The Complete Idiot S Guide To The Mafia

Offers a comprehensive overview of the world's most notorious criminal organization, tracing the history of the Mafia, changes in the ranks and power following the conviction of key members, and their diverse roles in cities across the United States.

You never go against the family. Here is the most comprehensive introduction to and explanation of the most infamous crime organization in history. Completely updated with more than 70 pages of new material and photographs, it includes information about the shifts in power and tightening of ranks of different families after convictions of their key members; new inside information on the role of the families in Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, Rochester, and even Montreal; and updates on the DeCavalcante family who bragged they were the real “Sopranos” on FBI wiretaps. • More than 70 pages of new material. • Full of dramatic anecdotes and photos about everything from Capone to Gotti and beyond. • Written by acclaimed expert author and reporter of all things Mafia in his weekly online column “Gang Land” (ganglandnews.com).

You’re no idiot, of course. You know there’s more to Italy’s rich tapestry than spaghetti and the Sicilian Mafia, but you also know you have a lot to learn about the country that brought you the paintings of Michelangelo, the poetry of Dante, and the Ferrari of your dreams. Get ready to indulge! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Italian History and Culture will satisfy your thirst for all things Italian with its in-depth information about Italian art and literature, wine and cooking, and famous Italians and Italian Americans. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Secrets of Italian cooking sure to whet your appetite! • The Italian-American connection, from pizza to the Mafia to soccer • A comprehensive look at the centuries-long struggle to unify Italy • The power and glory of the Renaissance

In the maelstrom of globalization and cyberspace, organized crime continues to defy definition. A diverse array of activities is perpetuated by criminal organizations, criminal groups and associations, and gangs, and it is clear that one specific label is no longer adequate. This book offers a uniquely global approach to organized crime and the multitude of forces that shape it in the 21st century. As well as discussing definitions of and the historical roots of organized crime, this book examines various forms of organized crime around the world in the US, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Russia and Europe, Asia and Africa. This revised and updated new edition includes coverage of: the rise of the ’Ndrangheta in Italy and their global expansion; the impact of drug legalization on organized crime and the problem of methamphetamine; organ trading, money laundering, and animal poaching; changes in gang traditions and gangland penitentiaries; the decentralization of Mexican cartels, the growth of opium production in Myanmar, and the drug war in Africa; and the advancement of ISIS and the emergence of the Silk Road and the Dark Net. This book is essential reading for students engaged in the study of global and transnational organized crime, with features including chapter overviews, key terms, critical thinking questions, and case studies.

The mafia's code of silence has long made it difficult for police to convict major mafia figures. Low-level members who are caught in criminal activities rarely turn evidence on those above them, choosing instead to do their time. Police have had go to great lengths to take down the bosses, in many cases giving up their own lives to go undercover. Joe Pistone, the undercover FBI Agent known as "Donnie Brasco," was an FBI agent for 27 years. He spent 20 of those years as an undercover agent, sacrificing his own identity to bring justice to the mob. This book provides background information on organized crime, and gives your readers a revealing look into the tools and techniques used by investigators in mafia cases. Sidebars provide first-person accounts and biographies of famous criminals and investigators.

Provides an introduction to the command center for United States miliary operations, and discusses the history of the physical structure, its organization, personnel, and some of its residents including the CIA, NSA, and NIMA.

Whether you are the manager of a large corporation or the owner of a small business, you need to know how to build and maintain powerful brands. This book will help you make decisions about the products and services your company develops or sells. It explains how to develop your target market, how to understand your brand's core values, and how to develop a brand positioning statement.

Stories abound about legendary New York City gangsters like "Lucky" Luciano, but Buffalo has housed its fair share of thugs and mobsters too. While many were nothing more than common criminals or bank robbers, a powerful crime family headed by local boss Stefano Magaddino emerged in the 1920s. Close to Canada, Niagara Falls and Buffalo were perfect avenues through which to transport booze, and Magaddino and his Mafiosi maintained a stranglehold on the city until his death in 1974. Local mob expert Michael Rizzo takes a tour of Buffalo's mafia exploits everything from these brutal gangsters' favorite hangouts to secret underground tunnels to murder.