National Crime Syndicate

Now aged 86, soon to be 87 in July of this year, Alphonse D’Arco also known as “The Professor” was the acting boss of the Lucchese Crime Family during the early 1990’s. But, Al wasn’t your stereotypical mobster. He didn’t drink (apart from the occasional glass of wine), he didn’t smoke, and he remained loyal to one woman, Dolores, who he married and had 5 children with. The first being Joe who was born in…

The Pizza Connection Trial began on September 30, 1985 and ended with convictions of 21 defendants in March 1987. The FBI had been investigating into a drug smuggling tie between the Sicilian Mafia and the Bonanno Crime Family since 1980, with the first arrests being made in 1984. What Was The Pizza Connection? Put simply, it was a massive drugs and cash laundering operation that would see $1.6 billion in heroin and cocaine moved into…

It was back in late 1978 when four of the five crime families of New York came together to embark on a lucrative racket that would make millions for the mob. The racket was to win contracts throughout New York City from the Housing Authority, to replace windows across the city. Each family designated a mobster or a couple of mobsters to control their respected interest in the scheme. The Lucchese Family were at the…

Extortion, shake-downs and bribery, all Mafia methods when it comes to increasing cash flow and getting strong holds within organizations. The Mafia have always invested an interest in legitimate businesses, whether that is a new business setup by a mobster to act as a front for laundering money from rackets and scams, or whether they have managed to infiltrate unions or enterprises and get in on the action. Don’t be fooled in thinking that the…

Just when you thought you had seen it all, we have put together a list of 20 must-have items for Mafia lovers. From the inspiring and unique, to the crazy and bizarre, right through to the jaw-dropping and amazing – we brought them into one place. So whether you are looking for yourself, or your partner – take a look at the top 20 Mafia gift hit list. 1. The Al Capone Whiskey Barrel Mug…

The dreaded Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as RICO, is an act that was passed back in 1970 and struck fear into mobsters nationwide, especially mob bosses. Until the 1970’s, a mob boss was untouchable but with the introduction of RICO it allowed them to be tried for crimes which they ordered others to do or assisted them in doing. This act ultimately closed a loophole in the system that allowed…

Virginia Hill Associated with: Bugsy Siegel and Joe Adonis She was sassy, she was smart, she was well dressed…and she was good looking. To start any mob molls article off without featuring Virginia Hill would be pointless. Most people around the world who aren’t even mob aficionados have heard the name, most notably because she was the glamorous girlfriend of hot-headed mobster Bugsy Siegel, and of course for the controversy surrounding his death in 1947….

The past is always present in the future, but sometimes the past can easily be disguised. Take Detroit for example, a city that has a dark and violent history that isn’t always present to the eye today. The truth is, that some of the iconic landmarks around the fourth-largest city in the Midwest, hold secrets from the past, hidden behind some of these forgotten sites and hangouts. Most notable the Purple Gang, a group of…

For many years, mobsters met at steakhouses and various other restaurants around the cities that they ran, and more often than not, it would be their final meal before they were gunned down in the very restaurant with who they were dining within. Nuovoa Villa Tammaro Restaurant 2715 W 15th St, Coney Island – April 15th 1933 Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria’s favorite restaurant was Nuovoa, it was a hit for lovers of seafood, on…

All Hallows’ Eve is upon us once again, and to celebrate the yearly event we are bringing you our very own Halloween special. So before you go trick or treating around your local neighborhood, you may want to check out our 5 most feared mobsters.

Don’t know your Waste Management Business from your Shylock Business? Our ultimate Mafia glossary is an on-going project here at the NCS that we are going to add to overtime. Scrub up on your mob slang. Administration: the top-level “management” of an organized crime Family — the boss, underboss and consigliere. Associate: one who works with mobsters, but hasn’t been asked to take the vow of Omertà; an almost confirmed, or made guy. Connected Guy:…

You may have heard the term “he was killed with a garrote”, but probably have no idea what this is. Back in the early 20th century this weapon was a Mafia favorite, and the weapon was very easy to make. All you needed was a piano wire, fishing line or some other type of cord, then the hitman would strangle the victim. As the wire would usually be made from steel the weapon was effective…