Joe Valachi testified before Congress about the existence of organised crime. ibid.
The continuing inactivity by American law enforcement was to the benefit of those who would follow in the footsteps of Lucky Luciano. ibid.
Luciano’s place in America had been taken by a quiet Sicilian, Carlo Gambino. He was to become the most powerful Mafia boss in America.
Under Gambino the Mafia extended their control of legitimate business, controlling trucking in the garment centre of New York and construction contracts throughout Manhattan. ibid.
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.
For more than 50 years the Mafia reigns supreme in America and Italy. Mafia Empire: Breaking the Vow
In Sicily a war broke out for control of the drug profits. ibid.
New legislation in America allowed law enforcement to mount an effective assault against the leaders of organised crime. For the first time the Mafia was put on the defensive. 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. ibid.
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.
The historic case, called the Commission case, used Rico to bring Mafia bosses into a Federal courtroom for the first time. 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.
Despite the Mafia’s awareness of the risks of drug trafficking the enormous profits proved too much of a temptation. ibid.
Sicilian Mafia members were dispatched from Palermo to the United States, Canada and South America to set up their drugs trade. ibid.
In the late 1970s the Al Dente was one of a network of pizzarias which provided the perfect cover for many of the Sicilians involved in the international heroin conspiracy. ibid.
The key intermediary between the Sicilian and American Mafia was Carmine Galante. ibid.
With convictions and lengthy jail sentences for almost all the defendants, 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 next to the jail. 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.
In Italy and America the Mafia is the number one target for an all-out assault by the FBI and the Italian police in an unprecedented attack on organised crime that began in the 1980s. Mafia Empire: Vendetta
In the United States the principle target of the FBI was John Gotti – a new style of Mafia, whose court victories made him appear invincible. ibid.
In Italy the Sicilian Mafia embarked on a campaign of terror in a last-ditch attempt to intimidate the State as their political supporters failed to protect them. The prosecution and arrest of the Mafia godfathers changed the face of organised crime, and raised the prospect of its eventual disappearance. ibid.
While the Sicilian Mafia dominated the heroin trade in the 1980s the American Mafia were opposed to it. ibid.
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.
As in the United States the trade in drugs had a profound effect on the internal structure and the character of the Mafia. ibid.
Surrounded by massive security at the courthouse in Palermo, Buscetta testified that as head of the Corleonesi and the Commission of the Sicilian Mafia [Salvatore] Riina was directly responsible for all the killings. ibid.
In defiance of popular feeling Riina escalated his campaign against the State in the autumn of 1992 by resorting to terrorism, extending Mafia violence to the Italian mainland. ibid.
John Gotti had become a media superstar, grabbing a media spotlight that was a total anathema to the traditions of the godfather. ibid.
The last Godfather from the old generation was the wily 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.
In 1992 a new law for what was to become a flood of new cooperating witnesses from inside the Mafia. ibid.
A series of tactics that the world’s most powerful Mob bosses use to become masters of their own destiny. One hit at a time ... Use these rules to make a killing. How to Become a Mob Boss I: Land Your Dream Job, Netflix 2023
A Mob boss is someone who knows how to beat the system. And when problems arise, the gangland giants who run the $2 trillion a year crime industry know the value of structure, public relations, and a diversified portfolio. ibid.
Unlock your potential … Learn from the best … Make your own luck … ibid.
When you’re a Mob boss looking to consolidate your power you look at human emotions differently. And there’s one tested method for putting this spine-tingling tool to work – ‘you have to perform violence.’ How to Become a Mob Boss III: Dominate Through Terror: Salvatore Riina
Sicily’s boss of bosses, Salvatore ‘Toto’ Riina … He earned billions through diverse pursuits … ibid.
‘He is thought to have authorised between 800 and 1,000 killings.’ ibid. man
Not all Mob bosses pay attention to its lessons. I want to tell you about someone who thought he knew better. His name – John Gotti. How to Become a Mob Boss IV: Don’t Go Rogue: John Gotti
During his tumultuous six year reign over the New York’s Gambino crime family Gotti blew off the rulebook at every turn leading to an endless series of arrests and betrayals. ibid.
Fact #1: Gotti fell in with the Gambino crime family as a teen; Fact #2: Gotti had a powerful mentor; Fact 3: Gotti shot his way to the top; Tactic: Keep your head down; Tactic: Stay connected. ibid.
Sicily: After the Mafia massacres in the ’90s, the Anti-Mafia movement fought back. Judges and journalists had a leading role in this fight. But are they all real heroes? Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia I: Declaration of War, Netflix 2021
Every time I get into my car and start it I close my eyes. ibid. Pino Maniaci, journalist
The biggest story was the capture of Bernardo Provenzano. ibid.
Toto Riina was a bloodthirsty ruthless boss. ibid.
We want to talk about and show you the seized assets left completely abandoned. ibid. re: Judicial administration
There are some judges that love the smell of money. ibid. Maniaci
They released a fucking DVD with the aim of ruining Pino Maniaci’s reputation. Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia II: Death by Video, Pino
The anti-Mafia Mafia. This is really serious. And it’s devastating. The judicial administrators after they got their money left businesses to go bankrupt. ibid.
The Council has expelled me from the judiciary. Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia III: Corruption: The Sicilian Curse, head of Judicial Assets department Saguto
There are people who want to shut Pino Maniaci up … Pino Maniaci has bravely exposed what is wrong with the government … There is also a vendetta against him. Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia IV: Traps & Conspiracies, brief
I think she’s in a position to blackmail half the Italian judiciary. Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia V: Truth & Lies, Pino
We should build a statue of Pino Maniaci. ibid. supporter
They have fuck all on me. ibid. Pino
Influence is one of the worst things about democracy. They’ve already reached a verdict. ibid. Judge Saguto’s brief
Bullshit! Who the fuck can we trust? Vendetta: Truth, Lies & the Mafia VI: The Reckoning, Pino
I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve spent my whole life fighting the Mafia. ibid. Judge Saguto
Guilty … 8 years and six months in prison. ibid. court
So basically they’ve convicted everyone. ibid. Judge Saguto
Do you realise how insane this is? ibid.
February 2021: It is they who are the corrupt ones. ibid. Pino’s brief
Maniaci’ Defamation 2 charges: Guilty … 1 year 5 months in prison as well as the court fees. ibid.