(From The National Organized Crime Survey: A Resource for Law Enforcement)
La Cosa Nostra- (Note that this name is never actually used by members and, besides, it is not a proper formulation of the Italian language.) The influence of this Italian-American organized crime syndicate has been hugely exaggerated by sensationalist media and popular culture, but it should not be overlooked that La Cosa Nostra (LCN) occupies a unique position in the history of American organized crime. “The Mob,” as it is most often called on the East Coast, once exerted a near hegemony over illicit activity in large swathes of the United States. Although Federal prosecutions have in recent years disrupted and degraded LCN's capability, residual networks of racketeers remain potent. . .
As a process of attrition affects “made” members, power vacuums are filled by “associates,” who are heterogenous in both ethnic background and in social circumstances. While some members of this new breed are inexperienced and incompetent, many are veteran criminals quickly working their way up the ladder, eager to assert themselves in a hierarchy where they were once marginalized. LCN members at all levels are faced with a shrinking revenue base, and recent activities of even established figures are characterized by acute desperation. . .
Ghost Knights' Motorcycle Club- (Note the grammatically incorrect apostrophe which appears on all of the gang's paraphernalia.) Once a top tier Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) and the most active distributer of methamphetamine in the nation, the Ghost Knights have suffered a long period of decline. Though active for more than half a century, the gang, or “the Club” as insiders refer to it, has seen its traditional territories encroached upon by several other OMG's, most of which have a national membership and are more aggressive in the recruitment new members. The Ghost Knights have no internet presence, unique among the large and even mid-sized OMG's, apparently the result of a choice by the senior leadership. Historically, the Ghost Knights have competed with other OMG's and even LCN by concentrating on superior organization and a deep, even fanatical loyalty among members. . .
The Lazy Owl Crew- Funded at first by robbery and insurance fraud, this gang built an impressive gambling and loansharking operation in just a few years. They came to be called the Lazy Owl Crew from a bar they once frequented, though, amusingly, some members seem to dislike the name, and have even been known to become violent when it is used. The most troubling aspect of this gang is the high proportion of former law enforcement officers in it's ranks. This history makes them suspect in the eyes of LCN, who keep the “Lazy O” at arm's length. Intelligence suggests the gang's leaders are anxious to prove themselves and are ready to take their activities to another level. . .
The Devil Runners- Apparently, the Devil Runners are a defunct organization. They took their moniker from a small creek that, though too small to have an official name, has historically been referred to by locals as the Devil's Run. It is unclear if the Devil Runners was ever a real gang or merely a loose alliance of criminals who lived in the same neighborhood. Former members have since “graduated” on to positions in other larger criminal enterprises and even to LCN. . .
The Spike and Pike Gang- Any reliable intelligence about the Spike and Pike Gang should be reported to the Survey's e-mail address so it can be correlated and disseminated in the next edition. Nothing is known about this organization besides a few vague references on wiretaps and unsubstantiated rumors. . .
(Photo Courtesy of Lucas)
from Wikimedia Commons
La Cosa Nostra- (Note that this name is never actually used by members and, besides, it is not a proper formulation of the Italian language.) The influence of this Italian-American organized crime syndicate has been hugely exaggerated by sensationalist media and popular culture, but it should not be overlooked that La Cosa Nostra (LCN) occupies a unique position in the history of American organized crime. “The Mob,” as it is most often called on the East Coast, once exerted a near hegemony over illicit activity in large swathes of the United States. Although Federal prosecutions have in recent years disrupted and degraded LCN's capability, residual networks of racketeers remain potent. . .
As a process of attrition affects “made” members, power vacuums are filled by “associates,” who are heterogenous in both ethnic background and in social circumstances. While some members of this new breed are inexperienced and incompetent, many are veteran criminals quickly working their way up the ladder, eager to assert themselves in a hierarchy where they were once marginalized. LCN members at all levels are faced with a shrinking revenue base, and recent activities of even established figures are characterized by acute desperation. . .
Ghost Knights' Motorcycle Club- (Note the grammatically incorrect apostrophe which appears on all of the gang's paraphernalia.) Once a top tier Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) and the most active distributer of methamphetamine in the nation, the Ghost Knights have suffered a long period of decline. Though active for more than half a century, the gang, or “the Club” as insiders refer to it, has seen its traditional territories encroached upon by several other OMG's, most of which have a national membership and are more aggressive in the recruitment new members. The Ghost Knights have no internet presence, unique among the large and even mid-sized OMG's, apparently the result of a choice by the senior leadership. Historically, the Ghost Knights have competed with other OMG's and even LCN by concentrating on superior organization and a deep, even fanatical loyalty among members. . .
The Lazy Owl Crew- Funded at first by robbery and insurance fraud, this gang built an impressive gambling and loansharking operation in just a few years. They came to be called the Lazy Owl Crew from a bar they once frequented, though, amusingly, some members seem to dislike the name, and have even been known to become violent when it is used. The most troubling aspect of this gang is the high proportion of former law enforcement officers in it's ranks. This history makes them suspect in the eyes of LCN, who keep the “Lazy O” at arm's length. Intelligence suggests the gang's leaders are anxious to prove themselves and are ready to take their activities to another level. . .
The Devil Runners- Apparently, the Devil Runners are a defunct organization. They took their moniker from a small creek that, though too small to have an official name, has historically been referred to by locals as the Devil's Run. It is unclear if the Devil Runners was ever a real gang or merely a loose alliance of criminals who lived in the same neighborhood. Former members have since “graduated” on to positions in other larger criminal enterprises and even to LCN. . .
The Spike and Pike Gang- Any reliable intelligence about the Spike and Pike Gang should be reported to the Survey's e-mail address so it can be correlated and disseminated in the next edition. Nothing is known about this organization besides a few vague references on wiretaps and unsubstantiated rumors. . .
(Photo Courtesy of Lucas)
from Wikimedia Commons