Organized Crime Group Analysis In the past and still today the word of crime on occasion is greater than law enforcement, politicians, and governmental officials. These major players of these organized crimes could run a city however they choose to through criminal activity and manipulation. In the 1800s a secret society formed to unite Sicilian natives against invasion by France and Arabs. Fleeing from the hills of Italy to avoid attack Italians called the “Mafia” migrated to the United States in the 1920s.
The Mafia’s migration to New York City and other large cities in America to continue criminal activities were seen in the early 1920s. In one particular group called the La Cosa Nostra, LCN, mob, or the Mafia inhabited New York City’s metropolitan area. The LCN consist of a collection of Italian-American families of organized crime (Finckenauer, 2007). The La Cosa Nostra entails five families with its main headquarters in Italy. With each family’s organization resembling the structure of a hierarchy. Its hierarchical structure of organization provides protection along with its social structure protected by corrupt politicians and governmental officials.
“For nearly three quarters of a century, beginning during the time of Prohibition and extending into the 1990s, the LCN was clearly the most prominent criminal organization in the United States” (Finckenauer, 2007. P. 1). Bound by blood, oath, and conspiracy members are sworn to secrecy with a very complex and organized organization with strong political ties with dedication to practice crime and protect its members. As the organization began to grow so did its involvement in the drug syndicate, political corruption, and other illegal activities. La Cosa Nostra’s activities cover a wide range of illegal criminal activities. Criminal activities ranging from loan sharking, drugs, gambling, extortion, and murder; however, their biggest assets are gambling and drugs. The organizations operations along with its criminal activity cause scrutiny to the organizations operations in New York City; therefore, becoming top priority to the FBI and governmental officials (Finckenauer, 2007).
Reference
Finckenauer, J. O. (2007). La Costa Nostra in the United States.
