THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MAFIA
Episodes
THE MAFIA AND DRUG TRAFFICKING PART 2°
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The decision by major bosses such as Luciano, Adonis (Milan) and Coppola (Rome) to establish their homes far from Sicily, in large cities such as Napl...
THE MAFIA AND DRUG TRAFFICKING PART 1°
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before the rise of the Cosa Nostra, illegal drug trafficking in New York was mainly controlled by Jewish criminal organizations. Arnold Rothstein emer...
SAM TEETS BATTAGLIA
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Salvatore Joseph Battaglia, known as “Sam,” was born on November 5, 1908, in Chicago and was a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit mafia org...
TONI ACCARDO
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tony Accardo, nicknamed "Joe Batters" and "Big Tuna," is considered one of the longest-serving and most successful mob bosses in American history. His...
Frank Nitti
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
His official name in the United States was Frank Ralph Nitto, but after his birth in Italy on 27 January 1886, he was registered at the registry offic...
PAUL RICCA PART 2
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 1940s, Nitti convinced Ricca and the rest of the Outfit's management to extort money from film studios in Los Angeles, California . Chica...
PAUL RICCA PART 1
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Ricca whose real name was Felice De Lucia, of Italian descent, was born on November 14, 1897 in Naples , Campania, to Antonio and Maria Annunziat...
JOE VALACHI REVEALS THE SECRETS OF COSA NOSTRA PART 2°
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Valachi was the first “pentito” in the history of the Italian-American mafia, he was the first to reveal the name of Cosa Nostra to the world....
JOE VALACHI REVEALS THE SECRETS OF COSA NOSTRA PART 1°
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Valachi was the first “pentito” in the history of the Italian-American mafia, he was the first to reveal the name of Cosa Nostra to the world....
The McClellan Report
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Between 1963 and 1965, chaired by Democratic Senator John McClellan, the Senate Federal Government of the United States of America established the Sen...
Carlos Marcello Part 2
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carlos Marcello is much less well known to the public than infamous gangsters like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, or John Gotti. Yet he wielded far more po...
Carlos Marcello part 1°
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carlos Marcello is much less well known to the public than infamous gangsters like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, or John Gotti. Yet he wielded far more po...
The Trafficante Family in Florida - part 2°
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Trafficante always wanted to make it big in the Cuban casinos and in 1946 sent his son, Santo Jr., to Havana to run the Mafia casinos. However, even i...
The Trafficante Family in Florida - part 1°
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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John La Rocca
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the Pittsburgh Mafia family, until 1956, the leader of the Mafia family was Frank Amato. He ran it until he was struck by a kidney disease and was ...
The Pittsburgh Criminal Family
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the city of Pittsburgh, Italian criminals were divided into two factions: the "Sicilians" and the "Neapolitans". The territory within the city was ...
SANTO SORGE
28 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Santo Sorge was a powerful Sicilian mafioso residing in the United States. His exact role was never very clear to investigators. For scholars he was o...
THE APALACHIN SUMMIT
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the summit held in 1956 at the Hotel delle Palme in Palermo, another important meeting took place in 1957. This was the one that will be remembe...
THE SUMMIT AT THE HOTEL DELLE PALME -PALERMO
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE SUMMIR AT THE HOTEL DELLE PALME -PALERMOBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-the-american-mafia--47...
JOE PROFACI
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Profaci, born Giuseppe Profaci, is considered the first mafia boss of the Colombo mafia family of New York. Giuseppe Profaci was born in Villabate...
BANANA'S WAR
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From 1964 to about 1969, the last major war was fought in which a major Mafia crime family attempted to gain a position of supremacy over other organi...
JOSEPH BONANNO 2° Part
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 1962 Bonanno, after the death of Joseph Profaci, one of his most faithful friends and allies, from cancer, together with his successor Joe Magliocc...
JOSEPH BONANNO 1° Part
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joseph Bonanno, nicknamed "Joe Bananas" from a newspaper typo of the time, was a nickname he hated because it gave the idea that he was crazy. Bonanno...
VINCENT ALO
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
They called him "Jimmy Blue Eyes". Alo was a key figure in New York's post-Prohibition Genovese Mafia family. He served as a liaison between the Sicil...
CARLO GAMBINO
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Gambino mafia family was certainly among the most powerful of Cosa Nostra. The great success of the gang is due precisely to the charismatic Carlo...
ANTHONY STROLLO
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
According to FBI files, Anthony Strollo, also known as Tony Bender, was Vito Genovese's right-hand man. Strollo was one of the great protagonists of t...
FRANK CARBO
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-the-american-mafia--4722947/support.
GAETANO LUCCHESE
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gaetano Lucchese known as Tommy Gunn or Tommy Three Fingers Brown was a leading exponent of the American mafia. It is no coincidence that one of the f...
VITO GENOVESE
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vito Genovese was considered one of the most treacherous, double-dealing and ruthless mafia bosses of the American Mafia.Become a supporter of this po...
TOMMASO GAGLIANO
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tommaso Gagliano was certainly the godfather of the Bronx. We can define him as an inconspicuous if not even reserved character. He was also little kn...
GAETANO REINA
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gaetano Reina, known as Tom or Tommy, is considered one of the most powerful Mafia Bosses in New York. He worked in the 1910s and 1920s. It can be sai...
JOSEPH LANZA
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Giuseppe A. "Socks" Lanza. He was a mobster who controlled New York's syndicate rackets and a member of the Genovese crime family. He controlled the g...
LUCKY LUCIANO 5° PART
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lucky Luciano, the man who changed the mafia into the criminal organization we know today. This is part 5 of a 5 part series about Lucky, listen to al...
LUCKY LUCIANO 4° PART
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lucky Luciano, the man who changed the mafia into the criminal organization we know today. This is part 4 of a 5 part series about Lucky, listen to al...
LUCKY LUCIANO 3° PART
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lucky Luciano, the man who changed the mafia into the criminal organization we know today. This is part 3 of a 5 part series about Lucky, listen to al...
LUCKY LUCIANO 2° PART
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lucky Luciano, the man who changed the mafia into the criminal organization we know today. This is part 2 of a 5 part series about Lucky, listen to al...
LUCKY LUCIANO 1° PART
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Charles “Lucky” Luciano can be called the one who brought the Mafia to a far-reaching level of influence. He was considered by Time Magazine among...
JACK LEGS DIAMOND
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diamond's gang began working for Rothstein in various capacities as bodyguards and ensuring, with the use of firearms, that agreements were kept. Roth...
DUTCH SCHULTZ
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Arthur Simon Flegenheimer was born on August 6, 1902 in the Bronx, a populous neighborhood of New York. Known as Schultz the Dutch. He is the son of t...
VIRGINIA HILL
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Virginia Hill, the Alabama farm girl who became the queen of the mafia. She was born in Lipscomb, Alabama, on August 26, 1916. As a child, she and her...
MEYER LANSKY 3° PART
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meyer Lansky is one of the legendary figures of American organized crime. Lansky was a man of small stature: as a mature adult he measured 162 cm tall...
MEYER LANSKY 2° PART
21 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meyer Lansky is one of the legendary figures of American organized crime. Lansky was a man of small stature: as a mature adult he measured 162 cm tall...
MEYER LANSKY 1° PART
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meyer Lansky is one of the legendary figures of American organized crime. Lansky was a man of small stature: as a mature adult he measured 162 cm tall...
BUGSY SIEGEL 2° PART
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Benjamin Bugsy Siegel had a formidable intuition. He thought of transforming Las Vegas, a desolate city in the middle of the desert, into a gambling m...
BUGSY SIEGEL 1° PART
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The star of American mobsters who inspired characters on the big screen, a refined man welcomed in the inner circles of the stars who were proud to pr...
THE FIVE POINTS GANG
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
THE FIVE POINTS GANG: Considered the foundation of the American criminal organization known as Cosa Nostra, The Five Points Gang included some of thos...
ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The boss who inspired a character in 'The Great Gatsby' and was portrayed in the 'Boardwalk Empire' series. Who was Arnold Rothstein and what was his ...
FRANK COSTELLO 3° PART
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1931, after the deaths of Masseria and Maranzano, Lucky Luciano became the boss of what would become his own crime family. Vito Genovese became his...
FRANK COSTELLO 2° PART
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The turning point in the criminal career of Frank Costello but also of many criminals was dated January 17, 1920. This date coincides with the beginni...
FRANK COSTELLO 1° PART
25 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If there was ever a mobster who looked like a politician it is surely Frank Costello. It is no coincidence that he was nicknamed the minister of the u...
MICHEAL COPPOLA
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Coppola aka "Trigger Mike" Trigger Mike was a prominent criminal of the New York Mafia, with a reputation as a sadistic and violent killer. Up...
ALBERT ANASTASIA
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
His majesty the executioner was just one of his nick names. Who was one of the most ruthless and feared members of cosa nostra? listen all about it in...
VINCENT MANGANO
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the commission wanted by Lucky Luciano, VINCENT MANGANO was the representative of one of the five mafia families of New York, and he was from 1...
NICK GENTILE
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Gentile maintained the relationships and contacts between the various American mafia families, traveling from one end of America to the other. ...
THE BIG 7 GROUP
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who were the big seven group? And who do gansters of the period have to thank for being saved by this genious organization. Listen to “The big 7” ...
JOE ADONIS
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Among the most important collaborators of Lucky Luciano, the Italian-American Joe Adonis must undoubtedly be mentioned. Giuseppe Antonio Doto this is ...
WILLY MORETTI
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guarino Moretti, known as Willie, was born on February 24, 1894 in Bari, Puglia, Italy, and projected to the US state of New Jersey with his family. M...
COSA NOSTRA - THE BEGINNINGS
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When did the mafia criminal organization start calling themselves “cosa nostra” ? and who were the new leaders post prohibition ? listen to the ne...
MURDER INC
25 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The criminal organizations were doing so well that a joint stock company was founded to "keep business in order" so to speak. Hence the birth of murd...
ST VALENTINES MASSACRE
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The infamous massacre still remembered today that took place on St. Valentine's day considered one the most heinous crime acts of all times in Chicago...
AL CAPONE
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Al CAPONE? Listen to the true story about his life and how he became one of the most feared and respected names of the American Mafia, still t...
THE BEGINING OF THE CHICAGO MAFIA
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Chicago Mafia, known as The Outfit, is the only independent mafia organization, not controlled by the Cosa Nostra "Five Families" of New York. The...
THE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In May 1929 in a well-known location on the Atlantic coast, namely Atlantic City, there was a meeting of the members of the Big Seven Group and the mo...
LUCKY LUCIANO CREATES THE COMMISSION
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lucky Luciano thrives over Maranzano's death which leads to the beginning of "cosa nostra".Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.co...
THE DEATH OF MARANZANO
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maranzano devises a plan to eliminate Lucky Luciano and Genovese, but things take a nasty turn.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreake...
MARANZANO BOSS OF BOSSES
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The true story about The History of The American Mafia continues. In this episode we see how Maranzano takes over , proclaiming himself Boss of Bosses...
SALVATORE MARANZANO
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1927, he landed in America, at the age of 43, one of the most important protagonists in the history of the American mafia. He was a completely diff...
VITO BONVENTRE AND COLA SCHIRO' 'THE ORIGINS OF THE BONANNO FAMILY.
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Originally, the Bonanno mafia family was led by VITO BONVENTRE and COLA Schirò '. We have already dealt with the first talking about the case of the ...
SALVATORE D'AQUILA
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1910, after the arrest of the head of the bosses Giuseppe Morello and his brother-in-law Ignazio Lupo known as the wolf, for the crime of counterfe...
THE CASTELLAMARESE WAR PART 2
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After the death of Mineo Lucky Luciano had become one of the most important collaborators of Masseria. The first misunderstandings began between the t...
THE CASTELLAMARESE WAR PART 1
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Castellammarese War is an important stage in the history of the American mafia, since it coincides with the birth of a new form of organized crime...
THE CASTELLEMARESI MAGADDINO AND PALMERI
13 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the protagonists of the Castellammarese clan, and what led them to the war that characterized significantly the American Mafia.Become a suppor...
The Good Killers 2° parte
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Good Killers. Who were the Good Killers ? how did they operate? And who were their victims? Two podcasts, part 1 and part 2 from the series “The...
THE GOOD KILLERS PART 1°
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the history of the American mafia the sinister fame of the criminal group called the “Good killers” is still indelible. The gang was composed i...
JOE THE BOSS - GIUSEPPE MARANZANO
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we think of the "mafia" as a synonym for organized crime, in reality at the beginning the American mafia was not that organized. In the early 19...
MICHEAL FIASCHETTI
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the creation of these podcasts dedicated to the history of the American mafia we have given a lot of space to those who have fought against the mos...
THE PROHIBITION ERA
28 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Starting from the twenties, the underworld in the United States of America and consequently the Cosa Nostra changed drastically. The cause of all this...
THE BANANA SOCIETY PART 2/2
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The postal inspector Oldfield investigated the extortion report filed by the Italian-American merchant Giuseppe Amicone. Furthermore, thanks to a dire...
THE BANANA SOCIETY PART 1/2
06 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The cases we have dealt with related to the Black Hand happened in New York. But ignorance and fear and lack of collaboration all concerned the places...
THE FINAL MISSION
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Theodore Bingham had a secret plan to defeat the Black Hand. it was the development of Petrosino's idea, namely to stem the flow of criminals who emig...
THE ITALIAN BRANCH
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Petrosino was now aware that he was not just a simple employee of the New York Police Department. The policeman felt the responsibility. He probably b...
PETROSINO'S CASES
15 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to the crime of the barrel which we have extensively discussed in previous podcasts, there are so many cases to which the Italian-American...
JOE PETROSINO - THE BIOGRAPHY
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In many of the podcasts you have listened to, the name of one of the greatest policemen of all time often recurs, whose exploits are now remembered an...
THE MURDER OF THE BARREL - THE ARRESTS
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The head of the New York agency of services, William Flynn had expressly stated that the best way to proceed is to continue to keep an eye on the butc...
THE MURDER OF THE BARREL THE ANONYMOUS LETTER
05 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the arrests carried out by the New York Police Department against members of the Morello gang, the investigations into the crime of the barrel...
THE MURDER OF THE BARREL THE FIRST INVESTIGATION
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in EmThe case of the murder of the barrel passed to Detective Sergeant Arthur Carey. He was the first investiga...
THE MURDER OF THE BARREL.THE GRUESOME DISCOVERY.
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in Em. On April 14, 1903, a barrel with the body of a man came to New York on East 11th Street. The victim had ...
THE MORELLO TRIAL
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in Em. With most of the Morello gang members effectively detained, the trial date was set for January 26, 1910 ...
THE ARRESTS
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once the secret service agents had a clear idea of the organization that dealt with the counterfeiting and the sale of fake dollars, they began ...
THE SECRET SERVICE'S INVESTIGATIONS
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the summer of 1909, the secret services received complaints from banks and shop owners for the large amount of counterfeit currency injected. initi...
COUNTERFEIGHT IN HIGHLAND (2° part)
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In January 1909, media were procured for printing the counterfeit dollars. Therefore Comito and the men on the farm began printing Canadian $ 5 proof ...
COUNTERFEIGHT IN HIGHLAND (1° part)
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The character on which this case revolves is Antonio Comito. Born in 1880 in Catanzaro, before emigrating to New York in June 1907, he had worked as a...
THE TWO MURDERS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MORELLO GANG
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in Em. The crimes for which the Morello gang was suspected were numerous and varied. Most of these went undisco...
LUPO WOLF
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in Em. Ignazio Lupo was born in Palermo in March 1877. His family of origin was part of a Palermo mafia gang an...
GIUSEPPE MORELLO LEADS THE FIRST MAFIA FAMILY IN AMERICA
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in Em. Giuseppe Morello was another and dangerous, he used to wear a .45 caliber pistol on his belt and a knife...
THE FIRST AMERICAN MAFIA FAMILY
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in EmThanks to the investigations of the Secret Services aimed at the contrast and the falsification and spendi...
THIS IS NOT THE AMERICAN DREAM
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in EmIt is not the American dream that pushes Italian migrants to reach the American shores. Therefore to under...
EXTORTION LETTERS
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The activity of extortion always began with a latch letter of which a dark association called The Black Hand materializes. What was a letter of scrocc...
THE BLACK HAND
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in EmIn the early years of the twentieth century a wave of terror unprecedented in peacetime crossed the United...
FORGERY
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music by Syon (Thomas Nicosia) Prelude in EmInitially, counterfeiting and the spending of counterfeit notes was, together with the crimes of extortion...