The 5 Mafia Families of New York

the five families are five Italian-American Mafia groups active in New York City Salvatore Marzano organized them in 1931 after winning the

castella Marie War Marzano reshaped the Italian-American gangs in New York City into the banano Colombo Gambino genovesi and lucazi families each family held a

designated territory followed a structured hierarchy and reported to a common governing entity originally Marzano envisioned each family's boss

reporting directly to him as the Capo to Capi boss of all the bosses however this resulted in his assassination that September leading to

the abolishment of the Capo de Capi role in its place Lucky Luciano established the commission a ruling committee overseeing all Mafia activities in the United States and mediating conflicts

between families the commission included bosses from the five families the Chicago outf and the Buffalo crime

family in 1963 Joseph vachi publicly revealed the existence of New York City's five families during the vaki hearings since then a few other crime families have risen to a level

comparable to the five families earning The Unofficial designation of the sixth family leading up to the families in the 1920s jpe Joe the Boss

Masia controlled Mafia operations in the US with his faction primarily composed of gangsters from Sicily Calabria and Campania in southern

Italy notable members included Charles Lucky Luciano Albert Madhatter Anastasia veto genovesi Alfred Mano Willie Moretti

Joe Adonis and Frank Costello however Don Vito Casio phoh a powerful Sicilian mafioso aimed to take control of Mafia operation ation and

sent salvator Marzano from castellari Del goo to seize control the castellar faction in the US included Joseph Joe

bananas banano Stefano The Undertaker magadino Joseph proach and Joe aello as tensions Rose between the factions vying for Mafia leadership they

actively recruited more followers in anticipation of a clash the castella Marie War outwardly pitted miseria against Marzano but benath the surface

it also represented a generational conflict the mustache pets embodying Old Guard Sicilian leadership with Traditional Values clashed with The

Young Turks a more diverse and forward-thinking group willing to collaborate Beyond Italian circles led by luchano the younger

factions sought to end the war swiftly viewing it as unnecessary and hindering their businesses luchano aimed to modernize the mafia

attracting followers who questioned Mia's ability to prosper in contemporary times the fluidity of both factions saw Mobsters switching sides or betraying

allies during the conflict tensions had been simmering since 1928 evident in frequent hijackings of each other's alcohol trucks as alcohol

production was illegal in the US due to Prohibition in early 1931 luchano seized the opportunity to change alliances as

the war favored Marzano over Mia in a secret agreement with maranzano luchano orchestrated masseria's demise aiming to receive masseria's operations

and become Marzano's second in command Joe Adonis part of Mia's faction tipped off luchano about a plot to kill him when Mia learned of the

Betrayal on April 15th 1931 at noova Villa tomaro in Brooklyn Mia was killed during a card game luano excusing himself to the bathroom was allegedly

part of the hit along with Anastasia genovesi Adonis and Bugsy seagull teranova drove the getaway car with maranzano's approval luchano assumed

control of masa's gang becoming Marzano's lieutenant and concluding the castella Marie War the five families formation with Mia out of the picture maranzano

restructured the Italian-American gangs in New York City into the five families led by luchano prachi gallano Mangano and

himself Marzano asserted his dominance by convening a meeting of crime bosses in Whoppers Falls New York where he declared himself Capo DTI Capi Boss Of All

Bosses he favored his own rackets over those of rival families Luciano seemingly accepting these changes was actually waiting for the

right moment to eliminate Marzano despite maranzano being slightly more Progressive than Mia luchano believed that maranzano was even more greedy and entrenched in traditional

ways than Mia had been in September 1931 Marzano recognized luchano as a threat and enlisted Irish gangster Vincent m dog

call to eliminate him however Lukes warned luchano about the impending Danger on September 10th 1931 Marzano

summoned luchano genoves and Castello to his 230 Park Avenue office in Manhattan fearing an assassination plot luchano took preemptive action he dispatched

four Jewish gangsters unknown to maranzano's Associates secured with the help of Meer l I and Bugsy seagull disguised as government agents two of

them disarmed Marzano's guards while the other two Guided by lucazi stabbed and shot Marzano multiple times this event marked the beginning of what later

became known as the KN of the Sicilian Vespers the commission's formation following maranzano's murder in 1931 luano convened a meeting in

Chicago despite the opportunity to declare himself OD Tutti Capi he chose to abolish the title recognizing it as a source of trouble among the families and

a potential magnet for ambitious Challengers lano's objectives with the commission were to discreetly maintain control over all families prevent future

gang conflicts and ensure approval from the bosses the commission resembling a board of directors was established to oversee

all Mafia activities in the United States and mediate conflicts between families the commission comprised seven family bosses including leaders from New

York's five families Charlie lucky luchiano Vincent Mangano Tommy gallano Joseph banano and Joe proach additionally it included Al Capone from

the Chicago outfit and Stephano magadino from the Buffalo Family Charlie luchano assumed the role of chairman the commission established a

practice of convening meetings every 5 years or is needed to address family issues decline of the Mafia the five mafia families in New

York remain active albeit with reduced influence the height of Mafia power in the United States was in the 1940s and 1950s peaking in 1970 until the

enactment of the RICO Act the primary purpose of the RICO Act was to combat the mafia and organized crime comprehensively it proved effective resulting in a significant

number of Arrested members becoming informants this trend of members cooperating as informant has continued over time original and current family

bosses in 1963 Joseph Bachi publicly revealed the existence of New York City's five families during the vachi hearings according to vachi the original

bosses were Charles luchano Tomaso gallano Joseph prachi Salvatore maranzano and Vincent Mangano during his testimony vaki identified the current

bosses as Tommy lucazi Vito genovesi Joseph Colombo Carlo Gambino and Joe banano these names have since become the

widely accepted references for the New York five families enduring despite shifts in leadership over the years banano Family original family name

Marzano founded by salvator Marzano named after Joe banano current boss Michael the nose manuso Columbo Family

original family name profasi founded by Joe proach named after Joseph Columbo acting boss Robert little Robert Deno

Gambino Family original family name Mangano founded by by Vincent Mangano named after Carlo Gambino current boss

Domenico seu genovesi Family original family name luchano founded by Lucky luchano named after Vito genovesi

current boss liborio salvator Barney bomo Luca Family original family name gallano founded by Tommy gallano named

after Tommy lucazi current boss Victor amuso acting boss Micahel Big Mike DeSantis territories historically the crime

families operated primarily within New York City but extended their influence throughout the New York metropolitan area in the state of New York they expanded their criminal activities to

include Long Island Nassau and suffk and the counties of Westchester Rockland and Albany additionally they maintain a significant presence in the state of New

Jersey the five families are also active in South Florida Connecticut Las Vegas and Massachusetts the banano crime family predominantly operates in Brooklyn

Queens Staten Island and Long Island their influence extends to Manhattan The Bronx Westchester County New Jersey California Florida and

Atlanta Additionally the family has ties to the rosuto crime family in Quebec the bath Avenue crew was active in the B of and her section of Brooklyn New York the Columbo crime family

primarily operates in Brooklyn Queens and Long Island their influence also extends to Staten Island Manhattan the

Bronx New Jersey Georgia and Florida the gambino crime family's primary operations are concentrated in Brooklyn Queens Manhattan Staten Island

and Long Island they also hold influence in the Bronx New Jersey Westchester County Connecticut Florida and Los Angeles the genovesi crime family's

primary operations are centered in Manhattan the Bronx Brooklyn and New Jersey their influence extends to Queens Staten Island Long Island Westchester

County Rockland County Connecticut Massachusetts and Florida the lakes crime family primarily operates in the Bronx Manhattan Brooklyn

and New Jersey they also maintain influence in Queens Long Island Staten Island Westchester County and Florida mafia boss succession Marzano banano

family between 1909 and 1912 Sebastiano diano was boss of the banano family formerly known as the Marzano

family following digatono from 1912 to 1930 Nicolo Shiro assumed the position of boss but eventually fled the period

from 1930 to 1931 saw salv Tor maranzano in action as boss until his murder on September 10th

1931 Joseph Joe Banana's banano took over the family as boss from 1931 to 1968 on October 21st 1964 banano

disappeared prompting the commission to forcibly replace him the family split into two factions and although bonano reappeared in May

1966 he officially retired in 19 1968 after suffering a heart attack during the leadership dispute

from 1964 to 1966 Gaspar gasparino D Gregorio briefly held the position but was later replaced by the commission from 1966 to 1968 Paul shiaka

served in an acting capacity for the degregorio faction following this from 1968 to 1971 Paul shiaka held the position but was later

imprisoned natal Joe Diamond's Evola took leadership from 1971 to 1973 until his death on August 28th

1973 Philip Rusty rastelli then served as the leader from 1973 to 1991 facing imprisonment from 1975 to

1984 and again from 1986 to 1991 during Rusty's prison sentence Carmine cigar

galante unofficially LED from 1974 to 1979 until his murder on July 12th 1979 salvator Sally fruits fujia acted

from 1979 to 1983 appointed by the commission Anthony Oldman Sparrow took over from 1987 to

1991 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002 passing away in 2008 Joseph big Joey MSO assumed

leadership from 1991 to 2004 until his imprisonment in January 2003 becoming a government informant in October

2004 Anthony Oldman Sparrow temporarily LED from 1991 to 1993 and Anthony Tony green erso acted

from 2003 to 2004 until his imprisonment in January 2004 Vincent Vinnie gorgeous basciano held the position from 2004 to

2011 until his imprisonment in November 2004 receiving a life sentence in July 2007 Michael the nose manuso acted from

2004 to 2006 until his imprisonment in February 2006 salvator Sal the iron worker Montana served from 2006 to 2009 until his

deportation to Canada in April 2009 followed by his tragic death in November 2011 Vincent Vin TV badalamenti acted

from 2010 to 2012 until his imprisonment in January 2012 since 2013 Michael the no manuso has

been in a leadership position after being released from prison on March 12th 2019 Thomas Tommy D def fiori acted from

2013 to 2014 until his arrest on January 23rd 2014 John Johnny Skyway paleto took on

the role from 2014 to 2015 until his arrest on March 27th 15 for violating parole Joseph Joe C camarano Jr acted

from 2015 to 2019 being indicted on racketeering and extortion charges on January 12th 2018 and subsequently

acquitted on March 13th 2019 proach Columbo family between 1928 and 1962 Joseph prachi was boss and until his death from

natural causes from 1962 to 1963 Joseph Moko assumed the leadership position but was compelled to retire by the mafia

commission Joseph Columbo took on the boss role from 1963 to 1973 until he was paralyzed by an assassination

attempt during this period Joseph yakavi became acting boss from 1971 to 1972 but fled after the murder of Joe [Music]

Gallow Vincenzo Vincent aloi took on the role from 1972 to 1973 but was later

imprisoned Joseph Joey brancato then acted in 1973 but was subsequently imprisoned Carmine Junior perso became

boss from 1973 to 2019 facing imprisonment from 1973 to 1979 1981 to 1984 and 1985 until his

death on March 7th 2019 Thomas debella acted as boss from 1973 to 1979 but later stepped down to become the

coniler alons alib boy perso Carmine persico's brother assumed the role from 1981 to 1983 and was a fugitive from

1980 to 1987 before for being imprisoned Garo Jerry Lang langela took on the role from 1983 to 1984 but was later

imprisoned Anthony scappy scarpati acted from 1985 to 1987 but was later imprisoned Victorio Vic Arena acted from

1987 to 1991 but was later imprisoned and sentenced to life the leadership role was vacant from 1991 to

1993 marked by disputed leadership during the third war within the family Andrew Andy musos Russo acted

from 1994 to 1996 until his imprisonment in March 1997 alons little Ali boy perso Carmine persico's son assumed the role from 1996

to 2019 until he was imprisoned and sentenced to life in 2009 from 2019 to 2022 Andrew Andy mush

Russo became boss being indicted on September 14th 2021 and passed away on

April 18th 20122 Mangano Gambino family in the early 1900s ignatio the wolf Lup led the family until his

imprisonment in 1910 following this from 1910 to 1928 Salvatore Toto Dila assumed control of the Brooklyn kamur merging

with Alano's gang to establish the largest family in New York tragically he fell victim to an order from boss Joe miseria in

1928 subsequently from 1928 to 1930 manfredy Alfred Mano operated until he was killed during the castella Marie war in

1930 between 1930 in 1931 Frank scalles held the boss position but was demoted following the murder of Boss Of All Bosses salvator

Marzano Vincent Mangano served as boss from 1931 to 1951 until his disappearance in April 1951 allegedly

killed on the orders of underboss Albert Anastasia Albert Anastasia operated as boss from 1951 to 1957 until his murder

in October 1957 on orders from Carlo Gambino Carlo Gambino led the family as boss from 1957 to 1976 until his death

from natural causes in 1976 following this from 1976 to 1985 Paul Castellano took over until his murder in December 1985 on orders from

cappo John Gotti John Gotti ruled from 1985 to 2002 faced imprisonment in 1990 and passed away in

2002 during John got's prison sentence his son John a gotti took over the mantle and served as leader from 1993 to

1999 however he too ended up in prison in 1999 and eventually retired Peter Gotti John a Gotti's brother took over

as official boss and served from 1999 till he was imprisoned in 20 2002 and passed away in 2021 since 2011 Domenico Italian Dar seu

has led the gambino crime family with Frank CI and Lorenzo manino stepping in as acting Boss luano genovesi

family in the late 1890s to 1909 jpe the clutch hand morelo was boss until he faced imprisonment from 19 1910 to 1916

Nicholas Nick morelo teranova stepped into the role until his unfortunate murder on September 7 1916 Vincenzo Vincent teranova ruled

from 1916 to 1920 until he voluntarily stepped down assuming the role of underboss juppe the clutch

hand Melo then took on the position of underboss to Masia from 1920 to 1922 jpe Joe the Boss Masia led the

family from 1922 to 1931 until his murder on April 15th 1931 Charles Lucky luchano from 1931 to

1946 became boss until his imprisonment in 1936 leading to his deportation to Italy in 1946 Frank the Prime Minister Costello

occupied the position after lano's deportation from 1946 to 1957 until his resignation in 1957 following a genoves

Gigante assassination attempt veto Don Vito genoves became boss from 1957 to 1969 until his imprisonment in 1959

ultimately passing away in prison in 1969 Philip Benny squint Lombardo took took over the mantle from 1969 to 1981

until his retirement in 1981 followed by his death from natural causes in 1987 Vincent chin Gigante became boss from 1981 to 2005 until his imprisonment

in 1997 eventually passing away in prison on December 19th 2005 since 2010 laborio Barney bomo has

been the boss within the genovesi crime family