The Chicago Syndicate

Friday, November 14, 2025

Little Joe Perna, Reputed Lucchese Mafia Crime Family Member, Charged with Running Multimillion Sports Betting Ring Involving College Athletes #NewJersey #MafiaNews #Gambling

Fourteen people have been charged for their roles in a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring that was allegedly operated by a member of an organized crime family and involved college athletes, New Jersey authorities announced Thursday.

College Basketball
Wagering to Win

College Basketball: Wagering to Win.

Authorities said Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, a 55-year-old resident of Fairfield, N.J., and alleged member of the Lucchese crime family, ran the illegal operation. Perna was the operation’s “financier,” while his son, Joseph R. Perna, 25, conducted the sportsbook’s daily operations and facilitated dozens of subordinate agents, including his brother, Anthony Perna, 23, according to the authorities. Also among those charged were the elder Perna’s wife, Kim Zito, 53, ex-wife, Rosanna Magno, 52, and a stepson, Frank Zito, 23.

The charges include racketeering, conspiracy, promoting gambling, promoting gambling by bookmaking and money laundering.

According to the New Jersey attorney general‘s office, members of the enterprise included student-athletes, claiming that they operated sportsbooks for the Perna enterprise. Between 2022 and 2024, the enterprise transferred approximately $2 million in suspected gambling transactions.

“Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement. “The locations and methods may have evolved, but illegal gambling — in this case, sports betting — remains a problem, and we will charge those who seek to profit from it.”

It is unclear how many college athletes were involved, or at what schools. An NCAA spokeswoman told The Athletic that the association is aware of the charges and is looking into the matter.

In a statement to The Athletic, Anthony Iacullo, the defense attorney for Joseph R. Perna, said his client “looks forward to confronting the false allegations against him in a court of law. We look forward to analyzing the case in more detail once the facts are made available to the defense.” There was no listed representation for his father, Joseph M. Perna.

Illegal gambling has been a topic across the sports world in recent weeks.

Late last month, the NCAA, partly at the urging of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, delayed the implementation of a rule that would allow college athletes to bet on pro sports.

Last week, the NCAA declared six former Division I men’s basketball players permanently ineligible after investigations found they tried to fix games and provided information to gamblers about how they would manipulate performances and outcomes.

In MLB, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted last week on charges tied to allegedly rigging the pitches they threw in games to help conspirators win prop bets. MLB responded Monday by capping pitch-level bets at $200 and barring them from parlays under new rules made with major sportsbooks. Clase and Ortiz have pleaded not guilty.

In the NBA last month, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were among 30 people arrested by federal investigators as part of a multiyear investigation into illegal betting activities. And the NFL recently sent a memo to all 32 of its teams detailing its restrictions on bets tied to player injuries, officiating, single-player plays — such as a kicker missing a field goal — and pre-determined outcomes.

Thanks to Bob Harkins and Ralph D. Russo.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

MASSIVE Arrests in NBA Illegal Gambling Scheme involving Current/Former Players/Coaches and Several Mafia Crime Families - Integrity of League in Doubt

Basketball Betting: Tactics to Dominate Basketball Betting.

Gaming the Game: The Story Behind the NBA Betting Scandal and the Gambler Who Made It Happen.

Sports Betting 101 : NBA Edition 2025: The No-BS Guide to Crushing the Sports books and Making Money Consistently.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested by the FBI on Thursday as part of two separate illegal gambling-related cases, the FBI confirmed.

Billups, Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones were among over 30 individuals arrested in connection with the FBI's probe. Four other individuals, Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen and Deniro Laster were named in the Department of Justice's indictment.

Billups and Rozier — the two individuals currently active in the NBA — were placed on immediate leave by the league Thursday.

The investigation took years and spanned 11 states, FBI director Kash Patel said Thursday.

Billups and Jones were charged after allegedly being involved with an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia.

The individuals allegedly involved in running the illegal poker games — some of which include members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families — are accused of rigging contests in their favor. Individuals reportedly used secret cameras, contacts that could read marked cards and X-ray tables, among other methods, to cheat other players out of millions.

Billups' presence at those games was meant to legitimize them and make "victims believe that they were sitting at a fair table," New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday. Billups was reportedly aware of the scam, per U.S. Attorney Joe Nocella.

Billups, 49, spent 17 seasons in the NBA as a player. The No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Billups spent eight of those seasons with the Detroit Pistons, where he helped lead the team to a championship in 2004. He was a five-time All-Star, made the All-NBA team three times and was a member of the NBA All-Defensive team twice. Billups was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.

Following the end of his playing career, Billups went into coaching. He was hired by the Trail Blazers ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season and has compiled a 177-212 record in five seasons with the team.

One of those defeats came Wednesday night, as Billups led the Trail Blazers to a 118-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the team's 2025-26 season opener.

Jones was also reportedly involved in the illegal poker game scheme. Jones, an 11-year NBA veteran, played for 10 teams during his career. After retiring in 2012, Jones spent time as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers.

Rozier, 31, had been under investigation for his actions during a 2022-23 NBA game, when he was still a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans that season, a bettor placed nearly $14,000 on unders involving Rozier's statistics. Rozier left the game after just nine minutes due to a foot injury, causing his under bets to win, per documents acquired by ESPN.

The investigation into Rozier reportedly focused on whether he "manipulated his performance as part of an illegal sports betting scheme," the Wall Street Journal wrote in January.

Despite the investigation, Rozier, an 11-year NBA veteran, was preparing to play for the Heat during the 2025-26 NBA season. The guard battled a hamstring injury ahead of the team's season opener Wednesday, but was reportedly available to play in the contest.

He did not make an appearance in the team's 125-121 loss to the Orlando Magic.

In September, the Hornets canceled a sports betting theme night promotion that was supposed to take place when Rozier and the Heat came to town in March.

Rozier's lawyer, Jim Trusty, released a statement to CNN saying his client "looks forward to winning this fight."

Trusty also criticized the way the FBI handled Thursday's arrest.

“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing [Rozier] to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing,” Trusty’s statement continued.

The NBPA issued a statement that echoed that sentiment. The organization stressed that "the integrity of the game is paramount," but also called out the FBI for using Rozier and Billups' names as a way to draw more attention to the arrests.

“The integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence, and both are hindered when player popularity is misused to gain attention. We will ensure our members are protected and afforded their due process rights through this process."

In addition to reportedly being involved in the illegal poker games, Jones was also accused of providing inside information about NBA games to co-defendants who used that information to place sports bets, per ABC News.

The probe into Rozier was the same one one that resulted in Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter being banned from the NBA for life, prosecutors said Thursday. Porter was investigated after unusual betting activity came in on his unders for two games. Porter left one of those contests with an injury and another with an illness, causing a number of those unders to hit.

An NBA investigation determined Porter leaked "confidential information to sports bettors," limited his playing time in certain games for betting purposes and bet on NBA games, leading to his lifetime ban.

Former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley, who was under investigation due to his alleged involvement in a federal gambling probe, was not part of the arrests. While the investigation into Beasley was not closed, the NBA investigation into Beasley allegedly "didn't find anything," per journalist Pablo Torre. Beasley reportedly voluntarily handed over his phone to NBA investigators, per Torre.

The FBI and Patel held a press conference Thursday to confirm those arrests and provide more details on the allegations surrounding Billups, Jones and Rozier.

Following that press conference, the NBA announced Billups and Rozier would be placed on immediate leave. The NBA said it would cooperate with investigators and takes the allegations seriously. Assistant coach Tiago Splitter was named acting head coach for the Blazers in place of Billups, per Shams Charania.

Thank you to Chris Cwik.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

MS-13 Cell Operating in Nashville Dismantled by the US DEA #MS13 #DEA

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration successfully dismantled an MS-13 cell operating within Nashville, Tennessee.

After a 9-month investigation, a series of court-authorized search warrants were conducted this morning throughout the metropolitan Nashville area, resulting in the arrests of at least 17 members and associates of MS-13 across three states, including Tennessee, California, and Oklahoma. In addition, investigators also seized bulk quantities of marijuana, counterfeit pills, cocaine, THC vapes, liquid psilocybin, and multiple firearms, including assault rifles.

“These arrests represent a critical milestone in DEA’s mission to dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States and around the globe – prioritizing those designated by President Trump as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “MS-13 has left a trail of violence and devastation across communities nationwide. The residents of Nashville are safer today now that these dangerous individuals will be held accountable for their destructive actions. Today’s enforcement actions are not the last. More will follow, and we will not stop until MS-13 is no longer able to inflict harm on our communities.”

“The actions taken today against MS-13 are the first of what will be many strikes against those who prey on the weak in our society,” said Louisville Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott. “The DEA and our law enforcement partners will not allow foreign terrorist organizations to operate in our communities. We will hunt you down and bring you to justice.”

MS-13 is a violent international criminal gang that emerged in Los Angeles during the 1980s. Over the years, it has expanded its influence, establishing strongholds in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, while infiltrating communities across all fifty U.S. states. Fueled by its deep involvement in the illegal drug trade, MS-13 is notorious for its ruthless tactics, including extortion, human trafficking, assault, and murder, to maintain control over its territory. With thousands of members operating within the United States, MS-13 remains a public safety and national security threat.

Today’s operation was made possible through the collaboration of DEA’s Louisville Field Division with Army Criminal Investigation Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; Tennessee Highway Patrol; local Tennessee drug task forces 23rd Judicial Drug Task Force and 19th Judicial Drug Task Force; and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland #IrishMafia #TheTroubles #IRA

Jean McConville's abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of the vicious conflict known as The Troubles.

Say Nothing
A True Story
of Murder and Memory
in Northern Ireland

Everyone in the neighborhood knew the I.R.A. was responsible. But in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one would speak of it. In 2003, five years after an accord brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach. McConville's children knew it was their mother when they were told a blue safety pin was attached to the dress--with so many kids, she had always kept it handy for diapers or ripped clothes.

Patrick Radden Keefe's mesmerizing book on the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath uses the McConville case as a starting point for the tale of a society wracked by a violent guerrilla war, a war whose consequences have never been reckoned with. The brutal violence seared not only people like the McConville children, but also I.R.A. members embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united Ireland, and left them wondering whether the killings they committed were not justified acts of war, but simple murders.

From radical and impetuous I.R.A. terrorists such as Dolours Price, who, when she was barely out of her teens, was already planting bombs in London and targeting informers for execution, to the ferocious I.R.A. mastermind, Brendan Hughes, known as The Dark, to the spy games and dirty schemes of the British Army, to Gerry Adams, who negotiated the peace but betrayed his hardcore comrades by denying his I.R.A. past--Say Nothing conjures a world of passion, betrayal, vengeance, and anguish.

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Top Mobster Nicknames

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Rahul Shah Convicted for Role in Bank Fraud and Covid-19 Pay Check Protection Program (PPP) Fraud Schemes #Corruption

A federal jury convicted an Illinois businessman for his role in schemes to fraudulently obtain over $55 million in commercial loans and lines of credit and for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rahul Shah, 56, of Evanston, the owner and operator of several information technology companies in the Chicago area, fraudulently obtained funds from loans and lines of credit for which he was not eligible from federally insured financial institutions and later defaulted on at least one such line of credit and one such loan. Shah submitted to federally insured financial institutions falsified bank statements that fraudulently inflated deposits, falsified balance sheets that overstated revenues, and fabricated audited financial statements with forged signatures. Shah also engaged in monetary transactions with proceeds from the bank fraud.

Shah also submitted to a federally insured bank an application for a $441,138 loan guaranteed by the SBA that significantly overstated the payroll expenses of a company he controlled. In support of the loan application, he submitted to the lender several fraudulent IRS documents, which falsely represented that the company made payments to multiple individuals who had not received such payments. He also used stolen identities to carry out the fraud, using the names and taxpayer identification numbers of individuals that he knew had not received payments from the company in the PPP loan applications.

In addition, Shah signed and caused to be submitted to the lender what purported to be IRS Forms 941 representing his company’s quarterly payroll expenses for 2019. A comparison between the documents submitted to the lender and the company’s IRS and state tax filings revealed that Shah’s company reported significantly lower payroll expenses to the tax authorities.

Shah was convicted of seven counts of bank fraud, five counts of making false statements to a financial institution, two counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13. Shah faces up to 30 years in prison on each count of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, up to 10 years in prison on each count of money laundering, and up to two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

Sweeping ICE Operation Shows How Trump's Focus on Illegal Immigration is Reshaping Law Enforcement #OperationAtLarge

In mid-May, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, frustrated over what he saw as numbers of arrests and deportations of unauthorized immigrants that were too low, berated and threatened to fire senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials if they did not begin detaining 3,000 migrants a day, according to two sources who spoke to attendees.

Miller also threatened to fire leaders of field offices posting the bottom 10% of arrest numbers monthly, the two sources said.

Weeks later, ICE is launching the Trump administration’s largest immigration crackdown.

“Operation At Large,” a nationwide, ICE-led plan already underway to ramp up arrests of unauthorized immigrants, includes more than 5,000 personnel from across federal law enforcement agencies and up to 21,000 National Guard troops, according to an operation plan described to NBC News by three sources with knowledge of the personnel allocations who detailed the previously unreported plans.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Polo.

Drawing those numbers from other law enforcement agencies, though, has been a source of tension among some officials, who feel they have been taken off other core national security missions, according to three additional law enforcement and military officials. Like others interviewed for this article, they requested anonymity in order to share sensitive information.

It is the latest example of how President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations is reshaping federal law enforcement as officials shift resources toward immigration-related cases — including nonviolent administrative offenses — leaving less time and attention for other types of criminal investigations.

The plan calls for using 3,000 ICE agents, including 1,800 from Homeland Security Investigations, which generally investigates transnational crimes and is not typically involved in arresting noncriminal immigrants; 2,000 Justice Department employees from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration; and 500 employees from Customs and Border Protection. It also includes 250 IRS agents, some of whom may be used to provide information on the whereabouts of immigrants using tax information, while others would have the authority to make arrests, according to the operation plan.

The Department of Homeland Security has also requested the use of 21,000 National Guard members to provide support in ICE operations, according to two additional sources familiar with the request, though that number has yet to be approved by the Defense Department or by governors who would be deploying their state’s units, multiple sources cautioned.Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, responding to the Miller meeting, said, “Keeping President Trump’s promise to deport illegal aliens is something the Administration takes seriously. We are committed to aggressively and efficiently removing illegal aliens from the United States, and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources necessary to do so. The safety of the American people depends upon it.”

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Under Secretary Noem, we are delivering on President Trump’s and the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and make America safe.”

More than a dozen current and former law enforcement sources described other changes inside federal law enforcement driven by the Trump administration’s focus on immigration.

At the FBI, where it was once unusual for special agents to go on immigration-related law enforcement operations, according to multiple current and former law enforcement officials, field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to assist with ICE operations to arrest people on administrative immigration warrants.

Misdemeanor cases for border crossings are regularly appearing in federal court, a rarity in recent years. Justice Department teams focused on other issues are being disbanded, with members being dispersed to teams focused on immigration and other administration priorities. And prosecutors say cases without immigration components have stalled or are moving more slowly, according to documents seen by NBC News and conversations with six current and former prosecutors and a senior FBI official, who described how immigration is now a central part of discussions around whether to pursue cases.

“Immigration status is now question No. 1 in terms of charging decisions,” an assistant U.S. attorney said. “Is this person a documented immigrant? Is this person an undocumented immigrant? Is this person a citizen? Are they somehow deportable? What is their immigration status? And the answer to that question is now largely driving our charging decisions.”

At least one U.S. attorney’s office abandoned a potential federal prosecution of someone who prosecutors felt was dangerous because the case against the person lacked an immigration component, an email obtained by NBC News showed. The office instead left the case to state prosecutors.

Reorganizing federal law enforcement to prioritize immigration could have sweeping long-term effects on the U.S. justice system. The Trump administration set early quotas for immigration arrests and has marshaled resources to go far beyond early statements about focusing only on deporting violent criminals, as well as invoking laws that have not previously been used for immigration enforcement, like the Alien Enemies Act. Prioritizing immigration also means shifting finite resources in ways that de-prioritize other cases. Last month, FBI field offices around the country shifted agents from other beats to immigration enforcement, according to current and former FBI officials and memos obtained by NBC News. A senior FBI official wrote in a memo to bureau managers that the Justice Department “expects a significant increase in the number of agents participating in immigration enforcement operations.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that “immigration security is national security,” pointing to the Egyptian national accused of launching an antisemitic attack in Colorado on Sunday. The man entered the United States on a valid visa before he filed for asylum, after which the visa expired. Jackson argued the administration’s moves to prioritize immigration enforcement will not carry an opportunity cost.

“Enforcing our immigration laws and removing illegal aliens is one big way President Trump is ‘Making America Safe Again.’ But the president can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Jackson continued. “We’re holding all criminals accountable, whether they’re illegal aliens or American citizens. That’s why nationwide murder rates have plummeted, fugitives from the FBI’s most wanted list have been captured, and police officers are empowered to do their jobs, unlike under the Biden Administration’s soft-on-crime regime.”

(Falling murder rates predate the second Trump administration, with rates rising during and immediately after the Covid pandemic before dropping in each of 2022, 2023 and the first half of 2024, according to FBI data.)

Still, federal law enforcement officials who spoke to NBC News said the increased focus on cases with an immigration angle is pulling resources from other law enforcement priorities. “There is such a priority on making immigration arrests that it takes longer to get answers on anything else. Something that used to be resolved in a matter of days now takes weeks,” a law enforcement official said.

The shift in resources affects not only the type of cases taken but also the type of personnel involved in immigration raids. The FBI is almost always the agency leading the charge in joint investigations, but it has traditionally avoided getting involved in enforcement operations that involve only immigration enforcement, current and former officials confirmed.

Those operations, which are led by ICE, involve noncriminal administrative removal warrants for immigration offenses, not the type of criminal warrants the FBI typically serves, three officials said.

Since Trump took office, the FBI has routinely joined ICE operations. Some FBI employees have received guidance to minimize the actions they take during immigration-related raids and, particularly, to avoid entering into homes when they join ICE operations, four current and former law enforcement officials said.

The Trump administration is also deliberating over creating a task force led by a senior leader from the Department of Homeland Security and a senior leader from the Justice Department, according to an undated draft implementation guide reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the deliberations. It is unclear whether that version is the most current draft under consideration.

The Homeland Security Task Force would work in the FBI and ICE field offices across the country to “identify and target for prosecution transnational criminal organizations engaged in diverse criminal schemes,” the draft said. It continues: “In addition to the prosecution of the above criminal violations, the mission of the HSTF is further to facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States.”

The draft plan raises questions about which additional federal resources could be pulled in solely to focus on immigration. It says the new task force would work with the National Counterterrorism Center, the U.S. intelligence community and the Pentagon to “assist with targeting and investigations.”

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether or when the shifting resources and reorganization will result in the Trump administration’s hitting its desired deportation numbers, like the 3,000-person daily quota Miller demanded in the mid-May meeting. ICE no longer posts comprehensive daily arrest statistics, but on social media, it has posted details of at least 350 arrests since May 26.

Thanks to Julia Ainsley

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Polo.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Over 2,400 Secret JFK Records Discovered by FBI, After President Trump Declassification Order #JFK

In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s order to declassify all remaining documents tied to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the FBI has uncovered 2,400 records related to the murder that have been largely kept secret over the past few decades.

JFK Motorcade in Dallas on 11/22/63

“In 2020, the FBI opened the Central Records Complex and began a multi-year effort to first ship and then electronically inventory and store closed case files from FBI field offices across the country,” a statement from the FBI to the Daily Beast read. “The resulting, more comprehensive records inventory, coupled with the technologic advances in automating the FBI’s record keeping processes, allows us to more quickly search and locate records.”

The JFK Assassination: Conspiracies and Coverups.

“The FBI conducted a new records search pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order issued on January 23, 2025, regarding the declassification of the assassination files of JFK, RFK, and MLK. The search resulted in approximately 2,400 newly inventoried and digitized records that were previously unrecognized as related to the JFK assassination case file,” the statement continued.

“The FBI has made the appropriate notifications of the newly discovered documents and is working to transfer them to the National Archives and Records Administration for inclusion in the ongoing declassification process.”

The discovery of the records, which are contained within 14,000 pages of documents, was first reported by Axios Monday. The outlet claimed that the records were never received by an initial board that was tasked with reviewing and disclosing them, and that the White House was made aware of their existence on Friday.

“This is huge. It shows the FBI is taking this seriously,” Jefferson Morley, the vice president of the largest online record source for Kennedy’s death in America, told Axios. “The FBI is finally saying, ‘Let’s respond to the president’s order,’ instead of keeping the secrecy going.”

The contents of the newly uncovered records remain secret and were not even seen by the three sources who first notified Axios of their discovery.

Trump repeatedly promised that he would declassify JFK’s assassination records throughout his 2024 campaign trail, and subsequently saw that promise through during his first week in office.

“Providing Americans the truth after six decades of secrecy,” the president’s Jan. 23 executive order, which also vowed to declassify documents pertaining to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, read.

JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters.

JFK was shot and killed in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. The investigation at the time concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine turned communist activist, killed Kennedy and acted on his own.

The case has long been a magnet for conspiracy theories, however.

The National Archives and Records Administration has claimed that 97% of the estimated 5 million pages tied to JFK’s assassination have been made public.

The 1992 JFK Records Act saw that all documents were supposed to be handed over to the JFK Assassination Records Review Board and then to the National Archives to ultimately be made completely public by 2017.

On the advice of the CIA, Trump blocked the full disclosure during his first term, something he’s since expressed regret over, while former President Joe Biden only green-lit a limited release of records.

Those in favor of keeping the JFK documents secret have argued that they risk exposing secret intelligence gathering systems used by officials.

Thanks to Yasmeen Hamadeh.

The Final Witness: A Kennedy Secret Service Agent Breaks His Silence After Sixty Years.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Colombian Narco Trafficker, Aldemar Soto-Charry aka "El Ingeniero", Sentenced for Conspiring to Import Thousands of Kilos of Cocaine into the U.S. #FARC

Aldemar Soto-Charry, 64, a highly ranked member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 78 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute thousands of kilos of cocaine for importation into the United States. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia, DEA Special Agent in Charge Eugene L. Crouch of the DEA Andean Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.

Soto-Charry, aka “El Ingeniero” (“the Engineer”), pleaded guilty on October 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine for importation into the United States and aiding and abetting in the same. As part of the plea agreement, Soto-Charry acknowledged he was accountable for engaging in a conspiracy on behalf of the FARC to transport over 1,000 kilos of cocaine on a regular basis to a Mexican cartel, ultimately knowing that the cocaine would be transported into the United States.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta ordered Soto-Charry to serve four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in 2018 the DEA commenced a targeted operation against large-scale drug traffickers in Colombia, including those connected to the FARC. In July 2018, the DEA learned that Soto-Charry had claimed that FARC leadership was exploring opportunities to launder proceeds of drug sales, including through the purchase of real estate in Panama. The DEA enlisted confidential sources (CS) to meet with Soto-Charry and his co-conspirators.

In October 2018, Soto-Charry was introduced to the CSs, one who posed as an individual with business connections in Panama and the other as a facilitator for large-scale drug transactions with the Mexican Gulf Cartel, which sought thousands of kilograms of cocaine for exportation abroad, including the United States. Soto-Charry detailed the FARC’s illicit business ventures, including laundering $10 million of cocaine proceeds through the construction of a medical clinic in Panama. Soto-Charry said he could organize drug deals using cocaine that was being processed at FARC-controlled cocaine laboratories in the jungles of Colombia. During a later meeting, Soto-Charry said the FARC could provide up to 2,000 kilograms of cocaine every few weeks.

Between October 3, 2018, and July 25, 2019, the CSs regularly met with Soto-Charry and his co-conspirators to discuss the details of a potential deal for significant quantities of cocaine. During the meetings, Soto-Charry discussed FARC-related drug trafficking activities, cocaine pricing, cocaine purity, drug trafficking routes out of Colombia, and other logistical matters related to large-scale cocaine sales. As part of these discussions, Soto-Charry’s co-conspirators ultimately helped deliver a five-kilogram sample of cocaine and discussed how to transport it to the United States.

Soto-Charry was arrested in Colombia on August 8, 2019, at the request of the United States, and extradited to the United States on August 8, 2024. In his plea agreement, he accepted responsibility for conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of cocaine. He has been in custody since the date of his arrest in Colombia.

His co-defendant Mauricio Mazabel-Soto was sentenced to 73 months in prison. Co-defendant Alfredo Molina-Cutiva received a sentence of 70 months in prison.

FARC and Al Qaeda: Convergence between terrorism and drug trafficking: Elements of convergence between terrorism and drug trafficking in a globalized world.

Friday, November 08, 2024

Aaron Hernandez: American Sports Story - The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother

Aaron Hernandez

The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother.

The unvarnished true story of the tragic life and death of Aaron Hernandez, the college All-American and New England Patriots star convicted of murder, told by one of the few people who knew him best, his brother.

To football fans, Aaron Hernandez was a superstar in the making. A standout at the University of Florida, he helped the Gators win the national title in 2008. Drafted by the New England Patriots, in his second full season with the team, he and fellow Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski set records for touchdowns and yardage, and with Tom Brady, led New England to Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. But Aaron’s NFL career ended as quickly as it began. On June 26, 2013, he was arrested at his North Attleboro home, charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd, and released by the Patriots. Convicted of first-degree murder, Aaron was sentenced to life in prison without parole. On May 15, 2014, while on trial for Lloyd's murder, Aaron was indicted for two more murders. Five days after being acquitted for those double murders, he committed suicide in his jail cell. Aaron Hernandez was twenty-seven years old.

In this clear-eyed, emotionally devastating biography—a family memoir combining football and true crime—Jonathan (formerly known by his nickname DJ) Hernandez speaks out fully for the first time about the brother he knew. Jonathan draws on his own recollections as well as thousands of pages of prison letters and other sources to give us a full portrait of a star athlete and troubled young man who would become a murderer, and the darkness that consumed him. Jonathan does not portray Aaron as a victim; he does not lay the blame for his crimes on his illness. He speaks openly about Aaron’s talent, his sexuality, his crimes and incarceration, and the CTE that ravaged him—scientists found that upon his death, Aaron had the brain of a sixty-seven-year old suffering from the same condition. Filled with headline-making revelations, The Truth About Aaron is a shocking and moving account of promise, tragedy, and loss—of one man’s descent into rage and violence, as told by the person who knew him more closely than anyone else.

The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Hank Muntzer Sentenced to Prison on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Insurrection and Attack of the US Capital on January 6, 2021

A Montana man was sentenced to prison this month, after he was previously convicted of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer, 55, of Dillon, Montana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb.

Muntzer was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, both felonies, following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the felonies, Judge Cobb also found Muntzer guilty of four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States, the government voluntarily moved pre-sentencing to dismiss Muntzer’s conviction on obstruction of an official proceeding. Judge Cobb sentenced Muntzer on one felony count of civil disorder and the four misdemeanors.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Muntzer traveled from Montana to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, with a group of friends in order to hear the former President’s speech. After the speech, Muntzer joined the crowd as they walked from the Ellipse to the restricted Capitol grounds. Muntzer entered into the restricted perimeter around the Capitol and made his way to the West Plaza. After other rioters had breached the scaffolding erected at the West Plaza’s north side, Muntzer joined the mob in surging up the northwest stairs before reaching the Upper West Terrace at approximately 2:35 p.m.

After reaching the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace, Muntzer recorded multiple videos in which he commented that he had passed “through all the tear gas” to “tak[e] the Capitol by storm.” From there, Muntzer entered the Capitol building via the Upper West Terrace Door at approximately 2:44 p.m.

Muntzer then proceeded through the Rotunda and toward the Senate Chamber. While in a hallway just outside the Old Senate Chamber, Muntzer joined other rioters in collectively pushing against law enforcement officers blocking the path to the Senate. Muntzer then entered the Rotunda by approximately 2:55 p.m. There, Muntzer joined other rioters in confronting a group of police officers blocking a doorway leading to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace. Muntzer positioned himself at the front of this crowd and joined in a collective effort to push back the officers, who had their backs to a set of stairs. The group’s collective pushes ultimately caused at least one police officer to fall down the stairs.

By approximately 3:03 p.m., police had begun attempting to clear the Rotunda of rioters and had established a line across the middle and instructed rioters to exit through the East Rotunda Door. However, the crowd of rioters, including Muntzer, resisted. Muntzer continued to resist police efforts to clear the Rotunda and was one of the very last rioters present in the area. Muntzer exited the Capitol building via the Rotunda Doors at approximately 3:22 p.m.

Muntzer was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 18, 2021.

In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the attack of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Friday, July 26, 2024

Mexican Drug Lord and Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Arrested along with Son of El Chapo, Joaquin Guzman Lopez #ElChapo #ElMayo #Sinaloa #Fentanyl

Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was arrested by U.S. agents Thursday after a high-ranking Sinaloa cartel member tricked him into flying to Texas, Mexican and U.S. officials said.

Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was on the same plane and also arrested upon landing, a Homeland Security Investigations official said.

Ismael Zambada, 76, co-founded the Sinaloa cartel three decades ago with the elder Guzmán. He leads a faction of the cartel that is considered the leading smuggler of fentanyl into the U.S.

Zambada thought he was going to inspect clandestine airfields in Mexico, but was instead flown to El Paso, Texas, where he and the younger Guzmán were taken into custody on the tarmac, the HSI official said. The joint operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been in the works for months, the official said.

The U.S. had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Zambada’s arrest.

It is the latest blow suffered by the Sinaloa cartel, which has been a top target for U.S. law enforcement. In January 2023, Ovidio Guzmán, another son of El Chapo, was arrested and later that year extradited to the U.S., where he faces drug charges. Néstor Isidro “El Nini” Pérez Salas, the top hit man for El Chapo’s children, was captured in November and extradited to the U.S. earlier this year.

El Chapo, a flamboyant drug lord known for his spectacular prison escapes, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison in 2019.

Unlike the elder Guzmán, Zambada was known for keeping a low profile. In Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state and the hometown of the cartel, Zambada was seen as a cartel elder who kept order and protected the city from the attacks of rival groups, residents said.

Joaquín Guzmán López is one of four brothers, including Ovidio Guzmán, who are known collectively as “Los Chapitos.” Authorities say that they were also top traffickers of fentanyl to the U.S. Ovidio Guzmán was seen as a pioneer of the fentanyl trade in Mexico.

While Joaquín wasn’t as known as his brothers, he had a $5 million reward for his capture and was seen as the brains behind the Chapitos financial operation. He knew the business much better than his flashier brother, Ovidio, who had “narco corridos,” or drug ballads, written about his exploits, authorities said.

U.S. prosecutors in February filed an indictment charging Zambada with conspiring to manufacture and distribute fentanyl with knowledge that it would be imported illegally into the U.S. He was previously charged with running a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to murder, money laundering and other drug-related crimes.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Thursday.

Zambada owns thousands of acres of farmland and cattle ranches in Sinaloa, and loves prize bulls, said Margarito Flores, once a Chicago pointman for Zambada and El Chapo. From 2005 to 2008, Flores and his twin brother distributed as much as 2½ tons of cocaine and 60 kilograms of heroin supplied by the Sinaloa cartel a month.

“Zambada was very careful about security and didn’t use cellphones,” said Flores, describing the drug lord as someone who eschewed jewelry and gave the appearance of being a simple rancher.

Flores, who after spending 12 years in prison now works with a consulting company called Dynamic Police Training, which teaches law-enforcement officers about how cartels smuggle drugs, says the apparent betrayal of Zambada will likely cause a wave of violence.

“I think it’s the beginning of the end of what was once the most powerful criminal organization in the world,” he said.

Thanks to Steve Fisher and Jose de Corboda.

Friday, June 07, 2024

Gambino Crime Family Targeted in Illegal Gambling and Loansharking Bust #NewYork #Mafia

The New York State Attorney General's Office unsealed an indictment on Wednesday charging 17 individuals, including alleged members of the notorious Gambino crime family, with participating in lucrative illegal gambling and loansharking operations.

The indictment alleges that the individuals were involved in a sports gambling operation that received over $22.7 million in illicit bets and a loansharking operation that brought in about $500,000 in usurious loans. The charges include enterprise corruption, criminal usury, and promoting gambling.

Among those arrested are alleged Gambino soldiers John Laforte, Anthony Cinque Jr., John Matera, and associates Edward Laforte, Frederick Falcone Sr., Giulio Pomponio, and Daniel Bogan.

Attorney General Letitia James stated, "Illegal gambling and loan sharking schemes are some of the oldest rackets in the mob's playbook. While organized crime may still be active in New York, today we are putting several Gambino family members out of business."

This indictment is the latest operation targeting alleged members and associates of the Gambino crime family, one of the most notorious criminal organizations in America.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through a Hitman's Eyes by Frank Cullotta & Dennis N Griffin

"The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster" is a riveting exploration of the tumultuous life of Tony Spilotro, the infamous mobster associated with the Chicago Outfit, told through the eyes of his former hitman, Frank Cullotta. Co-authored by Dennis N. Griffin, this collaboration provides a unique and authentic perspective on the organized crime scene, particularly during the era immortalized in Nicholas Pileggi's "Casino."

The Rise and Fall of a
Casino Mobster

The narrative commences with a vivid depiction of Spilotro's early life, tracing his ascent within the ranks of the Chicago Outfit. From his roots in the Windy City to his eventual dominion over the Las Vegas casino scene, the book unveils the complex layers of Spilotro's character. Frank Cullotta, intimately acquainted with Spilotro's world, shares an insider's view, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the dark underbelly of organized crime.

What distinguishes this book is its unapologetic tone. Cullotta, without reservation, lays bare the brutality and treachery inherent in the criminal underworld. The narrative is punctuated with anecdotes, personal reflections, and a palpable sense of remorse, providing readers with a multifaceted understanding of the choices made in the pursuit of power and wealth.

One of the book's notable strengths lies in its unflinching portrayal of the violence and ruthlessness of organized crime. Cullotta doesn't romanticize the mob lifestyle; instead, he underscores its grim reality. The visceral accounts of criminal exploits, orchestrated hits, and power struggles create a gritty and authentic atmosphere, immersing the reader in the high-stakes world of the Chicago Outfit.

The collaboration between Cullotta and Griffin seamlessly weaves together the broader historical context of organized crime in Chicago and Las Vegas with the personal narratives of Spilotro and Cullotta. This dual perspective enriches the narrative, offering a comprehensive understanding of the characters and the sociopolitical landscape that shaped their destinies.

Tony Spilotro emerges as a complex and enigmatic figure in the book. From his early days as a proficient enforcer to his pivotal role in overseeing the mob's operations in Las Vegas, the authors delve into the intricacies of his character. The narrative explores his relationships, alliances, and the factors that ultimately contributed to his downfall. Spilotro is portrayed not just as a ruthless criminal but as a man with strengths, weaknesses, and a magnetic charisma that left an indelible mark on those around him.

Cullotta's storytelling prowess is evident throughout the book. His first-hand accounts of criminal activities and the inner workings of the mob create an aura of authenticity. The narrative strikes a delicate balance, seamlessly alternating between action-packed sequences that propel the plot forward and reflective moments that humanize the characters, allowing readers to connect with their struggles and vulnerabilities.

While the book provides a gripping and immersive narrative, it also prompts ethical contemplation. By presenting the story without explicit moral judgments, the authors allow readers to form their own opinions about the characters and the consequences of their choices. This approach adds layers of complexity to the narrative, challenging readers to grapple with the ethical implications of the criminal lifestyle depicted.

In conclusion, "The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster" stands as a compelling and authentic exploration of Tony Spilotro's life and the intricacies of organized crime. Frank Cullotta's insider perspective, combined with Dennis N. Griffin's adept co-authorship, creates a narrative that is both informative and captivating. This book is a must-read for those fascinated by true crime and the historical landscape of organized crime in America, providing a nuanced portrayal of the individuals who shaped an era.

The Rise and Fall of a Casino Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story through a Hitmans's Eyes.

Friday, March 01, 2024

Vincent Ricciardo, AKA, Vinny Unions, a Reputed Mobster as a Captain in the Colombo Crime Family, Gets 4 years Prison for Extorting NYC Labor Union #NewYorkCity

A Mafia member was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in federal prison for his role in a long-running scheme in which he and others extorted funds from a New York City labor union, federal prosecutors said.

Vincent Ricciardo, a captain in Colombo crime family, was also ordered to pay $350,000 in forfeiture and $280,890 in restitution by a Brooklyn court judge.

Ricciardo, who is also known as “Vinny Unions,” pleaded guilty to racketeering last July for his participation in the labor union extortion as well as money laundering, loansharking, fraud and other mob schemes.

Lawyers for Ricciardo didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday.

Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of New York, said in a statement that the sentence holds Ricciardo “accountable” for his participation in a wide range of Mafia crimes.

“This prosecution represents our continued commitment to combatting organized crime and prosecuting the individuals who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of hardworking union members and their employers,” he said.

The extortion scheme involved death threats, phony payments and other hallmarks of Mafia-type shakedowns seen in movies.

Prosecutors say it started in 2001, when Ricciardo started squeezing a senior official with a Queens-based construction union to fork over a portion of his salary.

Russo and other Colombo leaders then concocted a plan to force the union to make decisions beneficial to the crime family, including driving contracts to vendors associated with the family, prosecutors said.

In one recorded conversation, Ricciardo even threatened to kill the union official in front of his family if he didn’t comply.

“You laugh all you want pal, I’m not afraid to go to jail,” he said, according to prosecutors.

Ricciardo is the tenth defendant sentenced in connection with the union scheme, according to Peace’s office. Four others still await sentencing.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Inside by Scott Hoffman #TheChicagoOutfit #TheChicagoWay #Mafia

Inside, by Scott M. Hoffman is an intriguing work detailing the internal workings of the Outfit, an organized crime family, which originated on the South Side of Chicago during prohibition and rose to power in the 1920s. The Outfit has been involved in a wide variety of criminal activities including gambling, loan-sharking, prostitution, drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, labor racketeering, adult and child pornography, political corruption, and murder. The individuals and events in Inside are composites of real people and real events.

Inside, begins in 1956 with Jimmy Williams, a 47-year-old man with two families-his wife and two children and the Outfit. He's a good man, a good husband, and a good father, while, at the same time, he is a physically powerful man who is well respected as a consigliere in the Outfit. He keeps his two lives separated, to the point his wife is unaware of what he does.

The story is written from the perspective of Jimmy's son Bobby who, from the age of 8 begins to accompany his father on Outfit business. Jimmy wants him to know what "the life" is like in order for Bobby to decide if this is the future he wants for himself. Take this remarkable journey with Bobby. Will he follow in his father's footsteps or choose another path?

Inside by Scott Hoffman.

Inside by Scott M. Hoffman

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Crypto Gambinos - Redefining NFT Projects with a Touch of Mafia Culture #Crypto

Crypto Gambinos
NFT Projects with a Touch of Mafia Culture

Crypto Gambinos, an innovative NFT project merging Web3 technology with the allure of Mafia history and movies, is poised to become the next big phenomenon in the crypto space. With its unique concept and ambitious roadmap, Crypto Gambinos is not just about NFTs; it's about building a thriving ecosystem for its community.

Inspired by the Mob/Mafia culture, Crypto Gambinos aims to offer more than just NFTs. The project's developer, driven by a passion for Web3 and Mafia lore, envisions a comprehensive ecosystem that includes its own token and casino. The $TOKEN will serve as a governance tool for community decisions and as an in-game currency within the family's businesses, such as online games.

One of the standout features of Crypto Gambinos is its commitment to rewarding token holders. A percentage of profits generated by the family's businesses will be distributed among token holders as dividends. Additionally, selling tokens incurs a tax, mimicking the concept of leaving the Mafia, with proceeds going back into the family trust for redistribution.

The project has already achieved significant milestones, including the launch of its website, social media channels, and community platforms. Currently, it is focused on Phase 2 of marketing and the highly anticipated reveal of the $TOKEN. Future plans include a token airdrop for all NFT holders and the initiation of voting for the family's first business venture.

What sets Crypto Gambinos apart is its self-sufficiency and determination. With a team running their own bitcoin exchange and proudly self-funded, the project exudes strength and independence. The community-driven approach ensures that decisions are made collectively, further reinforcing the project's vision and values.

As Crypto Gambinos continues to unfold its roadmap and engage its community, it invites crypto enthusiasts and NFT collectors to join the family and be part of a revolution in the digital space

Thursday, February 15, 2024

The Biden Crime Family: The Blueprint for Their Prosecution by Rudy Giuliani

The Biden Crime Family, is a short, engaging description of the evidence that supports the case that President Joe Biden and his family are deeply corrupt. They are so corrupt that when former New York mayor and US attorney Rudy Giuliani first stumbled across evidence of what they were doing in Ukraine, it reminded him of his experience prosecuting the five mafia families that used to run New York.

Joe Biden began to seek enormous bribes and payouts when he became vice president. In every situation where he was the point man for the Obama administration’s policy toward a country, he ended up making millions of dollars, and failing to obtain whatever the US policy goal was.

In these endeavors, Joe’s drug addicted younger son, Hunter, worked with him. Hunter was the “bagman.” You can question whether it was loving or even decent for a politician to use his dysfunctional son in this matter. But it happened. Joe’s brother James also served as a bagman, sometimes working with Hunter. Other family members participated as needed.

When Joe was made the point man for Ukraine—with the special mission of cleaning up Ukrainian corruption so deep that it had left the country almost bankrupt—he did nothing to help. Instead, he had Hunter placed on the board of Burisma, an energy and gas company at the center of some of Ukraine’s most corrupt government dealings. Hunter took home a million a year to do nothing. The rule was “ten percent for the big guy.” Hunter has complained about how half his income went to dad.

The same and worse happened with Joe in China and Iraq. The Biden Crime Family, displays the evidence clearly—and makes the kind of case that should get a conviction on Biden family corruption.

The Biden Crime Family: The Blueprint for Their Prosecution.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Is Al Capone Still the Most Famous Mobster Ever?

With the 125th anniversary of Al Capone's birth upon us on January 17, the legacy of the notorious American gangster remains a subject that intrigues both Hollywood producers and novelists to this day.

Capone, who gained notoriety in the "Roaring Twenties" as the co-founder and boss of the Italian-American organized crime syndicate known as the Chicago Outfit, has been described by some as Prohibition's Robin Hood, as he donated some of the money from his illegal activities to charities. He also stood apart from other gangsters by being very present in the public eye, chatting with reporters and throwing big parties all while participating in illegal activities. But like many criminal figures from the past, the dastardly yet charismatic gangster divides opinion. Idolized by some, Capone was still responsible for "an empire of crime" in Chicago that was based on "gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, and murder," according to the FBI's website.

Who was Al Capone?

Born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Neapolitan immigrants, Alphonse Gabriel Capone came into contact with organized crime at an early age. As a teenager, he became a member of the "Five Points Gang" — a criminal street gang of primarily Irish-American origins, based in the Five Points of Lower Manhattan — where he would extort protection money (fees that criminals take from people in exchange for agreeing not to hurt them or damage their property).

Capone, however, quickly learned that violence alone would not ensure the lasting success of a criminal enterprise.

In 1917, the gangster Frank Gallucio pulled a knife across Capone's face in a bar after he made a crude comment to Gallucio's sister. The nickname "Scarface" was born, and Capone later made the attacker his bodyguard.

Shortly afterward, Capone shot his first man, got into trouble with an Irish gang and beat a mobster half to death with his own hands. Knowing he could not be caught again, he left New York for Chicago.

In his Chicago heyday from 1925 to 1929, Capone was reputed to be the most notorious mobster in the United States.

Capone, however, didn't see himself as a criminal but as an entrepreneur — one who was also known for acts of generosity with the wealth he had garnered as the boss of organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s. The Capone-led consortium boasted revenue streams that ranged from the illegal sale of alcohol to prostitution.

St. Valentine's Day Massacre

The 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre is described by the FBI as the "culminating violence of the Chicago gang era, as seven members or associates of the 'Bugs' Moran mob were machine-gunned against a garage wall by rivals posing as police."

Even though Al Capone was at his Florida home at the time, he was widely assumed to have been responsible for ordering the massacre.

He was never convicted of the murders but ultimately went to prison merely for the crime of tax evasion, ending his stint as a crime boss at the age of 33.

He served most of his time at the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary off the coast of San Francisco, before being released in 1939, by which time his mental capabilities had significantly deteriorated.

Al Capone died in 1947 of cardiac arrest after a stroke at the age of 48.

A figure of fascination

The infamous gangster left his mark not only on the streets of 1920s Chicago but also on 20th-century Hollywood through multiple mafia movies inspired by his life and crimes. The image of a mobster adorned with a pinstriped suit and tilted fedora can be traced back to images of Capone. His accent and mannerisms have also inspired numerous gangster portrayals in comics, films, popular music and literature.

For example, already in 1931, for the film "Little Caesar," actor Edward G. Robinson spent time at an Al Capone trial to get a sense of his body language as inspiration for his role as a hoodlum who ascended the ranks of organized crime.

Capone appears in a segment of Mario Puzo's crime novel "The Godfather" (1969), which was turned into a celebrated film by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. He was the inspiration for Armitage Trail's "Scarface" (1929), a novel that was also adapted into two movies over the years.

The Brian De Palma-directed masterpiece "The Untouchables" is another notable drama inspired by Capone's story. With Robert de Niro in the role of the gangster, the film is based on how Treasury agent Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner, brought down the notorious Chicago mobster.

More recently, the 2020 movie "Capone," starring Tom Hardy in the lead role, also chronicled the life of the man who ruled an empire of crime.

The fascination surrounding Al Capone continues 125 years after his birth.

His story embodies not only the American Dream — the immigrant son going from rags to riches — but also the ambivalence of American culture during Prohibition, an era characterized by both puritanical restraint and excessive consumption. And those contrasting historical features are still part of the country's culture to this day.

Thanks to Deutsche Welle.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

More than 200 Reputed Members or Associates of the 'Ndrangheta, Italy’s Most Powerful and Richest Crime Syndicate, were Convicted in the Country’s Largest Mafia Trial in Decades.

Italy’s largest mafia trial in decades concluded yesterday with the conviction of more than 200 people accused of being part of, or collaborating with, the country’s most powerful and richest crime syndicate, the ‘Ndrangheta.

Former law-enforcement officials, politicians and businessmen were found guilty of offenses related to organized crime, including drug smuggling, money laundering and extortion, after an almost three-year trial.

The 3 judge panel announce the verdicts in the 'Ndrangheta Mafia Trial

The verdicts mark a turning point in the pursuit by Italian authorities of the ‘Ndrangheta, which—though lower-profile than the Sicilian mafia—has built itself into one of the world’s most formidable drug-trafficking syndicates. The group controls over 80% of Europe’s cocaine trade and its interests extend to the Americas, Africa and Australia, according to prosecutors, who estimate its annual revenue to be $55 billion.

Italian prosecutors have jailed important members of the Sicilian mafia since the 1990s, but have until recently had little success infiltrating the ‘Ndrangheta, which is largely made up of decentralized families with deep loyalties and no obvious leading clan.

Ahead of the trial, prosecutors said that the deliberate targeting of the group’s leadership was crucial to hampering their operations. Prosecutors also sought to expose how the group has penetrated politics and business. Still, with an estimated membership of more than 20,000 people, elimination of the criminal network remains an elusive goal.

Earlier this year in a separate operation, police in Italy, Germany and Belgium arrested around 200 people linked to the ‘Ndrangheta, following an investigation that spanned 10 countries. Investigators on that case said they confiscated 23 tons of cocaine with an estimated retail value of around €2.5 billion, equivalent to $2.7 billion. Italian police said they expect those arrests to disrupt the group’s activities in Europe temporarily.

In the court case that ended Monday, more than 320 people stood trial in a specially built fortified bunker-style courtroom in Calabria, the southern Italian region where the ‘Ndrangheta is based. The three presiding judges stayed in a safe house under police protection while they deliberated their verdicts over the past month. Sentences ranged from 10 months to 30 years and can be appealed.

The trial included thousands of hours of testimony and more than 50 former mafiosi who testified for the prosecution.

In one of the most high-profile convictions, the judges handed an 11-year prison sentence for mafia collusion to Giancarlo Pittelli, a lawyer and member of the Forza Italia political party founded by Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant former prime minister who died earlier this year. Prosecutors had sought a 17-year sentence, describing Pittelli as one of the key links between the ‘Ndrangheta and the world of politics. Pittelli and his lawyers couldn’t be reached to comment.

Domenico Bonavota, who received a maximum 30-year prison sentence, told the court during the trial that he was “disgusted by the ‘Ndrangheta” and not a member. “I’m not part of any organized crime group,” he said. Prosecutors accused him of having reached a level within the organization known as “gospel.” Bonavota said in court that the only gospel he knew he had studied as a child during catechism. He couldn’t be reached to comment.

Most of the defendants have been in pretrial detention since December 2019, when thousands of law-enforcement officers took part in one of Italy’s biggest-ever crackdowns against organized crime. The arrests followed a nearly four-year investigation led by Nicola Gratteri, a Calabria native who has spent years fighting the ‘Ndrangheta and has himself become one of the group’s targets.

Thanks to Eric Sylvers.