Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The Mafia has figured very prominently in the news and popular culture but at least in the past couple decades, has the Italian crime families really warranted the attention given to them by law enforcement and the government? Consider myself young and naiive but I don't see the priority that law enforcement places on the Italian Mafia.
In the two major cities closest to me, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. there are serious crime problems but there's no real Mafia presence here. I don't even think the Russian mafia is here. The closest thing we have to organized crime is Hispanic gangs and outfits that smuggle drugs and illegal immigrants. The high murder rate in these two cities is mostly due to street gangs, teenage thugs, and drug related crime. Even New York's crime problem is not really because of the Mafia....its often drug dealers and gang members killing one another in Harlem and the Bronx and muggers, carjackers, etc, small time criminals.
On the national level I think the biggest criminal threat comes from gangs like MS-13, the Bloods and Crips, and from the Colombian and Mexican syndicates like the Tijuana cartel that supply drugs into the U.S. A lot of crystal meth is produced in illegal labs in America. So why is there such a heavy attention to the Italian Mafia?
And for some reason "THE Mafia" always means the Italian/Sicilian mafia. When we talk about other mafias we have to say the RUSSIAN Mafia, or the CUBAN mafia, etc etc etc.
The Mafia has figured very prominently in the news and popular culture but at least in the past couple decades, has the Italian crime families really warranted the attention given to them by law enforcement and the government? Consider myself young and naiive but I don't see the priority that law enforcement places on the Italian Mafia.
In the two major cities closest to me, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. there are serious crime problems but there's no real Mafia presence here. I don't even think the Russian mafia is here. The closest thing we have to organized crime is Hispanic gangs and outfits that smuggle drugs and illegal immigrants. The high murder rate in these two cities is mostly due to street gangs, teenage thugs, and drug related crime. Even New York's crime problem is not really because of the Mafia....its often drug dealers and gang members killing one another in Harlem and the Bronx and muggers, carjackers, etc, small time criminals.
On the national level I think the biggest criminal threat comes from gangs like MS-13, the Bloods and Crips, and from the Colombian and Mexican syndicates like the Tijuana cartel that supply drugs into the U.S. A lot of crystal meth is produced in illegal labs in America. So why is there such a heavy attention to the Italian Mafia?
The FBI have a gangs division and it has a organized crime division.. They both work hard.
Dont think that the Italian Mafia is dead, by any means. They have more power to any bloods, crips, or MS-13.
And for some reason "THE Mafia" always means the Italian/Sicilian mafia. When we talk about other mafias we have to say the RUSSIAN Mafia, or the CUBAN mafia, etc etc etc.
Well not only the original but Mafia is an italian word...
Mafia should only be used for sicilians/italians.
But does does the Italian Mafia really do these days? Control trash collecting in New York like I've heard? The drug routes and shipments into this country are all controlled by the Colombians and Mexicans. Do they control the money laundering activities? I don't ever recall the Mafia being a major threat to public safety. Its Bloods, Crips and MS-13 that make urban America's streets dangerous.
Basically it is due to popular culture, movies - The Godfather, The Soprano's.
They heyday of the Cosa Nostra is long gone, for various reasons (the older generation dying off, greed from drugs, federal racketeering laws, many turned into informants, etc).
They still have a presence, and niche's in certain underworld activities in large cities (gambling, labor activities, etc). But they have been surpassed by other organized crime groups, and yes the simple street gangs hold a large portion of it.
Italians/Scicilians are the kings of organized crime. To compare them to the bloods and crips, hispanic gangbangers, etc. is a joke, those people are your basic shoot'em up idiots with focused violence on particular groups of people.
I don't know a whole lot about the Russian mafia but I do know that they are greatly outnumbered by the Italians/Scicilians here in the US. So the question arises as to why such great attention is payed to them... mainly because they have so much political influence. They can do things that affects everyone, they don't target groups of people, they have found more lucrative and safe routes by keeping near to the lines of legality.... they are not morons, they have highly educated people working for them, they have all of the financial backing they need, and they are able to associate with virtually anyone. Organized organized organized! I would say that the Mafia is certainly not in its hey-day right now, but its probably a planned break period for them...
But does does the Italian Mafia really do these days?
They are in everything...
Control trash collecting in New York like I've heard?
yes, and insurance fraud, casinos in NYC, NJ, Chicago, etc. Prostitution, and money laundering for all other organized crime(Russian, etc.)
The drug routes and shipments into this country are all controlled by the Colombians and Mexicans.
Yes and no.. in some places the italian tax them.
Do they control the money laundering activities?
Almost all of it...
They also do stocks frauds, credit card fraud, etc.
I don't ever recall the Mafia being a major threat to public safety.
They dont walk around like the 40 and 50's where everybody knew them..
Its Bloods, Crips and MS-13 that make urban America's streets dangerous.
Yes, they do...
Basically it is due to popular culture, movies - The Godfather, The Soprano's.
Ok,
They heyday of the Cosa Nostra is long gone,
I am sorry, but no.
for various reasons (the older generation dying off, greed from drugs, federal racketeering laws, many turned into informants, etc).
Have you seen the news, they have arrested about 40 this year. And you think they dont exist?
They still have a presence, and niche's in certain underworld activities in large cities (gambling, labor activities, etc). But they have been surpassed by other organized crime groups, and yes the simple street gangs hold a large portion of it.
I disagree with you.. go to brooklyn and ask around. Even my landlord had to pay taxes to the mafia..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
