Real Modern Mob Bosses And The Mafia Lifestyle

Taking A Look At Real Modern Mob Bosses And The Mafia Lifestyle

Taking a look at some of today’s real modern mob bosses and how the mafia lifestyle is still alive. See how real life differs from the TV shows and the movies.

Ever since John Gotti (AKA The Dapper Don) made being a mafia boss cool during the last decade of the 20th century, the mafia is wising up.  No longer do they give elaborate speeches to the press or host Oscar-worthy shootouts against rival families.

With the number of incarcerated or assassinated mob bosses always on the rise, it’s no wonder the mafia is keeping quiet these days.

Yet, the real modern mob bosses of New York, Chicago, Detroit, and LA haven’t gone anywhere.  They’re still getting up to all the criminal activities we know and love them for. They just aren’t broadcasting it for the world to see.

That’s why we’re bringing you this guide to the modern goings-on of the most prominent mafia families in the country. Wondering what the family that inspired The Godfather is up to these days? Keep reading for the answer to that question and more!

The 5 Mob Families of New York

The mafia is most well-known for its activities in New York, where 5 crime families have ruled since the beginning of the 20th century: The Bonnano, Colombo, Lucchese, Gambino, and Genovese crime families.

The Bonnano Family

January of 2018 saw the arrest of Bonnano crime family’s boss, Joseph Cammarano Jr., for extortion, drug dealing, loan-sharking, and conspiracy to murder. However, some experts debate whether he’s the leader of the Bonnano family at all.

Others suggest that Michael Mancuso has been running things since 2004. Considering Mancuso has been imprisoned for the murder of Gerlando Sciascia in 1999, though, it’s no wonder Thomas DiFiore is rumored to be leading the family’s street operations.

The Colombo Family

The Colombo crime family and their young leader, Joe Colombo, are perhaps the most famous of the New York mafia. That’s because this crime family is reported to be the inspiration behind The Godfather. He’s also the victim of a highly-publicized 1971 shooting, which paralyzed him until his death 7 years later.

Carmine Persico and John Franzese head up the Colombo crime family today. While both of these seasoned mob bosses once called the shots from a prison cell, Franzese was released in 2017. Persico died while still incarcerated in 2019.

The Lucchese Family

While Vic Amuso has technically headed up the Lucchese crime family since the 80s, he’s currently serving a life sentence for his various crimes. While he’s been away, he’s gives orders to 5 acting street bosses.

The 90’s saw the leadership of Alphonse D’Arco and Joseph DeFede before Steven Crea took his first swing at leading the mafia family. After only 2 years, Louis Daidone took over briefly before Steven Crea returned to power in 2009.

The Lucchese crime family lost their leader, Steven Crea, his heir, Steven Crea Jr., and 17 other members in 2017 when they were busted for racketeering and murder. Experts aren’t sure who Amuso will pick next now that Crea is gone.

The Gambino Family

Frank Cali, the late leader of the Gambino crime family, was shot and killed in late 2019. This was surely devastating to the Gambino crime family, who looked to Cali and his predecessor Domenico Cefalu, as a return to old-guard mafia ways.

Before Cefalu, the Gambino family experienced two and a half decades of rule under the Gottis. When his father John Gotti was incarcerated, Peter Gotti ruled the Gambino family until his own arrest in 2005.

John Gotti (The Dapper Don) led the family of crime for more than 15 years after killing his predecessor, Paul Castellano, in 1985.

The Genovese Family

The largest and arguably most powerful crime family in New York is the Genovese. These guys are so powerful, many of their soldiers don’t even know the name of their mob boss.

Still, experts believe that, following the 2005 death of former boss, Vincent Gigante, Liborio Bellomo took over. From 2005 to 2008, Bellomo ruled the Genovese Family from prison after being incarcerated on racketeering charges and for the murder of Ralph Coppola.

Illinois’ Chicago Outfit

Al Capone’s legacy, the Chicago Outfit, is still the biggest mob in Chi-town.

That’s right, Capone’s infamous mafia group is still alive and well today, though they’ve been in decline since legal enforcement ramped up investigations in the 90s.

In modern times, Tony Accardo brought the Chicago Outfit business acclaim during his reign at the end of the 20th century. After Accardo’s natural death in 1992, Samuel Carlisi was named boss until his arrest in 1996 and death the following year.

Today, John DiFronzo is reported to be running things at the Chicago Outfit. DiFronzo turns 91 this year and has yet to attract negative attention from law enforcement.

Michigan’s Detroit Partnership

In the early 1900s, Detroit was a dangerous place to be in the mafia. Power switched hands between the Adamo, the Gianolla, and the Vitale crime families as the leaders declared all-out war, assassinating every boss until 1921 when Salvatore Catalanotte took control.

Throughout the 20th century, the Detroit mafia merged together, becoming what’s known in modern times as the Detroit Partnership.

Today, former Detroit Partnership lieutenant, Jack Giacalone, heads up the group. Under his leadership, the Detroit Partnership continues to evade law enforcement with his strict, unflashy tactics.

The Only Living Mob Boss of Old Hollywood: Ori Spado

Old Hollywood used to be breeding ground for criminal activity. Never is that more apparent than when thinking about the four mob bosses of old Hollywood:

• Jack Dragna
• Bugsy Siegel
• Mickey Cohen
• Ori Spado

Ori Spado is the only living mob boss of the four. Also known as Orlando Spado, this Hollywood mob boss was arrested on RICO charges in 2008. You can read about Spado’s experience as Hollywood’s fixer in his autobiography, The Accidental Gangster.

Who Controls the Modern LA Mafia?

Since Jack Dragna’s death in the 1950s, the mafia has had a declining presence in LA and Hollywood.

Still, a mobster from Cleveland, Peter Milano, controlled the LA mafia with an iron fist between 1984 and his death in 2012.

Today, experts suspect that New York’s Gambino crime family is running things in the city of angels. Thomas Gambino heads up LA operations and is Frank Cali’s first cousin, which may be why the family trusted him with operations on the West Coast.

Real Modern Mob Bosses: Get An Insider Look

Loved learning about these real modern mob bosses and how they came to power? Then you’ve got to pick up Ori Spado’s account of being one of the top mob bosses in old Hollywood.

Browse the website to learn how to pick up your very own copy and check out Spado’s online gallery of photos to see how the modern gangster lives today.  You can also order an autographed book through Spado’s website www.theaccidentalgangster.com