The Gambino Crime Family
The Gambino Crime Family
Organized Crime CJA/393
William Nelson Barnes
May 30, 2008
The Gambino Crime Family Criminal groups exist everywhere. However what defines each organized crime group depends upon what ultimate goal each group looks to achieve. In New York City, there has been organized crime in existence since the 1900’s. Although changing names, and rulers throughout the years, this group has always been known as the mafia. Predominantly, it has been known as the Italian mafia. Italian mafia just like it’s counterparts in the Irish and Jewish mafia underwent structural, social, and physical changes in order for it to reach its current status. Many people believe it has existed as long as it has due to the ingenious leadership structure, activity operations and command of the man named Carlo Gambino. By definition organized crime is “having a formal group of people to coordinate and carry out illegal activities” (Webster, 2007). In New York such a group is known as the mafia. The term mafia is not an actual organization in itself but rather an umbrella term used to describe Italian/Sicilian heritage groups. The term is often a non stated subtle reference to illegal activity. It lends an immediate mental picture of the Gambino crime family and everything it represents. The Gambino crime family is one of the most notorious gangs in the American mafia and was named after an infamous boss, Carlo Gambino. It all started in 1913 when a man Joe Masseria took over a gang of Italians known as the Morello Gang (Bruno, 2007). Another man known to be infiltrating the city from Sicily, Salvatore Maranzano, became a thorn in the side of Masseria. With two dueling leaders of two different groups in New York, the city became an open wound for the men of these groups to overthrow the dictatorship. In 1931, an underling of Masseria, known as Lucky Luciano created his own fate by arranging for the murder of Masseria while playing cards at a Coney Island
Organized Crime CJA/393
William Nelson Barnes
May 30, 2008
The Gambino Crime Family Criminal groups exist everywhere. However what defines each organized crime group depends upon what ultimate goal each group looks to achieve. In New York City, there has been organized crime in existence since the 1900’s. Although changing names, and rulers throughout the years, this group has always been known as the mafia. Predominantly, it has been known as the Italian mafia. Italian mafia just like it’s counterparts in the Irish and Jewish mafia underwent structural, social, and physical changes in order for it to reach its current status. Many people believe it has existed as long as it has due to the ingenious leadership structure, activity operations and command of the man named Carlo Gambino. By definition organized crime is “having a formal group of people to coordinate and carry out illegal activities” (Webster, 2007). In New York such a group is known as the mafia. The term mafia is not an actual organization in itself but rather an umbrella term used to describe Italian/Sicilian heritage groups. The term is often a non stated subtle reference to illegal activity. It lends an immediate mental picture of the Gambino crime family and everything it represents. The Gambino crime family is one of the most notorious gangs in the American mafia and was named after an infamous boss, Carlo Gambino. It all started in 1913 when a man Joe Masseria took over a gang of Italians known as the Morello Gang (Bruno, 2007). Another man known to be infiltrating the city from Sicily, Salvatore Maranzano, became a thorn in the side of Masseria. With two dueling leaders of two different groups in New York, the city became an open wound for the men of these groups to overthrow the dictatorship. In 1931, an underling of Masseria, known as Lucky Luciano created his own fate by arranging for the murder of Masseria while playing cards at a Coney Island
References: Abadinsky, Howard. (2003). Organized Crime. Belmont, Ca: Thomson Wadsworth. Bruno, Anthony (2007). The Gambino Family. Retrieved August 5, 2007, from Crime Library Website: http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/family_epics/gambino/1.html. Grabianowski, Ed. (2007). How the Mafia Works. Retrieved August 2, 2007 from How Stuff Works, Inc. Website: http://people.howstuffworks.com/mafia2.htm. Ridgway de Szigethy, James. (2002 September). The Agony of Ecstasy: The Fall of Sammy Gravano and Peter Gatien. Retrieved August 4, 2007 from American Mafia Website: http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_237.html. Unknown. (1998). International Crime Control Strategy. Retrieved August 5, 2007 from Federation of American Scientists Website: http://fas.org/irp/offdocs/iccs/iccsviii.html.