T Le

pd. 7

1/12/06

Organized Crime in the US: the Gambino Family

The mob is known to work in mysterious and criminal ways. Experts say that about 18 million Americans at least 19 years old, are customers of legal and illegal services the mob provides. Companies owned by the mob have about 6 million employees. Although their vicious real-life occupations are so well-kept secret, mobsters may appear to be typical, everyday people. They run public businesses, own pizza restaurants, and shoot anyone they wish to.

Carlo Gambino came to the United States in 1921. He joined the mob as a "soldier"-- a low-ranking member or a new comer under Joe "The Boss" Masseria. At first being teased and ridiculed for his weakness, Gambino used that as a maneuver to get to the top. After the Castellammarese War in 1930, brothers Vince and Phil Mangano gained control over the organization. In 1951, Phil is murdered and Vince is assumed so. Albert Anastasia, also a member of the Mangano organization, decides to take over. He extends the organization's business into gambling, drug trafficking, and loan-sharking, which is a way to lend money illegally. During his reign as boss of the family, Anastasia's Murder, Inc. is believed to have killed 400 people. His madness turned some of the members doubtful. Anastasia member, Carlo Gambino, aided in the murder of Albert Anastasia after making a deal with Genovese, who disliked Anastasia. Anastasia is shot in a barber shop in 1957 by hitmen, and Carlo Gambino takes over from there.

Carlo Gambino fooled the world with his softness and warm smile. He sold Genovese out to the cops for charges of narcotics. He was a tricky man; the FBI and the CIA had let him slip right through their fingers so many times. For some reason, everytime he had to face trial or deportaion, he experienced heart attack or the need for hospitalization. Gambio unraveled Joe Bonanno's along with many others' plans to murder him, which considers him to be the most powerful don in the organized history of the United States. From 1957 to 1976, Gambino successfully ran the family business undercovers and made it profitable. His escape from jail and death and earned him an honorable name in mob history. He is the most infamous mobster, the most respectable don.

Gambino died of natural causes in a deathbed, not a jail cell. He chose his cousin and brother-in-law, Paul Castellano, but not his underboss to be his successor. Castellano did a great job of disappointing the family, he was not mobster material-- he seemed more like a businessman. The members of the family resented Castellano and his leadership; he was not one of them. Dellacroce (underboss of Gambino) was the only thing keeping Castellano alive, due to his promise with Gambino. Two weeks after Dellacroce's death, John Gotti assassinated Castellano. He then assumes position of new leader. Gotti was convicted of murder and racketeering and sentenced to life in prison. The descending line of Gotti leadership continued to some extent.

The Gambino family involved itself in rackets of gambling, loan-sharking, prostituion, narcotic-trafficking, counterfeiting, extortion, automobile theft, and much more businesses (some legal) that earned them life-time profits. In the 1970's, the Gambino family controlled most of the United States' porn empire via an associate by the name of Michael Thevis. It is believed that the Gambino family has 200 members, and maybe 800 associates. In the National Crime Syndicate, the Gambino family is considered one of the most powerful families. Of course, the family would not have been so without Carlo Gambino, the most powerful don and undefeatable legend.