The Genovese crime family stands as a formidable force within the landscape of New York City-based organized crime syndicates. Alongside the Gambino, Bonanno, Lucchese, and Colombo families, the Genovese organization constitutes one of the notorious Five Families that have historically shaped and controlled illicit activities in the city. Unlike many other urban centers dominated by a singular criminal entity, New York City’s underworld was, and to a degree remains, divided among these powerful families, a structure that emerged in the early 20th century and became a defining characteristic of American organized crime. These Five Families are integral to understanding the broader network known as La Cosa Nostra, often simply referred to as the Mafia, a nationwide alliance steeped in tradition and criminal enterprise.
The genesis of the Five Families can be traced back to the tumultuous Castellammarese War, a violent power struggle within the Mafia in the early 1930s. Named after Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, the hometown of many involved, this conflict resulted in the deaths of approximately 60 mobsters, including several prominent figures. In the aftermath of this bloody war, Salvatore Lucania, better known as Charles “Lucky” Luciano, emerged as a pivotal figure. Luciano established the Commission, a groundbreaking criminal board of directors. This council comprised the bosses of the Five Families and leaders from other organized crime factions across the United States. The Commission was designed to serve as a governing body, mediating disputes, enforcing rules, and solidifying the power of the Five Families by granting them permanent representation in this national syndicate.
Luciano, who had already carved out a significant presence in lucrative criminal rackets such as extortion, prostitution, illegal gambling, and bootlegging, was appointed as the head of one of these newly structured families. His trusted associate, Vito Genovese, was designated as the underboss, second in command, of what would become arguably the largest, most influential, and powerful of the Five Families. However, Luciano’s reign was cut short when he was imprisoned in 1936. Vito Genovese stepped in as acting boss, taking the helm of the family. In 1937, fearing prosecution for murder, Genovese fled to Italy. Despite his exile, he maintained control, actively managing the family’s criminal and legitimate business ventures. He fostered connections with both the traditional Sicilian Mafia and the burgeoning Italian Mafia, organizations that served as models for American organized crime, further expanding his influence and solidifying his position within the Genovese Family.
During Genovese’s absence, Frank Costello took on the role of acting boss. Genovese was eventually arrested and extradited back to the United States. However, by 1946, key witnesses in the case had been eliminated, leading to Genovese’s release. Upon his return, Genovese immediately moved to consolidate power, aiming to control the Commission and become the preeminent “boss of bosses.” He orchestrated an assassination attempt on Costello. While Costello survived, the attack led him to relinquish his position as head of the family, paving the way for Genovese’s ascent. Genovese was also implicated in the 1957 murder plot targeting Umberto (“Albert”) Anastasia, the leader of Murder, Inc., a notorious group of Mafia hitmen and a significant ally of Costello.
In 1957, the organization officially adopted the name Genovese family in recognition of Vito Genovese’s leadership. That same year, Genovese orchestrated a high-profile summit of Mafia leaders known as the Apalachin meeting, held in Apalachin, New York. It is believed Genovese intended to solidify his coup during this gathering. However, the meeting backfired spectacularly when law enforcement authorities raided the event on November 14, 1957. Nearly 100 mobsters were present, and approximately 60, including Genovese, were arrested. The Apalachin raid had a significant unintended consequence: it brought unprecedented national attention to the Mafia and intensified FBI scrutiny of organized crime. Many within the Mafia blamed Genovese for this unwelcome spotlight. Speculation arose that Luciano, Costello, and Meyer Lansky, the Mafia’s financial mastermind, might have tipped off authorities to undermine Genovese’s power grab. Notably, none of these three were present at the Apalachin meeting. These figures may have also played a role in Genovese’s subsequent conviction on drug trafficking charges in 1959, further weakening his position.
Despite his imprisonment, Genovese’s control over the family was diminished but not completely eliminated. In 1962, Joe Valachi, a high-ranking member of the Genovese family serving prison time alongside his boss, became convinced that Genovese was plotting his murder. Fearing for his life, Valachi made a momentous decision: he turned state’s evidence and cooperated with the government. In a landmark moment, Valachi publicly confirmed the existence of the Mafia for the first time in recorded history. His exhaustive testimony detailed the inner workings of the mob and, at the urging of the U.S. Justice Department, he later penned a memoir, further exposing the Mafia’s extensive criminal operations. Valachi’s betrayal of the Mafia’s code of silence and his unmasking of its hierarchical structure sent shockwaves through law enforcement agencies. This, combined with the introduction of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in 1970, empowered the FBI to aggressively pursue organized crime, leading to a significant decline in the Mafia’s power in the latter part of the 20th century.
Vito Genovese remained the head of the Genovese family until his death from natural causes in prison in 1969. Following his demise, the family experienced relatively long periods of stable leadership, albeit often punctuated by imprisonments and acting bosses. Even in the 21st century, the Genovese family remains active, reportedly involved in white-collar crimes such as extortion, loan sharking, and illegal gambling. A significant raid in 2006 resulted in the conviction of approximately 30 family members on racketeering charges, and as recently as 2022, six alleged associates were arrested, demonstrating the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the enduring presence of the Genovese family and its criminal enterprises.
