**The Mangano Family (USA)** - Racketeering, extortion, murder.

The Mangano family is one of the oldest and most influential Mafia families in the United States. Known for their involvement in extortion, robbery, and murder, the family played a significant role in shaping the landscape of organized crime in America. The story of the Mangano family is a tale of power, ambition, betrayal, and survival that spans nearly a century. This account traces their origins, rise to power, key figures, criminal enterprises, and their eventual decline.
Origins of the Mangano Family
The origins of the Mangano family can be traced back to the early 20th century in New York City. The family was founded by Vincenzo "Vincent" Mangano, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States from Palermo, Sicily, in the early 1900s. Vincent Mangano was a charismatic and ambitious man who quickly rose through the ranks of the burgeoning Italian-American underworld in New York.
During the early 1920s, the Mafia in New York was fragmented, with various gangs and factions vying for control of the city's lucrative criminal enterprises. The advent of Prohibition in 1920 provided an unprecedented opportunity for these gangs to amass wealth and power through the illegal production and distribution of alcohol. Vincent Mangano was one of the key figures who capitalized on this opportunity.
Mangano aligned himself with Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria, one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in New York at the time. As a loyal lieutenant to Masseria, Mangano helped to expand the family's operations, which included bootlegging, gambling, extortion, and robbery. The alliance with Masseria, however, would eventually lead to a violent power struggle within the Mafia, culminating in the Castellammarese War.
The Castellammarese War and the Birth of the Five Families
The Castellammarese War (1929-1931) was a bloody conflict between rival Mafia factions in New York City. The war was named after the town of Castellammare del Golfo in Sicily, the birthplace of Salvatore Maranzano, who led the faction opposing Joe Masseria. The conflict was essentially a battle for supremacy within the New York Mafia, with each faction seeking to control the city's criminal enterprises.
Vincent Mangano remained loyal to Masseria throughout the war, but in 1931, Masseria was assassinated, reportedly on the orders of his own men, including Charles "Lucky" Luciano. Luciano, who had initially supported Masseria, switched sides and allied himself with Maranzano, who emerged as the victor of the war.
Following the end of the Castellammarese War, Maranzano declared himself the "boss of all bosses" and reorganized the New York Mafia into five distinct families. These families were the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Mangano families. Each family was granted control over specific territories and criminal enterprises, and Vincent Mangano was appointed as the head of the Mangano family.
The Mangano Family Under Vincent Mangano
Under Vincent Mangano's leadership, the Mangano family became one of the most powerful criminal organizations in New York. The family was involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including extortion, robbery, loan sharking, gambling, and murder. Mangano also maintained strong ties to labor unions, particularly those in the waterfront and construction industries. This allowed the family to exert considerable influence over labor disputes, strikes, and the allocation of lucrative contracts.
One of the most notorious aspects of the Mangano family's criminal empire was their involvement in extortion. The family would target businesses, both legal and illegal, and demand protection money in exchange for not harming the business or its owners. Failure to pay would often result in violence, including beatings, arson, and murder. The family's extortion racket extended to legitimate businesses, such as shipping companies and construction firms, as well as illegal operations like gambling dens and speakeasies.
In addition to extortion, the Mangano family was heavily involved in robbery. The family orchestrated numerous heists, targeting banks, armored cars, and high-value shipments. These robberies were meticulously planned and executed with military precision. The family employed a network of informants, getaway drivers, and safecrackers to ensure the success of their operations. The proceeds from these robberies were used to finance the family's other criminal enterprises and to bribe law enforcement officials.
Murder was another tool in the Mangano family's arsenal. The family was known for its willingness to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to their operations or authority. This included rival gangsters, disloyal members of their own organization, and witnesses who cooperated with law enforcement. The Mangano family employed a group of enforcers, known as "hitmen," who were responsible for carrying out these murders.

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