| Many people see two main divisions when they think | | | | organized crime in New York City which lasted |
| of crime: ordinary criminals, such as burglars and | | | | throughout the 1930s. It is during this time that Al |
| thieves, and organized crime. Although organized | | | | Capone (or Scarface) led the Chicago Outfit, one of |
| crime may not impact your day-to-day life, it is still | | | | the main Mafia crime families, and amassed a fortune |
| important to be aware of its existence and its impact | | | | reportedly over a hundred million dollars. Like many |
| on the world. | | | | Mafia kingpins, he was chased by the law for years, |
| The Mafia is perhaps the most well-known organized | | | | before he was finally caught for tax evasion. |
| crime group in the world today. The American Mafia, | | | | By this time, the Mafia is believed to have infiltrated |
| which is also known as Cosa Nostra, is an offshoot | | | | most of the major labor unions throughout the |
| of the Sicilian Mafia, an Italian criminal society. The | | | | country, particularly the Teamsters Union. Little of the |
| origins of the Mafia in Italy are believed to date back | | | | inner workings of the Mafia were known by |
| as far as the Middle Ages, when groups of wealthy | | | | outsiders, even law enforcement agencies, until 1963, |
| families controlled Sicily through their social standing. | | | | when Joseph Valachi became the first Mafia member |
| The organized crime group known as the American | | | | to provide a detailed look of the organization to the |
| Mafia first emerged at the end of the 1800s on the | | | | FBI. He exposed much of the secret structure of the |
| East Coast following a wave of immigration from | | | | mafia, including its ranking system and how Mafia |
| Southern Italy. | | | | members did business. |
| The first Mafia groups in America started in New | | | | According to the FBI and other agencies, the |
| York City, where gangsters would threaten | | | | American Mafia still has a significant level of control in |
| immigrants with extortion. By 1890, organized crime | | | | Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City, |
| had spread to New Orleans, where the Police | | | | among other major cities. Today, although the word |
| Superintendent was murdered, execution-style, | | | | 'Mafia' is used to refer to almost any forms of |
| allegedly by Mafia members. As organized crime grew | | | | organized crime, it is believed that there are about 26 |
| on this side of the ocean, the criminal activities | | | | major American Mafia families throughout the United |
| expanded from extortion to drugs and alcohol, | | | | States, as well as offshoot groups and associates in |
| robbery, kidnapping, murder, loan-sharking, and | | | | many smaller cities. The Mafia and its reputation have |
| dozens of other nefarious crimes. In 1920, prohibition | | | | been portrayed in movies, TV shows, books, and |
| resulted in a significant increase in alcohol sales and | | | | video games. It is believed that Cosa Nostra has is |
| related activities by the Mafia. | | | | hand in many major areas of crime, including labor |
| By the end of the 1920s, there were two main | | | | racketeering, gambling, corruption, drug trafficking, |
| factions of the Mafia in the United States. This | | | | pornography, tax fraud, and even stock manipulation. |
| caused a major mafia war for the control of | | | | |