during the early part of the 20th century and spread all over Southern California. It had gained immense power during Prohibition Era and the method used was bootlegging. It was between 1940 – early 50s that it wielded great influence and power under the leadership of Jack Dragna. Although this mafia family was not bigger, when compared to the Chicago or New York families, he was said to be on The Commission. However, the family’s power declined with his death. It is the Chicago Outfit which represents the L.A. Crime family at The Commission.

During the late 1970s, Aladena Fratianno ‘Jimmy the Weasel’ gave testimonies against the family, thus, becoming the second member in the history of American Mafia. Their activities shrunk with the passing of the RICO Act during the 1980s, thereby leaving its original power with just a fraction.

Current scenario

The L.A. crime family presently is much small, when other mafia families are taken into account. They are involved more into conspiracy, murder, gambling, fencing, skimming, racketeering, extortion, fraud, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loan sharking as well as legitimate business. This family is considered to be the last one to be left in the California state.

Some aspects to know

The Los Angeles crime family’s founder and first boss was Joseph Ardizzone. It was in Los Angeles, California that this family is based. It has been active since 1900 and covers the territories of Las Vegas and Southern California. There are 10 made members, who are considered to be of Italian descent, while the associates employed are of other ethnicities. Their allies are the Five Families, Kansas City, Cleveland, Buffalo and Chicago crime families. The different street gangs of L.A. and Cohen crime family are their rivals.

Knowing about the origins of L.A. crime

The different Italian street gangs was said to rule the crime activities of California during the early 20th century like the Black Hand. Matranga family was the prominent among them, but had their power limited just to the Plaza community. But their feud with the Ardizzone’s faction saw their power to decline and eliminate. It was Vito Di Giorgio, who was the L.A. family’s first boss probably, to bring some control to the L.A. underworld.

Knowing more about the 1900’s Mafia

January 14, 2016 by admin in

Irrespective of the name that they are called, be it La Cosa Nostra or Gangster, it is without doubt that Italian criminal societies are popularly called the Mafia. They are said to be an ingredient of Italy’s economic and social recipe and even of the entire world.

Popularity of the Mafia Families

The Mafia Families are known to be a highly dangerous organization as well as lethal. People in general refrain from crossing the path of any of the members of the group. It is because of their organized way to commit crime, being led by a Boss or the Don and their stylish nature of functioning is what has compelled the organization to be glorified in books and movies. Although they are on the wrong side of the law, they have become interesting subjects among the common people, who are eager to know more about them. This is what has compelled game developers to come up with variety of mafia games to provide the kind of thrill and adventure that the gamers have been looking for.

How the Mafia evolved?

Even though, they are heard about in newspapers, magazines, books and movies, the fact is that very few people do know the actual story about them. Gangster movie fans have always been asking themselves as to how the Mafia began and its history.

In the beginning, the Mafia is said to have not began as an organization of deceit and betrayal. Rather it served a noble purpose. Historians state that the Mafia had been formed in 1282 for the purpose of helping those who were less fortunate. Even though they started with a noble purpose, the way they achieved their objectives were not. Generally they made use of terrorists like methods for gaining fear and respect of the public. Over the years, they started to grow as a powerful organization. But, in 1900 Benito Mussolini had threatened to have it ripped apart and destroy the group in Italy, which forced the members to move to the U.S., where they took refuge in different cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and New York.

Mafia activities in the U.S.

In America, the Mafia had grown much powerful. Although they were imprisoned for some time, being mistaken for political prisoners, they were set free and even appointed in important positions in the law department, thereby giving them more access to authority and power. It is during this period that it has been marked as Mafia Renaissance.

Knowing about the Vendetta indulged by the Mafia Families

January 14, 2016 by admin in

Feud that takes place between two groups or more than this is considered to be a Vendetta. The group referred to here is entire clans and families.  The vendetta is said to begin when a family incorrectly or correctly tends to have this belief of being insulted, wronged or attacked by another group. The initial retaliation which is noticed is feeling of resentment, leading to similar feelings emerging from the other group along with vengeful and anger. It is regarded to be a retaliatory violence that is long running cycle. It is this specific retaliation and provocation continual cycle that makes it quite impossible for having the vendetta to be ended peacefully. Generally, vendettas tend to involve all the family members, associates and relatives and could actually last for several generations. The mafia families were also involved in such vendettas, which led to violence and bloodshed and killing of each other. Unfortunately, in the crossfire between two groups, even the innocents perished.

History

Vendettas until the 1900s was regulated by law to some degree and hence, considered to be a legitimate legal instrument. But nowadays, its violent form has become completely illegal. Still there are present several Families who are known to have a very strong dislike for one another and may cross all limits to cause the other party grief and pain, making life difficult for their family or the concerned person.

About Vendetta

‘Vendetta’ as a term is regarded to be an Italian word which has a Latin origin from the word ‘vindicta’ stands for ‘Vengeance’. The word today is at times extended towards meaning any feud that is of long standing nature, not involving bloodshed necessarily.

Often it is with the insulting, maiming, dishonoring and killing of the person that Vendettas often gets started. The said person’s relatives may feel that revenge has to be extracted and therefore, declare a vendetta on their enemy. This is done by physically punishing people who are culprits as well as their relatives or to torture and kill them, to seek revenge.

It is because of the law being weak or where mediating such type of dispute is not held responsible by the state, where kinship and family ties are main authority source that vendetta is prevalent. For one crime that is committed by a particular person, the entire family or clan is regarded to be responsible for the action and hence has to face the brunt of vengeance from the victim’s family.

Details about the Buffalo crime family

January 14, 2016 by admin in

Buffalo crime family is also called The Arm or Magaddino crime family. It is based in New York, Buffalo, U.S. and is an American-Italian crime family. This mafia family operates all over Erie, Pennsylvania, Western New York and Ontario, Canada.

Its rise to power

It was through bootlegging during Prohibition era that this family gained immense power. This group was founded by Angelo Palmeri. Stefano Magaddino, the family boss in 1931 had become The Commission’s original member, while his family had remained quite peaceful. But there was a challenge in his leadership in the 1960s and separate factions broke as Magaddino was tried to be assassinated. Later on 19th July 1974, he died a natural death. Even after his death, the war continued until early 1980s with Joseph Todardo being declared the boss. He had the family united and in 2006 got retired. The present boss of this mafia family is Leonard Falzone. The territory that is under the hold of the Buffalo family is Buffalo and its different regions like the Niagara Falls, Syracuse, metropolitan area, Utica and Rochester; Canadian province of Ontario, Las Vegas and Northwest Pennsylvania. They have 20+ made men and 100+ associates. They indulge in different criminal activities like drug trafficking, bookmaking, extortion, prostitution, gambling, loan sharking, labor racketeering, murder and conspiracy.

Their origins

It is in the Buffalo city of New York that this family’s power has been based upon, in the last century. However, in other areas like Massena, Utica and Rochester, the group did have satellite groups, ‘crews’ and criminal interests. The other regions included Youngstown, eastern Pennsylvania, Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, southern Ontario cities, Ohio.

Successor

The media, crime writers and the local law enforcement, who have been keeping a close watch, since the 1990s on the Buffalo mafia members have projected that the successor, is likely to be Joseph Todaro Jr. Since 1995, he had been acting boss, but there was circulating rumors, since late 2006 that Todaros, Joseph Todaro Jr. and Joseph Todaro Sr. had retired officially from all kinds of active participation with the family affairs and activities. Leonard Falzone, the consigliore and Nicolletti Jr. ‘Sonny’ Benjamin, the capo has been elevated from their position to boss and underboss. However, in 2013 it appeared that Falzone era was finished and the family’s new leadership has been taken by Bobby Panaro Jr.

Understanding all about Mafia history and its origins

January 12, 2016 by admin in

The origin of the Mafia family is considered to be a disputed topic. There are several people who are of the belief that this group has originated during the medieval period. This group according to them was actually a secret society that was sworn to provide protection to the Sicilian people, who were then oppressed during the 15th century by Catalan marauders. But very little historical facts and evidence is present to suggest this. Legends involving the ‘Robin Hood’ might have associated with this group at that point of time. It is quite feasible that this group had existed as means for those honorable and righteous rebels, whose mission was to defend the Sicilians from the then oppressive Northern Italian and Roman control as well as external invasion by the barbarians. However, this theory has less importance with many modern scholars.

Formation of the mafia family

Several historians and experts are of the belief that this group had been formed during the later stage of Feudalism. The then aristocratic feudal lords, who lived generally in their big country mansions, had their land to be looked after and managed by their local managers known as the Gabelloti. These men were known to have compelled poor people to work for the estates, but offered them extremely poor wages. A possible method used by them was to have local intermediaries to be employed, presently regarded as the local mafia bosses. Many of the Gabelloti had become minor barons, however, few of the corrupted ones often had refused the post, to become well known Mafioso.

However, with Feudalism being abolished, it had become much more essential for the group to have the peasants intimidated for paying taxes to Barons and also had a share of it. However, the group did even represent the local tradesmen, farmers and common people’s will. Often they were paid-off by them for justice or settling scores that was to be obtained through maiming or killing someone. It is for this reason that misconception of the Mafioso being ‘Knights’ or ‘Robin Hood’ arose. From being ‘friend of friends’, they went on to become ‘men of honor’. The Sicilians’ clannish nature and dislike for oppressive hereditary aristocratic law enforcement, is said to have developed a favorable climate towards the formation of the mafia members and group. This group might not have been created by the nobility, however, unwillingly allowed creation of social conditions, facilitating their macabre growth.

Mafia family: Knowing the divisions and terminologies

January 12, 2016 by admin in

The mafia is not an individual head or an organization. Rather, this term is said to refer to different gangster groups of Families that are involved in organized criminal activities. Many Families of the group can have their heritage traced back to Sicily, Italy.

Divisions

It is into five major groups that the mafia family has been divided into, based upon their operative region or their place of origin. The major gangs which are involved in different types of criminal activities across the globe, do boast of having bases in several nations.

The different major groups

  • Sicilian Mafia of Sicily origin
  • Calabrian Mafia of Clabrian province origin
  • Cammora Mafia Of Naples origin
  • La Cosa Nostra, an American Mafia having its roots in Italy and Sicily
  • Sacra Corona Unita group operating in Italy’s Puglia region

When naming the mafia family is concerned, no clear naming conception is present. Generally, families were named after the province or town of their arrival. At times, names were changed to their Don’s name, if he has influenced tremendous power and ruled for a long time. Few families also derived their name from city of operation.

Almost 200 Mafia families are present in Sicily. Few of them are Corleoneis family, Motisi family and Greco family, while many had emigrated to the US and other places.

There are few families in the US also, with the prominent ones being Colombo, Bonanno, Genovese, Gambino, Buffalo crime family, Lucchese, Los Angeles crime gang, Scarfo crime family, etc.

Rank terminology

The traditional mafia members’ terminologies are as follows:

  • Boss of Bosses – Capo di-tutti capi
  • King Boss of all Bosses – Capo di-Capi Re (respect title given to retired or senior member)
  • Crime Boss or Don – Capo Crimine
  • Club Head or Underboss – Capo Bastone
  • Advisor – Consigliere
  • Regime Head or the captain – Caporegime (commander of group of 20 or more soldiers or Sgarriste
  • Soldier – Soldato or Sgarrista (group members serving as foot soldiers)
  • Little Man – Picciotto (low ranking member serving as ‘enforcer’)
  • Associate Member – Giovane D’Onore (not belonging to Italian ancestry)

Structure

  • Boss/Don – Capofamiglia
  • Right hand man / Advisor / Counselor – Consigliere
  • Second in command / underboss – Sotto Capo
  • Capo / Captain – Capodecina
  • Soldiers / Made Men / ‘Men of Honor’ – Uomini D’onore

Mafia history is seen to be interesting and although negative has been glorified in movies, comics and television series. Hence taking this opportunity and demand for online mafia game, developers have been creating numerous titles, every now and then.

Mafia family in the United States

January 12, 2016 by admin in

The American Mafia is considered to be an American-Italian criminal society as well as the Sicilian Mafia’s offshoot. This group in the States is also popularly called Italian American gang or American Cosa Nostra. It was during the later part of the 19th century that its United States chapter began in the East Coast, especially with emigration of Sicilians and people from South Italy.

Reasons for the growth of Mafioso in the U.S.

Most of the Sicilians including other Italians living in horrible and below poverty conditions in their state were tired and treated by their government with contempt. With dreams of having a wonderful American life, they started to emigrate to the U.S. during the 1800s. However, it was in the early part of the 20th century that sudden increase was noticed among the Italians to emigrate to the United States. While majority of the Italians chose the path of an honest life to earn their living, few had plans to have Sicilian ways of gangs to be brought to this new place.

Introducing organized crime

Right from its inception, until today, the American Mafia is said to dominate the U.S. organized crime, maintaining a greater control over the regions of Providence, Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago, including the organized criminal activities in the city of New York and other cities along the North East and all over the country like New Orleans and Las Vegas. Mafia history of America had been etched in the popular American culture and portrayed in video games, books, TV shows, movies, etc. Mafia game Developers have tried to cash in on the growing craze among gamers to come up with variety of Mafioso related games for people of all ages.

In the metropolitan area of New York, New England, Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia, the American-Italian Cosa Nostra is considered to be more active. The US currently ‘boasts’ of having about 26 mafia families and splinter groups located all over the United States.

The beginning

It was in the city of New York that the mafia members became first active. They started their operations from those poor Italian neighborhood ghettos and slowly progressed to city regions and later in international activities. It was with ‘The Black Hand’ or ‘La Mano Nera’ that American Mafioso started with, extorting Italians as well as other immigrants around the city of New York. Their activities until the 1920’s were largely limited, after which they expanded.

Mafia family and its structure

January 12, 2016 by admin in

It is of different gangs or families that the regional Mafia family is made of. It is depending on the region that their numbers could range, which could be over 100 to a handful. Every family enjoyed dealing separate business and stayed out of the other’s way. Often, the business enterprises could come across that of the other to a huge extent, which depended entirely upon the nature of business and their proximity to one another.

Structure

It was an effective structure that this group had, which prevented the families’ higher ranked members to be held responsible for criminal enterprises undertaken. The judges were bribed and the lower ranked Mafioso’s records were cleaned and have him bailed out from jail. The group’s payroll also had some of the cops on their payroll, who were said to look the other way, in activities that were indulged by the group.

  • Every family had a leader called the Don or Boss. It was he who made all important decisions and was the gainer of all income made by the group. He is the ultimate decision maker and his authority is complete. He had full control over the mafia members.
  • The Underboss is next to the Don, who was second-in-command. However, his power varied with the families. He had enormous power in some cases, and in few less. Few of them were trained enough to succeed the Boss/Don, due to retirement or death.
  • The Consigliere was in between the Underboss and the Don, who acted as the latter’s advisor and made impartial decisions for the Mafia’s good, instead of relying on personal vendettas. Either the members of the group elect this position or the Don. The Consigliere may also act as the Don’s mouth and is respected immensely. However, he does not get involved directly with the Mafia’s criminal enterprises.
  • The Capos are next to the Underboss and their numbers vary with the Families and its group size. The Capo acts as captain or lieutenant, leading an own section. Specific activities are taken care by him and have to earn huge amounts.
  • Soldiers and made-men are guided by the Capo. They are actually the Family’s ultimate enforcers, who have to command respect from fellow Mafioso and prove their worth.
  • Associates are lower down the level. Although not being the Mafia’s actual members, they are those who get involved with criminal enterprises.

The group has become an interesting subject with mafia game developers and several games have been released which has went on to become a huge hit with the online and offline gaming mass.

How mafia members are inducted into the group?

January 12, 2016 by admin in

The induction ceremony of the mafia members has been a well guarded secret for several decades. However, the general public had discovered it after few defectors like Tommaso Buscetta and Joseph Valachi had leaked to the FBI, police and the media valuable information about the different activities of the Mafioso. The ceremony of induction was carried out by many Sicilian and American Mafia families. However, the ceremony could be altered which depended upon the particular circumstance. For instance, it could be done without the rituals swiftly, if the group is engaged in a gang war.

The ritual

It is with the dressing of the potential inductee that the actual ceremony begins. Once he gets ready, the person is taken into some private home. There he is seated just next to Don at a table. The other members of the mafia family present in the ritual join hands to chant oaths of honor, loyalty and respect to the mafia family. Then a burning paper piece is to be held by the inductee, who has to withstand its heat and pain and is required to pass it to the others, until the paper consumes completely. While performing this action, he is to swear loyalty and uphold the group’s principles. He is also to make a promise to become the family’s member for life. For this oath, he is expected to place drop of blood from the trigger finger. The inductee, in some families may get paired with other member of the group of higher rank and experience, who would guide and help him to become a successful Mafioso.

Other important aspects

Besides the drop of blood, ceremony and the oath, the potential candidate needs to belong to Italian heritage for joining any of the conservative families. Few may require just the father to be Italian, while others need both parents. At the same time, the potential candidate is expected to display uncanny skill towards making huge money or inclination towards committing violent acts, if ordered to. A test is to be qualified by the inductee and qualified for joining the group. They are required to commit a murder act of enemies of the Don to become Made Men. Furthermore, The Commission has to consider them.

Mafia history is really interesting and has been captivating readers in huge numbers across the globe. These days, one can come across mafia game of different types that they can engage with and enjoy playing it.