Mafia: The Government's Secret File on Organized Crime

by U.S. Department of the Treasury, Sam Giancana (Foreword)

Some time in the early 1960s, during the golden age of organized crime in America--the era that would inspire "The Godfather"; "Goodfellas," and even "The Sopranos"--federal investigators pulled every known piece of information on more than 800 Mafia members worldwide into a thick, phone-book-sized directory. From old-school gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Mickey Cohen to young turks like Paul Castellano and Vinny "The Chin" Gigante, the guide offered at-a-glance profiles of small-time thugs and major dons alike... and was allegedly the book Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy used to investigate the mob.

Recently discovered, and published for the first time in this facsimile edition, Mafia is a treasure trove of info on the underworld in mid-century America--a revelatory artifact and an irresistible read.

Genres: True Crime, Crime, History

944 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just received my copy today.

The book, supposedly a facsimile of the underworld binder-references used by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), contains hundreds of single-page bios of mobsters. Most include mugshots. The information looks to be superficial, but birthdates, relatives, addresses, law enforcement file numbers and other details in the bios could lead determined researchers to additional information.

A couple of navigation problems: 1. The index has been placed at the front of the book. 2. Though the book is divided up into geographic sections, there is no table of contents to tell where section divisions occur.

The only portion of the book not originally FBN government document is the two-page foreword by Sam Giancana. That is completely forgettable.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The format is like this: Name, Aliases,Description,Localities Frequented, Family Background, Criminal Associates, Criminal History, Business, and Modus Operandi. Some have a picture, and some do not. This collection, I would guess, to be pre 1965ish. I had fun looking up old houses and hangouts on google. It would be a great source for genealogical research. So many in those circles did not fill out census, draft records, etc. The treasury department lists parents, spouses, siblings, and where they were all from. Some in the book I couldn't find any information on, which was mysterious.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of raw data, this is an excellent book. It is just a brief collection of one-page summaries of Mafia gangsters allegedly involved in narcotics. This is a great source for mugshots. This is by no means thorough. The similar New York City Mafia Files demonstrates just how many people were not listed in the FBN book. However, this book contains gems of information on many obscure hoodlums and traffickers. Organized by state, it can be a little difficult to locate certain people as many enthusiasts would go straight to their locations. The index is located at the front of the book.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over 8oo pages of profiles of people involved in organized crime in 1960. Compiled by the bureau of narcotics.

Photos, good index of nicknames and details of aliases and associates but limited use - only includes criminals still active in 1960.

[Leonard Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, amazing, and deeply strange, this is nothing more than a huge compendium of FBI files compiled on mob figures in the early 1960s. The photos alone are worth the price.

[Pigfender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating reference - it's just a list of the rap sheets held by the US Bureau of Narcotics, complete with pictures, lists of crimes, and known aliases!