The Gambino crime family is the most publicized family of the American Mafia. It’s one of “Five Families” based out of New York that dominates organized crime in the United States. The Gambino family got its name from previous boss Carlo Gambino who controlled the family from 1959 until his death in October 1976. The...| American Mafia History
On July 13, 1967 Gaetano “Tommy” Lucchese developed a fatal brain tumor and died at his home in Long Island. Over 1000 mourners attended his funeral including several levels of Mafia associates, politicians, and placement. Gambino organized the funeral and hand-picked Carmine “Gribbs” Tramunti as Lucchese’s successor. On June 28, 1971 Joe Colombo boss of...| American Mafia History
Born in Calabria, in southern Italy on September 26, 1902, Albert’s birth name was Umberto Anastasio. His parents were Raffaelo Anastasio and Louisa Nomina de Filippi. Raffaelo was a railway worker who died after World War I, leaving behind nine sons and three daughters. Albert’s brothers included Salvatore, Frank, Joseph, Gerardo, and Tony Anastasio who...| American Mafia History
Anthony M. Scotto was born on May 10, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, into a family deeply embedded with labor unions and the mob. His mother, Marion Anastasio Scotto, was the sister of Albert Anastasia, who controlled Murder Incorporated and later became boss to what would be called The Gambino Crime Family. His father, Anthony...| American Mafia History
Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno was a prominent figure in organized crime, specifically within the Genovese crime family’s Springfield, Massachusetts faction. His rise to power and subsequent fall paint a vivid picture of the deadly intrigue that often defines the Mafia world. Bruno’s life as a crime boss, followed by his brutal assassination in 2003, showcases...| American Mafia History
Nicholas Civella stood out as an infamous figure in American history. For many years, he was a crime leader with significant influence in the Midwest region, in charge of Kansas City’s underworld activities. His reach went beyond Missouri’s borders and into Las Vegas and Chicago. Civella’s legacy is woven with themes of ambition and control...| American Mafia History
The Winter Hill Gang was a known criminal organization from Somerville in Massachusetts that had a significant presence in Boston’s underworld from the mid-twentieth century to the late 1990s. Although commonly linked to the American mafia scene due to its origins and history in that community, the gang’s membership and activities actually represented a mix...| American Mafia History
Jack Dragna isn’t as flashy or well known as some mob bosses of his time, but he held the reins of the Los Angeles crime family firmly from the 1930s until he passed away in 1956. While names like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel grabbed all the attention, Dragna operated discreetly yet...| American Mafia History
Anthony Spilotro, often nicknamed “Tony the Ant,” was a notorious mobster who played a significant role in the operations of the Chicago Outfit in Las Vegas during the 1970s and early 1980s. His life was marked by violent episodes, criminal enterprise, and an eventual grisly end that cemented his legacy in the annals of organized...| American Mafia History
The Chicago Outfit is that city’s branch of the American Mafia. Its modern organization dates to the beer wars of Prohibition and its most notorious leader, Al Capone. It has a seat, along with the Five Families of New York City, on the Commission that governs the Italian mob in America. The Outfit’s roots reach back...| American Mafia History
Early Life and Rise to Power Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 – March 17, 1987) was the son of Santo Trafficante, Sr., the long-time boss of the family of the same name. The senior Trafficante was an influential Tampa mob figure who controlled much of the city’s gambling and bolita (gambling) ventures. In this...| American Mafia History
Salvatore Lucania as he was known before he became the leader of the Five Points Gang was the organizer of the mafia Commission. He would later become Charles Lucky Luciano.| American Mafia History
Murder at the Drive Thru: Bonanno Family Mobster Shot in the Head While Getting Coffee at McDonald’s Early Life Sylvester Zottola, often known as “Sally Daz,” was born in 1947 in New York City. He grew up in the Bronx, an area with a rich history of organized crime. Details about his early life remain...| American Mafia History
The Kansas City Crime Family, also known as the Civella crime family, rose to power during the Prohibition era in the 1920s.| American Mafia History
Joseph Ardizzone was a legendary figure in Los Angeles’s underworld life from early in the previous century. Ardizzone was an Italian native who had come to America in his youth and just as quickly turned to a life of crime. He grew in the ranks of the L.A. underworld, reveling mostly in gambling and prostitution...| American Mafia History
