https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/22/metro/mafia-boston-organized-crime-fbi/

As New England Mafia fades away, FBI Boston disbands organized crime squad

On an October afternoon in 1989, mobsters from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts gathered at a modest home in Medford for a secret ritual: the induction of four soldiers into the New England Mafia, which marked a new beginning after their underboss was killed by a renegade faction.

“It’s going to be the life of the heaven,” consigliere Joseph “J.R.” Russo promised the new recruits, who pricked blood from their trigger fingers, burned holy cards and promised to kill anyone — even their own sons if necessary — to protect La Cosa Nostra, Italian for “This Thing of Ours.” As an FBI bug recorded the infamous ceremony, a historic moment for the law enforcement agency, Russo boasted that the secret Sicilian-born organization had thrived for seven generations, spreading to New York, Boston, Providence, Hartford, Chicago, and other cities across the country.
Those days are gone, according to former law enforcement officials and organized crime experts.

So much so that the FBI’s Boston office, which oversees much of New England, quietly disbanded its organized crime squad recently and re-assigned agents to other priorities, according to several people familiar with the move.

The agency will still monitor any organized crime groups, as needed. But the disbandment of a unit that was largely built to target the Mafia signaled a death notice of sorts — an end of a dark era — for what was once one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the region, as well as the storied unit that was built to combat it.

“I don’t think there’s much of anything left with traditional organized crime,” said Fred Wyshak, a former federal prosecutor who won the convictions of local Italian and Irish organized crime figures, including the late former Mafia boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme, notorious gangster Stephen Flemmi, and South Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger. “I think the leadership was destroyed and nobody really has the strength to step in and fill that void. I don’t think there’s a lot of desire to do so.”

The death earlier this month of 97-year-old Luigi “Louie” Manocchio, the last don to lead the Mafia’s New England family from Providence’s Federal Hill, recalled a bygone era when the Mafia was the region’s most dominant criminal group. It has been on the decline for decades, following waves of federal prosecutions dating to the 1980s that sent eight bosses and underbosses and scores of underlings to prison for crimes ranging from murder to shaking down strip clubs. Another deterrent to recruitment was the revelation that some top-ranking members broke “omerta,” the mob’s code of silence, to become informants or cooperating witnesses.

“They’re just not at the threat level that they were years ago,” said Steven O’Donnell, former superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. “We can’t sit back on our laurels, as organized crime still exists and always will exist, but there are other entities that are a greater threat in this country.”

He estimated there are currently only about 30 “made” members of the New England Mafia, compared to hundreds during its heyday decades ago.
Kristen Setera, a spokesperson for the FBI, declined to discuss the disbandment of the squad, but said the Boston office “continues to dedicate significant resources to work and eradicate transnational and regional organized criminal enterprises.”

In an email, she said “Every year, every field office across the FBI takes a hard look at the threats in their respective area of responsibility and adjusts resources assigned to mitigate those threats to ensure each one is adequately being worked.”

Richard DesLauriers, who served as head of the FBI’s Boston office from 2010 to 2013, said the Mafia is no longer considered a serious threat because the FBI’s organized crime unit, along with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, has been so successful at dismantling it. Now, he said, the FBI has greater concerns.

“I think they were significant back in the early 20th century,” DesLauriers said. “Back then we did not have the threat of terrorism, foreign spies stealing our secrets, and cyber crime.”

The bureau’s focus has shifted since 9/11 to those latter concerns, he said.

But in the 1960s the Mafia was one of the FBI’s top priorities, leading to the creation of federal units to prosecute organized crime. The New England Organized Crime Strike Force brought its first major case in Boston against the local mob after the FBI planted a bug inside the North End headquarters of underboss Gennaro “Jerry” Angiulo in 1981 and captured him ordering murders and directing a lucrative gambling and loansharking operation. He was convicted of racketeering, along with the rest of the Mafia’s leadership in Boston, and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

In 1989, the FBI’s organized crime squad captured the first-ever recording of a Mafia induction ceremony, at the Medford home with the baptism of new recruits, which served as the cornerstone of another sweeping racketeering indictment that sent Mafia boss Raymond “Junior” Patriarca and his underlings to prison.

Those high-profile successes were overshadowed in the late 1990s when it was publicly revealed that the FBI used Bulger and Flemmi as informants against their rivals in the Mafia and that corrupt agents took payoffs from the pair and protected them from prosecution even as they were committing murders and other crimes. Bulger fled to evade charges in 1995 and spent 16 years on the run. He was killed in prison in 2018 while serving a life sentence for 11 murders. Retired FBI agent John J. Connolly Jr., Bulger’s handler, was convicted of murder.

Boston attorney Anthony Cardinale, who represented a number of Mafiosi, including Angiulo and Salemme, and helped expose the FBI’s corrupt relationship with Bulger and Flemmi, said the dismantling of the FBI’s organized crime squad “came about 50 years too [expletive] late.”
Cardinale said that the FBI built exaggerated cases against the Mafia and that the agency falsely portrayed a group of Italian Americans in Boston as being part of a “multinational, worldwide criminal conspiracy of vast proportions, when in fact it’s a few Italian guys running a bookmaking operation and a barbut game in the North End.”

Yet, the FBI cases offer a chilling glimpse into violent exploits of the local mob.

In 2011, reputed New England Mafia boss Anthony DiNunzio was secretly recorded during a meeting in Malden telling a mob associate that if someone dared defy his rule, “I get to watch you die in the ground,” according to wiretaps detailed in court filings.

The following year, he pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to racketeering conspiracy and was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.

DiNunzio had taken the lead as boss from his brother, Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio, who served five years in prison for delivering a $10,000 bribe to an undercover FBI agent posing as a state official, part of a conspiracy to secure a $6 million Big Dig contract. Law enforcement officials say Carmen DiNunzio resumed his leadership position after his release from prison nine years ago.

But the New England Mafia is now “a shell of itself,” said Steve Johnson, a retired Massachusetts State Police detective lieutenant and longtime organized crime investigator.

“It’s mostly figurehead people and wannabes ... people pretending they are doing their best Sopranos act,” he said. “It’s mostly just in name. They are certainly not what they used to be.”

Former federal prosecutor, Brian T. Kelly, part of the team that prosecuted Salemme, Bulger, and Flemmi, said the disbanding of the FBI’s traditional organized crime squad is a good sign and “we shouldn’t lament it” if it means organized crime in Boston is on the wane.

“It’s probably the one area of law enforcement where they’ve had a resounding success,” he said.

What have I been saying on this forum for many years already? That so many around here wanted to argue and debate with me about? Lol. In fact, I was the first to make the claim. The very first, if memory serves me correctly.

I said its over! And it has been for quite some time already. Not only in New England, but in the vast majority of states throughout the country where they formally operated. Not just over. But COMPLETELY over!

And I wasn't just referring to places like Madison, WI, Tampa, FL, and Pittsburgh, PA. But in the big cities also. It's over! Even the NYC crews are hanging on by a shoestring. And if you don't think so? Then I suggest you better think again!

PS: And if the FBI hasn't already disbanded many of their other 'organized crime squads' in other cities already without public announcements, they will be soon enough!

The dismantling of the NE office sets a major precedent for them and exposes a much deeper truth. I'm certain that other offices around the country can't be far behind.

That because the mob stop dropping bodies on the streets or be a huge drug trafficker. Its a sign of time and the mob will be confinated only in NY and NJ area. The top dogs are others.

No, I must disagree with you on that, Furio.

There is a myriad of reasons why the Mob is fading in America. And its got very little to do with 'dropping bodies on the street or being a huge drug trafficker' as you said.

Its got more to do with the higher education levels of Italians today and the vastly expanded opportunities for advancement that years back weren't available to them. The highly sophisticated technology and investigative techniques law enforcement has available to them today. The all-encompassing draconian laws such as RICO on the books today that have been successfully used to surgically dismantle Cosa Nostra and imprison mafiosi for lengthy periods of time. Etc., etc., etc. -- Or as they say, Yada, yada, yada!

Its over! And what's left of the Mob in NY and NJ is almost unrecognizable to what it once was! It's OVER I tell ya!

You claim it's over, but you also claimed that recently busted drug dealer Georgie Cap is a mob drug dealer, even though there's zero mention ANYWHERE of any mob ties. Make up your mind.

Mayber it was over when people like Rudy Giuliani and Diane Giacolone were no longer afraid of them ,not fearing the mob might come after them

LOL. I don't have to 'make up my mind.' Because its a fact! Even though you and some others around here may be in the dark about the reality of 'The Life."

Just because there are still some Italian mobsters still living and still trying to earn in the streets (especially here in NY and NJ), does NOT mean that Cosa Nostra or Italian organized crime is healthy and functioning as 'per usual,' get it???

In fact, as I've stated on numerous prior occasions, with the exception of the NY/NJ area, 95% of ALL other former Families dotted across the U.S. of A. are either completely defunct or on life support. And that includes Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia and everywhere else!

And, Liggio, for your information, thats a fact too! lol

Yes but I wrote why the american mafia is consider a "dangerous organization" not why is fading.
In 1980s the mob was controlling unions,killing people and floating the streets with heroin ( 100 milioni a years). Now latino,black gangs and bikers are more dangerous organization and the feds must fight against it not using it resources for let a mobster get 30 months for gambling.

Thats because they 'lost' their strength for the numerous reasons I stated above. Its not that they don't wanna be top dog anymore. They lost their capacity for that because the younger potential mob guys are smart enough to know they can't get away with what they got away with in the past.

Whereas, 99% of latino, black, biker gangs and others of their ilk are basically nitwits and have no clue whatsoever about what's in store for them.

The Italians realize the 'lay of the land' so to speak, and have retreated -- are they should.

Prosectors were never afraid of the mob coming after them before that. Plenty of them made their careers going after anyone they cold tie to the Mafia. Eugene Gold in the 1970's was ahead of Giuliani in using mob prosecutions as a means to get the nomination for mayor. Gold got arrested him self for raping a 10-year old girl, if he had not been caught that were going to have him run for that office. Thomas Dewey went after Luciano and even framed him, then ran for govenour and won. He then ran for president and lost. Every prosecutor or FBI agent knows that tying anyone to the mob or prosecuting them is an easy was to fame and promotions. Rudy Giuliani and Diane Giacolone were late to the game, and they were not really that successful. Giuliani made more of a name for himself by buddying up with the media, he even married a news anchor. No prosecutors feared the mafia.

Havana, its over for all the reasons I enumerated in my earlier post (and several reasons more that I didn't even bother to mention)

Its become a much different time for the Italians in this country.

I agree with nymafia on this; its over. I like when people say not to ignore the mob because they might rebuild. Really? Some italian kid who is named Blake and hangs out at starbucks and grew up in an 800k home is going to rebuild the mob? I doubt it.

But he also claimed that a recently indicted drug dealer with an Italian surname is mobbed-up. That's my issue. I don't think the mob is finished. Yes, many LCN groups around the country are extinct, but in places like NYC and New Jersey they will never go extinct. Saying that the mob is finished sounds so cliché and it's a bullshit cliché. It's nowhere near what it was, but gone for good? I doubt it. There have been recent indictments of KNOWN mobsters with zero mention of the Mafia, but Georgie Cap isn't one of them. He isn't a known mobster or mob associate. I have searched and searched and can find no mention of any mob ties whatsoever.

I do think that the Boston Mafia or Patriarca Family is pretty much finished, on its way to total extinction. When talking about the extinction of the Mafia, the discussion does need to be narrowed down to specific Families or groups, saying that it's finished, extinct, or over is too broad of a statement. And when talking about Italian organized crime in general, there's also groups from Italy with members here.

Liggio, there will ALWAYS be some criminals, "mob guys" with Italian surnames. In years to come there will also most probably still be an Italian 'mob' of sorts. Even one still referred to as the Mafia! After all, you put three Italian guys together and you can call it a mob!
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I'm talking about here in the United States of America. Italy and Sicily are another thing altogether. That is their birthplace and its a much different animal over there than here in the U.S. regarding penal laws, racket opportunities, etc. So thats a different conversation altogether...Italy will always have their Mafia.
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But here in the U.S. there is NOTHING left to really make money with. 90% of the fucking traditional rackets organized crime once controlled are either completely legal now, have gone extinct for one reason or another, or have been taken over by the federal government and are under receivership like the unions. "The Mob" as we once knew it is virtually extinct!

All thats left is dealing drugs, taking a gun and committing a heist or robbery, or the occasional big-time fraud scheme (if a guy is even sharp enough for that, which most mob guys aren't.)
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By the way, I DID NOT SAY there were NO mob guys left. But I said the life is completely over! And what do you think? Just because there are still guys out there in the street, you automatically think they know what they're doing? Or even know which way is up? Most of the guys who remain in this life today are nincompoops...They are a far cry from 'capable' and sharp mobsters of yesteryear who knew their way around. 90% of the guys today don't even know how to get out off their own way, let along know how to go about and make a living.

Just remember, down the road when it becomes accepted gospel, remember that you heard it here first.
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PS: And lastly, as far as Capella goes. How in the world would you know whether he is, or is not, connected in some way with a wiseguy?

This used to be a great site where all opinions were respected. Seems to me it's become a site of "i know more than" you and insults and arguing. Ask a question you get called names; you disagree get called names, ask for specifics you get either silence or falsehoods. LOL . Oh well, Merry Christmas everyone

I saw Good Looking Matty G this morning getting his holiday antipasto, he’s not getting around too well. After him Prov is pretty much done.

Yes, majirat. I WILL NOT be drawn into name calling anymore, as it solves nothing. I will never say it's completely over, but I suppose in certain aspects, it is.

I'm just gonna leave this comment in this thread because I am not really in the mood to start a separate topic about what I'm going to say. You had technology you had DNA you had enough stuff back when guys like Gotti were around that would easily be good enough to put guys away for the rest of their life. The reason why guys now don't act like old school gangsters is because they are wired differently or they are too old to risk going to prison and thats the bottom line. The guys that were willing to do the stuff that needed to be done have all passed away pretty much. So now you have a bunch of guys that are left over that even back in the 80s would never wack somebody or done anything significant. They were never capable of serious shit to begin with. If the mob Still had guys around that were wired the same way you would see things the same way they were 30 or 40 years ago. They wouldn't give a fuck what the FBI had and could use against them. A killer is a killer and nothing will stop them from doing what they need to do.

What the mob has now are a bunch of leftovers that are only in the position they are now because the talent pool has become weaker and I mean who really wants the job anyway? You put these guys back 40 years and none of them would have even been considered for the positions they have now. But since its 2024 you gotta choose someone to carry what is left of the torch.

Boston has never been an Italian city, Irish mostly.

Depends on which part, it’s always had its overall share of Irish but the North End has always been Italian.

And I agree, after Marty G’s generation goes down, Boston/Providence is done

I

That’s a false statement . The Irish make up 12% of the Boston population and the Italians make up
8% . There really not a lot of true blooded Irish or Italians in the City anymore. They have found there way to the suburbs and newer waves of immigrants make up a big portion of the city

About 20% identify as having Irish ancestry. However, it is true that Boston is pretty mixed and that it would be inaccurate to describe Boston as an Irish city

Interesting, he's not all "that" old

I referred to Irish and Italian OC. Not Boston as a city, which does have a mixed European-style.