jjares reviewed The Chicago Outfit: The History and Legacy of the Organized Crime Syndicate Led by Al Capone on + 3275 more book reviews
One of this book's most interesting points is that the Witness Protection Program was instituted to provide racketeers a way to survive after reporting on Mob activities (in court). The Mob punishes those who discuss their illegal activities. Therefore, in 1970, Robert Kennedy got racketeers to report on others in court and then establish different lives away from the Mob. This was the beginning of the end for Organized Crime.
To many, the Roaring Twenties was a celebratory time. However, in reality, life was cheap, and people died in horrible ways. Organized Crime invaded America's large cities, particularly NYC and Chicago, LA, and Las Vegas. The Feds tried to get a handle on their racketeering, but they grew too fast and were protected.
Organized Crime infiltrated many businesses, and the Fed was just getting started and lacked the tools they needed to squash rampant crime. Over time, the federal government established new laws that helped them attack and imprison racketeers.
This is interesting because it lays out the emergence, rise, and fall of Organized Crime in America. This talks about the most important figures (Al Capone, etc.) and how they ended up. Frank Nitti's demise was a surprise. Because he experienced severe claustrophobia in prison, when he was facing a new jail term, he committed suicide in a rail yard (rather than return to prison). This was an engaging description of the early years of the Mob.
To many, the Roaring Twenties was a celebratory time. However, in reality, life was cheap, and people died in horrible ways. Organized Crime invaded America's large cities, particularly NYC and Chicago, LA, and Las Vegas. The Feds tried to get a handle on their racketeering, but they grew too fast and were protected.
Organized Crime infiltrated many businesses, and the Fed was just getting started and lacked the tools they needed to squash rampant crime. Over time, the federal government established new laws that helped them attack and imprison racketeers.
This is interesting because it lays out the emergence, rise, and fall of Organized Crime in America. This talks about the most important figures (Al Capone, etc.) and how they ended up. Frank Nitti's demise was a surprise. Because he experienced severe claustrophobia in prison, when he was facing a new jail term, he committed suicide in a rail yard (rather than return to prison). This was an engaging description of the early years of the Mob.
