Italian American Mafia Research Paper

Robert DiNiro once said, “You learned the two greatest things in life... never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut” (Truyen 2014). This motto DiNiro’s character, Jimmy Conway claims, is one the Italian-American mafia operates by to this day. Dating back to the 1800s, the mafia began in Sicily, Italy (“Origins” 2009). During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the United States saw a large influx of Italian immigration. During the 1920s Prohibition era, the Italian- American mafia gained power across the United States through bootlegging (“Origins” 2009). New York City came to house five prominent crime families, one of the most powerful being the Genovese Family.

American Mafia History (n.d) states, “The Genovese family

was established as the Morello gang around 1892 running out of the Bronx and East Harlem.” However, by the end of Prohibition, the Morello gang was no longer in existence (“American Mafia History, n.d). Next, Charlie Luciano took over during the 1930s and the family was named after him (“American Mafia History,” n.d).
The mafia, including the Genovese Family, has a very distinct way of operating.

Each family operates under a hierarchal power system. The Boss, or Don is at the top of the pyramid. He makes the major decisions for the family (“Structure,” n.d). He also has the most respect of all the members and receives a portion of each member’s earnings. The Boss is voted in by the caporegimes of the family (“Mafia Structure,” n.d). The first Boss of the Genovese family was technically Lucky Luciano. It was later renamed “Genovese” when Vito Genovese obtained power in 1957 (“American Mafia History,” n.d). Next in line is the underboss. The Underboss has control over the family’s capos. He is also able to become acting boss in the event that the Boss goes to prison or dies (“Mafia Structure,” n.d). Next is the Consigliere. This member of the family acts as an advisor and liaison to the Boss. He is never directly involved in the crime aspect. The Consigliere is usually part of some legitimate enterprise and is often a lawyer or broker. These men also have a high level of respect (“Mafia Structure,” n.d). Under the bosses and consigliere are the Caporegime, or Capo members. According to “Structure, (n.d)” “A Capo acts like a lieutenant or captain, leading his own section of the Family. He operates specific activities of the Mafia.” The number of capos depends on the family. His level of respect is determined by how much he earns (“Structure”, n.d). Soldiers are next in the hierarchal

structure. These members are the lowest members of the family. They must have Italian heritage and work their way up from an Associate position. Soldiers are recommended by Capos (“Mafia Structure,” n.d). The final spot is Associate. These men are not actually members of the family. They facilitate the crimes and are involved in the enterprises controlled by the family. Although they are not yet members, Associates are still on the family’s payroll (“Structure,” n.d).

According to “American Mafia History, (n.d)” “Today, the Genovese family is considered to be one of the strongest in New York. They have approximately 250 made men and 14 active crews. Their associates could be in the thousands.” Since Vincent Gigante, there is presumably no active Boss. Instead, the Caporegime have been conducting business (“American Mafia History”, n.d). Although the family is still active, their membership is not what it used to be. Members from the peak years are slowly dying off from old age. Many of them sit in prison cells. The FBI continues to crack down on organized crime, making it more difficult for families to stay intact like they used to. Becoming an informant for the FBI is becoming more and more popular because of the harsher sentences given to those involved in organized crime.