Feds Make Record Mob Sweep
According to Wall Street Journal’s online news website, federal authorities arrested more than one hundred individuals connected to five mafia syndicates. The five crime families involved in the arrests were the Gambinos, Genoveses, Bonannos, Lucheses and Colombos. The highest ranking members arrested included a boss, acting under boss, a street boss, two consiglieres and one administrator. Various Northeastern states were involved in the arrests: New York, Rhode Island and New Jersey. The suspects are being charged in 16 indictments for their affiliations and activities performed as members of La Costra Nostra. The crimes committed by the suspects included a defrauding scam, loan-sharking, murder, gambling, etc. The suspects are reported to have an assortment of aliases that have become popularized by media portrayals. The monikers included Meatball, Jimmy the Whack, and Vinnie Carwash. Jeffery Lichtman, an attorney who represented John Gotti Jr., claims that the government’s boasting of making an impact on mafia activity are exaggerated. He claims that a significant portion of the indictments are based on old accusations being presented as new. Professor Howard Abadinsky of St. John’s University stated that these types of mass arrests, especially of top figures, creates opportunities for new criminals to continue where the suspects left off.
Personally, this new story is an incredible account of the ongoing struggle to restrain the impact of criminal organizations. This article brings to life the fact that mafia organizations have continued to influence and evolve over the past few decades. Even in spite of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as the popularity of mafia culture in media, underground criminal organizations continue to thrive in modern times.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704881304576093730782661452.html
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