The Mafia was once one of the most powerful organizations in America.
That was a long time ago.
Today in 2023, yes the Mafia is still around.
In fact all five families still have a small foothold in New York.
There is though over the last 6-10 months a pretty interesting power struggle in the Bonanno Crime Family.
A little backstory- Regarding the Bonannos, they are an interesting group.
Obviously if you’ve seen Donnie Brasco, you’re familiar with Agent Joe Pistone infiltrating the family.
He took the family into the 2000’s changing the rules and creating some calm in the family.
Joe Massino’s back was against the wall and in 2004 was found guilty and given life.
The Bonanno Family was decimated and throughout the 2000’s into the 2010’s would take a major hit.
They were still around but extremely hamstrung.
He came up under Basciano and was one of his most trusted confidants.
He during that time was serving a 15 year sentence for a gangland murder in 2004.
The family instead went with The Nose.
The shelved members including Cammarano were quiet.
In July 2022, the old timer Grimaldi died of natural causes and a funeral was subsequently held.
Now for being shelved, Joe C was told to stay away.
It was a disgraceful move by Mancuso and many in the life from what I heard were sickened.
Oh how far the Mafia has fallen.
Fast forward to recently and according to my friend Scott Burnstein over at The Gangster Report.
He recently detailed that there’s been continued reprisals from Mancuso regarding the dust up at the funeral.
Joe Cammarano just happens to lives on New Woods Road on Long Island referenced in the above article.
Anyone with insular knowledge of the mob today knows how hamstrung they are.
This will likely cause major blowback to a group that wants to remain in the shadows.
What happens next no one knows.
He is a power hungry psycho who seems to be all about reprisal.
The problem is the current state of how to Mafia can react is really hurting him.
He’s unable to dole out what he believes is a right punishment.
The Mafia was a secret society aided by respect and loyalty.
Now it’s just a bunch of lunatics playing in a sea of nonsense fighting over scraps.
As the world turns in the Mafia.
Check out my podcast for more on this and the history of the Mafia and other crime
