Embattled ‘maxi-trial’ prosecutor takes on ’Ndrangheta
Nicola Gratteri has not been to a restaurant in 20 years. The 62-year-old lawyer eats in his office. His home,…
Author: Brian Freeman
El Chapo’s wife arrested in U.S., faces federal charges
Emma Coronel Aispuro may not be a household name, but the U.S. Justice Department believes she was a key accomplice…
The Mafia boss who flipped
Behind bars and abandoned by his men, Ralph Natale of Philadelphia became the first official American Mafia boss to flip…
The mystery of Lucky Luciano’s ‘invaluable service’ to the country
Seventy-five years ago, Charles Luciano caught a Lucky break . . . sort of. Following several years of negotiations (and…
Geri Rosenthal’s ‘life on the edge’
In September 1980, during an argument with her husband, Geri Rosenthal waved a gun around outside their house in the…
The biggest Mafia sweep in American history
The morning of January 20, 2011, was a particularly early one for many in law enforcement. Before dawn, more than…
Phyllis McGuire, singing star and Sam Giancana paramour, dies at age 89
Phyllis McGuire, the last of the popular McGuire Sisters singing trio and onetime girlfriend of Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana,…
Big Mob trouble in the Big Easy
Organized crime’s influence in New Orleans is at the center of a legal drama airing on Showtime through January. Titled…
Re-edited ‘Godfather: Part III’ wins applause
Francis Ford Coppola’s re-edit of The Godfather: Part III is receiving praise from critics who say the changes have streamlined…
Blowing the whistle on Mob-connected sports betting
In the fourth quarter of a 2002 NBA conference playoff game, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant elbowed the Sacramento…