The Lucchese Family: A Look into Organized Crime's Past and Present

Recent Arrests and Illegal Activities

The Lucchese crime family, one of the infamous "Five Families" of New York and New Jersey, has once again made headlines. Recently, 14 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in an illegal sports betting ring. This isn't the first time the Lucchese family has been in the news. Back in April, 39 people, including members of the Lucchese family, were charged with running a large-scale illegal gambling operation.

The Commission and the Five Families

The Lucchese family is part of a larger structure known as the Commission, established in 1931 to govern mob activities in the U.S. The Five Families—Lucchese, Bonnano, Colombo, Gambino, and Genovese—each controlled specific territories. They used tactics like extortion, loan sharking, and infiltrating labor unions to gain money and influence.

Hierarchy within the Families

The hierarchy within these families is strict:

1. Boss (Don): The leader of the family.
2. Consigliere: Advises the boss.
3. Underboss: Next in line, often a family member who could take over.
4. Capos: Lead groups of soldiers.
5. Soldiers: Fully initiated members.
6. Associates: Perform lesser roles.

Recent Arrests and High-Ranking Members

Four of the recent suspects are high-ranking members of the Lucchese family:

• George Zappola: Part of the family's ruling panel.
• Joseph Perna: A captain.
• John Perna: A soldier.
• Wayne Cross: A soldier.

The Lufthansa Heist and Henry Hill

The Lucchese family is notorious for the Lufthansa heist in 1978, where about $5 million in cash and $800,000 in jewels were stolen from JFK Airport. No one was hurt, but many connected to the heist disappeared or were killed. Henry Hill, one of the heist's participants, later became an FBI informant and inspired the movie "Goodfellas."

The RICO Act and Its Impact

In 1970, the RICO Act was passed to enhance penalties for organized crime. While it reduced the influence of the Five Families, violent crime linked to the mob hasn't disappeared.