The once-feared New York City mafia has deteriorated into a network of small-time crooks, informants, and aging wise guys, according to the New York Post.
The five reputed heads of the city’s crime families, Theodore “Teddy Boy” Persico of the Colombo family, Michael “Big Mike” DeSantis of the Luchese family, Barney Bellomo of the Genovese family, Mike “The Nose” Mancuso of the Bonanno family, and Lorenzo Mannino of the Gambino family are all currently out of prison, according to the outlet.
This week, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment in Brooklyn charging 31 defendants across 11 states in a high-tech poker cheating scheme allegedly run by La Cosa Nostra, with underground games in Manhattan where celebrity participation such as, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, were used to lure victims.
Experts explained to the New York Post,that the mob’s shift away from murder has helped it avoid federal crackdowns, but its members are now seen as less loyal, less competent, and far less wealthy than their predecessors.
“The mob is so watered down now,” one law enforcement source said, to the New York Post, adding that today’s wise guys are more likely to cooperate with authorities than take a fall for the family.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.