Mafia Articles and News
In the age of podcasts, Youtube channels and fast turnaround online journalism, plagiarism isn’t an accident — it’s practically a business model, that includes credit quietly stripped away in the scramble for clicks. What is originality? Undetected plagiarism. William ralph inge The mob genre walks a thin line between originality…...
To a person charged with a crime, a defense lawyer isn’t just “a lawyer.” They are trusted intermediaries, and often the difference between freedom and a prison sentence. A defendant often views his or her lawyer as savior-like—that is if the attorney is not cooperating with law enforcement. Each betrayal…...
Italy’s commitment to combating organized crime has long been a defining feature of its political, legal, and institutional agenda. The Italian state has developed one of the most sophisticated and influential anti–organized crime systems in the world. While criminal organizations such as Cosa Nostra, ’Ndrangheta, Camorra, and Sacra Corona Unita…...
In George Orwell’s 1984, the infamous phrase “Big brother is watching you” relates to constant surveillance much like the FBI’s long-term monitoring of the mafia and investigations aimed at exposing and dismantling it. We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all…...
Social media platforms are essentially public megaphones for the entire world. People will pay attention if you have something compelling to say. In a nutshell, public posts are fair game, so it should come as no surprise that law enforcement treats social media as a 24/7 evidence generator. Big brother…...
Typically, mob-busts do not involve wives, ex-wives, sons, step-sons, and nephews—that is, unless your last name is Perna. Yesterday, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the New Jersey State Police announced charges against 14 people for their roles in a multimillion-dollar New Jersey sports betting…...
Padua, Italy Born in Fontaniva, in the province of Padua, Italy, life blessed Giuliano Velo with a wealthy family. His father, Bellarmino, ran a company that prefabricated buildings. Velo, however, fell in with organized crime and became a member of the Mala de Brenta also referred to as the Venetian…...
Once a playground for Italy’s southern aristocracy, Castel Volturno in present day, is a lawless wasteland. In recent decades, the seaside town, located in Campania’s province of Caserta, is home to a large immigrant population, particularly from West Africa. It is also home base to one of Italy’s oldest and…...
During the mid-1980s, the mafia, precisely boss Salvatore Biondino, ruled the San Lorenzo district of Palermo. An area once replete with historic villas, and green spaces, all replaced with blocks of poorly built apartments constructed by mafia-owned companies. At the time, the influence and violence of the mafia caused a…...
Roberto Saviano In an article dated July 25, 2025, Italian investigative journalist Roberto Saviano stated: “What criminal organizations fear most is the written word.” His statement, resonated with my emotions, and inspired me to write this blog. “The pen is mightier than the sword” Edward Bulwer lytton In addition to…...
It is not the strongest or the most intelligent that will survive but those that can best manage change -Charles Darwin Over the past few decades, the mafia in Italy and Sicily has undergone drastic transformation. Even more telling is the significant revamping in their structure, activities, and visibility. However,…...
Rape is the only crime in which the victim becomes the accused Freda Adler The municipality of Seminara, located in the Province of Reggio Calabria, is well-known for its stunning beaches. The kind of place where teenage girls should be living their best lives. Instead, this story recounts the repeated…...
Pleasant Avenue- a six-block stretch in East Harlem that is one of the most famous gangland stretches in mob history. The new york times East Harlem, home to Italian immigrants since the late 19th century. At one time, the neighborhood had the largest Italian community in the country also known…...
Two-Faced: A person who comes to one group of people with one face and another group of people with a different face. One rule I make every effort to abide by is to never entertain negativity, particularly when it comes to social media and YouTube. Sadly, the world we live…...
Death is bad enough, the death of a child, unbearable. But the murder of a child? There’s nothing worse Anonymous On January 16, 2014, Giuseppe Iannicelli Jr. went desperately searching for his father but had no luck. After checking all the usual haunts, there was no sign of him. Little…...
The new biographical crime film, The Alto Knights directed by Barry Levinson, and written Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, Casino), recounts the story of Bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. As their once close friendship almost turned deadly, when Genovese gave the order to kill Costello. The movie opens in theaters nationwide…...
Joey Gallo was a fearless and tenacious individual who walked to the beat of his own drum. If he believed someone undervalued him or those close to him, they would experience his wrath. For this reason, Gallo challenged the authority of bosses Joe Profaci and Joe Colombo. That bravado, as…...
Know your enemy, know his sword Miyamoto musashi In the town of San Luca, a ‘Ndrangheta stronghold, the air is heavy with déjà vu. An unsettling silence descends upon the locals following the disappearance of a boss’s son, and the discovery of a burned vehicle. Mothers are even keeping their…...
Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after – Bruce Wayne, The Dark Knight Pizza Connection During the 1970s, the Sicilian mafia began smuggling drugs into the United States. The narcotics reached their destination—New York—after detouring across the Midwest. At which point, members of the American…...
We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption -John Adams ‘Ndrangheta As we gain more knowledge and insight into the ‘Ndrangheta, a clear image of proficiency emerges. Their operational methods are by far criminally brilliant. As seen by the organization’s ability at finding…...
You can convince yourself of just about anything when you want to believe a conspiracy theory -Brian Stelter The construction of New York’s Columbus Circle began in 1842, and opened to the public in 1905. At its center, sits a dedicated statue of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. The structure’s…...
Misfit: something that fits badly; a person who is poorly adapted to a situation or environment Merriam-Webster First Impressions I met Danny Campo for the first time at Bella Notte, a restaurant in Bellmore, New York, around 2016. In actuality, I was meeting Louie “Jet” Gampiero who invited me out…...
One of the Caribbean’s most geographically diverse countries is the Dominican Republic. The island’s accessibility to all of North America’s major ports is one of its main features. A fact not lost on international drug traffickers. The island, commonly referred to as D.R., also serves as a tactical hub for…...
Having a father who is a bad example can teach us two things: we can emulate his actions or learn how not to act. The choice we make can determine our course in life. -Anonymous On May 21, 1977, Ferdinando “Freddy” Gallina was born in Carini, a town close to…...
Incompetence is often highly regarded in government circles- William Wallace In October 2018, one of the most high-profile federal inmates arrived at his new facility, in less than 12 hours, prison guards discovered him beaten to death. The inmate in question was James “Whitey” Bulger, boss of the Winter Hill…...
If we could be twice young and twice old we could correct all our mistakes.Euripides At the request of this District Anti-Mafia Directorate, the Military Investigative Unit of Catania, Italy, made thirteen arrests in the early hours of August 2, 2024. The investigation dubbed “Leonidi dis” aimed at dismantling the…...
If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking…is freedom. Dwight D. Eisenhower Metropolitan Detention Center If you’re traveling down the Gowanus Expressway and pass a large building resembling an antiquated factory, most likely, it is the…...
Mimic Octopus: a species of octopus with the ability to impersonate a wide variety of marine animals. In similar fashion to the mimic octopus, the mafia is a constantly evolving organization. During the 1960s, the ‘ndrangheta kidnapped approximately 649 people. They held the majority of victims in Aspromonte, a mountainous…...
We all want our children to be like us but sometimes it’s best they turn out different. Anonymous Free to choose Roberto Di Bella, judge of the Juvenile Court of Reggio Calabria, recognized the young man in his office. Two months earlier, the arrogant fifteen year old stood before him…...
On June 12, 2024, Italian law enforcement arrested eleven people charging them with mafia association and fraudulent transfer of valuables. The investigation dates back to 2019, when the Contini clan ended up at the center of a maxi operation involving the entire Secondigliano Alliance, including the Licciardi and Mallardo families…....
Jealousy- A sentiment which is born in love and which is produced by the fear that the loved person prefers someone else. The Teacher’s Devotional Tiny Manzo Albert “Tiny” Manzo – nicknamed for his girth – owned Da Tommaso restaurant and a banquet venue named The Brownstone House in Paterson,…...
Your children are your real mob. Anonymous Sonny To refer to John “Sonny” Franzese as a gangster would be an understatement. To begin with, his criminal history dates back to the 1930s, with his first arrest being for an assault in 1938. In and around 1950, Franzese became an inducted…...
“The key to being a good mentor is to help people become more of who they already are – not to make them more like you.” SUZE ORMAN Mentors Simply put, a mentor is someone with more experience who guides and teaches another. Mentors serve as role models, setting prime…...
Ecco come la mafia si è spartita Palermo: This is how the mafia divided Palermo L’Ora, Newspaper Palermo, Sicily During the 1970s, mafia bosses from Palermo, Sicily appeared to gain sudden wealth overnight. From 1976-to-1980, the Inzerillo-Gambino-Spatola families dominated the heroin trade between Sicily and New York. More specifically, between…...
Matteo Messina Denaro On January 16, 2023, following a 30-year manhunt, Italian law enforcement apprehended Matteo Messina Denaro. His capture took place at the La Maddalena clinic in Palermo, Sicily, where he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Most considered Denaro the last link between the death-dealing cosa nostra of the past…...
Generally speaking, when we think of the mafia the United States, Canada and Italy come to mind. Most of us do not equate countries like Israel and Palestine as places the mafia would be. Nevertheless, a conflict of such magnitude like a war can expose mafia mentalities. You can scarcely…...
Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Extreme Cyclist Italian extreme cyclist Vittorio Brumotti holds ten entries in the Guinness Book of World Records. Riding is his passion and he refers to his bike as his gun, guitar,…...
A lie can run around the world before the truth has got its boots on. Terry Pratchett The phrase “word on the street”, allegedly dates back to the 1920s in New York City. In those days, insider-trading was legal and certain information regarding companies came from Wall Street. The frequently…...
The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Pittsburgh Charles “Chucky” Porter somehow bypassed the mafia’s edict where a proposed member’s parents both needed to be of Italian decent. Porter, who is only half Italian on his mother’s side, not only became…...
Insanity is a legal term. Crazy is an art form. Hunter S.Thompson On March 16, 2019, the police in Brick Township, New Jersey took a 24-year-old man into custody for a crime committed three days prior. The suspect, Anthony Comello of Staten Island, had no known criminal history. The crime…...
