The history of New York City is intriguing and filled with enigmatic stories, notably those associated with the major crime families. Perhaps, you’ve come across fragments of information about organized crime and are interested in getting the complete picture.
We’re here to assist you in understanding a period overwhelmed by entities called Murder, Inc., a designation that still induces fear today.
Murder, Inc. was not an ordinary group; they functioned as the security division for the National Crime Syndicate during the 1930s and early ’40s, accountable for some of the most frightening instances in the chronicles of crime.
This blog will guide you through their identities, focusing on major crime families such as Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo — all with individual leaders who were instrumental in shaping New York’s dark side.
From Lucky Luciano to John Gotti — all contributed immensely.
We will also discuss significant incidents that seriously disturbed New York City — the Castellammarese War and Albert Anastasia’s assassination, to name a few — presenting these narratives in a way that makes you feel as if you’re physically present in those same locations.
Are you prepared to take a trip back into history? Let’s embark on this exploration.
Key Takeaways
- Murder Inc. was a gang that worked for New York’s major crime families of the Mafia in the 1930s and ’40s, doing their violent work.
- The Commission, formed by bosses of the five major crime families, made important decisions together to control New York’s underworld.
- Leaders like Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Carlo Gambino played key roles in organizing crime in New York and are still famous today.
- Major conflicts like the Castellammarese War shaped the power structure within the Mafia, leading to the creation of The Commission to prevent future wars between families.
- Famous events such as Albert Anastasia’s assassination showed that no one was safe in the struggle for power among New York City’s crime families.
Formation and Structure of Murder Inc and Major Crime Families behind it.
Murder Inc. came to life under the careful planning of The Commission, a council made up of bosses from the top Italian-American crime families. This group set up a system where orders flowed from the top down through a clear chain of command, making it one efficient and deadly operation in New York’s underworld.
The Commission’s Role
The Commission was the boss of all bosses in New York’s Mafia world. It included leaders from the five families: Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. They made big decisions together, like who could become a leader and how to split up territories.
This group started in the 1930s to stop wars between families that were bad for business.
The Commission acted as a court for mob issues. If two groups had a problem or someone broke the rules, The Commission would step in to solve it. This kept peace and order among the powerful crime families.
Leaders such as Carlo Gambino and Charles “Lucky” Luciano played key roles on The Commission. Their job was tough because they had to make sure everyone followed the plan while making money from illegal activities like extortion and racketeering.
They used Murder Inc., a gang of killers-for-hire, to handle their dirty work across New York City from 1929 to 1941.
Hierarchical Structure of the Major Crime Families
Each of the five major crime families in New York had its own boss, underboss, and consigliere. The boss led the family. His second-in-command was the underboss. The consigliere acted as an advisor.
Below them were capos who controlled street-level groups of soldiers. These soldiers did various illegal jobs.
The Mafia used this structure to manage its activities across New York City smoothly. This setup helped with tasks like loan sharking, gambling, and extortion. It also made it hard for law enforcement to track down who was in charge of crimes.
This system allowed leaders like Carlo Gambino and Vito Genovese to control their operations tightly without getting caught easily. Soldiers carried out orders from their capos, making sure the bosses’ commands got done right away.
Key Major Crime Families of Murder Inc.
The crime world of New York saw the rise of five powerful families. These groups played big roles in the city’s underground dealings.
Bonanno Family
The Bonanno family, one of the five major New York City Mafia groups, got its name from boss Joseph “Joe Bananas” Bonanno. This group stood out for its secretive actions and long reach.
They dealt in illegal activities like murder and racketeering since the 1930s. Joe Bonanno led them with a firm hand, making sure they stayed strong in their territory.
A family’s unity makes it untouchable.
Joseph Bonanno’s leadership saw the family through many battles and power struggles. Over time, the FBI caught up with some of their acts. The crime scene changed too. Even so, this family’s story shows how deep and lasting Mafia influence can be in America.
Colombo Family
Moving from the Bonanno Family, we now turn our attention to the Colombo Family. This family is another key part of New York’s mafia world. They are one of the five major crime families in the city.
The Colombo Family got its name from Joseph Colombo, a big figure in their history.
The Colombos were involved in a lot of illegal stuff like gambling and lending money for high interest. They also did some murder-for-hire jobs. Their actions caused many problems over the years.
In 1992, they had a big setback when a top member was found guilty of several murders and other crimes.
Throughout their time, they fought for control and power with other families. These fights often turned violent. One famous conflict was the Banana War, showing just how far these groups would go to stay on top.
Gambino Family
After exploring the Colombo family, we come to another powerful group, the Gambino family. This family was a key player in New York’s organized crime scene. They were part of Murder Inc., a group known for its brutal methods to keep power.
The Gambino family had many leaders over time, but one of the most famous was Carlo Gambino.
Carlo Gambino rose to become a top boss in the 1950s and kept control until his death in 1976. Under his leadership, the family engaged in various illegal activities like murder and extortion.
They had strict rules and worked hard to avoid police attention. Another notable leader was John Gotti, known as “The Dapper Don” for his stylish way of dressing and “The Teflon Don” because charges against him didn’t stick early on.
This crime family faced challenges too, such as internal power struggles and legal issues. For example, Paul Castellano became head after Carlo but was killed outside a steakhouse in 1985 on Gotti’s order.
These events showed how violent and competitive life within the mafia could be.
Genovese Family
The Genovese family is one of the major crime families in New York. They have a long history filled with power and secrets. Vito “Don Vito” Genovese, after whom the family is named, made it very powerful.
This family was great at keeping their actions hidden. They were involved in illegal activities like murder and racketeering.
Vito Genovese once said, ‘I learned from Mr. Luciano that this thing of ours comes before everything else.’
Vincent “Chin” Gigante later led the family. He acted like he was not sane to avoid jail time. Under his rule, the Genovese family kept strong and feared.
Lucchese Family
The Lucchese family, named after Tommy Lucchese, took control in New York City’s underworld. They were part of the five big crime groups that ran illegal activities. These included things like taking money by force and planning and doing murders.
Tommy became a boss in 1951 and made the group strong.
This family was sneaky and smart about their crimes. They worked with other criminals to grow their power. Over time, they became known for not just violence but also making deals and using politics to their advantage.
One big event was when Joseph “Joe” Massino turned against his own kind in court in 1992. This shocked many people and showed how deep betrayal went within these groups.
Notable Leaders of the Major Crime Families and Their Influence
Leaders like Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Carlo Gambino shaped the Mafia world. They set rules, led their groups with a strong hand, and made the New York Mafia famous around the globe.
Charles “Lucky” Luciano
Charles “Lucky” Luciano was a big name in New York’s mafia world. He helped create Murder Inc., a scary group that did the dirty work for the National Crime Syndicate representing the major crime Families. They hurt or killed people who got in their way from 1929 to 1941.
Luciano wasn’t just about violence, though. He had smart ideas about how crime families should work together.
He started meeting with other bosses to make plans and solve problems without fighting. This way of doing things was new for the mafia in America. It made him very powerful and respected among Italian-American mobsters, like those in the Genovese family, which he led.
Luciano also had ties with Jewish gangsters. He worked closely with Meyer Lansky and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, famous names themselves in organized crime history. Together, they ran many illegal businesses all over New York City and beyond.
Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino rose to be one of the most powerful leaders in the Italian American Mafia. He led the Gambino crime family, one of New York’s major Mafia families. Starting from the 1930s, he used smart moves and avoided public attention to stay powerful until his death in 1976.
Under him, the family dealt in illegal acts but stayed out of big trouble with law officers.
Gambino was known for keeping peace within his family and with other crime groups. This skill helped him avoid wars that hurt other families. He became a boss after helping plan the hit on Albert Anastasia, showing his strength without using violence himself.
His leadership saw the Mafia’s power grow in America, making him a key figure in organized crime history.
Joseph Bonanno
Joseph Bonanno was a big name in the New York Mafia. He led the Bonanno family, one of the five major crime families. Born in 1905, he became known as “Joe Bananas,” though he didn’t like that name.
In 1992, this leading figure faced conviction for many crimes, including murder.
Bonanno’s story is full of power struggles and fights with other families. His time showed how violent and tough the Mafia could be. He played a key role in the history of organized crime in America.
Major Events and Conflicts
The Castellammarese War changed everything for New York’s crime scene. It was a brutal power struggle that led to the rise of Murder Inc.’s most famous leaders. Then, the killing of Albert Anastasia in a barber shop showed how deadly these families could be, even against their own.
The Castellammarese War
The Castellammarese War was a bloody battle for control among New York City’s major crime Families. It lasted from 1930 to 1931. Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano were the main bosses fighting for power.
This war got its name from Maranzano’s hometown in Sicily.
Many people died during this time. The streets of New York became dangerous as both sides tried to take out their enemies. In the end, Maranzano won and declared himself “capo di tutti i capi,” or boss of all bosses.
But his victory was short-lived; Charles “Lucky” Luciano had him killed soon after because he wanted a different kind of organization.
This event led to the creation of The Commission, which changed how the Mafia operated in America. Now, let’s take a closer look at The Assassination of Albert Anastasia.
The Assassination of Albert Anastasia
Albert Anastasia met his demise in 1957. Recognized as a commanding figure in the criminal sphere, he was known for his fearless application of force. His life concluded during a haircut in New York City when armed individuals entered the barbershop, shooting him repeatedly.
This occurrence stunned numerous individuals, demonstrating that even influential mafia leaders could meet their end. Albert Anastasia’s death was a segment of an extensive power struggle among the mob families in New York City.
This conflict resulted in increased aggression and shifts in leadership positions within these factions.
Conclusion
Murder Inc. shows how crime shaped New York’s history. This group carried out hits for the Mafia. Their story is full of leaders like Lucky Luciano and events like the Castellammarese War.
These crimes remind us to stay aware and learn from the past. Let’s use this knowledge to make better choices today.
FAQs
1. Who were the significant figures in Murder Inc and the major crime families in New York?
Significant figures included Arthur Flegenheimer, also known as Dutch Schultz, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Louis “Lepke” Buchalter of the Genovese crime family and Abe “Kid Twist” Reles. Joseph Valachi played a key role during the Valachi hearings while Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was part of the mafia boss network.
2. What was Murder Incorporated’s connection with notable crime families like Colombo and Lucchese?
Murder Incorporated worked closely with several major crime families including Colombo, led by Joseph Profaci and later Carmine Persico; Lucchese, initially under Tommaso Gagliano then Paul Sciacca; along with godfathers such as Joe Adonis and John Joseph Gotti Jr.
3. How did Thomas Dewey contribute to tackling organized crime in New York?
Thomas Dewey played an instrumental role in prosecuting members of these criminal organizations such as Lucky Luciano which eventually led to his conviction. His actions paved way for laws like RICO Act that targeted organized crimes specifically.
4. Can you tell me more about undercover agents’ roles within these gangs?
Undercover agents such as Donnie Brasco aka Joseph Pistone infiltrated these gangs providing crucial insights into their operations leading to numerous arrests including those of capo dei capi like Paul “Big Paul” Castellano from Genovese Crime Family.
5. Were there any infamous alliances or rivalries among these major crime families?
Yes indeed! A notorious alliance existed between Louis Capone’s Five Points Gang and Jacob “Gurrah” Shapiro’s Whyos gang while intense rivalry brewed between Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll’s Westies gang against Dutch Schultz’s crew.
6. Did anyone ever betray or turn against their own family or group within this underworld?
One notable instance was Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano who testified against his former boss, John Gotti of the Genovese family. His testimony led to Gotti’s conviction and marked a significant turning point in New York’s criminal history.
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