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Period: to
American Mafia Rule
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Capone Controls liquor operations
By this date, Al Capone had taken control of Chicago's entire illegal liquor operations, in the midst of the prohibiton era, when the govenment put a total ban on the manufacturing, selling and transportation of alcohol. -
St. Valentine's Day Massicre
The murder of 7 notable mob members in the prohibition era. The conflict was between two of the most powerful criminal gangs in chicago lead by Al capone and Bugs Moran. -
Commence of the Castellammarse War
1929, Castellammarse War begins, which was a power struggle to control Italian-American Mafia between partisans of Joe "The Boss" Masseria and those of Salvatore Maranzano. It was an important date because it was one of the first major battles between families of the era which was apparent around the country, -
New York new hub of mafia
By the end of the 1920s, New York became the new 'hub' of mafia business and organised crime. -
Capone Jailed
Following the St. Valentine's day massicre, Al Capone was indicted and jailed for tax avasion, putting an end to his powerful control over the mafia at the time. -
The Commission made
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, established 'the commission, a place for the representatives from the main five families of the mafia in new york and other families across the US, to meet and they would settle disputes between each other and peacefully talked out their issues. -
Conclusion of the Castellammarese War
Maranzano's faction won, making him the apparent boss of bosses, having the ablility to control other families over the U.S. Maranzano was soon murdered however, and Lucky Luciano established the Commission. (see 'the commission') -
Prohibition seized.
When alcohol ceased to be prohibited in 1933, the Mafia diversified its money making emthods into such activities as: illegal gambling operations, loan sharking, extortion, protection rackets, drug trafficking, fencing, and labor racketeering through control of labor unions. -
Attempt to combat organised crime in New York
In June 1935, New York Governor Herbert H. Lehman appointed U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Dewey as a special prosecutor to combat organised crime in New York City. It was one of the first attempts to control the Luciano family. (Lucky Luciano) -
Lucky Luciano Convicted
On July 18, 1936 Lucky Luciano is sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison for compulsory prostitution. -
Frank Costello take over of luciano family.
After Lucky Luciano's conviction, Frank Costello took over as acting boss of the luciano family. -
John Gotti - Birth
John (joe) Gotti was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. (one of the 5 main families in New York) -
Sammy 'the bull' Gravano is born
Sammy the Bull later to be one of the bosses of one of the main New York Mafia Families, The gravano family. (born March 12, 1945) He would cooperate with the FBI in the 90's to bring down New York's biggest bosses. -
Luciano released
In 1946 Luciano was deported from the U.S to Italy, never to to return again. From italy, he became a vital middle man between 'la casa nostra' (the american mafia organisations) and siscilian mafia organisations. -
Declaration of Mafia by Sennate
In 1951, the U.S sennate declared that a "sinister criminal organization" known as the Mafia operated in the nation. The most official recognisation nationally. -
Genovese takes over from Frank Costello and Luciano name.
Costello led the family for approximately 20 years until May of 1957, when Vito Genovese returned from Italy after fleeing to italy away from a muder charge. At the time when Frank Costello took over, Vito Genovese was the supposed next in charge (an under boss) Genovese took control of the family by attempting to kill costello, however he survived, but handed the control of the family over. -
New York Police arrest major bosses
The New York Police uncovered a meeting of major Boss and mafia family figures from around the country in the small upstate New York town. Many of the attendees were arrested. The event changed the way law enforcement battles organized crime. -
Genovese imprisoned
In 1959, genovese goes to jail off the back of a conviction of conspiracy to violate narcotics laws, recieving a 15 year jail sentence. He continued to control the now genovese family from his jail cell. -
Lucky Luciano Death
Charlie "lucky' Luciano dies. he had control over the drug trafficking supplying heroin from the rest of the world (Europe, Africa, ect) to the U.S., Luciano was the first boss of the Luciano Family which later became the Genovese crime family. Founder and Chairman of the Commission Hitman, Bootlegger, and also worked closley with Al Capone. -
Joe Valanchi Squeels - Omerta secrecy broken.
In 1963 a mobster by the name of Joe Valanchi revealed the presence of the Omerta law (the oath or code of silence to never talk to the authorities0 to congress, Thus breaking this vow of secrecy. He did so to avoid a jail term to which the law enforecement authorities were then of the knowledge of such a strong organisation. Valanchi was the first known mobster to reveal this law of the american mafia, breaking the code, which then further lead to other mobsters snitching to avoid sentences. -
Joe Gotti imprisoned
Joe Gotti sent to jail by the FBI for attempting to steal thousands of dollars worth of 'merchandise' -
Death of Genovese
Vito Genovese, head of the genovese family, dies in his jail cell. -
RICO act enacted
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act which is a law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. In the 1970s, it was used to prosecute many members of the mafia in new york and chicago. -
Joe Gotti Released from jail
Released from jail after serving his sentence after attempting to steal thousands of dollars of merchandise. -
“Our job is to run the unions.” Gambino family speaks up
Circa early 1980's, former Gambino Family Boss Paul Castellano was overheard saying, “Our job is to run the unions.” (linked back to the organised crime running the unions.) -
The 'Pizza Connection Trail"
The trial began on September 30, and still stands as the longest criminal trial in america's history. It was revealed that a number of the defendents involved used independantly owned pizzerias to operate drug operations, shipping heroin and cocaine around america, then collecting the money and sending it to main organisations in Italy, -
Major Unions Dominated by organised crime.-labour racketeering
In 1986, the President’s Council on Organized Crime reported that five major unions—were dominated by organisd crime. These included the Laborers International Union of North America ect. This showed the sheer power of organised crime through hat was thought as trustworthy organisations. -
Conlcusion of 'The pizza Connection" trial
March 2, 1987, the pizza connection trial concludes, after all but 1 of 22 defendents of the mafia are charged and convicted using the RICO act. -
Sammy Gravano Cooperation with Goventment
Sammy Gravano agrees to cooperate with the FBI and turn state's evidence in 1991, he helped the FBI convict top Mafia leaders in New York. (wiki) -
Gotti Convicted and jailed
Joe Gotti is convicted is credited to Sammy Gravano, when he testified in court for the prosecution against Gotti after hearing Gotti on wiretap make several disparaging remarks about Gravano and questioning his loyalty. (wiki) Gravano was convicted of 5 murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loansharking. He is sentenced to life in prison. He dies in 2002 of throat cancer.
