Gangsters are members of criminal organizations who make their living through robbery, racketeering, prostitution, drugs, and any other criminal activity that generates income. For decades, gangsters have built and continue to build their empires in all areas of the world in particular: Europe, Asia, the USA and Latin America. Most famous gangsters have received a lot of publicity due to the severity of the crimes they have committed or because of their murders. famous people- politicians, high-ranking police officers. Here is a list of the 9 most famous gangsters in history.
9 John Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934)
John Dillinger was involved in crime throughout his life. His crimes included robbing about 25 banks and police stations in the United States, as well as murdering several people in Chicago. During the Great Depression, his activities reached their greatest scale; at that time he was the most famous criminal in the country. He and his gang waged a bitter war against the FBI. Due to bank robberies and police killings, the FBI declared him "public enemy number one" ( public enemy number one), a special group was created to capture him, which was only engaged in the search for Dillinger. Over time, all the members of his gang were killed, and he himself went on the run. In Chicago, his girlfriend betrayed him to the authorities and on June 22, 1934, he was ambushed at a movie theater that he was supposed to visit. John tried to resist and was wounded three times, The wound to the face turned out to be fatal.
8 Frank Costello (January 26, 1891 – February 18, 1973)
Known as the "Prime Minister of Crime", Frank Costello was a crime lord in Italian American organized crime that had big influence at the beginning of the century in the United States, especially in New York. Costello's criminal career began in a gang led by Ciro Terranova. The Terranova group was part of the even more powerful gang of the Morello brothers. Later, he meets a more authoritative representative of the criminal world, Lucky Luciano, and they quickly become business partners. Their areas of interest included robbery, usury, extortion, smuggling and illegal gambling. Over time, Frank becomes a major figure in Sicilian mafia New York. In May 1957, there was a completely unsuccessful attempt on his life, after which Costello decided to retire. He retained some gambling income as well as a legitimate business. Frank Costello died of a heart attack in 1973.
7 Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 – November 4, 1928)
Businessman and gambler American gangster Arnold Rothstein was an organizer of match-fixing in professional sports, the scandal of the 1919 baseball championship is especially famous, when he was accused of bribing athletes, but could not be proven. Known as "the brains," Rothstein is the father of one of the most notorious Jewish gangs in New York. He organized and led several casinos, and was also actively involved in smuggling along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes. On November 4, 1928, an attempt was made on his life at the Park Central Hotel, he was seriously wounded, from which Rothstein died the next day in the hospital. According to one version, the assassination attempt occurred due to a large unpaid gambling debt.
6 Enock Johnson (January 20, 1883 – December 9, 1968)
Enoch "Nucky" Johnson was a political boss and protector most Atlantic City and New Jersey. His nickname "Nucky" comes from his given name. Enoch was elected sheriff of Atlantic county and held that office until his term was terminated until he was removed by judicial action. Thanks to his political position, Nucky Johnson created his own empire, whose activities included smuggling, gambling and prostitution. At that time, there was no prohibition in Atlantic City; this led to the city’s great popularity among Americans and accordingly increased Nucky’s income. Johnson died on December 9, 1968.
5 Lucky Luciano (November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962)
American gangster, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, is known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, he alone is responsible for dividing the country's influence into the five Mafia families. At the beginning of his career as a member of the Italian gang, his list of activities included racketeering, robbery, drug trafficking, the organization of underground gambling houses, pimping, smuggling and many other types of criminal activities through which it was possible to make a fortune and gain prestige. In 1929, he was forced into a car on the street and taken to one of the deserted highways near New York by people from a rival gang. They hung him from a tree and began to torture him, trying to find out information about the drug cache; Luciano did not say a word. In the end, the bandits thought that he was dead and left him on the road without signs of life. He was picked up by a passing patrol and taken to the hospital, where he received 55 stitches, after which his friend Meyer Lansky gave him the nickname “Lucky.” Then his career took off and he became an influential mafia boss, the unofficial master of New York. In 1936, Lucky was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison for organizing a network of brothels. In 1942, he made a deal with the US government and participated in an operation in Sicily against Germany, for which he was released that same year. In 1962 he was invited to film documentary film about the mafia, but during a meeting with the director he had a heart attack and died on the way to the hospital.
4 Billy the Kid (November 23, 1859 – July 14, 1881)
Also known as Henry Antrim, Billy the Kid was a notorious gangster who committed his first murder at the age of 18. He operated in the second half of the 19th century in Lincoln County and was known for his unparalleled skill with weapons. Throughout his life, he killed just under 30 people and stole several horses and cattle. Billy the Kid was shot and killed on July 14, 1881 by Sheriff Pet Garrett at Fort Sumner, where he was hiding after escaping from prison.
3 Al Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947)
Al Capone, known as "Scarface", "Big Al", was an American gangster who devoted his life to smuggling alcohol and protecting brothels and prostitutes. Very at a young age he became a member of the famous New York Five Points gang of Paolo Vaccarelli, better known as Paul Kelly, which dealt various types criminal activity. Because of his rather small size, he became a bouncer in a billiards club, where he was slashed in the face by one of the visitors for an unflattering remark about his wife, which left him with the famous scar on his face. Due to his involvement in two murders, he was forced to move to Chicago, where he joined "Big" Jim Colosimo's gang, which ran several brothels. In which he became the boss after several gang wars. In July 1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion, after which, in 1934, he was transferred to famous prison Alcatraz, from where he came out mortally ill with syphilis, which he suffered from to one degree or another throughout adult life. Capone died of pneumonia on January 25, 1947, 4 days after suffering a stroke.
2 Jesse James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882)
The leader of the gang, who organized several bank and train robberies and murders, Jesse Woodson James, one of the most famous bandits 19th century, depicted many times in films and games. At that time, he was considered a kind of Robin Hood of the Wild West, robbing the rich for the benefit of the poor, which was not true, all the loot was intended only for Jesse and his gang. Jesse James was assassinated by Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. Ford shot him in the back as Jesse turned to straighten the painting on the wall.
1 Pablo Escobar (December 1, 1949 - December 2, 1993)
Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar controlled a huge drug empire from 1976 to 1993 and killed thousands of people around the world. He headed one of the most powerful and terrible criminal organizations in history - the Medellin Cocaine Cartel. His gangs consisted of soldiers and notorious criminals and controlled 80% of the US cocaine industry. He created a group of hired killers to kill policemen and officials who did not take bribes and interfered with his business. Crime rates in Colombia increased dramatically during Escobar's tenure. In the early 90s, Pablo was considered one of richest people planet, his fortune was estimated at 30 billion dollars. With the assistance of the United States, which wanted to stop the flow of drugs, Colombian authorities launched a massive attack on all areas of the cartel's activities. Because of which Pablo went on the run. On December 2, 1993, Pablo called his family at home, the call was tracked and the house where he was hiding was soon surrounded. As a result of the capture operation, Pablo Escobar was killed.
1. Al Capone (1899 – 1947)
A legend of the underworld of those times and the most famous mafia boss in history. He was a prominent representative criminal America. His areas of activity were bootlegging ( approx. illegal trade in alcoholic beverages), prostitution, gambling. Known as the organizer of the most brutal and significant day V criminal world– The St. Valentine's Day massacre, when seven influential gangsters from Bugs Moran's Irish gang were gunned down, including the boss's right-hand man.
Al Capone was the first among all gangsters to “launder” money through a huge network of laundries, the prices of which were very low. Capone was the first to introduce the concept of “racketeering” and successfully dealt with it, laying the foundation for a new vector of mafia activity. Alfonso received the nickname “Scarface” at the age of 19, when he worked in a billiards club. He allowed himself to object to the cruel and seasoned criminal Frank Galluccio, moreover, he insulted his wife, after which a fight and a stabbing occurred between the bandits, as a result of which Al Capone received the famous scar on his left cheek. By right, Al Capone was the most influential person and a terror to everyone, including the government, which was able to put him behind bars only for tax evasion.
2. Lucky Luciano (1897 – 1962)
Originally from Sicily, Lucky became, in fact, the founder of the criminal world in America. His real name is Charles. Lucky, which means “Lucky”, they began to call him after he was taken to a deserted highway, tortured, beaten, cut, burned in the face with cigarettes, and he remained alive after that. The people who tortured him were Maranzano gangsters; they wanted to know the location of the drug cache, but Charles remained silent.
After unsuccessful torture, they abandoned the bloody body without any signs of life by the road, thinking that Luciano was dead, where he was picked up by a patrol car 8 hours later. He received 60 stitches and survived. After this incident, the nickname “Lucky” remained with him forever. Luckey organized the Big Seven, a group of bootleggers to whom he provided protection from the authorities. He became the boss of Cosa Nostra, which controlled all areas of activity in the criminal world.
3. Pablo Escobar (1949 – 1993)
The most daring Colombian drug lord. He went down in the history of the 20th century as the most brutal criminal and the head of the largest drug cartel. He organized the supply of cocaine to different parts of the world, mainly to the USA, on a grand scale, even transporting tens of kilograms on airplanes.
During his entire activity as the head of the Medellin cocaine cartel, he was involved in the murders of more than 200 judges and prosecutors, more than 1,000 police officers and journalists, presidential candidates, ministers, and prosecutors general. Escobar's net worth in 1989 was more than $15 billion.
4. John Gotti (1940 – 2002)
John Gotti was a well-known figure, loved by the press, and always dressed to the nines. Numerous charges law enforcement New York always failed, Gotti escaped punishment for a long time. For this, the press nicknamed him “Teflon John.”
He received the nickname “Elegant Don” when he began to dress only in fashionable and stylish suits with expensive ties. John Gotti has been the leader of the Gambino family since 1985. During the reign, the family was one of the most influential.
5. Carlo Gambino (1902 – 1976)
It was Gambino who became the founder of one of the most influential families in criminal America. After taking control of a row of high profitable areas, including illegal bootlegging, a government port and an airport, the Gambino family becomes the most powerful of the five families.
Carlo forbade his people from selling drugs, considering this type of business dangerous and attracting public attention. At its peak, the Gambino family numbered more than 40 groups and teams and controlled New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.
6. Meir Lansky (1902 – 1983)
Jew Meir Lansky was born in Belarus, the city of Grodno. Coming from Russian Empire became the most powerful man in the United States and one of the country's crime leaders.
He is the creator of the National Crime Syndicate and the parent of the gambling business in the states. He was the biggest bootlegger during Prohibition.
7. Joseph Bonanno (1905 – 2002)
Patriarch of the Bonanno family and the richest mobster in history. The history of the reign of Joseph, who was called “Banana Joe,” goes back 30 years; after this period, Bonanno voluntarily retired and lived in his huge mansion.
The Castellamarese war, which lasted 3 years, is considered one of the most significant events in the criminal world. Ultimately, Bonanno organized a criminal group that still operates in the United States.
8. Alberto Anastasia (1902 – 1957)
Boss of one of the five mafia clans criminal America. The head of the Gambino family, Albert Anastasia, had two nicknames - “The Chief Executioner” and “The Mad Hatter”, and the first was given to him because his group “Murder, Inc.” was responsible for about 700 deaths.
He was a close friend of Lucky Luciano, whom he considered his teacher. It was Anastasia who helped Lucky take control of the entire criminal world, carrying out contract killings for him of the bosses of other families.
Since 1981, he led the Genovese family, while everyone considered Antonio Salermo to be the boss of the family. Vincent was nicknamed "Crazy Boss" for his, to put it mildly, inappropriate behavior.
But it was inadequate only for the authorities, since Gigante’s lawyers spent 7 years bringing certificates indicating that he was crazy, thereby managing to avoid prison time. Vincent's people controlled the underworld of all of New York and other major American cities.
10. Heriberto Lazcano (1974 – 2012)
Once the leader of one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico, which is called Los Zetas. At the age of 17 he entered the Mexican army, and later worked in special squad to fight the drug cartel. The transition to the side of the traders occurred after he was recruited into the Golfo cartel.
The private mercenary force Los Zetas hired from the organization later grew into the largest drug cartel in Mexico. Heriberto dealt very harshly with his competitors, for which his criminal group was given the nickname “Executioners.”
The world has long been fighting the state against criminal clans, but the mafia is still alive. Currently, there are many criminal groups, each of which has its own boss and mastermind. Crime bosses often feel unpunished and create real criminal empires by intimidating civilians and representatives of government agencies. They live by their own laws, violation of which often leads to death. This article presents 10 famous mafiosi who really left a noticeable mark on the history of the mafia. 1. Al Capone
Al Capone was a legend in the underworld of the 30s and 40s. last century and is still considered the most famous mafioso in history. The authoritative Al Capone struck fear into everyone, including the government. This American gangster of Italian origin developed a gambling business, was involved in bootlegging, racketeering, and drugs. It was he who introduced the concept of racketeering.
When the family moved to the United States in search of a better life, he was forced to work hard. He worked in a pharmacy and a bowling alley, and even in a candy store. However, Al Capone attracted night image life. At the age of 19, while working in a billiards club, he made a cheeky comment about the wife of criminal Frank Galluccio. After the resulting fight and stabbing, he was left with a scar on his left cheek. The daring Al Capone learned to skillfully handle knives and was invited to the Gang of Five Smoking Barrels. Known for his cruelty in dealing with competitors, he organized the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, when, on his orders, seven tough mafiosi from Bugs Moran's group were shot.
His cunning helped him get out and avoid punishment for the crimes he committed. The only thing he was put in prison for was tax evasion. After leaving prison, where he spent 5 years, his health was undermined. He contracted syphilis from one of the prostitutes and died at the age of 48.
2. Lucky Luciano
Charles Luciano, born in Sicily, moved with his family to America in search of a decent life. Over time, he became a symbol of crime and one of the toughest gangsters in history. Since childhood, street punks have become a comfortable environment for him. He actively distributed drugs and went to prison at the age of 18. During the prohibition of alcohol in the United States, he was a member of the Gang of Four and smuggled alcohol. He was a penniless immigrant, like his friends, and ended up making millions of dollars from crime. Lucky organized a group of bootleggers, the so-called “Big Seven,” and defended it from the authorities.He later became the leader of Cosa Nostra and controlled all areas of activity in the criminal environment. Maranzano's gangsters tried to find out where he was hiding drugs and to do this they tricked him into taking him to the highway, where they tortured, cut and beat him. Luciano kept the secret. The bloody body without signs of life was thrown onto the side of the road and 8 hours later it was found by a police patrol. The hospital gave him 60 stitches and saved his life. After that they began to call him Lucky. (Lucky). 3. Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar is the most famous brutal Colombian drug lord. He created a real drug empire and arranged the supply of cocaine around the world on a huge scale. Young Escobar grew up in poor areas of Medellin and began his illegal activities by stealing tombstones and reselling them with erased inscriptions to resellers. In addition, he sought to earn easy money by selling drugs and cigarettes, as well as counterfeiting lottery tickets. Later, theft of expensive cars, racketeering, robberies and kidnappings were added to the scope of criminal activity.
At the age of 22, Escobar had already become a famous authority in poor neighborhoods. The poor supported him as he built them cheap housing. After becoming the head of a drug cartel, he earned billions. In 1989, his fortune was more than 15 billion. During his criminal activities, he was involved in the murders of more than a thousand police officers, journalists, several hundred judges and prosecutors, and various officials. 4. John Gotti
John Gotti was a household name in New York. He was called the “Teflon Don,” because all the accusations miraculously flew away from him, leaving him unsullied. He was a very resourceful mafioso who worked his way from the bottom to the very top of the Gambino family. His flamboyant and elegant style also earned him the nickname "The Elegant Don". While managing the family, he was involved in typical criminal matters: racketeering, theft, car theft, murder. The boss's right hand in all crimes has always been his friend Salvatore Gravano. As a result, this became a fatal mistake for John Gotti. In 1992, Salvatore began cooperating with the FBI, testified against Gotti, and sent him to prison for life. In 2002, John Gotti died in prison from throat cancer.
5. Carlo Gambino
Gambino is a Sicilian gangster who led one of the most powerful crime families in America and led it until his death. As a teenager, he began stealing and extorting. Later he switched to bootlegging. When he became the boss of the Gambino family, he made it the richest and most powerful by controlling such lucrative facilities as the state port and airport. During its heyday, the Gambino criminal group consisted of more than 40 teams and controlled major American cities (New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and others). Gambino did not welcome drug trafficking by members of his group, as he considered it a dangerous business that attracted a lot of attention.6. Meir Lansky
Meir Lansky is a Jew born in Belarus. At the age of 9 he moved with his family to New York. Since childhood, he became friends with Charles “Lucky” Luciano, which predetermined his fate. For decades, Meir Lansky was one of America's most important crime bosses. During Prohibition in America, he was involved in the illegal transportation and sale of alcoholic drinks. Later, the National Crime Syndicate was created and a network of underground bars and bookmakers was opened. For many years, Meir Lansky developed a gambling empire in the United States. In the end, tired of constant police surveillance, he leaves for Israel on a visa for 2 years. The FBI demanded his extradition. After his visa expires, he wants to move to another state, but no one accepts him. He returns to the United States, where he awaits trial. The charges were dropped, but the passport was revoked. In recent years he lived in Miami and died in a hospital from cancer. 7. Joseph Bonanno
This mafioso occupied a special place in the American criminal world. At the age of 15, the Sicilian boy was left an orphan. He moved to the United States illegally, where he quickly joined criminal circles. He created the influential Bonanno crime family and ruled it for 30 years. Over time, they began to call him “Banana Joe.” Having achieved the status of the richest mafioso in history, he voluntarily retired. He wanted to live the rest of his life quietly in his personal luxurious mansion. For a while he was forgotten by everyone. But the release of the autobiography was an unprecedented act for the mafia and once again attracted attention to him. He was even sent to prison for a year. Joseph Bonanno died at the age of 97, surrounded by relatives. 8. Alberto Anastasia
Albert Anastasia was called the head of the Gambino, one of the 5 mafia clans. He was nicknamed the Chief Executioner because his group, Murder, Inc., was responsible for over 600 deaths. He never went to prison for any of them. When a case was opened against him, it was unclear where the main prosecution witnesses disappeared to. Alberto Anastasia liked to get rid of witnesses. He called Lucky Luciano his teacher and was devoted to him. Anastasia carried out assassinations of the leaders of other criminal groups on Lucky's order. However, in 1957, Albert Anastasia himself was killed in a hairdressing salon on the order of his competitors. 9. Vincent Gigante
Vincent Gigante - a well-known mafioso authority who controlled crime in New York and other major cities America. He dropped out of school in 9th grade and switched to boxing. He became involved in a criminal gang at the age of 17. Since then, his rise in the criminal world began. He first became a godfather and then a consolere (adviser). Since 1981, he became the leader of the Genovese family. Vincent earned the nickname "Boss Crazy" and "Pajama King" for his erratic behavior and walking around New York City in a bathrobe. It was a simulation of a mental disorder. For 40 years he avoided prison by posing as a madman. In 1997, he was nevertheless sentenced to 12 years. Even while in prison, he continued to give instructions to gang members through his son Vincent Esposito. In 2005, the mafioso died in prison from heart problems.
10. Heriberto Lazcano
For a long time Heriberto Lazcano was on the most wanted list dangerous criminals Mexico. From the age of 17 he served in the Mexican army and in a special unit to combat drug cartels. A couple of years later he went over to the side of drug gangsters when he was recruited by the Gulf cartel. After a while, he became the leader of one of the largest and most respected drug cartels - Los Zetas. Due to its boundless cruelty against competitors, bloody murders against officials public figures, police and civilians (including women and children) received the nickname Executioner. More than 47 thousand people died as a result of the massacres. When Heriberto Lazcano was killed in 2012, all of Mexico breathed a sigh of relief.
Let's start with what the term means mafia. So, the term is from Wikipedia.
Mafia(Italian mafia; - criminal community, which formed in Sicily in the second half of the 19th century and subsequently spread its activity to large, economically developed cities in the USA and some other countries. It is an association (“family”) of criminal groups that have a common organization, structure and code of conduct (“omerta”). Each group “works”, carrying out racketeering, in a certain territory - in the area of a large city, in small town or in an entire region of the country.
Currently, the term “mafia” is often used broadly to refer to any ethnic criminal groups that fully or partially replicate the organization and structure of the Sicilian Mafia (for example, the Camorra, 'Ndrangheta and Sacra Corona Unita also operating in Italy; Georgian mafia, Russian mafia, Cuban mafia and etc.).
Now let's move on to the ranking of the most dangerous mafias in the world.
Russian Mafia- is in first place among the ten most powerful mafias in the world, according to the ranking of the London newspaper Daily News and the Spanish Diario. The criteria for getting into the “top ten” of the strongest mafias in the world were participation in organized crime in many countries, illegal activities - trafficking in weapons, drugs, etc.
However, let's start the ranking from 10th place to make things interesting.In tenth place are Jamaicans in Britain who moved to England in the 50s. This ethnic group controls a good share of the arms and drug trade. This mafia does not try to infiltrate government structures, therefore it is not as strong as the others. British police are hesitant to classify Yardie gangs as organized crime because they have no real structure or central leadership.
9. Albanian mafia
Albania consists of numerous criminal groups. Their rules have remained unchanged since the 15th century... The Albanian mafia is involved in the trade of white slaves, alcohol and tobacco, controls prostitution, car theft and racketeering. She began her “activities” in the 80s of the last century. Widely represented in the USA and Britain. Distinctive feature is the cruelty used in acts of revenge.8. Serbian mafia
The Serbian mafia has found its place among the leaders, since it operates in dozens of countries around the world and is associated with drug smuggling, contract killings, racketeering, robberies, control of bets and gambling houses. Interpol lists about 350 Serbian citizens, who are often employees and leaders of the largest drug cartels in the world. Serbian gangsters are also known for intellectual heists, often reenacting Hollywood scenarios, as well as quick and clean executions. Currently there are about 30-40 groups operating in Serbia.7. Israeli mafia
These guys work in the field of banditry in many countries, their main activity is drug trafficking and prostitution. Times have changed, and if previously they were once looked upon with awe because of their ability to protect, today they are ruthless killers who do not think twice before pulling the trigger.
The Russian-Israeli mafia has entrenched itself in the US political system so well that even the vaunted American army is unable to knock them out.6. Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia is a powerful criminal structure in the United States, with roots in the prison world. Originated in the 50s, it was positioned as the protection of Mexicans in US prisons from other criminals and prison guards. Main activities: extortion and drug trafficking. They are prone to quick reprisals against those they dislike and those who do not pay them the tax they set.5. Japanese Yakuza
The Japanese mafia proudly traces its origins to impoverished samurai nobles, or ronin, as they were called in Japan. Heirs of noble fathers with many children, who sometimes had nothing but a sword, they inherited only the right to carry a sword and even comb their hair like a samurai: shave their forehead and crown, long hair from the back of the head, braid it into a tight braid and stick it on the bluish scalp.
Although the Japanese mafia is known throughout the world, Everyday life In these cities it is difficult to spot it right away. Meanwhile, the Japanese mafia numbers one hundred and ten thousand people, while the noisy and violent American mafia numbers only twenty thousand. Considering that the population of the United States is approximately twice that of the Japanese, it is not difficult to calculate that for every Japanese there are eleven times as many professional rapists, robbers and murderers as there are Americans.
Areas of activity: racketeering, distribution of prohibited pornography from Europe and America, prostitution and illegal emigration.4. Chinese triads
That rapidly growing China is rapidly becoming a leader global development, they say today all over the world. But there is also negative sides this process. As China strengthens its leading position in global economy Chinese organized crime will rapidly expand its presence in transnational criminal relations. The “Triads” have already started a “third world war” for their competitors!
"Riding" migration processes, mafia structures of China and Chinese mafia in other countries they have taken leading positions in organizing human trafficking and organizing illegal migration flows. A Europol report (June 2006) noted that Chinese mafia groups were named leaders in human trafficking in countries European Union. Chinese "triads" have supplanted the home-grown mafia in Japan - the yakuza: the Chinese account for about half of all crimes committed by foreigners.3. Colombian drug cartels
The Colombian mafia is one of the world's largest suppliers of cocaine. All efforts of the government authorities still remain in vain, since the bandits’ business is more than successful. The Colombian drug mafia has existed since the mid-60s of the last century. The Medellin and Cali cartels quickly became the world's leading cocaine producers.2. Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra
Members of the Sicilian Mafia (from left to right), Salvatore Lo Bue, Salvatore Lo Cicero, Gaetano Lo Presti, Giuseppe Scaduto, Antonino Spera, Gregorio Agrigento, Luigi Caravello, Mariano Troia, Giovanni Adelfio and Francesco Bonomo
In the 13th century. Sicily was constantly plundered not only by Algerian pirates, but also by detachments of French mercenaries who served the Northern Italian dukes and princes. The organized armed struggle of the islanders against the French began in 1282 under the slogan “Morete alla Francia, Italia anela” (“Die, France - sigh, Italy”); From the first letters of the call, the Sicilians composed a battle cry: “Mafia!” Soon, self-defense units turned into units of professional fighters who began to take tribute from peasants for protection from external enemies. In the 19th century mafia that became unified system, even tried to achieve the separation of the island from Italy and proposed an alliance with Giuseppe Garibaldi, but the troops of the Principality of Piedmont defeated her.
IN late XIX V. thousands of Sicilians, fleeing poverty and clan wars, moved to America. In major cities of the United States, Cosa Nostra (“Our Cause”) arose - a network of Sicilian “families” that controlled casinos, smuggling, prostitution, illegal trafficking in alcohol, tobacco and weapons, and also engaged in racketeering.
All the "consorteries" of Sicily form a "venerable community", headed by the Capo di tutti Capi, the head of all chapters. Important figures in the mafia structure are also picciotti di ficatu (hitmen), stopalieri (bodyguards), gabellotti (judges) and consiglieri (advisers).1. Russian mafia
The Russian mafia numbers 500,000 people. Her godfathers control 70% Russian economy, as well as prostitution in Macau and China, drug trafficking in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, money laundering in Cyprus, Israel, Belgium and England, car theft, trade in nuclear materials and prostitution in Germany.
With the disappearance of the Iron Curtain, the expansion of Russian crime ceased to be controlled and directed, as it was before the collapse of the USSR. The first wave of “export” of crime from the territory of what was then the USSR took place in the early 70s, when Soviet Jews were allowed to leave for Israel. This wave was not comparable to the second - when the collapse of the USSR collapsed " iron curtain" Then the world really appreciated the size of Russian crime, which it called the “Russian mafia.”
Russian criminal communities sometimes expressed very specific interests in different countries peace. Thus, in December 1993, the Western press first mentioned that groups were “shaking” Russian hockey players playing in foreign clubs, the so-called “legionnaires”. The mass of materials on this topic in the press in subsequent years indicated that the “sports racket” had truly become industrial scale. According to some reports, the Russian criminal community now operates in 50 countries around the world. According to American professor Louise Shelley, ROP has exported $150 billion from the Russian Federation since 1991. According to other sources – 50 billion dollars, but also a lot.
This post will tell us about the fates of 15 of the most famous and admired members of the mafia. simple people and about which films were made. In reality, not all of them were the same as we see them in the movies, and therefore this information will be even more interesting and educational for you.
Frank Costello
Frank "Prime Minister" Costello was the leader of the formidable Luciano family. He left Italy at the age of four and moved to New York, where he quickly became involved in a life of crime. However, Costello became truly noticeable in 1936, after the arrest of Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Costello quickly rose to become the head of the Luciano crime family, which later became the Genovese family. He received the nickname "Prime Minister" for his competent leadership of the underground world of the mafia and his desire to be known as a political figure rather than a mafia boss. They say that it was he who became the prototype for Vito Corleone from “ Godfather" Costello was highly respected among his people, but even he had enemies. In 1957, an attempt was made on his life, and he miraculously survived being shot in the head. Costello died in 1973 as a result of a heart attack. In the history of the Italian-American mafia, he remained known as one of the most “nice” bosses.
Jack Diamond
Jack "Legs" Diamond was a well-known figure during the Prohibition era in the United States. Diamond, who earned the nickname "Legs" for his constant running away and love of dancing, also became famous for his active gangster activities - on his account great amount murders and alcohol smuggling operations. His criminal status increased markedly when he ordered the murder of one of his bosses, Nathan Kaplan. Diamond himself was repeatedly assassinated, but each time he miraculously escaped death, for which he received the nickname “The Man Who Cannot Be Killed.” However, in 1931 his luck failed him and he was shot dead by an assassin unknown to this day.
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti Jr., boss of the elusive Gambino family, became one of the most feared men in the Mafia. Gotti grew up in poverty, surrounded by 12 brothers and sisters, and quickly became involved in organized crime - he was an errand boy for local gangster Agnello Dellacroce, who later became his mentor. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was struck and killed by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the death was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was once beaten with a baseball bat. A few months later he mysteriously disappeared and his body was never found. Thanks to his almost stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly earned the nickname "The Dapper Don." In 1990, the FBI finally managed to catch Gotti, and he was found guilty of murder and racketeering. In 2002, Gotti died in prison from throat cancer.
Frank Sinatra
That's right, Mister Blue Eyes was once an alleged accomplice of Sam Giancana and Luca Luciano. Sinatra, who once honestly admitted that “if it weren’t for music, I would most likely have gone into a life of crime,” was not shy about getting his hands dirty, and even openly attended the mafia’s Havana Conference in 1946, to which the press reacted with headlines “SHAME ON SINATRA.” " The singer’s double life was monitored not only by the media, but also by the FBI, which collected information about him from the very beginning of his career. However, the real problems began with Sinatra's collaboration with future President John F. Kennedy. It was believed that Sinatra used his connections to help the future US leader with his presidential campaign. But Sinatra lost the trust of the Mafia because of his friendship with Kennedy's brother, Bobby, who at the time was busy cracking down on organized crime. Giancana broke off relations with him, and the FBI left Sinatra alone.
Mickey Cohen
Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen was a real pain in the LAPD's side for years. Cohen moved with his family to Los Angeles from New York when he was six. Cohen was once a promising boxer, but gave up the sport and turned to organized crime. He eventually ended up in Chicago, where he began working for Al Capone. After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent back to Los Angeles under the supervision of notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel. The police soon began to notice the violent and hot-tempered gangster. After numerous assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a real fortress, surrounding it with an alarm system, searchlights and bulletproof gates. He also hired Hollywood starlet Lana Turner's boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, as his bodyguard. In 1961, Cohen was sent to Alcatraz for tax evasion, and he became the only prisoner who managed to get out of this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.
Henry Hill
The story of Henry Hill formed the basis of one of the best films about the mafia, Goodfellas. It was he who claimed: “For as long as I can remember, I always dreamed of being a gangster.” Born in New York in 1943, Hill came from an honest, hard-working family with no connections or connections to the Mafia. However, having seen enough of the numerous mafiosi in the neighborhood, he early age joined the Lucchese family and quickly "rose up". However, he could never become a full-fledged member of the mafia due to the mixture of Irish and Italian blood. Hill was arrested for beating a gambler who refused to pay him and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. There he realized that life on the outside was practically no different from life in prison, since behind bars he regularly received privileges. But once free, he got serious about drug trafficking, which resulted in him being arrested again, and this time he betrayed the entire organization and helped catch the most powerful mafiosi in the world. Hill entered the witness protection program in 1980, but two years later he exposed himself and the feds ended their cooperation. Despite this, he still managed to live to the age of 69.
James Whitey Bulger
Another Alctras veteran, James Bulger earned the nickname "Whitey" for his blond hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and was known as a real bully. He ran away from home more than once, and once even joined the circus. Bulger was first arrested when he was 14, but he did not join organized crime until the late 70s. Bulger was an FBI informant and reported to the police about the activities of the Patriarca family. However, as his own criminal network expanded, the police became increasingly interested in him, causing Bulger to flee Boston and remain on the "Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive" list for over 15 years. In 2011, he was caught and charged with 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug trafficking. After a two-month trial, he was sentenced to two life sentences and five years in prison, and Boston could finally sleep soundly again.
Bugsy Siegel
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, who became famous for his criminal empire and exploits in Las Vegas, is one of the most famous gangsters in Mafia history. As a typical young hoodlum from Brooklyn, he met Meer Lansky and formed the gang Murder Inc. - a group of Jewish bandits specializing in contract killings. Their popularity grew, and Siegel gained notoriety as a killer of New York Mafia veterans, having a hand in the demise of prominent mobster Joe "The Boss" Masseria. After for long years bootlegging and dodging bullets on the West Coast, Siegel began to earn large sums of money, which brought him close to the Hollywood elite. However, it was the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas that really helped him skyrocket to fame. The Mafia initially allocated $1.5 million for the construction of the hotel, but cost overruns and rising production costs ensued, and Siegel's old friend and new partner decided that he was pocketing some of the money for himself. Siegel was brutally murdered in own home, riddling it with bullets, and Lanxi quickly took control of the Flamingo.
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian-American gangster who achieved enormous influence during the Prohibition era. The "Boss of All Bosses" led the Genovese family, and is best known as the man who brought heroin to the masses. Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Having established himself in criminal activity, he soon met Lucky Luciano, and it was this alliance that led to the murder of mafia rival Salvatore Maranzano. Genovese fled from the police to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II and even became friends with Benito Mussolini himself. However, upon his return, he immediately returned to power and again became the man whom everyone was so afraid of. But he was eventually caught and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.
Lucky Luciano
Charles "Lucky" Luciano, who has already been repeatedly mentioned in the adventures of other members of the mafia, became famous, in fact, for creating the modern mafia. Luciano earned his nickname "Lucky (Lucky)" when he survived being stabbed within minutes of death. During his 64 years of life, Lucky managed to achieve a lot, including the murder of two major bosses, the idea of how organized crime should be organized, and, most importantly, the creation of the "Five Families of New York" and a completely new "National Crime Syndicate". For a long time, Lucky lived in luxury, but at some point the police became interested in him, and as a result he was arrested and sentenced to prison. However, he did not lose his power behind bars and continued to manage affairs. At that moment he even had a personal chef. When Lucky was released, he was sent to Italy, but instead settled in Havana. But under US pressure, Cuba still had to send him to Italy, where he died of a heart attack in 1962.
Maria Licciardi
Although the mafia is largely a man's world, this does not mean that there is absolutely no place for women in it. Maria Licciardi, born in Italy in 1951, was the head of the Licciardi clan, the Camorra, a crime syndicate operating in Naples. Licciardi, nicknamed "La Madrina" Godmother)", was and remains a well-known figure in the country due to her family's ties to the Camorra. Licciardi took over leadership of the clan after her two brothers and husband were jailed. She became the first woman to head powerful organization and, although not everyone liked it, she managed to unite several clans in the city and thereby expand the drug trade market. Licciardi also became famous for her involvement in the sex trade - she used underage girls from neighboring countries and forced them into prostitution. By doing so, she violated the Camorra code, which prohibited making money from sex workers. Licciardi was arrested in 2001 and sent to prison, but she continues to run things from behind bars and apparently has no plans to stop.
Frank Nitti
The face of Al Capone's Chicago crime syndicate, Frank "Gun" Nitti eventually became the boss when Capone was sent to prison. Nitti was born in Italy and arrived in the United States when he was just seven. He almost immediately began to get into trouble, which eventually attracted the attention of Al Capone. Thanks to his services during the Prohibition era, Nitti became one of Capone's closest people and a full-fledged member of the Chicago mafia. Despite his nickname, Nitti was more about leading than breaking bones and was often used to develop plans for raids and criminal operations. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were imprisoned for tax evasion, and in prison Nitti suffered severely from claustrophobia - this haunted him until his death. When Nitti was released, he became the new head of the Chicago mafia and survived assassination attempts from competitors and even the police. However, with the threat of imprisonment looming over him, Nitti committed suicide with a shot to the head to escape the claustrophobic prison cell in which he had previously suffered so much.
Sam Giancana
Another mobster with a good reputation, Sam "Mooney" Giancana was once one of the most powerful gangsters in Chicago. Giancana started out as a driver for Capone's elite, but quickly rose through career ladder and developed connections with politicians, including the Kennedy family. Giancana was even forced to testify during the CIA's planning to assassinate Fidel Castro because he was believed to have key information. Giancano's name also appeared in rumors that the Mafia was involved in presidential campaign John F. Kennedy - because of the close relationship between Giancano and the future president. Giancano lived the rest of his life as a fugitive, wanted by both the mafia and the CIA. He was shot in the head while cooking in the basement of his home.
Meer Lansky
No less influential than Lucky Luciano, Meer Sukhomlyansky - aka Meer Lansky - was born in Russia. He moved to the United States as a child and grew up on the streets, struggling for money. Not only could Lansky hold his own physically, he also had sharp mind. An integral part of the formation of American organized crime, he was at one point one of the most powerful men in the United States, if not the world. He led operations in Cuba and several other countries. At some point, despite his success, Lansky became nervous and decided to emigrate to Israel. Although he was deported back to the United States two years later, he avoided prison time and died at the age of 80 from lung cancer.
Al Capone
No introduction needed - Alfonso Capone is perhaps the most... famous gangster of all times. Capone grew up in a respected and stable family, which is quite a rare event among the mafiosi. However, when he was expelled from school at 14 for hitting a teacher, Capone chose a different path for himself and went into organized crime. Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone gradually began to make himself known. He got a scar that earned him the most famous nickname, "Face with a scar". Capone did everything from bootlegging to murder, and enjoyed impunity as the police failed to catch him. However, everything came to an end when Capone was linked to the bloody and brutal massacre on Valentine's Day. Then representatives of a rival group were killed in cold blood. The police were unable to pin the murders directly on Capone, but arrested the gangster for tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, but due to a serious illness he was released early. The most famous mafioso in the world died of a heart attack in 1947.
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