Five Families
New York mob
Five Families refers to the five major Italian-American organized crime organizations that have dominated the New York City underworld since the 1930s: Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese.
The term evokes the structure of American Mafia power, with each family controlling territory and criminal enterprises.
The Five Families divided up the city's rackets among themselves.
Mafia family name
- GenoveseOf or from Genoa
- ColomboSri Lankan capital city
- commissionPayment for services rendered
- bossWorkplace superior
underboss · consigliere · made man · capo · don · godfather · patriarch · dynasty
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- blood oathVow sealed by bloodshed
- made manInitiated organized crime member
ceremony · hierarchy · commission · sit-down · books · open books · closed books · associate
Criminal vow of silence
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
betrayal · informant · snitch · witness protection · rat · allegiance · respect · retribution
Conducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
- protectionGuarding against harm
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- gamblingBetting on uncertain results
bootlegging · narcotics · labor unions · construction · waste management · hijacking · fencing · kickbacks
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- warArmed struggle between groups
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
ambush · purge · takeover · power struggle · RICO · indictment · turncoat · Gotti
America's largest city
- Little ItalyUrban ethnic enclave
- ManhattanNYC's densest borough
- BrooklynWestern Long Island borough
- BronxNYC's northernmost borough
Queens · Staten Island · Mulberry Street · turf · neighborhood · district · waterfront · docks
Gambino
Mafia family name
- GenoveseOf or from Genoa
- ColomboSri Lankan capital city
- commissionPayment for services rendered
boss · underboss · consigliere · made man · capo · don · godfather · patriarch · dynasty · bloodline
syndicate
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- blood oathVow sealed by bloodshed
made man · ceremony · hierarchy · commission · sit-down · books · open books · closed books · associate · crew
omertà
Criminal vow of silence
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
honor · betrayal · informant · snitch · witness protection · rat · allegiance · respect · retribution · vendetta
racketeering
Conducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
- protectionGuarding against harm
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
gambling · bootlegging · narcotics · labor unions · construction · waste management · hijacking · fencing · kickbacks · skim
feud
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- warArmed struggle between groups
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
assassination · ambush · purge · takeover · power struggle · RICO · indictment · turncoat · Gotti
New York City
America's largest city
- Little ItalyUrban ethnic enclave
- ManhattanNYC's densest borough
- BrooklynWestern Long Island borough
Bronx · Queens · Staten Island · Mulberry Street · turf · neighborhood · district · waterfront · docks · garment district
- Mafiamafia, Cosa Nostra, Sicilian Mafia, Colombo, Gambino
- Crime SyndicatesCosa Nostra, Sicilian Mafia, Medellin Cartel, Irish Mob, Murder Inc
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
Five FamiliesFBI
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
law enforcement · Department of Justice · NYPD · federal prosecutors · police