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The birth of the Five Families -

The formation of the Five Families can be traced back to the tumultuous period of the late 1920s and early 1930s when the Castellammarese War erupted between rival factions within the Italian-American underworld.

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The Castellammarese War -

The Castellammarese War was a violent power struggle for control of the American Mafia between the factions of Joe "The Boss" Masseria (pictured) and Salvatore Maranzano, lasting from February 26, 1930, to April 15, 1931.

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The Castellammarese War -

The conflict, named after Maranzano's hometown of Castellammare del Golfo in Sicily, took place in New York City. Masseria, a traditionalist who resisted change, found himself at odds with Maranzano, who sought to restructure the Mafia’s operations. 

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"The Commission" -

When Maranzano emerged victorious, he took control of the New York Mafia and established a new hierarchical system, dividing the city’s underworld into five distinct families. These were later named after their most infamous leaders: Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese.

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Omertà -

In the Commission’s early days, many members of the Five Families were immigrants from Italy, particularly Sicily. Some had ties to Sicilian crime families, who operated according to a code of honor known as omertà.

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The assassinations of Maranzano -

Maranzano’s reign, however, was short-lived. In 1931, he was assassinated on the orders of Charles “Lucky” Luciano (pictured), who then restructured the organization to ensure its longevity and efficiency.

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The Five Families structure -

Each of the Five Families operated with a strict hierarchical structure, maintaining order and secrecy. They had defined territories and a clear organizational hierarchy, reporting to the same governing entity. Pictured is Joseph “Joe Bananas” Bonanno.

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Mafia hierachy -

At the top was the boss, the supreme leader of the family. Below the big boss was the underboss, who handled day-to-day operations and was next in line for leadership. The consigliere served as an advisor, often acting as a mediator in disputes. 

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Mafia hierarchy -

Next were capos, or captains, who controlled various crews of soldiers, the backbone of the organization. At the lowest level were associates, individuals who worked for the Mafia but had not yet been formally inducted. Pictured is Meyer Lansky, who was known as the "Mob's Accountant."

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Family top dogs -

The Genovese Family had notable bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano, who led from 1931 to 1937, and Vito Genovese, who was in charge from 1957 to 1969. The Bonanno Family's notable leaders were Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno (pictured), who served from 1931 to 1964, and Joseph "The Ear" Massino, who led from 1991 to 2004. 

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Family top dogs -

For the Lucchese Family, Tommy Gagliano was the boss from 1931 to 1951, followed by Tommy "Three-Finger Brown" Lucchese, who led from 1951 to 1967. The Gambino Family had Carlo Gambino as a notable boss from 1957 to 1976 and John Gotti (left) from 1986 to 2002. 

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Family top dogs -

Lastly, the Colombo Family's notable bosses were Joseph "Olive Oil King" Profaci, who was in charge from 1931 to 1962, and Joseph Colombo (pictured), who led from 1963 to 1971.

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Taking care of business -

The families engaged in a variety of criminal enterprises, including loan sharking, extortion, prostitution, gambling, labor racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and contract killings. They infiltrated legitimate businesses, manipulated labor unions, and exerted control over industries.

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Keep quiet or pay lethal consequences -

Industries such as construction, trucking, and waste management were under the Mafia’s control. Their strict code of silence, known as “Omertà,” ensured that information about their operations remained within the organization, and betrayal was met with lethal consequences. Pictured center: John Gotti Jr.

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Fame -

For roughly four decades, the Five Families reigned supreme, their influence extending far beyond the criminal world. During this time, figures such as Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese (pictured), and Joseph Bonanno became household names, synonymous with power and organized crime.

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Ruling NYC -

The Mafia had deeply embedded itself in New York’s social and economic fabric, controlling major industries, bribing public officials, and intimidating rivals. The post-World War II economic boom provided fertile ground for expansion.

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Las Vegas ties -

Illegal gambling flourished, loan-sharking operations thrived, and Mafia-controlled unions dictated terms to businesses. The families also established strong connections to the Las Vegas casino industry, skimming millions in untaxed revenue from the growing gambling empire.

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The first whistleblower -

For years, law enforcement had struggled to penetrate the Mafia’s inner workings. That changed in 1963, when Joseph Valachi (right), a soldier in the Genovese crime family, became the first member to publicly testify against the organization.

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Joseph Valachi -

Appearing before a US Senate committee, Valachi provided a detailed account of the Mafia’s structure, rituals, and criminal activities. His revelations shocked the public and gave federal authorities a blueprint to dismantle organized crime.

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RICO Act -

While the testimony was a major breakthrough, it wasn’t until the passing of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in 1970 that the government gained a powerful legal tool to go after entire criminal enterprises. RICO allowed prosecutors to charge entire organizations with crimes, leading to a wave of convictions in the years that followed.

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The FBI -

The RICO Act's impact was further amplified by a shift in FBI strategy under Director William Webster and later Louis Freeh. Federal agents began aggressively targeting Mafia leaders using long-term surveillance, wiretaps, and informants. 

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Federal power shift brings down mob bosses -

This shift, along with the growing power of federal prosecutors, meant that even the most insulated bosses could no longer evade justice. Major figures like Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno of the Genovese family and Carmine "Junior" Persico of the Colombo family faced hefty prison sentences, effectively dismantling much of the old leadership.

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The Mafia Commission Trial of 1986 -

The RICO Act, combined with aggressive FBI crackdowns in the 1980s and 1990s, led to the arrest and conviction of many high-ranking Mafia bosses. One of the most high-profile cases was the Mafia Commission Trial of 1986, which resulted in the conviction of several top leaders from the Five Families. Pictured is Carlo Gambino in handcuffs.

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“The Teflon Don” -

Perhaps the most infamous Mafia figure of this era was John Gotti, the flamboyant boss of the Gambino family, who reveled in media attention and earned the nickname “The Teflon Don” after repeatedly avoiding conviction.

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Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano -

However, his luck ran out in 1992 when his underboss, Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, turned state witness, leading to Gotti’s conviction and life sentence.

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More betrayals -

By the late 1990s, the Five Families were further weakened by more internal betrayals. More mobsters than ever were flipping, providing authorities with firsthand accounts of criminal operations in exchange for leniency. The sacred code of Omertà was no more. 

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Modern day Mafia -

While the Five Families still exist in New York, they no longer wield the power they once did. The modern-day Mafia operates with far greater discretion, avoiding the high-profile violence and media attention that contributed to its downfall in previous decades. Pictured is Jimmy Hoffa.

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Mafia members today -

In the 21st century, Mafia families have had to adapt to survive. While traditional rackets such as loan sharking and extortion remain, there has been a shift towards cybercrime, stock fraud, and more subtle forms of financial manipulation. Pictured is Victoria Gotti, daughter of John Gotti.

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Mafia members today -

The Mafia today still maintains a presence in certain industries, particularly construction and waste management, but it operates in a much more fragmented and subdued manner than in its heyday. Their influence has been challenged by other criminal organizations, including Eastern European, Latin American, and Asian syndicates. Pictured are the grandchildren of John Gotti.

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The Mafia in popular culture -

The allure of the Mafia endures in popular culture, from classic films like 'The Godfather' and 'Goodfellas' to modern-day television shows such as 'The Sopranos.' These portrayals keep the mythology of the Five Families alive, ensuring their place in American history and imagination.

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New York's Five Families -

The story of New York’s Five Families is one of power, ambition, and eventual downfall. From their origins in the bloody gang wars of the 1920s to their heyday as the rulers of the city’s underworld, their influence was vast and undeniable. Pictured is Meyer Lansky.

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The demise of the empire -

Law enforcement continues to monitor and prosecute organized crime. As society evolved, the once-mighty empire crumbled.

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A lasting legacy -

While remnants of the Five Families remain, their time as the undisputed kings of New York’s underworld has passed, leaving behind a legacy of crime, corruption, and intrigue that continues to fascinate to this day.

Sources: (History) (Britannica) (Biography)

See also: Who are the most infamous mobsters and gangsters?

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