The Invisible Mafia of Triple Cities – The Joseph Barbara Family
Joe Barbara Sr. was the undisputed capo over a small territory, but one that produced tremendous rackets revenue and profits nonetheless.
The American Mafia had a wide reach that went beyond the confines of the Big Apple. Almost every major American city from Boston to Chicago to Los Angeles had its own mafia family. Small cities like Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Dallas, Texas also had a mafia family to call its own.
And even smaller cities like Madison, Wisconsin; San Jose, California; and Springfield, Illinois had a mafia presence as well.
Upstate New York had a plethora of mafia activity including the Falcone regime of Utica which fell under the auspices of the Stefano Magaddino crime family of Buffalo. But there was also a mafia presence in cities like Syracuse, Schenectady, Albany, Rochester, and Binghamton, to name but a few.
In fact, the infamous 1957 mafia meeting in Apalachin, New York was hosted by Joseph Barbara Sr., who oversaw a large swathe of organized crime activity not only in Binghamton but also just over the border in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
This brings us to Russell Bufalino, perhaps one of the most underrated bosses of all time.
Bufalino assumed the mantle of power after Barbara's death in 1959. But he had ruled over the Northeastern Pennsylvania area as Barbara's trusty underboss years before and became a powerhouse in his own right. And he never looked back.
And that's just a small teaser of the kind of stories you can read in this section. Not only will you find in-depth articles about nearly all of the mafia families that ever operated across the U.S., but we've also written extensive stories on mafia families and regimes in Canada and Sicily, Italy as well.
In addition, you'll find articles about various regimes and crews of New York's Five Families and the DeCavalcante Family of New Jersey that also stretched their tentacles beyond their home bases.
Plus, you'll find interesting articles about the mob's presence in south Florida (and we're not talking just the Trafficante Crime Family here) and more.
So, take a seat and dig in. You'll be here a while.
Joe Barbara Sr. was the undisputed capo over a small territory, but one that produced tremendous rackets revenue and profits nonetheless.
The Carlo Caputo borgata in Madison, Wisconsin was, without a doubt, the smallest mafia Family to ever exist in the United States.
Despite being one of the smallest LCN borgatas to ever operate in the US, longtime boss Joe Cerrito made millions - all without ever serving one day in prison!
Since the Roaring 20s, the Chicago Mob has been at the forefront of organized crime in this country. Here are some of the Outfit's more colorful gangsters.
One of the smallest Mafia clans in America was in Dallas, Texas, headed by Joseph Civello.
Cleveland has always ranked high in the Mafia of the United States. From their seat on The Commission to their vast control over labor unions, this borgata has always counted!
John Verilla headed the Altoona, PA Crew, but choosing him was one of the biggest mistakes the otherwise careful and low-key LaRocca Family ever made!
Connecticut has been inundated with splintered factions from many different Mafia Families, all competing to operate there over the years.
In the late-1940s New York’s Anastasia/Gambino Family officially planted their flag and staked a claim in Baltimore ala The Corbi Regime.
Since the 1920s, this iconic satellite regime of New York’s Genovese Family has operated a highly successful crew up in Massachusetts.
Under the auspices of Paolo Di Cocco, bookmaking and gambling thrived in the quiet city of Schenectady with very little violence throughout its history.
The story of Anthony (Gov) Guarnieri and the Binghamton, NY regime he headed first for Joe Barbara and later the new boss Rosario Bufalino.
Montreal was a city custom-built for the mob and what the Cotroni Crime Family accomplished, in partnership with the American Mafia, was second to none.
One of the smartest and most venerable of N’drangheta bosses to ever operate on Canadian soil was the legendary Don Giacomo Luppino.
John Papalia's underworld reputation would grow as one of the top bosses in the City of Hamilton, Ontario. Here is his life story.
Russ Bufalino headed a small Pennsylvania borgata who dabbled in garment factories and a few rackets that were more than what they seemed.
Since the early 1920s, mafiosi from six families and various racketeers allied with them have called Queens County home.
Is it possible that a mafia regime or family could leave its criminal ways and go legit? History shows us that it is.
Where mob guys lived and hung their fedoras have run the gamut from the most pristine residences, to the worst shit-boxes one could imagine.
After WWII, wiseguys started flocking to South Florida in droves. Miami Beach and it’s outer environs soon became a “Mob Paradise."
Part II of Mafia Moon Over Miami documents another 38 hoodlums to this existing racketeer roster of hoodlums who were drawn to Miami.
Mobster Frederico Randaccio, better known as Lupo the Wolf, was the underboss of the Magaddino Crime Family in Buffalo, New York. His reputation as a top strong-arm man, capable enforcer, and competent killer in Buffalo's underworld would soon precede him everywhere he went.
Richie the Boot Boiardo was a notoriously dangerous and powerful Genovese Crime Family mobster who ruled Northern New Jersey with an iron fist. He was, perhaps, one of the most treacherous mobsters of all time and is one of the inspirations for The Sopranos TV show.
John Gambino was a powerhouse in the Gambino Family of Cosa Nostra, but how did he get his start and how and why did his two brothers, Joe and Rosario, end up in Cherry Hill? Part 1 of the Cherry Hill Gambino series.
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George Smurra was a very capable and trusted gunsel for the Genovese family and was involved in many schemes and mayhem, including murder.
Charlie Brody DiPalermo was a notorious Lucchese hoodlum heavily involved in the drug trade with his brother Joe Beck.
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Button Guys of The New York Mafia brings you mafia history you never knew existed. Uncover the mysteries of the mafia, its inner workings, and its influence on the world at large through deep-dive biographies and in-depth stories about well-known and little-known mobsters and mob families across the globe!