Does the mafia still exist?

[MadSquabbles500]

The italian Murican mob is not as strong, if they still exist. They still going strong in Italy obviously.

Now we have different ethnic organized crime syndicates.

The Fertittas own some casino, and their cousin in Houston owns some restaurants.

 

[TrippleOG]

Paulie Walnuts for life.

 

[j123]

There was some in the news last year or maybe late 2015 (I forget) about the death of a Montreal mafia boss, its been pretty quiet since (media-wise)

 

[LOST CAUSE]

Yes... They go by the name Platinum Nation now.

 

[luv24nic8]

The Chicago Outfit as well as others aren't really organized like they used to be.

In fact, after Sam Giancana was whacked in his kitchen in oak park in 1975, it went downhill from there. (I actually lived a couple blocks from his house)

You don't have the same hierarchy there was... They keep a lower profile and less paper trail, not to mention they are into other ventures now outside of extorting money from local businesses.

You lived down the street???

Pfffftttt..... CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE, SON!!

 

[luv24nic8]

Mafia is sooo 1970's - I'm more afraid of a 15 year old, pimply faced mofo that has hacking skills, yo.

 

[Orgasmo]

A lot of them quit the drug dealing and protection racket aspect, and instead bought up legitimate businesses. The mob is huge in construction and recycling business, and they're mixed up with the dock workers' union too.

 

[Ogata]

If they are, how do they make money?

If some old Italian guy came up to my property and demanded money I'd flatten his rigatoni ass and send him packing.

You cant do that if he is a made man. If he is a made man then it means he probably knows how to fight bare hand as well as using various weapons. Wouldn't end well for you I assume unless you have pro boxing/kickboxing/MMA experience!

 

[Robocok]

You cant do that if he is a made man. If he is a made man then it means he probably knows how to fight bare hand as well as using various weapons. Wouldn't end well for you I assume unless you have pro boxing/kickboxing/MMA experience!

I think the way it used to work was that they'd send a handful of armed goons to collect. If they had any trouble, then they'd call in the cavalry. Made men didn't get their hands dirty with the small stuff.

Source: Underboss, Goodfellas

 

[Guestx]

A lot of them quit the drug dealing and protection racket aspect, and instead bought up legitimate businesses. The mob is huge in construction and recycling business, and they're mixed up with the dock workers' union too.

If the businesses are legitimate . . . are they still the mafia?

 

[Orgasmo]

If the businesses are legitimate . . . are they still the mafia?

I would actually still say yes, as they use a lot of shady tactics in their "legit" business dealings (extortion, assault, intimidation etc). A few years ago the cops here investigated scores of airport workers and revoked their security clearance because of their ties to the local mob.

 

[Dr Curtis Love]

the comedic value is structured so fucking well in the show. peppered in so many scenes that anchor the series so well, where it's amusing as all hell watching the discourse between the characters.

Junior, that motherfucker haha.

I recently went back and watched the show again, but as a comedy instead of a "crime drama." It's a funny fucking show. The comedy gets lost in the storytelling and acting and what not. But it's pretty funny.

 

[Bloody Pulp]

Now go get your automated iShinebot.

 

[JayE]

They're weaker, but yes, they obviously still do exist. There is a minor ongoing war right now in Montreal.

 

[JayE]

The Mafia still controls Sicily.

And will continue to for the foreseeable future.

 

[fightingrabbit]

the comedic value is structured so fucking well in the show. peppered in so many scenes that anchor the series so well, where it's amusing as all hell watching the discourse between the characters.

Junior, that motherfucker haha.

I recently went back and watched the show again, but as a comedy instead of a "crime drama." It's a funny fucking show. The comedy gets lost in the storytelling and acting and what not. But it's pretty funny.

Sopranos is fucking gold. I just finished season 5 and I've liked the shit out of every episode. Hopefully I don't jinx that going into season 6.

 

[mrln242]

Those are all just stories the stronzino tell at night when they are trying to get a rise out of people. Dont watch so many movies guy.

 

[sangreporsangre]

They are mainly into petty racketeering, extortion and drug dealing now.
To add some perspective: (The most infamous snitch ever) Sammy the Bull's whereabouts have been known for over 20 years and he hasn't been touched. Meanwhile while his daughter parades herself on reality television. LOL

Sammy the Bull has been in prison for over 15 years now, in a special wing for cooperators. You're right that he was living openly in Arizona for a few years. Some Gambino guys including John Gotti's brother were convicted for conspiring to murder him but they never really got close to him, some guys just drove out to Arizona to do some reconnaissance on him.

 

[sleepwalk]

The risk/reward of things like extortion and heists made all that a thing of the past. The more profitable things such as skimming, rigging contracts, untaxed goods and the like are still in play but it reduces presence at eye level. The ports and shipping is held on to especially with the long association with the unions but Russians and Chinese have their fingers in it, too.

Narcotics is relatively new and, for a very long time, forbidden once one was recognized by La Cosa Nostra. The whole point of "The French Connection" (or "the pizza connection") was a way for them to get a piece of that pie without being directly involved.

 

[robotsonic]

Italian Americans not so much, they've actually been taken over by native Italian gangs in terms of profits. The Ndrangheta and Camorra in southern Italy make huge profits smuggling cocaine, heroin and hash from Africa and the middle East into Europe. In the US, Colombian and Mexican gangs control that trade. Look at the profits Escobar, Keyser and El Chapo made and compare it to the bums ripping off local shop owners.

Most of the money these days is made from controlling the supply of drugs and using those profits to move into legitimate business. Yakuza in Japan for example may run all the whorehouses and drug dens but they also own the factories that make diapers and noodles.