Scarpo was a well respected and feared member of the Colombo Family. Inside the American Mob s2e4: Fighting the Mob
It’s the early 1980s. The secret society known as La Cosa Nostra remains the most powerful organised crime force in the country. Untouched by the Law. Mob bosses brazenly gun down their own members, including other bosses, on the streets of New York City. ibid.
Since the turn of the century the Mafia in America consolidated its power creating a criminal empire which had its roots in a variety of different industries. Their unofficial headquarters was New York City where the five major Families were based. Their leaders formed the Mafia’s secret ruling council called The Commission. Mafia Empire: Breaking the Vow, Discovery 1999
Lending money at exorbitant interest rates known as Points and collecting debts with the threat of violence was the long-time Mafia tradition of loan-sharking. ibid.
Two years later law enforcement benefited from the introduction of new legislation The Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organisations Statute known as Rico. ibid.
For years the Mafia had perpetuated the myth that they were not involved in the drugs trade ... The international narcotics conspiracy was the link between the Sicilian and American Mafia. ibid.
With convictions and lengthy jail sentences for almost all the defendants in the Pizza Connection trial was hailed as a major triumph. ibid.
In Italy [Tommy] Buscetta’s revelations led to mass arrests which in turn led to the mass trial – the Maxiprocesso – which was held in 1986 in a specially built bomb-proof courthouse known as the Bunker. ibid.
But the Mafia would show remarkable resilience in the United States by replacing those leaders who had been imprisoned. And in Italy the Sicilian Mafia would wreak a terrible revenge on those who they blamed for their misfortunes in a bloody vendetta that would amount to a war against the state. ibid.
Under Gambino the Mafia extended their control of legitimate business, controlling trucking in the garment centre of New York and construction contracts throughout Manhattan. Mafia Empire: Vow of Silence
It was during the Gambino era that the Mafia enjoyed closer and stronger connections in business and politics. It was widely reported the Mafia was even able to influence the presidential election. ibid.
It was 1960 through the ’70s under the leadership of the legendary godfather Carlo Gambino that the Mafia enjoyed the fruits of widespread political corruption. ibid.
Castellano was an imposing figure of a man, a contrast to the diminutive Gambino, and a Godfather who carefully cultivated the image of a business man. ibid.
In the United States the principle target of the FBI was John Gotti – a new style of Mafia, whose court victories made him seem invincible. Mafia Empire – Vendetta
The murder of Castellano and his chauffeur on the streets of New York was the most sensational Mafia execution since the 1950s, and the brazen murder heralded the reign of a new Mafia boss – John Gotti. ibid.
The last godfather from the old generation was the wiley Vincent Gigante, head of the Genovese family ... It wasn’t until 1997 that the government was able to get enough evidence to bring the head of the Genovese family to court. ibid.
The Mafia wrought havoc in New York City. But the government vowed to bring them down. Undercover agents put their lives on the line. The evidence mounted. And they discovered the secret inner circle of Mafia bosses who controlled nearly all underworld activity. Mob on Trial
New York City 1980 ... Five powerful crime families rule the city, and the bosses of these families call the shots ... Each boss sits at the top of a highly organised hierarchy of under-bosses, captains, and low-level soldiers and associates. ibid.
This isn’t the first time the authorities have heard this term: they still wonder – what is The Commission? ibid.
Now the investigators know the Mob operates as one organisation run by a commission of bosses, they can do something they never thought possible: use RICO to prosecute all the families together. ibid.
Q) Why is Bonanno’s book [A Man of Honour: An Autobiography] important for investigators? A) Because Bonanno includes an entire chapter explaining The Commission. ibid.
Agents now have bugs planted in every major crime family in New York. But they are still looking for proof the Commission members gather to discuss the rackets. May 15th 1984: FBI agents act on a hot tip that could be the key to their case: a meeting of The Commission at a house on Staten Island. ibid.
In the Final Report the Commission case sets a precedent for law enforcement to use RICO across the country. ibid.
On September 11th 2001 the World Trade Centre attack turns into a Mafia money-pit; mobsters are linked to companies that rake in $63,000,000 for debris clean-up. ibid.
The Gambinos: In the shadowy world of organised crime the Gambino family stood out. One of five crime families in New York in the 1930s it ranked at the top with the Genovese family in size and wealth. The Gambinos, 1997
Like Capone, John Gotti was a gangster straight from central casting right down to the way he talked ... It was brutality that got John Gotti to the top of the Gambino crime syndicate in 1985. ibid.
Carlo Gambino put the family on the map during his reign from 1957 to 1976. ibid.
As soon as Castellano stepped from his Limousine Gotti’s men gunned him down. ibid.
Gambino family’ finances were already on the decline as a result of the crackdown on Mob activities in the mid-80s. Gotti’s lack of business sense only made matters worse. Whatever success the Family had was largely due to Gotti’s senior adviser Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano. ibid.
When Gotti and Gravano heard the tapes they knew they were in trouble. Gravano realised he could be implicated in nineteen mob hits. That’s when he did the unthinkable: he ratted on his boss. ibid.
Gambino was not a swashbuckling gangsta-type leader like Albert Anastasia ... He was more of the businessman racket-type leader of the organisation. Thomas Reppetto, author Bringing Down the Mob
19,292. The Gambino family was very strong on the docks. They were strong in the construction industry, the trucking industry. They had interests in just about everything. Ronald Goldstock, New York State Organised Crime Task Force
The Gambino family was very strong on the docks. They were strong in the construction industry, the trucking industry. They had interests in just about everything. Ronald Goldstock, New York State Organised Crime Task Force
John Gotti began to believe he was the Teflon Don. He thought he was untouchable. Jerry Capeci, mob specialist
It was a game in the beginning. Then it went to become a nightmare. And you become a monster. Mad Dog Sullivan
I felt like I was becoming the Grim Reaper. Mad Dog Sullivan
Leroy Nicky Barnes: June 5th 1977 one of Harlem’s most famous citizens appeared on the cover of The New York Times magazine. American Gangster s1e3: Nicky Barnes, BET 2006
He was the leader of a seven-man Council that pumped thousands of kilos of heroin into Harlem. ibid.
He did come out with a connection – the Mafia. ibid.
250,000 addicts in New York City. ibid.
Nicky and the Council reputedly moved 25-50 kilos of smack a month. ibid.
‘I had every reason to testify against them, and no reason at all to feel guilty.’ ibid. Barnes
He actively set up his wife, the remaining Council members, and kept on going. ibid.
‘He had enforcers, he had hand to hand dealers, he had lieutenants’ … ‘He had money, the cars, women …’ American Gangster s1e6: Lorenzo Fat Cat Nichols
‘Fat Cat was basically the biggest drug dealer in Queens during the 1980s. ibid. Ethan Brown
Fat Cat stood apart, revered by friends for his loyalty and business skills, and feared by his enemies for notorious acts of vengeance. ibid.
The party came to an abrupt end in the summer of 1985; police were quietly building a case against him. ibid.