Earlier this month, headlines echoed a bygone era as ten alleged members of the Gambino crime family, one of New York’s infamous “Five Families,” faced federal racketeering charges. The accusations painted a picture of violent strong-arming to seize control of the city’s garbage disposal and demolition industries. Hammer attacks, hospitalizations, and knife threats against business owners were all part of the indictment, conjuring images of classic mob tactics.
Adding to the spectacle, the FBI launched a search for bodies at horse farms in upstate New York, locations purportedly linked to the Gambinos. These events might suggest a mafia resurgence, a return to the ruthless dominance of decades past. However, voices from within the mob itself paint a different picture, one of decline and diminished power.
John Alite, a 61-year-old former hitman for the Gambino family, dismisses the notion of a mafia comeback. “I knew there’d be no murders [in the indictment],” he stated to The Post, contrasting today’s alleged crimes with his own violent history. Alite, who estimates involvement in dozens of shootings and beatings, and seven killings, spent less than two decades in prison, partly due to cooperating with authorities.
A photo of alleged mobsters Joseph Lanni and Vincent Minsquero at a gas station in New Jersey, showcasing alleged mafia activity.
Alleged mobsters Joseph Lanni and Vincent Minsquero at a gas station in New Jersey, as shown in a prosecutor’s photo.
Now, Alite leverages his past notoriety with a mob-themed podcast and merchandise, including custom baseball bats for sale on his website. He describes today’s Italian-American gangsters as “lightweights,” asserting, “The mob is small time now. The idea of killing today? They won’t do it. They’ve farmed out a lot to black gangs. They don’t know how to set up a team to do a killing.” He further critiques their image, noting, “We dressed with some style. These guys are in T-shirts and jeans,” lamenting the loss of the mafia’s mystique and operational capabilities.
Michael Franzese, 72, son of a Colombo family underboss and a former powerful capo himself, echoes this sentiment. Having left the mob life in the early 1990s, Franzese now boasts over a million YouTube followers, authors mafia books, and even offers a video course on “Wiseguy’s Guide to Getting What You Want.” He reflects, “It’s kind of over, I gotta say,” regarding the modern mafia. Franzese pinpoints the “golden era of the Cosa Nostra” from the mid-1950s to the 1980s, attributing its decline to figures like Rudy Giuliani, whose legal strategies “put a knife through the heart of the whole enterprise.”
Diego Tantillo and Angelo Gradilone in a released image, part of the Gambino family indictment.
Diego “Danny” Tantillo and Angelo “Fifi” Gradilone, among those indicted in the Gambino case, as pictured in a USAO release.
Franzese acknowledges missing the “brotherhood” of his former life but recognizes the absurdity of his current career as a media personality capitalizing on his mob past. “Sometimes I turn to my wife and say, Are we really doing this? It’s kind of hilarious. But that’s social media for you. That’s where the action is today.”
The recent Gambino indictments stand in stark contrast to the mafia’s peak. Sensational events like the 1985 assassination of Gambino boss Paul “Big Paul” Castellano, orchestrated by John Gotti, once dominated headlines and defined the era’s gangster image. The figure of Castellano, the “boss of all bosses,” became a media obsession.
A photo of suspected Gambino crime family member Vito Rappa leaving federal court, highlighting the legal pressures on the mafia.
Vito Rappa, believed to be a defendant in the Gambino case, leaving federal court.
Despite the diminished power, some aspects of mafia culture persist. Nicknames remain a tradition, though perhaps less intimidating than in the past. The recent indictment lists individuals with monikers like “Joe Brooklyn,” “Vinny Slick,” and “Uncle Ciccio,” alongside names like Diego “Danny” Tantillo and Angelo “Fifi” Gradilone.
Francesco “Uncle Ciccio” Vicari, an alleged Gambino crime associate named in the recent federal indictment.
Francesco “Uncle Ciccio” Vicari, an alleged Gambino associate indicted in the recent federal case.
Prosecutors allege that these individuals funneled substantial sums to Joseph “Joe Brooklyn” Lanni, described as a caporegime within the Gambino family, through a complex network of company payments. However, even those associated with the accused downplay the severity of the charges. Vito Rappa’s wife, Margherita, insists on his innocence, describing him as a hardworking restaurant employee caught in “accusations.”
The FBI’s search for bodies at upstate farms, connected to a Giovanni DiLorenzo (sharing a name with one of the indicted men), may yield little, according to law enforcement sources. This detail further underscores the sense that the current mafia operates on a far smaller, less impactful scale.
The five families—Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno, Colombo, and Lucchese—still exist in New York, but their influence is drastically curtailed. The Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act of 1970 marked a turning point, enabling prosecutors, notably Rudy Giuliani, to target top bosses for the crimes of their subordinates.
Giuliani asserts that today’s mafia is “reduced to street criminals,” a far cry from their former dominance over legitimate industries like Las Vegas, unions (Teamsters), and various businesses from garment to construction. Their control over illicit activities, such as blackmailing gay bars, is also gone. “Now they’re like little mom-and-pop businesses,” Giuliani concludes.
John Gotti, once the powerful head of the Gambino family, whose downfall marked a turning point for the mafia.
John Gotti, whose conviction in the 1990s symbolized the federal crackdown on mafia leadership.
Bruce Mouw, a former FBI agent who led the squad that brought down John Gotti in 1990, confirms this decline. While acknowledging the continued existence of mafia structures like captains and initiation ceremonies, he states they “lost control of the unions a long time ago—and that’s where the money and power was.” Mouw’s assessment is blunt: “Most of them are broke now and they’re just hustling.”
In the modern era, the leaders of these families operate in the shadows, intentionally avoiding publicity. Sources suggest that current bosses are more prone to cooperate with authorities against their own underlings, a significant departure from the traditional code of silence.
Paul Castellano's assassination in 1985, a pivotal moment highlighting the violent internal conflicts of the mafia's past.
The scene after the assassination of Gambino boss Paul Castellano in 1985, a dramatic event of the mafia’s “golden era.”
Mike “The Nose” Mancuso, reputed acting boss of the Bonanno family, recently returned to prison for associating with mob figures at his girlfriend’s eyeglass shop. His previous imprisonment stemmed from a murder conspiracy. This incident, involving relatively minor charges, illustrates the current, less formidable nature of mafia activity.
Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, a former Gambino underboss who famously turned against John Gotti, exemplifies the modern mobster-turned-media personality. His podcast, “Our Thing,” and website selling gangster merchandise, including jigsaw puzzles and coasters, demonstrate how former mobsters now capitalize on their past through entertainment.
A horse farm in upstate New York, reportedly searched by the FBI in connection with the Gambino family, symbolizing the ongoing investigations into past crimes.
An upstate New York horse farm, searched by the FBI in connection with potential Gambino family related burials.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a figure who clashed with the Gotti family, offers a scathing assessment: “They’re like one-time thoroughbreds who’s been totally castrated and weakened, and rightfully so. Every other wiseguy has a podcast now. Rather than shooting at each other they talk about their ailments. They’re a bunch of geriatric espresso sippers now.”
Sliwa himself was a target of the Gottis, facing a kidnapping plot allegedly orchestrated by John Gotti Jr. The changing times are underscored by the fact that Lanni and Minsquero, indicted in the recent Gambino case, were caught on camera during an altercation at a restaurant, their actions recorded for law enforcement scrutiny.
Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, a former mobster turned podcaster and merchandise seller, reflecting the changing landscape of mafia notoriety.
Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, now a podcaster and online personality.
Lou Gelormino, Minsquero’s lawyer, protests the focus on Italian-Americans, asking, “Why don’t they pick on Russians or Albanians? It’s always the Italians,” perhaps a sign of a shift in organized crime demographics.
In contrast to this perceived victimhood, a former Gambino soldier in the Netflix documentary “Fear City” recalls a time of invincibility: “We were untouchable, who was going to stop us? We felt like we had all the power we’d want.”
A puzzle showing Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, one of the merchandise items sold by ex-mobsters capitalizing on their past.
A Sammy “The Bull” Gravano jigsaw puzzle, part of his merchandise line.
Retired FBI agent Mouw emphasizes that the underlying mafia mindset, characterized by ruthlessness, persists even in those who have transitioned to public personas. “You could sit next to guys like that and think, This guy could kill me with his bare hands or a gun and then get up and go eat dinner with his wife and kids. Normal people don’t do that. They’re not people I’d recommend hanging out with.”
Wooden coasters sold on Sammy Gravano's website, another example of mafia-themed merchandise.
Wooden coasters with mafia-related phrases for sale on Sammy Gravano’s website.
While pinpointing the current bosses of the 5 families by name proves challenging due to their intentionally low profiles, the overall picture is clear. The era of powerful, untouchable mafia bosses is largely over. The Five Families remain, but their power is a shadow of its former self. They are now more likely to be found in courtrooms and podcast studios than commanding vast criminal empires. The recent indictments and FBI searches are perhaps more a reflection of past sins and lingering notoriety than evidence of a mafia resurgence. The true legacy of the once mighty Five Families may now be found in the stories they tell and the merchandise they sell, a far cry from the iron grip they once held over New York City.
John Gotti, once the powerful head of the Gambino family, whose downfall marked a turning point for the mafia.
John Gotti, the “Teflon Don,” a symbol of both mafia power and its eventual downfall.
A photo of old mobsters, Vito Genovese , Charles "Lucky Luciano" Lucanio and Joseph Profaci, representing the historical figures of the mafia's past.
Vito Genovese, Charles “Lucky Luciano” Lucanio, and Joseph Profaci, iconic figures from the mafia’s past, buried in a New York cemetery.
Reputed Bonanno family boss Mike "The Nose" Mancuso, whose recent legal troubles highlight the current state of mafia leadership.
Mike “The Nose” Mancuso, reputed Bonanno boss, recently imprisoned again for mob-related activities.
Mike "The Nose" Mancuso walking out of court, illustrating the ongoing legal scrutiny faced by mafia figures.
Mike “The Nose” Mancuso leaving a Brooklyn federal courtroom.
Curtis Sliwa in his youth, a long-time critic of the mafia, offering perspective on their diminished status.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a long-time observer and commentator on the mafia.
The late Genovese crime boss Vincent Gigante in his bathrobe, a symbol of the eccentric and elusive nature of past mafia bosses.
Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, the late Genovese boss, known for his eccentric behavior and once considered the most powerful mobster.
