ORGANIZED CRIME FBI
Because of an alert trooper, in November 1957, New York authorities discovered a number of Mafiosi figures had convened at the rural estate of Joseph Barbara, in Apalachin, New York that included Joseph Bonanno, Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, Joseph Proface, and Santos Traficante. When mobsters realized police were trying to identify who was visiting Barbara—jotting down plate numbers—some tried to flee, but most were identified since troopers also set-up a road block.
Exchanging intelligence, law enforcement officials determined approximately 60-gangsters had attended the meeting, with 53 having FBI-jackets or files and 40 having known criminal records. The incident caused the Justice Department to conclude the FBI did not have sufficient jurisdiction to investigate Organized Crime so they approached Congress about broadening their authority. Not wanting to be seen as lax on crime, in 1960, Congress passed the Federal Wire Wager Act, the Travel Act, and the Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia Act—enabling the FBI to target “illegal” bookmaking operations and anyone who traveled and/or used interstate/foreign facilities for racketeering activity.
Later—in an effort to educate the public about crime families—the FBI also convinced a former mob button man to testify before a Senate rackets subcommittee investigating mob activities. Providing riveting testimony Joseph Valachi rocked the nation when he told Senate investigators about crime families, mob hits, and committing extortion. Because the Attorney General concluded mob families posed a serious threat, the Justice Department created the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section to better coordinate the activities of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies charged with investigating the threat.
But some argued, the Bureau still lacked the necessary tools to investigate mob families, and in response, Congress passed the 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, enabling the FBI to seek court authorized wiretaps and install bugs to record personal conversations. And as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 passed the Illegal Gambling Business Act aimed at syndicate gambling and enacted the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations [RICO] Act. With RICO, the FBI was authorized to attack criminal organizations and seize assets—permitting authorities to recover criminal and civil penalties, including treble damages, costs, and attorney fees.
Because his background includes prosecuting the sons of New York mobster Joseph Bonanno [mentioned above] as well as other Organized Crime cases, Mr. WEDICK suggests he can be extremely helpful if you’re looking for someone with an Organized Crime background. If you need assistance, he suggests he can either be contacted at his office and/or you can send a brief email detailing your request.
[NOTE: Information contained herein was obtained from the FBI’s official website www.FBI.gov].
