The most famous mafiosi in the world. Mafia: the ten most brutal and influential killers

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The mafia appeared in the middle of the 19th century in Sicily. The American mafia is a branch of the Sicilian, which worked on the "waves" of Italian immigration at the end of the 19th century. Members and associates of the mafia group needed to commit murder in order to intimidate the prisoners and dissuade them from trying to cut the term.

Sometimes the killings were committed out of revenge or because of disagreements. Murder has become a profession in the mafia. Throughout history, the skill of assassination has been constantly honed. Planning, executing, and covering their tracks were all part of a "trading" deal with a skilled killer. However, most killers ended their lives with violent death or spending a large portion of it in prison.

10. Joseph "The Animal" Barboza

Barbosa is known as one of the worst killers in the 1960s, believed to have killed more than 26 people. He got his nickname during an incident that occurred in a nightclub, when, after a small disagreement, he "blew" the offender's whole face. Some time after that, he continued his career as a boxer, winning 8 out of 12 fights under the pseudonym "Baron".

Despite the fact that he nevertheless made several attempts to return to a legal life, "nature took its toll", because no matter how much you feed the wolf, he still looks into the forest, so he soon began to engage in crime again. In 1950, he served 5 years in the Massachusetts Penitentiary, while he repeatedly attacked the guards and other prisoners. After serving three years of the appointed term, he escaped, but he was soon caught.

After his release, he immediately connected with a gang of gangsters, and began his "own business" of burglary. At the same time, his career began to develop as a "hit man" within the Patricia Crime Family. Over the years, the number of his victims has grown, as well as his reputation as a hired killer. His weapon of choice was a silenced pistol, although he also enjoyed experimenting with car bombs.

Over time, Barbosa became a respected figure in underworld, however, given his reputation, it was impossible not to make dangerous enemies. After being imprisoned on murder charges and learning that an assassination attempt was underway, he agreed to testify against mob boss Raymond Patriarca in exchange for FBI protection. For some time he was protected under the witness protection program, but the enemies still managed to get him. In 1976, near his house, he was ambushed and killed on the spot with a shotgun.

9. Joe "Crazy" Gallo ("Crazy" Joe Gallo)

Joseph Gallo was famous representative Profasi criminal group based in New York. He killed ruthlessly and was believed to be involved in many contract killings on the orders of the boss Joe Profaci (Joe Profaci). Ironically, his nickname has nothing to do with his "killer" reputation.

Many "colleagues" called him crazy because he liked to quote dialogue from gangster films and impersonate fictional characters. His reputation took a turn for the worse in 1957, when Joe was suspected (although never proven) of being among those who killed the highly influential mob boss Albert Anastasia.

A year later, Gallo assembled a team to overthrow Profasi family leader Joseph Profasi. The attempt was unsuccessful, after which many of his friends and relatives were killed. Things went very poorly for Gallo, and in 1961 he was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

During his time in prison, he attempted to kill several other prisoners by courteously inviting them into his cell and slipping strychnine into their food. Most of them became seriously ill, but none died. After serving 8 years of his sentence, he was released early.

After his release, Gallo was determined to take on the role of leader crime family Colombo. In 1971, then-leader Joe Colombo was shot three times in the head by an African-American mobster. However, Gallo will soon meet his own tragic end. In 1972, while dining at a fish restaurant with his family and a bodyguard, he was shot five times in the chest. The prime suspect in the murder was believed to be Carlo Gambino, who did it in retaliation for the murder of Joe Colombo's friend.

8. Giovanni Brusca

Giovanni Brusca is known as one of the most brutal and sadistic members of the Sicilian Mafia. He claims to have killed more than 200 people, although this is actually unlikely, even officials did not accept this figure. Brusca grew up in Palermo, and began dealing with the underworld from early childhood. In the end, he became a member of the "death squad" who committed crimes on the orders of the boss Salvatore Riina (Salvatore Riina).

Brusca was involved in the assassination of anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone in 1992. A huge bomb weighing almost half a ton was placed under the motorway in Palermo. When the car drove through the place where the bomb was planted, the explosive device went off, killing, in addition to Falcone, many more ordinary people who were nearby at that fateful moment. The explosion was so powerful that it punched a hole in the road, and the locals thought that an earthquake was starting.

Shortly thereafter, Brusca began to face numerous problems. His former friend Giuseppe di Matteo (Giuseppe di Matteo) became an informant and spoke about the involvement of Brusca in the murder of Falcone. In order to silence Matteo, Brusca kidnapped his 11-year-old son and tortured him for two years. He also regularly sent horrifying photos of the boy to his father, demanding that he retract his testimony. In the end, the boy was strangled and his body was dissolved in acid to destroy the evidence.

Brusca was sentenced to life imprisonment, however, he was able to escape and became active in organized crime. However, the authorities still managed to get to him, and he was arrested in a small house in the Sicilian village.

The officers who took part in the arrest were wearing ski masks in order to hide their faces from the criminals, because otherwise they would have faced imminent reprisals. He was convicted on charges of numerous murders, he is currently in prison, where he will remain until the end of his days.

7 John Scalise

John Scalice was one of the Al Capone clan's top hitmen during Prohibition in the 1930s and 1940s. When he was twenty years old, he lost his right eye in a knife fight, which was later replaced with a glass eye. After that, to consolidate his reputation, he began to take orders for murder from the brothers Gennas (Gennas brothers). Later, he secretly began collaborating with Al Capone. John also spent 14 years in prison for manslaughter and was severely beaten by fellow inmates.

Perhaps he was most famous for participating in the St. Valentine's Day massacre, when seven people were lined up along a wall and brutally shot by gunmen dressed as policemen. Skalis was arrested and charged with the murders, however, he was soon released because his guilt was not proven.

Al Capone later learns that Scalice and two other assassins were involved in a plot to overthrow his leadership. He invited all three to a banquet, beat each one almost to death, and the final chord was bullets fired in the forehead of the traitors.

6. Tommy DeSimone

The family of this man is recognizable, since in 1990 the actor Joe Pesci played Tommy in the movie Goodfellas. However, despite the fact that in the film he is depicted as small and short man, in life he was a big, broad-shouldered killer, almost 2 meters tall and weighing more than 100 kilograms. It has been proven that 6 people personally died at his hands, although according to some sources this number is more than 11. Informant Henry Hill (Henry Hill) described him as a "pure psychopath".

De Simone committed his first murder in 1968. While walking with Henry Hill through the park, he saw an unknown man walking towards them. He turned to Henry and said, "Hey, look!" Then he shouted a swear word to a stranger and shot him point-blank. It won't be his last impulsive kill.

In one of the bars, he flared up because, in his opinion, the bill for drinks was incorrect. Drawing his pistol, he demanded that the bartender dance for him. When the latter refused, he shot him in the leg. A week later, once again in the same bar, he began to taunt the bartender wounded in the leg, to which he unflatteringly sent him to hell. Tommy reacted very quickly: he took out a gun and killed the bartender by shooting him three times.

After his involvement in the famous Lufthansa heist, Tommy went on to work as a hitman for friend and thief mastermind Jimmy Burke. He eliminated possible informants and thereby increased his share of the loot. One of those killed was a very close friend of Tommy Stacks Edwards, whom he was reluctant to kill. Burke told Tommy that he could become a full-fledged member of the mafia group by killing Edwards, and De Simone agreed.

In the end, Tommy's temper led him to his death. In another fit of blind rage, he killed two close friends of boss John Gotti (John Gotti), who considered it his duty to personally get even with Tommy. According to Henry Hill, the murder process was a long one, as Gotti wanted De Simone to suffer greatly. He was killed in 1979 and his remains have never been found.

5 Salvatore Testa

Salvatore was a Philadelphia gangster who served as a hitman for the Scarfo crime ring from 1981 until his death in 1984. His father, a highly influential man in criminal circles, was shot in the head in 1981, leaving Salvatore with several of his legal and illegal businesses. As a result, at the age of 25, Testa was very rich.

Testa had an extremely aggressive personality and personally killed 15 people during his "active" period. One of his victims was the man who plotted to kill his father, gangster and bodyguard Rocco Marinucci. His body was found exactly one year after the death of Father Salvatore. He was completely covered in bullet wounds and had three unexploded bombs in his mouth.

A huge number of assassination attempts were made on Salvatore, however, he always managed to survive after them. The first assassination attempt took place on the terrace of an Italian restaurant, when a Ford sedan slowed down, passing Testa's table, and a sawn-off shotgun appeared in the window and shot through his stomach and left hand. However, he survived, and the assassins were forced to go underground after he found out who they were.

Testa met his death after being ambushed by his former friend. He was killed at close range by a shot to the back of the head. The motive for the murder was the fears of the boss of the criminal group Scarfo that Testa was preparing a conspiracy against him.

4. Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano (Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano)

Sammy the Bull was a member of the Gambino crime family. But he gained great popularity, most likely, after he became an informer against former boss John Gotti. His testimony helped put Gotti behind bars for the rest of his days. Throughout his criminal career, Gravano committed a huge number of murders and contract killings. He got the nickname "bull" because of his size, height, and also the habit of holding fisticuffs with other mafiosi.

He began his mafia activity in the late 1960s in the Colombo crime family. He was involved in armed robberies and other petty crimes, although he quickly moved into the rather lucrative field of loansharking. He committed his first murder in 1970, it helped the Bull to earn respect among the representatives of the underworld.

By the early 1970s, Gravano was a member of the Gambino crime group. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, however, he was soon released. After that, he began a series of serious robberies, which he did for a year and a half. After this period, he had significant weight in the Gambino group. He "signed" his first contract for contract killing in 1980.

A man named John Simon was the mastermind of a conspiracy to assassinate Philadelphia crime boss Angelo Bruno without permission from a special mafia commission, for which he was sentenced to death. Simon was killed in wooded area and his body was disposed of.

Bull committed his third murder in the early 1980s after being offended by a wealthy tycoon. He was caught in the street, and while Gravano's friends held him, the Bull first fired two shots into his eyes and then a control shot into his forehead. After the tycoon fell, Gravano spat on him.

Gravano later becomes right hand Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, he was Gotti's favorite hitman during this period. However, after facing numerous charges against him for various crimes, he offered to provide information on Gotti in exchange for a reduction in his sentence. He confessed to 19 murders, but received only 5 years in prison. After his release, he went underground, however, he soon became involved again with organized crime in the state of Arizona. He is currently in custody.

3. Giuseppe Greco

Giuseppe was an Italian gangster who worked as a contract killer in Palermo, Italy in the late 1970s. Unlike other hitmen, Greco has been on the run from the law throughout his career. He rarely worked alone, employing "death squadrons," Kalashnikov-wielding thugs who ambushed victims and then killed them. He was found guilty of 58 murders, although the total number of victims, according to some information, reached 80. He once killed a teenager and his father by dissolving the bodies of both in acid.

By 1979, Greco was a high-ranking and respected member of the mafia commission. He committed most of his murders from 1980 to 1983, during the Second Mafia War. In 1982, Palermo boss Rosaria Riccobono was invited to a barbecue at Greco's estate. After the arrival of Rosaria and his associates, they were all killed by Greco and his death squad. Greco received the order to kill him from his boss, Salvatore Riina. No bodies were found, and according to available information, they were fed to hungry pigs.

Greco was killed in his home in 1985 by two former members of his death squad. Ironically, the commissioner was Salvatore Riina, who believed that Greco had become too ambitious and thought too independently to stay alive. When he was killed, he was 33 years old.

2. Abraham "Kid Twist" Reles

This man was the most famous killer involved in Murder Inc, a covert group of hitmen that worked for the Mafia in the 1920s and 1950s. He was most active in the 1930s, it was precisely the period when he killed members of various criminal groups in New York. His weapon of choice was an ice pick, which he skillfully used to pierce the victim's head and pierce the brain.

Reles was prone to blind rage and often killed on impulse. He once killed a parking attendant because the latter, as it seemed to him, parked his car for too long. On another occasion, he invited a friend to dinner at his mother's house. After finishing the meal, he pierced his head with an ice pick and quickly disposed of the body.

As a teenager, Reles was regularly involved in criminal cases, and soon became quite a popular figure in the world of organized crime. His first victim was a former friend of Meyer Shapiro. Reles and some of his friends were ambushed by Shapiro's gang, however, no one was hurt that time.

Later, Shapiro kidnapped Reles' girlfriend and raped her in a cornfield, naturally Reles decided to take revenge by killing the offender and his two brothers. After several unsuccessful attempts, Abraham managed to get even with one of his brothers, and two months later with Shapiro himself. A little later, the second brother of the rapist was buried alive.

By 1940, Reles was charged with a huge number of crimes and most likely would have been executed if he had been convicted. To save his life, he turned in all his former friends and members of the Murder Inc group, six of whom were executed.

Later, he was to testify against mafia boss Albert Anastasia, and on the night before the trial he was in a hotel room under constant guard. The next morning he was found dead on the sidewalk. It is still unknown whether he was pushed, or whether he himself tried to escape.

1. Richard "Ice Man" Kuklinski

Perhaps the most infamous hitman in history is Richard Kuklinski, who is believed to have killed more than 200 people (no women or children among them). He worked in New York and New Jersey from 1950 to 1988 and was a contract killer in criminal group DeCavalcante, as well as in a number of others.

At 14, he committed his first murder, beating a bully to death with a piece of wooden stick. In order to avoid identification of the body, Kuklinski cut off the boy's fingers and pulled out his teeth before throwing the remains of the body off the bridge.

AT youth Kuklinski became infamous serial killer in Manhattan, brutally killing homeless people just for the thrill. Most of his victims were shot or stabbed to death. Anyone who opposed him, for a maximum of a year, lost his life. His tough reputation soon attracted the attention of various criminal gangs who sought to use "his talent for their own good" by turning him into a hired killer.

He became a full-fledged member of the Gambino criminal group, actively participating in robberies and deliveries of pirated pornographic videos. One day, a respected member of the Gambino faction was riding with Kuklinski in a car. After they parked, the man chose a random target and ordered Kuklinski to kill him. Richard carried out the order without delay, shooting an innocent man point-blank. This was the beginning of his career as a hit man.

For the next 30 years, Kuklinski worked successfully as a contract killer. He got his nickname "Ice Man" from his method of freezing the bodies of his victims, which helped to hide the time of death from the authorities. Kuklinski was also famous for using various methods murders, the most unusual of which was the use of a crossbow aimed at the forehead of the victim, although he most often used cyanide.

When authorities finally figured out who Kuklinski was, they found no evidence to convict him of premeditated murder. As a result, they carried out a special operation, after which Kuklinski was arrested and charged with trying to poison a man with cyanide. He got five life sentences after confessing to multiple murders. He died in prison of old age when he was 70 years old.

Intelligence, cunning, and sober calculation - that's what helped these bandits stay afloat. Oh yes, we almost forgot: they were also helped by composure, cruelty, and the desire for blood.

1. Al Capone (1899 - 1947)

The legend of the underworld of those times and the most famous mafia boss in history. He was a prominent representative of criminal America. His fields of activity were:

• bootlegging (illegal trade in alcohol during Prohibition in the United States);
• prostitution;
• gambling business.

Known as the organizer of the most cruel and big day in the history of the criminal world - the Massacre on Valentine's Day (then seven powerful gangsters from Bugs Moran's Irish gang, including the right hand of the boss).

Al Capone was the first among all the gangsters to launder money through a huge network of laundries, the prices of which were very low. Capone was the first to introduce the concept of “racketeering” and successfully dealt with it, laying the foundation for a new vector of mafia activity.

The nickname "Scarface" Alfonso received at the age of 19, when he worked in a billiard club. He then protested the violent felon Frank Galluccio and insulted his wife. After that, a fight and stabbing took place between the bandits. Result: Capone received a famous scar on his left cheek. By right, Al was a personality, the most influential and terrifying on everyone, including the government, which was able to put him behind bars just for tax evasion.

Find out about Capone's most notorious crimes in the following video:

2. Lucky Luciano (1897 - 1962)

Originally from Sicily, Lucky became in America, in fact, the founder of the underworld. His real name is Charles. Lucky (in translation means “Lucky”), they began to call him after the bandit was taken to a deserted highway, tortured, beaten, cut, burned his face with cigarettes, and he remained alive after that.

The people who tortured him turned out to be Maranzano gangsters. They wanted to know the location of the drug cache. But Charles did not give up. After unsuccessful torture, they left the bloodied body without any signs of life by the road, thinking that Luciano was dead. There, after 8 hours, the poor fellow was picked up by a patrol car. Luciano received 60 stitches and survived.

After this incident, the nickname "Lucky" remained with him forever. Lucky organized the "Big Seven" - a group of bootleggers, whom he gave protection from the authorities. He became the boss of Cosa Nostra, which controlled all areas of activity in the criminal world.

Source: wikipedia.org

3. Pablo Escobar (1949 - 1993)

The most cruel and daring Colombian drug lord. He entered the history of the XX century as the most cruel criminal and the head of the largest drug cartel. He established the supply of cocaine to different parts of the world, mainly to the USA, on a grandiose scale, up to transportation by planes in tens of kilograms. He, as the head of the Medellin cocaine cartel, is credited with the murders of more than 200 judges and prosecutors, more than 1,000 policemen and journalists, presidential candidates, ministers, and prosecutors general. Escobar's net worth in 1989 was over $15 billion.

Source: wikipedia.org

4. John Gotti (1940 - 2002)

John Gotti was a famous figure, he was loved by the press, he was always dressed to the nines. Numerous accusations from New York law enforcement have always failed, Gotti avoided punishment for a long time. For this, the press nicknamed him "Teflon John". He received the nickname "Elegant Don" when he began to dress only in fashionable and stylish suits with expensive ties.

John Gotti has been the head of the Gambino family since 1985. During his "reign" this group was one of the most influential.

Source: wikipedia.org

5. Carlo Gambino (1902 - 1976)

It was Gambino who became the founder of the above-mentioned and one of the most influential families in criminal America. After taking control of a number of highly profitable areas, including illegal bootlegging, a state port and an airport, the Gambino family became the most powerful of the five families.

Carlo forbade his people from selling drugs, considering this type of business dangerous and attractive. public attention. At its peak, the Gambino family consisted of more than 40 groups and teams, and controlled New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.

Source: wikipedia.org

6. Meir Lansky (1902 - 1983)

Meir was born in Belarus, the city of Grodno. native of Russian Empire became the most influential person in the United States and one of the country's leaders in crime. He is the creator of the "National Crime Syndicate" and one of the progenitors of the gambling business in the states. He was also the biggest bootlegger.

Source: wikipedia.org

7. Joseph Bonanno (1905 - 2002)

Patriarch of the Bonanno family and one of the richest mobsters in history. The history of the reign of Joseph, who was called “Banana Joe”, has 30 years. At the end of this term, Bonanno voluntarily retired and lived in his personal huge mansion. Joe organized a crime family that is still active in the United States.

On February 26, 1930, mafia boss Tom Rain was assassinated in New York. This was the beginning of the bloody massacre of American gangsters, called the Castellammarese War. Recall the most famous conflicts of gangs.

Castellammarese War

Mafia: Italian American mafia.
Where: New York.
When: 1930-1931 years.
Participating clans: the Castellamarese group led by Salvatore Maranzano vs the Morello gang led by Giuseppe Masseria.
Cause: The Castellammarese War was a conflict of mafia generations. "Moustache Pita", of which the Morello gang consisted, having moved to America, their thoughts remained in Sicily. They boiled in an old cauldron, hardly perceiving the new culture, often did not even know English. The "mustache" practiced "power for the sake of power", in the name of which they were ready to go to any conflicts. Their opponents were "young gangsters" from Castellammarese, most of whom, including Salvatore Maranzano, arrived in new land only in the 1920s. Unlike the "old men", they did not seek useless bloodshed, adhering to the principle: "there is enough booty for everyone." The reason for the war was the murder of Masseria's ally Gaetano Reina, whom Giuseppe suspected of having links with Maranzano. In response, the Reino clan defected to the side of Castellamarese.
What is famous for: The Castellammarese War became one of the bloodiest mafia conflicts. During it, in addition to ordinary members, nine bosses died, including the leaders - Giuseppe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. The latter, despite his victory, was hastily stabbed to death by his own allies at the end of the war. As a result, control of New York passed to five mafia families (Genovese, Colombo, Lucchese, Gambino, Bonanno)
Culture: The war has been popularized more than once in world films: The Godfather, Gang Wars, Miller's Crossing.

"The First Mafia War"

Mafia: Sicilian
Where: Palermo
When: 1962-1963
Participating clans: Cosa Nostra clan vs La Barbera brothers
Cause: A descendant of the oldest mafia dynasty Cosa Nostra - Salvatore Greco, nicknamed "Chick" decided to teach a lesson to the "dark horse" Angelo La Barbera, who appeared almost "out of nowhere" and quickly grew up on drug trafficking. The reason for the conflict was the disappearance of a consignment of drugs, for the transport of which they were responsible. As a result of the mess, Angelo's brother Salvatore was killed. Allegedly, by order of the Chick.
What is famous for: The culmination of the war was the explosion on June 30, 1963 in Ciaculli, which, for unknown reasons, was directed against civilians and law enforcement officials. This gave rise to waves of anti-mafia protests. Until now, ordinary people each time “discovered” the mafia for themselves, quickly forgetting about their personal showdowns. There was even an opinion that the mafia is not organized crime, but "the traditional Italian opposition." Three days after the tragedy in Ciaculli, under the scorching rays of the sun, about 100,000 people marched to the church in Palermo for the empty coffins of the victims of the tragedy. Society loudly demanded to deal with the mafia.
The subsequent round-ups of the authorities became that blow to the "men of honor" of Cosa Nostra, from which they never recovered in Sicily. Representatives of the dynasty scattered around the world. In subsequent years in Sicily, mafia crimes practically disappeared.
Culture: Based on the events, several books were released, the most famous belongs to the authorship of Dickie John “Cosa Nostra. History of the Sicilian Mafia.

Irish gang war

Mafia: Irish.
Where: Boston.
When: 1961-1967.
Participating clans: Charleston OPG vs Winterhill OPG
Cause: In this case, the "apple of discord" was a woman. One of the members of the Charleston gang, George McLaughlin, took the girlfriend of a supporter of another gang, Alex "Bo Bo", for which he was beaten by the Winterhill criminal group. Winterhill chief "Buddy" McLean refused to hand over the perpetrators, and a small incident led to open conflict between two of Boston's biggest gangs.
What is famous for: The course of events in the Irish gang war has been compared to the Trojan War. As a result of the showdown, the entire organization of the unfortunate womanizer - the Chalston OPG was completely destroyed. Only the instigator of the massacre, George McLaughin, managed to survive.
Culture: Perhaps, not the events themselves entered the world heritage, but one of the participants, Alex "Bo Bo", today known as the actor Alex Rocco, who became famous in world cinema as the performer of the role of Mo Green in The Godfather.

Osaka War

Mafia: Yakuza
Where: Osaka
When: 1960s
Participating clans: Meiyu Kai (Osaka) vs Yamaguchi Gumi (Hyogo)
Cause: Strengthened under its third leader, Kazuo Toaka, the Yamaguchi Gumi faction expelled all of its rivals from Hyogo Prefecture. Next in line was neighboring Osaka, which was under the control of the largest Meiyu Kai gang. last vein at the expense of the entertainment business: she extorted money from the owners of local bars, Turkish baths, controlled the drug market, robbed prostitutes. The war began in one of their subordinate institutions with an insult to the famous singer Yoshio Tabata, a friend of Kazuo Toaki.
Known for: in addition to important economic results, the Osaka War became famous for its samurai character. The Japanese katana in the hands of the Yamaguchi Gumi dealt the finishing blow to their enemies' last refuge. The cornered Meiyu Kai spread large handkerchiefs in front of them, took out knives and cut off their little fingers with a sharp movement. Wrapping them in scarves, they handed over the trophies to the winners. An ancient gangster rite of passage for confessing guilt and asking for mercy marked the end of the Osaka War. This conflict became Toako's "Austerlitz", his gang took a leading position in the Japanese criminal underground.
Culture: The Yamaguchi Gumi group today publishes its own magazine, Yamaguchi-Gumi Shimpo.

Melbourne gang war

Mafia: Irish, Sicilian, Australian, Russian.
Where: Melbourne.
When: 1998-2008.
Participating clans: Moran family (Irish), Carlton family (Sicilian) vs Williams family (Australian)
Cause: Like the Castellamarese War, it was a generational conflict. Unlike the mafia families Moran and Carlton, who came to Australia as a result of immigration, the Williams family rose to prominence on the streets of Melbourne. It all started with the division of profits, Carl Williams and James Moran could not agree on the money received from the sale of amphetamines. Williams was shot in the stomach in one of the city parks, but survived. Soon, at a meeting of the leaders of the Irish, Sicilians and Calabrians, an alliance was formed against the Williams.
What is famous for: It was the largest mafia war in Australia, in which all the shadow forces of the country were involved. Gang wars forever destroyed Melbourne's reputation as a calm and quiet city. The “hero” of the events was the already known “fat man” Carl Williams, one of the most influential “godfathers” of Australia. He is considered involved in at least ten criminal shootings. One of the victims was his main enemy Jace Moran, who was shot right in front of his six-year-old twins. In April 2010, Williams was killed "purely in a gangster way" in the prison cell where he was serving his sentence. official reason considered a domestic conflict.
Culture: It is believed that the events formed the basis of the film directed by David Michaud "According to the laws of the wolf."

Criminal 90s

Mafia: Russian.
Where: Western Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg.
When: Late 1980s - 1990s.
Participating clans: Orekhovskaya OPG, Kurgan OPG, Solntsevskaya OPG, Volgovskaya OPG, Slonovskaya OPG, Tambovskaya OPG
Cause: All criminal gangs in the late 80s - early 90s started the same way: with protection for thimble-makers, extortion, robbery, robbery, drug sales, smuggling, kidnapping and murder of people. The biographies of their main figures also agree in many respects. As a rule, these are former athletes, people from working circles, there are no intellectuals among them. By the mid-90s, the main "players" of the criminal world were identified, nevertheless, there was a constant struggle for spheres of influence between them, but what began in 1994 blocked all previous showdowns. Began "chopping off the heads" of criminal gangs. Otari Kvantrishvili was the first to be shot dead on April 5, 1994; on September 13, Sergei Timofeev ("Sylvester") was blown up, who, according to legend, was appointed by Yaponchik himself to look after Russian crime. In total, dozens of "authorities" were killed, strangled, blown up. Now it is no longer a secret that special services were behind this process. This "bandit special forces" was headed by the famous Osya - Sergei Butorin. The former warrant officer of the construction battalion, who began his "career" with Timofeev, Osya recruited former special forces into his brigade. The blow to the bandits from the "Moscow clan" of the KGB was dealt, as it were, from within. At first, Butorin removed not his immediate boss Sylvester, but the leaders of other gangs - so the bandits for a long time could not understand what was happening at all. Butorin's people not only "removed" other authorities, but also pushed the brigades against their foreheads, pushing them to do their own "work". As quickly as Butorin "rose", just as quickly he "fell". It was enough to change the leadership of the FSB. Now Axis people have already begun to fall behind bars. He himself managed to escape to Spain, where he, however, was arrested.
What is famous for: The bandit war of the mid-90s was characterized by extreme cruelty and the involvement of a huge number of the population in this process. A gangster and semi-criminal lifestyle, clothing style (leather jackets, raspberry jackets), manners, language - all this went to the people and remains relevant for many to this day.
Culture: The showdowns of the 90s left a serious mark not only in Russian culture (books, films, TV shows) but also in the world. The image of the "Russian mafia", formed in the 90s, continued its life in European and American culture.

Mexican drug war

Mafia: Mexican.
Where: Mexico.
When: 2006-2011 years.
Participating clans: Sinaloa Cartel, Golfo Cartel, Juarez Cartel, Templar Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Los Setas, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Acapulco Independent Cartel, La Barredora, Beltrán Leyva Cartel, La Familia Cartel.
Cause: The root cause of the Mexican drug wars is obvious by definition: the struggle to control drug trafficking. Drug cartels in Mexico intensified after the collapse of the Colombian drug cartels in the 1990s. Today, Mexico is the main supplier of cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine to the US, and Mexican drug cartels dominate the US wholesale drug market. Mexican drug cartels are extremely numerous, have developed and well-equipped private armies, which are replenished, including former members of the Mexican army and police. The militants are equipped with automatic weapons, grenade launchers, modern equipment and communications, armored cars. Despite the active opposition to the US Mexican drug cartels, the United States remains the main supplier of weapons to this day. Total population militants of all Mexican drug cartels is about 100 thousand people. Between 2006 and 2011, about 50,000 people died in the Mexican drug wars.
What are they famous for: Mexican drug wars are characterized by extreme brutality, high level corruption, blood feud for representatives of the cartels. This is precisely a family war that has already become a way of life for its participants. Unfortunately, since industry and legal markets are poorly developed in Mexico, often the only way for Mexicans to improve their welfare is to join a cartel.
Culture: Mexican drug wars are known all over the world, books are written about them, films and TV shows are shot. Of the latest - the series BreakingBad, in which the protagonist gets involved in Mexican drug dealings.

Gangsters are members criminal organizations who make their living from robbery, racketeering, prostitution, drugs and any other criminal activity that generates income. For decades, gangsters have built and continue to build their empires in all parts of the world in particular: in Europe, Asia, the USA and Latin America. Most of the famous gangsters have received a lot of publicity due to the severity of the crimes they have committed or because of the murders. famous people- politicians, high-ranking policemen. Here is a list of the 9 most notorious gangsters in history.

9 John Dillinger (June 22, 1903 - July 22, 1934)

Throughout his life, John Dillinger has been involved in criminal activities. His crimes include robbing about 25 banks and police stations in the United States, and killing several people in Chicago. During the Great Depression, his activities gained the greatest scope, at that time he was the most notorious criminal in the country. He and his gang waged a bitter war against the FBI. Due to bank robberies and police killings, the FBI declared him "Public Enemy Number One" ( public enemy number one), a special group was created to capture him, which was engaged only in the search for Dillinger. Over time, all the members of his gang were killed, and he himself went on the run, In Chicago, his girlfriend betrayed him to the authorities and on June 22, 1934 he was ambushed at the cinema, which he was supposed to visit, John tried to resist and was wounded three times, fatal wound to the face.

8 Frank Costello (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973)

Known as the "Prime Minister of Crime", Frank Costello was a crime boss in Italian American organized crime that had a lot of influence in the early part of the century in the United States, especially in New York. Costello's criminal career began in a gang led by Ciro Terranova. The Terranova group was part of an even more powerful gang of the Morello brothers. Later, he meets the more authoritative representatives of the underworld - Lucky Luciano and they quickly become business partners. Their interests included robbery, usury, extortion, smuggling, and illegal gambling. Over time, Frark becomes a major figure in the Sicilian mafia in New York. In May 1957, there was a completely unsuccessful assassination attempt on him, after which Costello decided to retire. He retained some gambling income as well as a legal business. Frank Costello died of a heart attack in 1973.

7 Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 - November 4, 1928)

Businessman and player, American gangster Arnold Rothstein was the organizer of fixed matches in professional sports, the 1919 baseball championship scandal is especially famous, when he was accused of bribing athletes, but could not be proven. Known as "the brain" Rothstein is the father of one of the most infamous Jewish gangs in New York. He organized and was in charge of several casinos, and was also actively involved in smuggling along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes. On November 4, 1928, an assassination attempt was made on him at the Park Central Hotel, he was seriously wounded, from which Rothstein died the next day in the hospital. According to one version, the attempt was due to a large unpaid gambling debt.

6 Enoch Johnson (January 20, 1883 - December 9, 1968)

Enoch "Nucky" Johnson was a political boss and a roofer most Atlantic City and New Jersey. His nickname "Nucky" came from his first name. Enoch was elected sheriff of Atlantic County, a position he held after the end of his term, until he was removed by court order. Due to his political position, Nucky Johnson created his own empire, the scope of which was smuggling, gambling and prostitution. At that time, Prohibition was not in force in Atlantic City, which led to the city's great popularity among Americans and, accordingly, increased Nucky's income. Johnson died on December 9, 1968.

5 Lucky Luciano (November 24, 1897 - January 26, 1962)

American gangster, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, is known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, he alone is responsible for the division of influence in the country into five mafia families. At the beginning of his career as a member of an Italian gang, his list of activities included racketeering, robbery, drug dealing, organizing underground gambling houses, pimping, smuggling and many other types of criminal activities through which he could make a fortune and earn prestige. In 1929, he was stuffed into a car on the street and taken to one of the deserted highways near New York, these were people from a rival group. They hung him on a tree and began torturing him, trying to find out information about a cache of drugs, Luciano did not say a word. In the end, the bandits thought that he was dead and left him on the road with no signs of life. He was picked up by a passing patrol and taken to the hospital, where he received 55 stitches, after which his friend Meyer Lansky gave him the nickname "Lucky" (Eng. Lucky). Then his career went up and he became an influential mafia boss, the unspoken master of New York. In 1936, Lucky was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison for organizing a network of brothels. In 1942, he made a deal with the US government and participated in the operation in Sicily against Germany, for which he was released the same year. In 1962, he was invited to shoot a documentary about the mafia, but when meeting with the director, he had a heart attack, and he died on the way to the hospital.

4 Billy the Kid (November 23, 1859 - July 14, 1881)

Also known as Henry Antrim, Billy the Kid was a notorious mobster who committed his first murder at the age of 18. He was active in the second half of the 19th century in Lincoln County and was known for his unparalleled skill with weapons. In his entire life, he killed a little less than 30 people and stole several horses and cattle. Billy the Kid was shot dead on July 14, 1881 by Sheriff Pet Garrett at Fort Sumner, where he was hiding after escaping prison.

3 Al Capone (January 17, 1899 - January 25, 1947)

Al Capone, known as "Scarface", "Big Al", is an American gangster who devoted his life to smuggling alcohol and protecting brothels and prostitutes. At a very young age, he became a member of Paolo Vaccarelli's famed New York Five Points gang, better known as Paul Kelly, who various types criminal activity. Due to his large size, he became a bouncer in a billiards club, where he was stabbed in the face by one of the visitors for an unflattering remark about his wife, after which the famous scar was left on his face. Because of his involvement in two murders, he was forced to move to Chicago, where he joined the gang of "Big" Jim Colosimo, who ran several brothels. In which he became the boss after several gang wars. In July 1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion, after which, in 1934, he was transferred to the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he came out terminally ill with syphilis, which he suffered to some extent all his adult life. Capone died of pneumonia on January 25, 1947, 4 days after suffering a stroke.

2 Jesse James (September 5, 1847 - April 3, 1882)

The leader of the gang, who organized several bank and train robberies and murders, Jesse Woodson James, one of the most famous gangsters of the 19th century, embodied many times in movies and games. At that time, he was considered a kind of Robin Hood of the Wild West, robbing the rich for the benefit of the poor, which was not true, all the loot was intended only for Jesse and his gang. Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. Ford shot him in the back as Jesse turned to fix a painting on the wall.

1 Pablo Escobar (December 1, 1949 - December 2, 1993)

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar controlled a huge drug empire from 1976 to 1993 and killed thousands of people around the world. He led one of the most powerful and feared criminal organizations in history, the Medellin Cocaine Cartel. His gangs consisted of soldiers and notorious criminals and controlled 80% of the US cocaine industry. He created a group of hired killers to kill policemen and officials who did not take bribes and interfered with his business. Crime rates in Colombia skyrocketed during Escobar's tenure. In the early 90s, Pablo was considered one of the richest people on the planet, his fortune was estimated at $ 30 billion. With the assistance of the United States, which wanted to stop the flow of drugs, the Colombian authorities launched a massive attack on all areas of the cartel's activities. Because of what Pablo went on the run. On December 2, 1993, Pablo called his family home, the call was traced and the house where he was hiding was soon surrounded. As a result of the operation to capture Pablo Escobar was killed.

Cinema is full of stories about the mafia. It is the representatives of this mysterious criminal structure that are often the main villains. Movies such as The Godfather, Casino and Bugsy became hits.

But why are there so many films about bandits? And who is the most famous mafia? To get on the "honorary" list is not easy, for this you need to leave a noticeable criminal trace in the history of the mafia. It should be noted that most of the representatives of this list left their mark on the history of America.

Although these people were not saints, one cannot help but admire their influence and talents, albeit directed in the wrong direction. Let's talk about the most famous mafiosi and what films were created on the basis of their criminal activities.

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928-2005). This criminal was born in 1928 in New York. Vincent's character was extremely complex - he never finished school, leaving it in the ninth grade. His studies were replaced by a new hobby - boxing. Speaking in light heavyweight, Gigante won 21 fights out of 25. The first arrest took place at the age of 25, but by that time Vincent had been in a criminal gang for 8 years. The very first high-profile case bandit as a member of the Genovese family was the attempted murder of Frank Costello. However, Gigante missed. Despite the failure, his progress through the criminal ladder continued, over time, Vincent became a godfather, and later, in the early 80s, a console player. After the conviction of the big mafia boss Tony Salerno, it was Giganto who became the new leader of the clan. But what caused such a rise? In the late 60s, Vincent avoided going to jail by pretending to be crazy. In the future, the bandit continued to maintain this image - it cost him nothing to walk along the streets of his native city in pajamas. This fact has given Giganta nicknames such as "King of Pajamas" and "The Weird". Only after his conviction in 2003 for extortion did the offender admit that his mental health was in perfect order. Thanks to lawyers and poor health, Gigante was supposed to be released from prison in 2010, but the heart of the mafia could not stand it, and on December 19, 2005, Vincent died. The prototype of Vincent Giganto was used in one of the episodes of the series "Law & Order", as well as in the 1999 film "Bonanno: The Godfather's Story".

Albert Anastasia (1903-1957). This mafia representative was born, like many of his colleagues, in Italy, but moved to America as a child. Albert's career began with the murder of a longshoreman on the Brooklyn docks. The killer began to serve his sentence in the famous Sing Sing prison, but soon the only witness mysteriously died and Anastasia was released without serving his sentence. Albert earned the nicknames "Lord Executioner" and "The Mad Hatter" for his many murders. Over time, the criminal got into the Joe Masseria gang, who just needed a cold-blooded killer. However, Albert was very friendly with rival Charlie "Lucky", so Masseria's betrayal became a matter of time. It was Anastasia who became one of the four sent to kill the boss in 1931. Already in 1944, Albert became the leader of a group of killers, which even got its name "Murder, Inc." The perpetrator himself was never prosecuted for the murders, but according to authorities, his group was directly related to at least 400 deaths. The 50s raised Albert to the status of the leader of the Luciano family, however, at the direction of Carlo Gambino, Anastasia was killed in 1957. The prototype of this mafioso became the basis for the films "Murder, Inc" with Peter Falk and Howard Smith in 1960, as well as "The Valacci Papers" in 1972 and "Lepke" in 1975.

Joseph Bonanno (1905-2002). And this bandit was born in Italy, his homeland in 1905 was the island of Sicily. Already at the age of 15, the boy was left an orphan, and when he was 19, he fled from the fascist regime of Mussolini, first to Cuba, and from there to the United States. The young man soon became known as "Joey Bananas", becoming a member of the Maranzano family. Maranzano managed to form a "Commission", which managed to establish control over the mafia families in Italy itself. However, Luciano soon killed his competitor. Bonanno gradually amassed a large capital by running cheese factories, as well as a tailoring and funeral business. Only now, Joseph's plans to gradually eliminate the rest of the families did not come true. Bonanno was stolen, it took him 19 days to come to a decision to retire. But this decision allowed Joseph to live a long life. As a result, the bandit has never been convicted of anything serious in his career. It was about Bonanno that two films were made: Love, Honor and Obedience: The Last Mafia Alliance, 1993 with Ben Gazarra in the title role and Bonanno: The Godfather Story, 1999 with Martin Landau.

Arthur Flegenheimer (1902-1935). This mobster became known by his nickname "Dutch Schultz". He was born in the Bronx in 1902. Even in his youth, Arthur became the organizer of Crap games, which he tried to impress boss Marcelo Poffo. Already at the age of 17, the young man went to prison, having been convicted of theft. Soon Arthur realized that the only way to earn money for him was to sell alcohol during the era of prohibition, or bootlegging. The bandit tried to enter the newly formed criminal syndicate, but in doing so he made serious enemies in the person of Capone and Luciano. In 1933, Arthur flees to New Jersey from justice. After his return in 1935, the mafiosi are killed by Albert Anastasia's henchmen. Glorified Dutch Schultz Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 film "Billy Bathgate", another reflection was in the "Hooligan" in 1997 with Tim Roth. The image of a bandit is also found in the films "Gangster Wars" in 1981, "Cotton Club" in 1984 and "Natural Gift" of the same year.

John Gotti (1940-2002). This gangster stands out from all the New York celebrities of this kind. John was born in 1940 and has always been considered smart. Already at the age of 16, Gotti was a member of the Fulton Rockaway Boys street gang. John's talents allowed him to quickly become the leader of the group. In the 60s, "Guys" traded in petty theft, and car theft. However, this was clearly not enough for Gotti, in the early 70s he was already the godfather of the Bergin group, which was part of the Gambino family. Gotti's ambitions pushed him to dangerous moves even among the mafia - he began to distribute drugs, which was prohibited by the rules of the family. Not surprisingly, boss Paul Castellano decided to expel Gotti from his organization. However, in 1985, John and his henchmen managed to kill Castellano and personally lead the Gambino family. Although law enforcement New Yorkers have repeatedly tried to convict Gotti, the charges invariably failed. The mafia himself always looked presentable, which the media liked. It was they who gave the gangster the nicknames "Elegant Don" and "Teflon Don". The police only got to Gotti in 1992, convicting him of murder. The gangster's life was cut short in 2002, he died of cancer. The life of a mafia has been repeatedly embodied in the cinema - he was played by Antonio Denilson in the film "Getting to Gotti" in 1994, Armand Assante in "Gotti" in 1996. Yes, and in the 1998 tapes "Mafia Witness" with Tom Sizemur and "The Big Robbery" in 2001 are not did without the participation of a well-known bandit.

Meyer Lansky (1902-1983). In 1902, the boy Mayer Sachovlyansky was born in Russia, who was to become famous american gangster. In 1911, he moved to New York with his parents. Even in childhood, Meyer became a friend of Charles Luciano. He demanded money from a stranger for patronage, but Lansky refused. There was a fight, the result of which was ... friendship between the boys. After some time, Bugsy Segal joined the guys, who was introduced to the company by Meyer. The friendly trinity became the core of the Bug and Meyer group, which later grew into the famous Murder, Inc. First, Lansky took up gambling and the money that goes with it. The arena of his actions was Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. Meyer became an investor in Seagal's casino, which he opened in Las Vegas, the mafia even bought an offshore Swiss bank in order to better launder money. When the National Crime Syndicate was formed in America, it was Lansky who was its co-founder. However, business is business, when Bugsy Segal stopped giving money to the Syndicate, Lansky ordered the murder of his old friend in cold blood. Gambling houses all over the world were racketed by Lansky's guys, but he did not spend a single day in prison. The role of Meyer Lansky was brilliantly portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss in 1999's Lansky and also by Nyman Roth in 1974's The Godfather II. Played gangster Mark Rydel in "Havana" in 1990, Patrick Dempsey in "Gangsters" and Ben Kingsley in "Bugsy" in 1991.

Frank Costello (1891-1973). And this gangster was born in Italy, having moved to the USA at the age of four. Already at the age of 13, Francesco Castilla becomes a member of a criminal gang, changing his name to a more sonorous one - Frank Costello. After his prison term, he becomes Charlie Luciano's best friend. This couple took up the organization of gambling and bootlegging together. Costello's influence was based on the fact that he connected the mafia and politicians. Frank was friendly with Democrat Tammany Hall, which allowed him to avoid persecution by the New York police. Luciano's arrest made Costello a man in law. Strained relations in Vito Genovese led to the fact that he tried to kill Costello in the mid-50s. This entailed a departure from the affairs of Frank, who died quietly in retirement in 1973. Costello's image the best way embodied by James Andronika in the 1981 film Gangster Chronicles. It is worth noting the work of Jack Nicholson in The Departed in 2006, Carmine Caridi in Bugsy and Costas Mobsters in Gangsters in 1991.

Benjamin "Bugsy" Segal (1906-1947) The future gangster was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, where he met Meyer Lansky. The nickname "Bugsy" came from the unpredictable nature of the bandit. Seagal committed many murders for Charlie Luciano, which made him a bunch of enemies. Not surprisingly, in the late 30s, Bugsy fled to Los Angeles, where he managed to make many acquaintances among Hollywood stars. After the passage of the Nevada gambling law, Seagal borrowed millions of dollars from the Syndicate and founded the Flamingo Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, one of the first in the city. However, the business did not turn out to be profitable, when the criminal colleagues discovered that Seagal simply stole their money, Bugsy was killed. Best of all, the image of Benjamin Segal was embodied by Warren Beatty in the film "Bugsy" in 1991 and Armand Assante in "The Married Man" in 1991.

Carlo Gambino (1902-1976). The Gambino family has been part of the mafia clan for several centuries. Who could be Carlo, if not a gangster? He began killing on demand at the age of 19. In Italy at that time Mussolini began to gain strength, so Gambino emigrated to America, where his cousin, Paul Costellano, was waiting for him. Carlo consisted of contrasts, many of the criminals considered him a coward in general, there is a case when Anastasia publicly hit him for a mistake. Gambino himself preferred to appear misunderstood. The 1940s brought the extradition of Luciano, and Albert Anastasia took his place. However, Carlo could not accept this state of affairs, and in 1957 he gave the order to kill an opponent. Vito Genovese quickly climbed into the "warm" place, who planned that Gambino would get all the dirty work. However, from the very beginning, he planned to remove a new opponent. Soon he went to jail on a fabricated drug case. Carlo Gambino became the new boss of the family, which he kept in "hedgehogs" until his death in 1976. Many films have been made about Gambino - "Boss of Bosses" in 2001 with Al Ruccio. "Between Love and Honor" 1995, "Gotti" 1996 and "Bonanno: The Godfather Story" 1999.

Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (1897-1962). Salvatore Luciania was born in Sicily. 9 years after his birth, in 1906, the whole family moved to the USA, to New York. Time passed, and now Charlie became a member of the Five Points gang, controlling prostitution and racketeering in Manhattan. In 1929, an attempt was made on Luciano's life, and he decided to create the National Crime Syndicate in order to protect himself from the attacks of competitors. On the way to the execution of his plans, there were no special obstacles; by 1935, "Lucky" Luciano also became known as the "Boss of Bosses" not only in his city, but throughout the States. However, the police did not doze off, in 1936 the gangster was sentenced to prison for a term of 30 to 50 years. However, bribes and lawyers did their job - in 1946, Charlie was released from prison, on condition that he leaves the country. The influence of the mafiosi was so great that during the Second World War, even the US Navy turned to him for assistance in order to assist them in landing in Italy. Luciano died in 1962 due to a heart attack. The gangster was portrayed by Christian Slater in 1991's Gangsters, Bill Graham in 1991's Bugsy, and Anthony LaPaglia in 1999's Lansky.

Al Capone (1899-1947). This gangster deserves to be number one, because his name is known to everyone. Alphonse Capone was born in Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents. After some time, the young man joined the Five Points gang, where he played the role of a bouncer. It was then that they gave Capone the nickname "Scarface". In 1919, in search of new challenges, the gangster moved to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio. This allowed Capone to quickly move up the criminal hierarchy. During Prohibition, Capone did not disdain to engage not only in bootlegging and gambling, but also in prostitution. In 1925, the gangster is only 26 years old, but he is already the head of the Torrey family and is not afraid to start a family war. Capone became famous not only for his pomp and vanity, but also for his cruelty and intelligence. Suffice it to recall the famous massacre that took place during the celebration of St. Valentine's Day in 1929, during which many leaders of criminal gangs were destroyed. The police managed to arrest Al Capone for... tax evasion! This was done in 1931 by federal tax agent Eliot Nass. In 1934, the gangster ended up in the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he left 7 years later, already terminally ill with syphilis. Capone lost his influence, friends preferred to tell him fictional stories about the true state of affairs. Many films have been made about Capone, the most famous of which are 1967's Valentine's Day Massacre with Jason Robards, 1975's Capone with Ben Gazarra, and 1987's The Untouchables with Robert De Niro.

Tony Accardo "Big Tuna" (1906-1992). Tony was the boss of the Chicago mob for more than ten years, from the very end of World War II. At this time, his competitors left the scene - Paul Ricca went to jail, and Frank Nitti committed suicide. And he went to the first roles of Accardo during the time of Capone, being at first his bodyguard. It was Tony who, in 1931, became the prime suspect in the murder of his boss' rival, Joe Aillo. Accardo is also credited with participating in the famous massacre on Valentine's Day. After Capone's capture, Tony became the right hand of the new boss, Frank Nitti. They say that it was Accardo who eventually managed to introduce the Chicago family into the gambling business, he also "established" the entertainment and industrial racket. Tony remained a powerful member of the Family for a long time. When Giancana fled the country in 1966, Accardo returned to his familiar leadership role. As a result, Accardo retired from business in the 80s, leaving for California. There he died on May 27, 1992.

Bernardo Provenzano (b. 1933). Bernardo Provenzano was born in the small Sicilian village of Corleone, into a poor peasant family. Already in his youth he became a member of the Corleone clan. The words of the boss of the division of this clan, Luciano Liggio, are known that Bernardo "shoots like an angel, but thinks like a chicken." The rise of Provenzano's career dates back to 1958, when his boss's main rival was assassinated. The next 10 years brought Provenzano a link to a dozen more crimes and murders. He was put on the wanted list, but the police did not even try to look for him for the first twenty years. Provenzano gained power and authority, eventually capturing the entire illegal business of Palermo - prostitution, arms, drugs, gambling. As a result, by the end of the 80s, the entire local cosa nostra passed into the hands of Bernardo and his accomplice, Salvatore Riina. Provenzano was nicknamed The Beast, The Accountant, and The Bulldozer. The last nickname testifies to his intractability and uncompromisingness. Although they say that this is evidence of how he steps over people. Nevertheless, Provenzano was an excellent leader. In the early 90s, the Italian authorities declared war on the mafia, making a number of high-profile arrests. It was then that the active hunt for Provenzano began. By the time of his arrest in 2006, the police had only a 1959 photo in their hands. So, Bernardo Provenzano is caught. The all-powerful Boss of Sicilian mafia bosses appeared as a 73-year-old man in jeans and a sweater. The mafia was sentenced in absentia a long time ago, he will spend the rest of his days in prison.

Giuseppe Antonio Doto "Joe Adonis" (1906-1971). Adonis was born in 1906, near Naples. A common story at that time - the boy's family sent him to America. Giuseppe's criminal career began with notorious gangsters Frank Yal and Anthony Pisano. After Yalo's death in 1928, Adonis and friends joined the Pisano family as the most famous Neapolitans working in the criminal sphere in New York in the 20s. Adonis attended the 1929 Atlantic City national bootlegging deal, later joining Charlie Luciano's group. Giuseppe eliminated competitors - Maceria and Salvatore Maranzano, which allowed the reorganized group led by him to take his place in the underworld. Exact location in the hierarchy of the Adonis Family remained incomprehensible. One thing is clear - he played a prominent role in the Mangano family. As a result, Adonis was involved in everything - racketeering, drugs, alcohol, gambling. It was Giuseppe who was responsible for the relations of the Family with other groups, including non-Italian ones. Adonis was trusted, he was Frank Costello's confidant and even the arbiter of all mafia affairs. Giuseppe was in the hands of the New Jersey gambling business, at one time the mafiosi even supported Robert Kennedy himself. Adonis died a natural death in Ancona, Italy in 1971. True, the body of the mafia was transported to America for burial.