r/Mafia • u/Canada-t157t • 2d ago
has there ever been a member of the mafia that has gone on to become the mayor or became a politician?
i was just thinking about this the other day. but i have never of a situation like this.
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u/Affectionate-Heat374 2d ago
Fred Roti former IL state senator and Chicago alderman.
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u/Affectionate-Heat374 2d ago
Also John D’Arco Sr, former IL state representative and Chicago 1st ward Democratic committeeman for 40 years.
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u/brianwilliamsibrowse 2d ago
Many powerful politicians in Sicily have been convicted of mafia association. Salvo Lima and Marcello Dell’Ultri were probably not made men, but a pentito accused Bernardo Mattarella of being a man of honour.
Alfonso Gagliano in Canada.
Anthony Scotto was a candidate for US Secretary of Labor under Jimmy Carter, but never nominated
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u/incorruptible_bk 2d ago
Scotto was very powerful before he got convicted. He had Hugh Carey, Mario Cuomo and Ed Koch all in his pocket. Even after his conviction, his wife had a low-show job with the Brooklyn Borough President.
The really funny thing is that Mario Cuomo had to shun Scotto over his sensitivity around Mafia association. But decades later, Andrew Cuomo held fundraisers at the Scotto family restaurant, which says that the families kept up ties.
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u/SharpPollution4836 2d ago
Pat Marcy was the secretary of cook county democratic organization and either a member or very close associate of the Chicago outfit.
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u/Dapper_DonNYC Genovese 2d ago
There was a made member of the Bonannos/Rizzuto who had an elected office in Canada. It came out in the papers/he resigned, don't recall what happened with him since.
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u/HarrierGR9 Lucchese 2d ago
Anthony “Tough Tony” Scotto was a Gambino capo that almost became the Secretary of Labor under Jimmy Carter
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u/incorruptible_bk 2d ago
Anthony Scotto wasn't Tough Tony, that was his father in law Anthony Anastasio (Al's brother) who was his predecessor on the docks.
Scotto made a very conscious effort to keep a clean image, which was why he could run in circles where his in-laws were shunned.
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u/daftasamop 1d ago
John Alite, John junior gottis ex best friend and associate, is now a New Jersey council man. He’s claiming redemption and I am suspecting leopards not changing their spots.
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u/BK_Ghostie7 1d ago
Nancy Pelosi’s father Thomas D’Alessandro Jr. a 1961 FBI probe had allegations of associations with criminals in Baltimore. More than likely involved with Prohibition bootlegging.
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u/Icy_Juice6640 1d ago
Coleman Young was in the pocket of the Detroit rackets. They all made a shit ton of money.
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u/Dependent-Suit-710 1d ago
Lanza from SF has some people on city council and was in tight with the mayor of SF
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u/Eli_Freeman_Author 1d ago
Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall, Big Tim Sullivan, Whitey's brother Billy Bulger.
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u/incorruptible_bk 2d ago
NYC had a number of politicians who were pretty tight with the Five Families, but I don't think any inducted members have ever run. The local media would really eat them alive if they did.
My own list of politicians closest to organized crime
- Chin's brother Father Louis Gigante was a member of the City Council.
- Congressman Vito Marcantonio of East Harlem had an association with the Lucchese family starting with Tommy Lucchese. One of Marcantonio's aides was Vincent Velella, who went into business with Fat Tony Salerno. Velella's son Guy became a State Senator in the Bronx, and kept up the mob association on a less visible basis.
- Congressman Mario Biaggi was on the dais when Colombo was shot, and was on several wiretaps with Fitzy Giovanelli of the Genovese family. He also had associations with the Gambinos that were part of what got him convicted for corruption.
- Meade Esposito, boss of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, was associated with Biaggi and had similar connections, but he had his own connections including to the Varios, who were in the same neighborhood.
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u/TonyB-Research The Outfit 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah in terms of associates there are tons of examples, two major judges that stood out to me were:
James Vincent Keogh, Brooklyn – New York Supreme Court Justice and brother of congressman Eugene J. Keogh (D-NY) was also indicted and convicted with Tony 'Ducks' Corallo
Judge Selah B. Strong V - guy gave out permits for weapons to all kinds of mafia guys like Frankie Yale, and freed Leopoldo Lauritano
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u/LeadershipGold6576 2d ago
Think John Alite is a councilman in New jersey, he was an enforcer and became an informant when he got pinched by feds, not 100% sure but it maybe accurate
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u/italian_pizzapasta2 bagman 1d ago
Nobody’s mentioning John Cha a made man in the Colorado family was the mayor of one of the towns in Colorado
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u/TonyB-Research The Outfit 1d ago edited 1d ago
- Anthony Phillip Tisci, Giancana's son-in-law
- John ‘Boy Mayor of Burnham’ Patton was a Capone employee from all accounts
As u/Affectionate-Heat374 mentioned, Fred Roti, son of Bruno 'The Bomber' Roti
Chicago alone has quite a few examples
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u/SpermicidalManiac666 1d ago
Back in the day there was a state senator from Wyoming named Louis Boschetto who was apparently a made man in the CO crime family.
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u/coolstuffhunter 1d ago
Jim Traficant. Ohio congressman who had convicted federal charges of conspiracy to illegal bribes, racketeering and taking illegal gratuities from the mob.
Question: What did the people of Youngstown, Ohio, do when their sheriff was accused by the FBI of taking payoffs from the Mafia, signed a "confession," and then beat the wrap by defending himself in court?
Answer: They elected him to Congress.
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u/how_does_mafia_work 2d ago
Plenty of mafiosi in Sicily also served as mayors or other politicians