Cja
384 Organized Crime Group Analysis (Intro)
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.
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/218555.pdf
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