New York Mob hit man Sammy Gravano released from Arizona prison

The Bull is back on the streets. Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, once John Gotti’s loyal underboss until he flipped and…


Double-crossing and death-dealing in St. Louis

Standing in front of a poolroom at 1006 North Tenth Street, Alphonse Palazzolo watched as a large Chrysler sped by….


The ‘Gulf Stream Pirate’ – Rumrunning leads to shooting in Prohibition Era

The Prohibition Era is at times characterized by the speakeasy, with men in suits and women in gowns drinking free-flowing…


Don’t dare call him ‘Three Finger Brown’

The 1960s marked the end of an era for some of America’s underworld leaders. The forward-thinking, Prohibition-era architects of New…


paulieShiro_familySecrets

Ten years ago, epic ‘Family Secrets’ trial crippled the Chicago Outfit

The historic “Family Secrets” trial began 10 years ago in Chicago, finally bringing to justice several top Midwestern mobsters responsible…


Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel near the end of his life

Seventy years ago today, Bugsy Siegel’s storied Mob life came to an abrupt end

It is important to our Museum and to me as the resident historian that criminals and their criminal acts are…


New York indictments allege Georgian mafia activities in four U.S. states

The country of Georgia, wedged between Russia and Turkey with the Black Sea forming its western border, gained its independence…


The hit that could have sunk Las Vegas

On May 2, 1957, Frank Costello thought he had problems, but he had no idea. He was appealing a five-year…


Latin American Organized Crime

Organized crime runs rampant in Latin America

In the United States, organized crime groups steal about $66 billion from retail, cargo, auto and jewelry businesses each year….


Catholic Church and The Mob

Archbishop: No more Mafia godfathers

The climactic montage from The Godfather begins with a baby’s cries. A priest recites the ritual Latin phrases over a…