The Five Families is the group of organized crime families operating out of New York City.
This Italian-American Mafia organization includes the Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Colombo and Lucchese families. Button Guys has also included the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey usually isn't included in the Five Families grouping, but Button Guys has included them under this umbrella.
The bosses of these six crime families as well as other mob bosses throughout the country were part of what is known as The Commission. The Commission as we know it is a blended underworld of all Italian factions from mainland Italy as well as Sicily that came into existence in 1931.
Changing the rules to absorb other purebred Italians of Calabrian, Neapolitan, and other mainland Italians into their ranks, the Families were now one cohesive monolithic brotherhood, renamed — “Cosa Nostra” or “Our Thing”.
Here you'll find brief histories on each of the five families and the DeCavalcante Family of New Jersey as well as in-depth biographies about their well-known and little-known members and associates.
Rubin (Ruby) Lazarus was a notorious gambling racketeer who was "on record" with the Genovese Family and closely tied to Fat Tony Salerno.
Vito Genovese was, unquestionably, the “Capo di tutti Capi” or “Boss of all Bosses”- or was as close to that exalted title, as anyone has ever gotten to it.
Frank Costello was one of the classiest, reserved, richest, and most influential, mafioso in history. He wasn't called "The Prime Minister" for nothing!
He started out as just another seemingly dime-a-dozen young Greenwich Village street thug, but The Chin was so much more than what he looked like.
Jerry Catena was a Genovese Family member who set the record for serving the most time in prison for contempt of court convictions.
One of the quietest, yet most capable and successful mafiosi to have operated in NYC back during the mob’s “golden era” was Funzi Tieri.
Carlo Gambino was arguably the most powerful boss of the Five New York Crime Families. Quiet and unassuming, he was a force to be reckoned with.
The life story of iconic Gambino Family consigliere Joseph N. Gallo - an underworld enigma. Plus a bonus mini bio on his son Joseph C. Gallo Jr.
Neil Dellacroce may have been given the name of a "lamb", but he would grow up to be one of the deadliest mafioso to ever live in America.
Frank “The Wop” Gagliardi was a serious Gambino Family soldier who navigated turbulent underworld waters for over five decades.
Vincent Amodea was a Gambino Family member who was involved in labor racketeering and extortion and was an associate of Terry Zappi.
Sebastian Biondo was a member of the Gambino Family who later in life turned his love of music into a successful career away from the mob.
Alfred (Al Walker) Embarrato was a Bonanno Family soldier who was suspected of ordering the hit on his nephew, the notorious Tony Mirra.
Joe Bonanno was one of the original Mafia bosses in the United States, and one of the most infamous, wealthiest, and most controversial to ever operate.
Paul Sciacca was a low-profile Bonanno mafioso who was catapulted to acting boss during the Family's volatile Banana War years.
Carmine Galante was one of the most powerful and feared of the Mafia bosses until he met his fate during a Bonanno power struggle.
Philip (Rusty) Rastelli was a one-time boss of the Bonanno Family who eventually stepped down allowing Carmine Galante to once again rule.
Michael Adamo was once acting underboss of the Bonnano Family until he wasn't anymore because of an internal Family conflict.
Joe Profaci was a Colombo Faimly boss who was one of the most business savvy and powerful Mafia members ever in the entire United States.
Giuseppe (Joe Malyoke) Magliocco had a very well-known name, but little was really ever known about his personal life or mafia career.
Joe Colombo was the boss of the Colombo Family until a bullet struck him down. Was it the work of Gallo or a secret organization?
Junior Persico was born and reared in the South Brooklyn area and was a tough Italian street kid who joined a street gang in the early 1950s.
Lawrence Abbandando was originally affiliated with the Profaci/Colombo Family in the crew of top capodecina John (Sonny) Franzese.
Benny Aloi was a Colombo Family member active in policy with his father for many years. He was also a prominent loanshark.
Tommy Lucchese was beloved by the rank and file of the Lucchese Family but had a reputation as a master corrupter and political “fixer.”
Carmine (Mr. Gribbs) Tramunti was an interim boss who ruled the Lucchese Crime Family until it all came crashing down in the 1970s.
Anthony Corallo was the head of the Lucchese Family who was a powerful labor racketeer in league with Johnny Dio and Tommy Lucchese.
Stefano La Salle was one of the bosses in the Lucchese Family who shared in the monopolistic lathing and construction rackets.
Vincenzo Rao was a Lucchese Family consigliere who could have been the Family boss at one time but chose to fade into the background.
Jack Reina was a “sleeper” to the general public and to many in organized crime, even though his dad was the boss.
Nicky Dell was one of the original powers in Northern New Jersey’s underworld - a very well-respected mafioso who eventually became boss.
Sam DeCavalcante was the boss of the DeCavalcante Family who became notorious for undercover FBI recordings at his plumbing office.
John Riggi helmed the DeCavalcante ship with a steely resolve for nearly 35 years even while Gambino boss John Gotti sought to sink it.
Francesco Majuri was a well-respected member of the underworld who started out as an alcohol bootlegger in the 1920s and 1930s.
Joseph La Selva was “underboss” of the DeCavalcante Family along with Frank Majuri which was a rarity in a Cosa Nostra Family.
Luciano (Fat Louie) Larasso was an extremely capable mafioso, but In this life, fear and jealousy can kill ya.... literally!
After New Jersey boss Sam the Plumber DeCavalcante was convicted on federal gambling charges, he tapped John Riggi to act in his stead. Riggi helmed the DeCavalcante Family ship for nearly 35 years even while Gambino boss John Gotti sought to sink it.
Rusty Rastelli was the one-time mafia boss of the Bonanno Crime Family. Originally hailing from the gritty Greenpoint section of North Brooklyn, Rastelli would rise up from a common street hoodlum and gunman to eventually reach the very pinnacle of organized crime in New York City.
Ettore Zappi was a longtime capo and close friend and associate of Gambino Family boss Carlo Gambino. Zappi was involved in many mob rackets including labor unions, rib joints, drive-in movie theaters, and more.
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