The coolest gangsters in the world. Mafia: ten most brutal and influential killers

I suggest you look at the faces of the most famous leaders of criminal gangs in the world, because it is precisely these people who are said to be better never to meet in person in your life. Although all these crime bosses look very different, they all head the largest criminal organizations in different corners of our planet.

One of the bosses of the Mara 18 organized crime group, Marlon Martinez, is on trial in Guatemala, where he is accused of murder. March 30, 2011

"Mara 18" is the largest Latin American gang Los Angeles. It appeared in the 1960s among immigrants from Mexico and still maintains ties with the drug cartels of this country. The group consists of up to 90 thousand people operating in the United States, Mexico and Central America.

The 'Ndrangheta was formed in the poorest province of Italy, Calabria. It is considered one of the most successful Italian organized crime groups. According to some reports, the 'Ndrangheta's revenues amount to up to three percent of the country's GDP.

One of the leaders of the Marseille mafia, 75-year-old Jacques Imbert, after being released from prison on April 8, 2005.

Imber was part of the Three Ducks gang, which was especially influential in the 1950s and 60s. In 1977, an attempt was made on his life, which formed the basis of the film “22 Bullets: Immortal.”

The alleged leader of the Slavic criminal groups in Moscow, Alexey Petrov, nicknamed Lenya the Kricky. September 19, 2011

According to unofficial data, Petrov was elected leader of the Slavic groups in Moscow in 2009 after the murder of Vyacheslav Ivankov, also known as Yaponchik.

One of the alleged leaders of the Tambov organized crime group, Yuri Salikov, is being taken to court spanish city Palma de Mallorca. June 14, 2008

The Tambov organized crime group appeared in St. Petersburg in the late 1980s and in the next decade actually controlled the criminal life of the city. Its creator is considered to be businessman Vladimir Barsukov (Kumarin), who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for extortion.

One of the alleged leaders of the Tambov organized crime group, Gennady Petrov, is being taken to court in the Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca. June 14, 2008

Petrov, like several other Russian citizens, were detained by Spanish authorities during Operation Troika. They are considered the organizers of an operation to launder criminal money from the Tambov organized crime group. Petrov calls himself a businessman. He has lived in Spain since the early 1990s. In 2012, Petrov left for Russia and refused to return to Spain.

Bonanno family boss from New York, Vincent "Handsome Vinnie" Basiano.

The Bonanno family is one of the five Italian-American Mafia families that control the New York City underworld. The remaining families are the Gambino, Genovese, Colombo and Lucchese clans. Basiano has been serving a life sentence for murder since 2011.

Gigante was boss of the Genovese clan from 1981 until his death in 2005. In the early 1990s, he was considered America's most powerful gangster. To avoid trial, Gigante feigned insanity and often walked around New York in a robe and slippers, muttering something inarticulate to himself. In 1997, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and died in custody.

Retired yakuza boss Shinji Ishihara opens up about his criminal past to reporters. April 5, 2006

Ishihara served in one of the largest gangster syndicates in the world, the Yamaguchi-gumi, which has several tens of thousands of members. The group's headquarters are located in Kobe. Unlike many other organized crime groups, members of the yakuza are allowed to “retire,” as Ishihara did after serving his next term.

Funeral of the leader of the Taiwanese group "Bamboo Union" Chen Chili, nicknamed the Duck King, in Taipei. October 18, 2007

The Bamboo Union, or Zhuliangban in Chinese, is the largest organized crime group in Taiwan. It belongs to the triads, as the Chinese call it criminal groups or secret societies. The Bamboo Union maintains close ties with the nationalists of the Kuomintang party and shares their political platform.

The leader of the Hong Kong branch of the 14K group in Macau, Wan Quokkoi, nicknamed Broken Tooth, is being taken to court on November 23, 1999

14K is considered the largest triad in Hong Kong and in the world. It has about 20 thousand members and also operates in Europe and North America. 14K controls the supply of heroin and opium from Southeast Asia. The group is known for its clear management hierarchy and brutality.

The grave of Aslan Usoyan, better known as Ded Hasan, at the Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow. January 20, 2013

Usoyan is believed to have headed ethnic Caucasian criminal groups operating in Russia. At the same time, it is known about conflicts between his clan and other gangs led by immigrants from Transcaucasia. Usoyan was shot dead in Moscow by an unknown sniper on January 16, 2013.

The leader of the Taiwanese triad was forced to flee his home island when the authorities decided to limit the influence of criminal groups. Chen Chili moved to Cambodia and even became an adviser to the government. He lived in a huge villa on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, where large caches of weapons were discovered.

Cosa Nostra is one of the most famous groups Italian mafia. She appeared in late XIX century and is considered the inventor of racketeering. Cosa Nostra does not have a rigid structure. The group consists of numerous clans that control their territory.

Abroad, Kalashov is often called a representative of the Russian mafia, although sometimes also a Georgian crime boss. He began his criminal activities back in the Soviet Union. He is considered a supporter of the late leader of the Caucasian clans, Aslan Usoyan. Since 2010, Kalashov has been serving a prison sentence in Spain, which has already agreed to extradite him to Georgia, where he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

One of the leaders of the Italian 'Ndrangheta group, Pasquale Condello, after his arrest. February 19, 2008

Condello was on the run for about twenty years. All this time he lived in his hometown of Reggio Calabria. During his criminal career, he managed to earn at least $57 million. In any case, the real estate he owns is valued at that amount. Condello is accused of murdering the head of Italy's national railway company.

Sinaloa drug cartel member Juan Miguel Allier Beltran at a press conference at police headquarters in Tijuana. January 20, 2011

American intelligence agencies consider Sinaloa the most powerful drug cartel in the world. It comes from the state of the same name on the Pacific coast of Mexico. During the 1990s - 2000s, Sinaloa supplied more than 200 tons of cocaine to the United States. The cartel also produces significant quantities of opiates and marijuana.

Salvatore Micheli, who was in charge Sicilian mafia for international drug trafficking, at Caracas airport before extradition to Italy. June 30, 2009

Miceli was considered a kind of foreign minister in Cosa Nostra. He was responsible for the supply of cocaine, heroin and other drugs produced in other regions of the world, primarily in Latin America, to Europe.

One of the leaders of the Tijuana cartel, Gilberto Higuera Guerrero, in Mexico City before extradition to the United States. January 20, 2007

The Tijuana drug cartel from the Mexican state of Baja California ranks third in drug trafficking in the United States. He is a principal competitor of the Sinaloa cartel. In the mid-2000s, a significant number of Tijuana leaders were arrested and handed over to American authorities.

Joseph "Giuseppe" Bonanno is the founder of the eponymous crime family in New York. 1960s

Bonanno is considered one of the main prototypes of Vito Corleone, the main character of the crime saga “The Godfather”. Bonanno never spent long periods behind bars during his tumultuous career. He died in 2002 at age 97 in Tucson, Arizona, from heart failure.

The leader of the Corleone clan from the Sicilian city of the same name, Gaetano Riina, after his arrest in Palermo on July 1, 2011

The Corleone clan, which gave its name to the character of the famous film trilogy, for a long time is main family"Cosa Nostra" Its leaders bear the title of "boss of bosses." The town of Corleone with a population of 12 thousand people is located in the hills south of Palermo at an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level.

The leader of the branch of the organized crime group “Mara Salvatrucha” in the Salvadoran city of Quezaltepeque, nicknamed El Diabolico, and the leaders of the local branch of the organized crime group “Mara 18” announce a truce in the prison of the same city. January 31, 2013

Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is one of the most violent Latin American groups. It was formed in Los Angeles among Salvadoran emigrants who fled civil war, operates in California and Central America and, according to various sources, has from 50 to 80 thousand fighters. Distinctive feature Members of the Mara Salvatrucha have numerous tattoos, often covering the entire body.

Police escort to Bangkok Indian Criminal Court crime boss Rajendra Nikalje, nicknamed "Little Rajan" (Chhota Rajan), after an attempt on his life. September 28, 2000.

Rajendra Nikalje was originally a member of the group of crime boss Dawood Ibrahim, which the media calls D-Company. The gang operated in Mumbai, but then spread its influence throughout South Asia. After a quarrel with his boss, Nikalje collaborated with Indian intelligence agencies to weaken Ibrahim in exchange for information about plans to assassinate him. The Ibrahim and Nikalje gangs, like other Indian criminals, launder money by investing it in the production of films in Bollywood.

Former leader of the Tijuana drug cartel Benjamin Arellano Felix.

Felix was arrested in March 2002 in Mexico and extradited to the United States. In April 2012, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for extortion and money laundering. After serving his sentence, he is expected to be returned to Mexico, where he faces another 22 years in prison.

Abu Salem initially collaborated with the Mumbai group D-Company, but then began to act independently. He is accused of numerous murders and participation in terrorist attacks. In 2007, Abu Salem was extradited to India by Portugal. Subsequently, Lisbon reconsidered this decision, but Delhi refused to return Abu Salem to Europe. He has not yet been sentenced.

Colluccio belongs to an influential mafia clan. His brother Giuseppe was one of the leaders of the 'Ndrangheta in Toronto, Canada, and was involved in the supply of cocaine to Europe. Salvatore was wanted for four years. He was found in a bunker equipped with an electric generator and supplied with significant supplies of water and food for self-sufficient living.

The Gambino clan was once the most powerful of the five mafia families of New York. Both infighting and FBI scrutiny contributed to its gradual decline. The last major operation against the family, which led to the arrest of several capos, took place in 2011, when a network of forced prostitution of women from Eastern Europe was uncovered.

Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed Yaponchik, leaves the Moscow City Court building after the jury found him not involved in the murder of two Turkish citizens. July 19, 2005

Ivankov, until his death in 2009, was considered the leader of the Slavic criminal groups in Moscow. In 1997, he was convicted in the United States for extortion, and after serving his sentence in 2005, he returned to Russia. In July 2009, he was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt and died a few months later from complications caused by the wound.

One of the leaders of the Tijuana drug cartel, Eduardo Arellano Felix, is in custody in Mexico City. October 26, 2008

After the arrest of the three Arellano Felix brothers, that is, Eduardo, Javier and Benjamin, as well as the death of Ramon in a shootout with the police, the cartel was led by the youngest of the brothers, Luis, nicknamed the Engineer. Mexican authorities promise to pay $2.5 million for help in his capture.

A graduate of the journalism department of Moscow State University, Lerner served 11 years in the Soviet Union for financial fraud in student construction brigades. In 1998, he was convicted of stealing money from Russian banks. Since 2006, he has been in an Israeli prison for creating a financial pyramid and stealing money from investors.

Former Gambino family underboss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano takes the oath of office in his corruption trial in professional boxing. April 1, 1993

In 1991, Gravano became the highest-ranking member of the mafia to break his vow of omerta silence and cooperate with the authorities. Based on his testimony, Gambino clan boss John Gotti was sentenced to life in prison. In 1995, Gravano, who moved to Arizona, refused to participate in the witness protection program. He published an autobiography and then went into drug trafficking, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He has been serving his sentence since 2002.

Former Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino.

Massino became the first boss of five New York families to make a plea deal. In 2004, he was sentenced to death based on the testimony of his comrades, including his deputy Salvatore Vitale. In 2011, Massino, in order to earn the right to life, in turn, acted as a witness in the case of his successor Vincent Basiano.

The boss of the largest yakuza syndicate "Yamaguchi-gumi" Kenichi Shinoda after serving a six-year prison sentence for illegal possession of a pistol. April 9, 2011

Shinoda holds the title of kumicho, or supreme "godfather", of the largest group of the Japanese mafia. He is the sixth boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi since its founding in 1915. The Synod is characterized externally democratic style manuals. In particular, he prefers to travel by public transport rather than in a limousine with a personal driver.

From here

It has been operating in Sicily since the beginning of the 19th century, becoming an international organization at the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, the organization was engaged in the protection of owners of orange plantations and nobles who owned large land plots, mostly from themselves. These were the beginnings of racketeering. Later, Cosa Nostra expanded its area of ​​activity, becoming a criminal group in all respects. Since the 20th century, banditry has become the main activity of Cosa Nostra.

2. Russian mafia

This is officially the most feared organized crime group. Former FBI special agents call the Russian mafia "the most dangerous people on Earth." In the West, the term “Russian mafia” can mean any criminal organizations, both Russian and from other countries post-Soviet space, or from the immigration environment in foreign countries. Some people get hierarchical tattoos, often use military tactics and carry out contract killings.

3. Mexican Mafia (La eMe)

This gang is an ally of the Aryan Brotherhood from the south coast of the United States. Known for her active participation in drug trafficking. Gang members are easily identified by a special tattoo in the form of a black hand located on the chest.

The Mexican Mafia was created in the late 50s by members of a Mexican street gang incarcerated in Deuel Prison, located in Trici, California. The gang was founded by thirteen Mexican-Americans from East Los Angeles, several of whom were members of the Marawila gang. They called themselves Mexicanemi, which translates from the Nahuatl language as “the one who walks with God in the heart.”

4. Yakuza

The Yakuza are organized crime syndicates in Japan, similar to the Triad in other Asian countries or the Western Mafia. Nevertheless, social organization and the work characteristics of the Yakuza are very different from other criminal groups: they even have their own office buildings, and their actions are often and completely openly written about in the press.

One of the iconic images of the Yakuza is their intricate, colorful tattoos all over their bodies. The Yakuza use a traditional method of manually injecting ink under the skin, known as irezumi, as a form of proof of bravery as the method is quite painful.

5. Chinese Triad

The triad is a form of secret criminal organizations in China and the Chinese diaspora. Triads have always had common beliefs (belief in mystical meaning numbers 3, which is where their name comes from). Currently, triads are known primarily as mafia-style criminal organizations found in Taiwan, the United States and other Chinese immigration centers, specializing in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

"Triad" is one of the most patriotic mafias. During international events, militants guarantee the safety of foreigners, and during the SARS outbreak they even announced a $1 million bonus to a doctor who finds a cure for this disease.

6. Hell's Angels (USA)

One of the world's largest motorcycle clubs, with its chapters (branches) all over the world. It is included, along with Outlaws MC, Pagans MC and Bandidos MC, in the so-called “Big Four” outlaw clubs and is the most famous among them.

Law enforcement agencies in a number of countries call the club a “motorcycle gang” and accuse them of drug trafficking, racketeering, trafficking in stolen goods, violence, murder, etc.

According to the legend posted on the official website of the motorcycle club, during the Second World War, the American Air Force had a 303rd heavy bomber squadron called “Hell’s Angels”. After the end of the war and the disbandment of the unit, the pilots were left without work. They believe that their homeland betrayed them and left them to their fate. They had no choice but to go against their own " cruel country, get on motorcycles, join motorcycle clubs and rebel.”

7. Mara Salvatrucha

This mafia is involved in many types of criminal businesses, including trafficking in drugs, weapons and people; robberies, racketeering, contract killings, kidnappings for ransom, pimping, car thefts, money laundering and fraud.

Many street vendors and small shops located in the Mara Salvatrucha territories pay the gang up to half of their income for the opportunity to work. Many Salvadorans living in the United States are also forced to pay to MS-13; if they refuse, the bandits will mutilate or kill their relatives in their homeland.

8. Montreal Mafia Rizzuto

The Rizzuto are a crime family that is primarily based in Montreal but operates in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. They once merged with families in New York, which ultimately led to the mafia wars in Montreal in the late 70s. Rizzuto owns hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate in different countries. They own hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, construction, food, service and trading companies. In Italy they own companies producing furniture and Italian delicacies.

9. Mungiki (Kenya)

This is a Kenyan banned (since 2002) political-religious group that revives traditional African religion. Originated in the wake of the Mau Mau uprising. She gained notoriety in connection with massacres and clashes with the police.

Mungiki considers itself a religious group that advocates for the preservation of traditional "African way of worship, culture and way of life." Its adherents pray, turning their faces towards Mount Kenya. They also practice vows and sacrifices.

The shady underground world of the mafia has captured the imagination of people for many years. The luxurious but criminal lifestyle of thieves' groups has become an ideal for many. But why are we so fascinated by these men and women who are, in essence, just bandits living at the expense of those who are unable to defend themselves?

The fact is that the mafia is not just some organized criminal group. Gangsters are seen as heroes rather than the villains they truly are. The criminal lifestyle looks like something out of a Hollywood movie. Sometimes it's a Hollywood movie: many of them are based on real events from the life of the mafia. In the cinema, crime is ennobled, and it already seems to the viewer that these bandits are heroes who died in vain. As America gradually forgets about the days of Prohibition, it is also forgotten that bandits were looked upon as saviors who fought against an evil government. They were the Robin Hoods of the working class, pitted against impossible and strict laws. In addition, people tend to admire the powerful, rich and beautiful people and idealize them.

However, not everyone is given such charisma, and many major politicians are hated rather than admired by everyone. Gangsters know how to use their charm to appear more attractive to society. It is based on heritage, on family history associated with emigration, poverty and unemployment. The classic rags to riches storyline has captivated attention for centuries. There are at least fifteen such heroes in the history of the mafia.

Frank Costello

Frank Costello was from Italy, like many other famous mafiosi. He headed the feared and famous Luciano family in the criminal world. Frank moved to New York at the age of four and, as soon as he grew up, immediately found his place in the world of crime, leading gangs. When the infamous Charles "Lucky" Luciano went to prison in 1936, Costello quickly rose through the ranks to lead the Luciano clan, later known as the Genovese clan.

He was called the Prime Minister because he ruled the criminal world and really wanted to get into politics, connecting the Mafia and Tammany Hall, political society US Democratic Party in New York. The ubiquitous Costello ran casinos and gaming clubs throughout the country, as well as in Cuba and other Caribbean islands. He was extremely popular and respected among his people. Vito Corleone, the hero of the 1972 film The Godfather, is believed to be based on Costello. Of course, he also had enemies: in 1957, an attempt was made on his life, during which the mafioso was wounded in the head, but miraculously survived. He died only in 1973 from a heart attack.

Jack Diamond

Jack "Legs" Diamond was born in Philadelphia in 1897. He was a significant figure during Prohibition and a leader of organized crime in the United States. Earning the nickname Legs for his ability to quickly evade pursuit and extravagant dancing, Diamond was also known for unprecedented cruelty and murder. His criminal escapades in New York went down in history, as did his liquor smuggling organizations in and around the city.

Realizing that this was very profitable, Diamond moved on to larger prey, organizing truck robberies and opening underground liquor stores. But it was the order to kill the famous gangster Nathan Kaplan that helped him strengthen his status in the world of crime, putting him on a par with such serious guys as Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz, who later stood in his way. Although Diamond was feared, he became a target himself on several occasions, earning the nicknames Skeet and the Unkillable Man due to his ability to get away with it every time. But one day his luck ran out and he was shot dead in 1931. Diamond's killer was never found.

John Gotti

Known for leading New York's notorious and virtually invulnerable Gambino Mafia family during the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, John Joseph Gotti Jr. became one of the most powerful men in the Mafia. He grew up in poverty, one of thirteen children. He quickly joined the criminal atmosphere, becoming the six of the local gangster and his mentor Aniello Dellacroce. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was crushed to death by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the incident was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was later attacked with a baseball bat. A few months later, Favara disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and his body has still not been found.

With his impeccable good looks and stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly became a tabloid darling, earning the nickname The Teflon Don. He was in and out of prison, it was difficult to catch him red-handed, and each time he ended up behind bars for short term. However, in 1990, thanks to wiretaps and inside information, the FBI finally caught Gotti and charged him with murder and extortion. Gotti died in prison in 2002 from laryngeal cancer and at the end of his life he faintly resembled the Teflon Don who never left the pages of the tabloids.

Frank Sinatra

That's right, Sinatra himself was once an alleged associate of gangster Sam Giancana and even the ubiquitous Lucky Luciano. He once stated: “If it weren’t for my interest in music, I probably would have ended up in the criminal world.” Sinatra was exposed as having ties to the mafia when his participation in the so-called Havana Conference, a mafia meeting in 1946, became known. Newspaper headlines then shouted: “Shame on Sinatra!” Sinatra’s double life became known not only to newspaper reporters, but also to the FBI, which had been monitoring the singer since the beginning of his career. His personal file contained 2,403 pages of interactions with the mafia.

What stirred the public the most was his relationship with John F. Kennedy before he became president. Sinatra allegedly used his contacts in the criminal world to help the future leader in the presidential election campaign. The mafia lost faith in Sinatra because of his friendship with Robert Kennedy, who was involved in the fight against organized crime, and Giancana turned his back on the singer. Then the FBI calmed down a little. Despite obvious evidence and information linking Sinatra to such major mafia figures, the singer himself often denied any relationship with gangsters, calling such statements a lie.

Mickey Cohen

Myer "Mickey" Harris Cohen has been a pain in the LAPD's ass for years. He had a stake in every branch of organized crime in Los Angeles and several other states. Cohen was born in New York but moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was six years old. After starting a promising career in boxing, Cohen abandoned the sport to follow the path of crime and ended up in Chicago, where he worked for the famous Al Capone.

After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent to Los Angeles under the patronage of the famous Las Vegas gangster Bugsy Siegel. Siegel's murder struck a nerve with the sensitive Cohen, and the police began to take notice of the violent and hot-tempered bandit. After several assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a fortress, installing alarm systems, floodlights and bulletproof gates, and hiring Johnny Stompanato, who was then dating Hollywood actress Lana Turner, as a bodyguard.

In 1961, when Cohen was still influential, he was convicted of tax evasion and sent to the famous Alcatraz prison. He became the only prisoner who was released from this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts and constant manhunt, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.

Henry Hill

Henry Hill inspired the creators of one of the best films about the mafia - “Goodfellas”. It was he who said the phrase: “For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become a gangster.” Hill was born in New York in 1943 into an honest, working family with no connections to the mafia. However, in his youth he joined the Lucchese clan due to large quantity bandits in his area. He began to quickly advance in his career, but due to the fact that he was of both Irish and Italian descent, he could not occupy a high position.

Once Hill was arrested for beating a gambler who refused to pay the money he lost and was sentenced to ten years in prison. It was then that he realized that the lifestyle he led in freedom was essentially similar to that behind bars, and he constantly received some kind of preferences. After his release, Hill became seriously involved in selling drugs, which led to his arrest. He surrendered his entire gang and overthrew several very influential gangsters. He entered the federal witness protection program in 1980, but blew his cover two years later and the program ended. Despite this, he managed to live to the age of 69. Hill died in 2012 from heart problems.

James Bulger

Another Alcatraz veteran is James Bulger, nicknamed Whitey. He received this nickname because of his silky blond hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and from the very beginning caused a lot of problems for his parents, running away from home several times and once even joining a traveling circus. Bulger was first arrested at the age of 14, but this did not stop him, and by the end of the 1970s he found himself in the criminal underground.

Bulger worked for a mafia clan, but at the same time was an FBI informant and told the police about the affairs of the once famous Patriarca clan. As Bulger expanded his own criminal network, police began to pay more attention to him rather than the information he provided. As a result, Bulger had to escape from Boston, and he ended up on the list of the most wanted criminals for fifteen years.

Bulger was caught in 2011 and charged with several crimes, including 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug trafficking. After a trial that lasted two months, the notorious gang leader was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences and an additional five years, and Boston could finally rest easy.

Bugsy Siegel

Known for his Las Vegas casino and criminal empire, Benjamin Siegelbaum, known in the criminal world as Bugsy Siegel, is one of the most notorious gangsters in the world. modern history. Starting with a mediocre Brooklyn gang, young Bugsy met another aspiring bandit, Meer Lansky, and created the Murder Inc. group, specializing in contract killings. It included gangsters of Jewish origin.

Becoming increasingly famous in the world of crime, Siegel sought to kill old New York gangsters and even had a hand in eliminating Joe “The Boss” Masseria. After years of smuggling and gunfights on the West Coast, Siegel began making money large sums and gained connections in Hollywood. A real star he became thanks to his Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The $1.5 million project was financed from the bandit common fund, but during construction the estimate was significantly exceeded. Siegel's old friend and partner Lansky decided that Siegel was stealing funds and partially investing in legal businesses. He was brutally murdered in his own home, riddled with bullets, and Lansky quickly took over management of the Flamingo Hotel, denying any involvement in the murder.

Vito Genovese

Vito Genovese, known as Don Vito, was an Italian-American gangster who rose to fame during Prohibition and beyond. He was also called the Boss of Bosses and led the famous Genovese clan. He is famous for making heroin a popular drug.

Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Quickly joining criminal circles, Genovese soon met Lucky Luciano, and together they destroyed their rival, gangster Salvatore Maranzano. Escaping from the police, Genovese returned to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II, making friends with Benito Mussolini himself. Upon his return, he immediately returned to his old lifestyle, seizing power in the world of crime and once again becoming the man everyone feared. In 1959, he was accused of drug trafficking and sent to prison for 15 years. In 1969, Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.

Lucky Luciano

Charles Luciano, nicknamed Lucky, was seen many times in criminal adventures with other gangsters. Luciano received his nickname due to the fact that he survived a dangerous stab wound. He is called the founder of the modern mafia. Over the years of his mafia career, he managed to organize the murders of two major bosses and create an absolutely new principle functioning of organized crime. He had a hand in creating the famous "Five Families" of New York and the national crime syndicate.

Living the high life for quite a long time, Lucky became a popular character among the population and the police. Maintaining the image and stylish look, Lucky began to attract attention, as a result of which he was charged with organizing prostitution. When he was behind bars, he continued to conduct business both outside and inside. It is believed that he even had his own cook there. After his release he was sent to Italy, but settled in Havana. Under pressure from the US authorities, the Cuban government was forced to get rid of him, and Lucky went to Italy forever. He died of a heart attack in 1962 at the age of 64.

Maria Licciardi

Although the world of the mafia is mainly a world of men, it cannot be said that there were no women among the mafiosi. Maria Licciardi was born in Italy in 1951 and led the Licciardi clan, a notorious Camorra, Neapolitan criminal group. Nicknamed Licciardi Godmother is still very famous in Italy, and most of her family is connected to the Neapolitan mafia. Licciardi specialized in drug trafficking and racketeering. She took over the clan when her two brothers and husband were arrested. Although many were unhappy since she became the first female head of a mafia clan, she managed to quell the unrest and successfully unite several city clans, expanding the drug trade market.

In addition to her activities in the field of drug trafficking, Licciardi is also known for human trafficking. She used underage girls from neighboring countries, such as Albania, forcing them to work as prostitutes, thus violating the long-standing Neapolitan Mafia code of honor that one should not make money from prostitution. After a heroin deal went wrong, Licciardi was placed on the most wanted list and arrested in 2001. Now she is behind bars, but, according to rumors, Maria Licciardi continues to lead the clan, which has no intention of stopping.

Frank Nitti

Known as the face of Al Capone's crime syndicate in Chicago, Frank "Bouncer" Nitti became the top man in the Italian-American Mafia once Al Capone was behind bars. Nitti was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was only seven years old. It didn't take long before he started getting into trouble, which attracted the attention of Al Capone. In his criminal empire, Nitti quickly succeeded.

As a reward for his impressive successes during Prohibition, Nitti became one of Al Capone's closest associates and strengthened his position in the Chicago crime syndicate, also called the Chicago Outfit. Although he was nicknamed the Bouncer, Nitti delegated tasks rather than breaking bones himself, and often orchestrated multiple approaches during raids and attacks. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were sent to prison for tax evasion, where Nitti suffered terrible bouts of claustrophobia that plagued him for the rest of his life.

Upon his release, Nitti became the new leader of the Chicago Outfit, having survived assassination attempts by rival mafia groups and even the police. When things got really bad and Nitti realized that arrest could not be avoided, he shot himself in the head so that he would never suffer from claustrophobia again.

Sam Giancana

Another respected gangster in the underworld is Sam "Mooney" Giancana, who was once the most powerful gangster in Chicago. Having started out as a driver in Al Capone's inner circle, Giancana quickly made his way to the top, making acquaintances with several politicians, including the Kennedy clan. Giancana was even called to testify in a case in which the CIA organized an assassination attempt on Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Giancana was believed to have key information.

Not only did Giancana's name appear in the case, but there were also rumors that the mafia had made a huge contribution to election campaign John F. Kennedy, including ballot stuffing in Chicago. The connection between Giancana and Kennedy was increasingly discussed, and many believed that Frank Sinatra was an intermediary to deflect the Feds' suspicions.

Things soon went downhill due to speculation that the Mafia had a hand in the assassination of JFK. After spending the rest of his life wanted by the CIA and rival clans, Giancana was shot in the back of the head while cooking in his basement. There were many versions of the murder, but the perpetrator was never found.

Meer Lansky

Just as influential as Lucky Luciano, if not more, Meer Lansky, whose real name is Meer Sukhomlyansky, was born in the city of Grodno, which then belonged to the Russian Empire. Having moved to America at a young age, Lansky learned the taste of the street by fighting for money. Lansky not only could take care of himself, but he was also exceptionally smart. Becoming an integral part of the emerging world of American organized crime, Lansky was at one point one of the most powerful men in the United States, if not the world, with operations in Cuba and several other countries.

Lansky, who was friends with such high-ranking mobsters as Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, was both a feared and respected man. He was a major player in the alcohol smuggling market during Prohibition, operating very profitable business. When things went better than expected, Lansky became nervous and decided to retire by emigrating to Israel. However, he was deported back to the US two years later, but still managed to avoid prison as he died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

Al Capone

Alfonso Gabriel Capone, nicknamed the Great Al, needs no introduction. Perhaps this is the most famous gangster in history and he is known all over the world. Capone came from a respected and prosperous family. At the age of 14, he was kicked out of school for hitting a teacher, and he decided to take a different path, plunging into the world of organized crime.

Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone began his path to fame. He earned a scar that earned him the nickname Scarface. Doing everything from alcohol smuggling to murder, Capone was immune to the police, free to move around and do as he pleased.

The games ended when Al Capone's name was implicated in a brutal massacre called the Valentine's Day Massacre. Several gangsters from rival gangs died in this massacre. The police could not attribute the crime to Capone himself, but they had other ideas: he was arrested for tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison. Later, when the gangster's health deteriorated greatly due to illness, he was released on bail. He died of a heart attack in 1947, but the world of crime was changed forever.

The mysterious underground world of the mafia has always fascinated mere mortals. On the big screen, the gangster style looks incredibly exciting and attractive, and the legendary movie mafiosi seem to us to be real martyrs whose sacrifice was in vain. But how were things in real life? Here are the 15 gangsters who actually existed.

15. Frank Costello

Frank "Prime Minister" Costello was the leader of the formidable Luciano family. He left Italy at the age of four and moved to New York, where he quickly became involved in a life of crime. However, Costello became truly noticeable in 1936, after the arrest of Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Costello quickly rose to become the head of the Luciano crime family, which later became the Genovese family. He received the nickname "Prime Minister" for his competent leadership of the underground world of the mafia and his desire to be known as a political figure rather than a mafia boss. They say that it was he who became the prototype for Vito Corleone from The Godfather. Costello was highly respected among his people, but even he had enemies. In 1957, an attempt was made on his life, and he miraculously survived being shot in the head. Costello died in 1973 as a result of a heart attack. In the history of the Italian-American mafia, he remained known as one of the most “nice” bosses.

14. Jack Diamond

Jack "Legs" Diamond was a well-known figure during the Prohibition era in the United States. Diamond, who earned the nickname “Legs” for his constant running away and love of dancing, also became famous for his active gangster activities - he has a huge number of murders and alcohol smuggling operations. His criminal status increased markedly when he ordered the murder of one of his bosses, Nathan Kaplan. Diamond himself was repeatedly assassinated, but each time he miraculously escaped death, for which he received the nickname “The Man Who Cannot Be Killed.” However, in 1931 his luck failed him and he was shot dead by an assassin unknown to this day.

13. John Gotti

John Joseph Gotti Jr., boss of the elusive Gambino family, became one of the most feared men in the Mafia. Gotti grew up in poverty, surrounded by 12 brothers and sisters, and quickly became involved in organized crime - he was an errand boy for local gangster Agnello Dellacroce, who later became his mentor. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was struck and killed by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the death was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was once beaten with a baseball bat. Several months later, he mysteriously disappeared and his body was never found. Thanks to his almost stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly earned the nickname "The Dapper Don." In 1990, the FBI finally managed to catch Gotti, and he was found guilty of murder and racketeering. In 2002, Gotti died in prison from throat cancer.

12. Frank Sinatra

That's right, Mister Blue eyes was once an alleged associate of Sam Giancana and Luca Luciano. Sinatra, who once honestly admitted that “if it weren’t for music, I would most likely have gone into a life of crime,” was not shy about getting his hands dirty, and even openly attended the mafia’s Havana Conference in 1946, to which the press reacted with headlines “SHAME ON SINATRA.” " For double life the singer was followed not only by the media, but also by the FBI, which collected information about him from the very beginning of his career. However, the real problems began with Sinatra's collaboration with future President John F. Kennedy. It was believed that Sinatra used his connections to help the future US leader with his presidential campaign. But Sinatra lost the trust of the Mafia because of his friendship with Kennedy's brother, Bobby, who at the time was busy cracking down on organized crime. Giancana broke off relations with him, and the FBI left Sinatra alone.

11. Mickey Cohen

Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen for many years was a real pain in the LAPD's ass. Cohen moved with his family to Los Angeles from New York when he was six. Cohen was once a promising boxer, but gave up the sport and turned to organized crime. He eventually ended up in Chicago, where he began working for Al Capone. After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent back to Los Angeles under the supervision of notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel. The police soon began to notice the violent and hot-tempered gangster. After numerous assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a real fortress, surrounding it with an alarm system, floodlights and bulletproof gates. He also hired Hollywood starlet Lana Turner's boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, as his bodyguard. In 1961, Cohen was sent to Alcatraz for tax evasion, and he became the only prisoner who managed to get out of this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.

10. Henry Hill

The story of Henry Hill formed the basis of one of the best films about the mafia, Goodfellas. It was he who claimed: “For as long as I can remember, I always dreamed of being a gangster.” Born in New York in 1943, Hill came from an honest, hard-working family with no connections or connections to the Mafia. However, having seen enough of the numerous mafiosi in the neighborhood, he early age joined the Lucchese family and quickly "rose up". However, he could never become a full-fledged member of the mafia due to the mixture of Irish and Italian blood. Hill was arrested for beating a gambler who refused to pay him and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. There he realized that life on the outside was practically no different from life in prison, since behind bars he regularly received privileges. But once free, he got serious about drug trafficking, which resulted in him being arrested again, and this time he betrayed the entire organization and helped catch the most powerful mafiosi in the world. Hill entered the witness protection program in 1980, but two years later he exposed himself and the feds ended their cooperation. Despite this, he still managed to live to the age of 69.

9. James Whitey Bulger

Another Alctras veteran, James Bulger earned the nickname "Whitey" for his blond hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and was known as a real bully. He ran away from home more than once, and once even joined the circus. Bulger was first arrested when he was 14, but he did not join organized crime until the late 70s. Bulger was an FBI informant who reported to the police about the activities of the Patriarca family. However, as his own criminal network expanded, the police became increasingly interested in him, causing Bulger to flee Boston and remain on the "Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive" list for over 15 years. In 2011, he was caught and charged with 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug trafficking. After a two-month trial, he was sentenced to two life sentences and five years in prison, and Boston could finally sleep soundly again.

8. Bugsy Siegel

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, who became famous for his criminal empire and exploits in Las Vegas, is one of the most notorious gangsters in Mafia history. As a typical young hoodlum from Brooklyn, he met Meer Lansky and formed the gang Murder Inc. - a group of Jewish bandits specializing in contract killings. Their popularity grew, and Siegel gained notoriety as a killer of New York Mafia veterans, having a hand in the demise of prominent mobster Joe "The Boss" Masseria. After many years bootlegging and dodging bullets on the West Coast, Siegel began to earn large sums of money, which brought him close to the Hollywood elite. However, it was the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas that really helped him skyrocket to fame. The Mafia initially allocated $1.5 million for the construction of the hotel, but cost overruns and rising production costs ensued, and Siegel's old friend and new partner decided that he was pocketing some of the money for himself. Siegel was brutally murdered in his own home, riddled with bullets, and Lanxi quickly took control of the Flamingo.

7. Vito Genovese

Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian-American gangster who achieved enormous influence during the Prohibition era. The "Boss of All Bosses" led the Genovese family, and is best known as the man who brought heroin to the masses. Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Having established himself in criminal activity, he soon met Lucky Luciano, and it was this alliance that led to the murder of mafia rival Salvatore Maranzano. Genovese fled from the police to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II and even became friends with Benito Mussolini himself. However, upon his return, he immediately returned to power and again became the man whom everyone was so afraid of. But he was eventually caught and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.

6. Lucky Luciano

Charles "Lucky" Luciano, who has already been repeatedly mentioned in the adventures of other members of the mafia, became famous, in fact, for creating the modern mafia. Luciano earned his nickname "Lucky (Lucky)" when he survived being stabbed within minutes of death. During his 64 years of life, Lucky managed to achieve a lot, including the murder of two major bosses, the idea of ​​how organized crime should be organized, and, most importantly, the creation of the "Five Families of New York" and a completely new "National Crime Syndicate". For a long time, Lucky lived in luxury, but at some point the police became interested in him, and as a result he was arrested and sentenced to prison. However, he did not lose his power behind bars and continued to manage affairs. At that moment he even had a personal chef. When Lucky was released, he was sent to Italy, but instead settled in Havana. But under US pressure, Cuba still had to send him to Italy, where he died of a heart attack in 1962.

5. Maria Licciardi

Although the mafia is largely a man's world, this does not mean that there is absolutely no place for women in it. Maria Licciardi, born in Italy in 1951, was the head of the Licciardi clan, the Camorra, a crime syndicate operating in Naples. Licciardi, nicknamed "La Madrina (The Godmother)", was and remains a well-known figure in the country due to her family's ties to the Camorra. Licciardi took over leadership of the clan after her two brothers and husband were jailed. She became the first woman to head a powerful organization and, although not everyone liked it, she managed to unite several clans in the city and thereby expand the drug trade market. Licciardi also became famous for her involvement in the sex trade - she used underage girls from neighboring countries and forced them into prostitution. By doing so, she violated the Camorra code, which prohibited making money from sex workers. Licciardi was arrested in 2001 and sent to prison, but she continues to run things from behind bars and apparently has no plans to stop.

4. Frank Nitti

The face of Al Capone's Chicago crime syndicate, Frank "Gun" Nitti eventually became the boss when Capone was sent to prison. Nitti was born in Italy and arrived in the United States when he was just seven. He almost immediately began to get into trouble, which eventually attracted the attention of Al Capone. Thanks to his services during the Prohibition era, Nitti became one of Capone's closest people and a full-fledged member of the Chicago mafia. Despite his nickname, Nitti was more about leading than breaking bones and was often used to develop plans for raids and criminal operations. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were imprisoned for tax evasion, and in prison Nitti suffered severely from claustrophobia - this haunted him until his death. When Nitti was released, he became a new main mafia Chicago and survived assassination attempts from competitors and even the police. However, with the threat of imprisonment looming over him, Nitti committed suicide with a shot in the head to escape the claustrophobic prison cell in which he had previously suffered so much.

3. Sam Giancana

Another mobster with a good reputation, Sam "Mooney" Giancana was once one of the most powerful gangsters in Chicago. Giancana started out as a driver for Capone's elite, but quickly rose through career ladder and developed connections with politicians, including the Kennedy family. Giancana was even forced to testify during the CIA's planning to assassinate Fidel Castro because he was believed to have key information. Giancano's name also appeared in rumors that the Mafia was involved in the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy - due to the close relationship between Giancano and the future president. Giancano lived the rest of his life as a fugitive, wanted by both the mafia and the CIA. He was shot in the head while cooking in the basement of his home.

2. Meer Lansky

No less influential than Lucky Luciano, Meer Sukhomlyansky - aka Meer Lansky - was born in Russia. He moved to the United States as a child and grew up on the streets, struggling for money. Not only could Lansky hold his own physically, he also had a sharp mind. An integral part of the formation of American organized crime, he was at one point one of the most powerful men in the United States, if not the world. He led operations in Cuba and several other countries. At some point, despite his success, Lansky became nervous and decided to emigrate to Israel. Although he was deported back to the United States two years later, he avoided prison time and died at the age of 80 from lung cancer.

1. Al Capone

No introduction needed - Alfonso Capone is perhaps the most... famous gangster of all times. Capone grew up in a respected and stable family, which is quite rare among mafiosi. However, when he was expelled from school at 14 for hitting a teacher, Capone chose a different path for himself and went into organized crime. Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone gradually began to make himself known. He received a scar that earned him his most famous nickname, "Scarface." Capone did everything from bootlegging to murder, and enjoyed impunity as the police failed to catch him. However, everything came to an end when Capone was linked to the bloody and brutal massacre on Valentine's Day. Then representatives of a rival group were killed in cold blood. The police were unable to pin the murders directly on Capone, but arrested the gangster for tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, but due to serious illness he was released ahead of schedule. The most famous mafioso in the world died of a heart attack in 1947.

Is the mafia a gang, a group, or just a bunch of bandits? Let's try to figure out what exactly this word means.

The concept of “mafia” today refers to any ethnic criminal group, in structure and organization, reminiscent of the ancestor of such communities - the Sicilian criminal “family”, highly organized and having its own code of rules.

Where did this concept come from?

But the origin of the term is hotly debated. There are very original versions, for example the following: “Mafia” is an abbreviation for the words Morte Alla Francia, Italia Anela (“Death to all French; Italy, breathe freely!”) - a cry that was born during the uprising against the French in Sicily at the end 13th century.

According to Gabor Gellert, a journalist from Hungary who closely studied the topic (13 years of work on a book about the mafia), this word should be understood in a more global sense than an alliance of criminals. This is a socio-political-economic phenomenon, the emergence of which is natural in the world of capital. The meaning of the word “mafia” in the dictionaries in which it first appears (1868) is an action meaning insolence, boasting. Mafioso in the same dictionaries is a person who uses brutal violence, or poverty, scum.

There are also Arabic versions of the origin of the word "mafia". There are many consonant words with meanings: protection, refuge, security, chatterbox, gathering place. Alas, researchers have not yet gotten to the truth.

What does the mafia do?

Organized illegal activities are very diverse. Mafia crimes:

• Maintenance of dens.
• Arms trade.
• Drug trafficking.
• Making counterfeit money.
• Gambling, casino maintenance, gambling business.
• Pimping, content of porn sites.
• Buying stolen goods.
• Usury.
• Extortion, racketeering.
• Debt collection.
• Human trafficking, kidnapping.
• Contract killings.
• Smuggling, money laundering.

The sphere of interests of the largest and most influential groups is not limited to criminal activities. Their representatives are engaged in ordinary business (hotels, restaurants, etc.), lobbying, and politics.

Code of Practice

Any mafia, except perhaps the most low-grade ones, is a code of moral rules. For example, the code of honor of the Cosa Nostra organization included rules such as:

• Always be on time for your appointments.
• Don't look at your friends' wives (and a member with family ties with a traitor or traitor was punishable by expulsion from the gang).
• Don't go to bars and clubs.

Below we will look at examples of the most famous criminal communities. Let us immediately clarify that most of the information about such groups is hypotheses based on fragmentary and random information. It is clear that the leaders of such groups do not strive for widespread popularity.

Cosa Nostra

Many people who are familiar with the topic firsthand have a strong association: the mafia is Cosa Nostra. Let's try to figure out what these two words represent. The phrase "Cosa Nostra" in Sicilian means "our business". This term became widespread and became associated with any Italian mafia or the mafia in general after the publication of the novel “The Godfather”.

Initially, Cosa Nostra was active in Sicily from the beginning of the 19th century. In one century, that is, by the beginning of the twentieth, it turned into an international organization. A little later it strengthened its position in America. It consists of 11 clans (families). It should be clearly distinguished: Cosa Nostra is a mafia of Sicilian origin, regardless of its modern geographical location.

Italian and Italian-American mafia

It makes sense to connect them, because the American mafia is mainly from Italy, or more precisely from Naples, Calabria, and Sicily. Today, the Italian mafia operates in at least 26 US cities.

Five families

An influential group within the American mafia. Its core consists of representatives of five families:

• Bonanno;
• Colombo;
• Gambino;
• Genovese;
• Lucchese.

Of these, the most numerous (although according to some sources it is inferior and influential is the Genovese family. Using its example, you can see what the Italian mafia is. The history of the family as a representative of the mafia began at the beginning of the 20th century.

Initially, it was an alliance of several small Sicilian street gangs that traded in extortion and bootlegging. Gradually, the family expanded its activities, subordinating large parts of the gambling, racketeering and usury markets. A fascinating multi-part film could be made about the changes in family leadership over the course of a millennium.

Groups

As mentioned above, the mafia is a highly organized union. Let's look at examples of groups that, in terms of the scope of their activities, are comparable to

• Camorra and 'Ndrangheta- these are the two largest groups of purely Italian mafia, without any admixture of “Americanism,” although both groups have an extensive network throughout the world. The core of the Camorra is located in Naples and its environs, the “head office” of the 'Ndrangheta is in Calabria. Both are extremely rich, influential, are among the ten richest mafia communities in the world, and consist of clans with powerful family and marriage ties.
• Bamboo Union. Area of ​​influence - Asia, Europe, America. This largest group in Asia, the main backbone is Taiwan. In addition to the fact that it is one of the richest criminal organizations in the world (the basis of its income is gambling, murder and debt collection), it stands out for its close ties to one of the main and influential parties in China (the Kuomintang), although these ties are actively denied.

• Tai Huen Chai, or the Triad. There is the least information about this group on the Russian Internet. The largest and most influential in China. The modern Triad is a huge underground criminal network about which little is known. Presumably the founder of this organization appeared before 200 BC under the name “Shadow of the Lotus” and traded in the slave trade and piracy.
• Tijuana cartel- one of the two oldest and most influential in Mexico. Considering that Mexico is a well-known transit point for the US drug market, it can be said that the Tijuana Cartel is one of the largest drug cartels in the world.
• Yamaguchi-gumi (yamaguchi-gumi)- Japanese mafia. This is not just one of the richest groups in the world. She is a leader in terms of income and number of active members(from 55 to 220 thousand).
• Sinaloa- a cartel operating in Mexico and Central America. The network covers some US cities. “Specialization” is selling drugs. The organization is considered a leader in this segment of criminal activity. It has become famous for the particularly brutal nature of internal disputes; shocking footage of severed heads and enemies being dissolved in acid sometimes ends up on the Internet.

in Russia

It is believed that it appeared in the 60s of the last century, although in principle there cannot be a specific starting point. It is noteworthy that the words “Russian mafia” in the West can mean criminal groups not only from Russia, but from any country in the post-Soviet space.

The mafia of union significance began its activities with small criminal groups of Jews who left the USSR in the 70-90s of the 20th century. Today it makes sense to distinguish between the Russian mafia (its representatives have Russian citizenship and operate on the territory of Russia) and the mafia with Soviet roots.

The most famous group is the Solntsevskaya Bratva. It is considered one of the most dangerous and cruel in the world. The leader, according to rumors, is Sergei Mikhailov, nicknamed Mikhas.

Famous mafiosi

A well-organized structure, be it a mafia, a group or an alliance, is impossible without the accumulating power of the leader. Of course, most current leaders are shadow leaders. Below we will look at the names that are well-known and have become legends.

• Al Capone is a well-known name, but it is worth noting that it has long and firmly entered history, because this man died back in 1947 at the age of 48. The boss of the Chicago mafia, famous for his ability to build a real criminal empire.
• Pablo Escobar- the most famous Colombian drug lord, one of the most outstanding, if such a word can be applied to a criminal, figures in the criminal world of the 20th century. He not only made money through crimes, but also administered his own justice, which earned him the favor of the poor and young people.
• Kray Brothers- Twins from London, Ronnie and Reggie Kray, have been uncontrollable since childhood. With their fists, aggression and high business skills, they managed to build an entire empire, and managed to successfully combine both shadow business, and legal.

• Mayer Lansky(Belarus) - one of the few figures in the criminal world who lived to the respectable age of 80 (died in 1983). Jew, originally from Tsarist Russia, for many years was one of the most authoritative people in the United States. Managed the largest shadow gambling syndicate. He became the prototype for the elderly Jewish mafioso Hyman Roth.
• Frank Costello- another outstanding one from the USA, but originally from Italy. For a very long time he was the head of the Genovese family and extremely successful in business. He gravitated towards bloodless types of criminal business, like illegal trade alcohol and gambling. As a matter of principle, he was not involved in drug trafficking, believing that there were plenty of opportunities to make money without it. He also distinguished himself by actively establishing connections between the mafia and politics and was more successful in this than any of the crime bosses.

Of course, these are not all well-known criminal communities. Suffice it to say that many of them have entered not only criminal history, but also the history of cinema, so remarkable is the activity of famous mafiosi from the point of view of analyzing human nature and the reasons for success, albeit in activities disapproved by the majority.