Conspiracy Theories Mafia Pt. 1: The Rise of La Cosa Nostra
May 30, 2022
A look at the Mafia's Sicilian origins, its codes of honor and secrecy, and how clans took control of local power. The story follows mass migration to America, bootlegging profits from Prohibition, and Lucky Luciano’s remaking into a corporate-like criminal network. It tracks wartime expansion, federal investigations, and how organized crime adapted to new technologies.
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Dutch Schultz Tried To Kill Dewey And Paid With His Life
- Dutch Schultz planned to assassinate prosecutor Thomas Dewey to stop an investigation into his rackets.
- The Commission overruled him, but Schultz ignored them and was killed days later at the Palace Chophouse, signaling Dewey was untouchable.
Omerta Turned Mafia Into A Parallel State
- The Sicilian mafia evolved from protector bands into a parallel state enforcing Omerta and demanding loyalty above all else.
- Initiation involved burning a religious image and an oath promising hell for betrayal, making silence and obedience sacred.
Sicily's Collapse Fueled Mafia Power In New York
- Economic collapse in Sicily pushed nearly a million emigrants to the U.S., creating enclaves the mafia exploited for monopolies and extortion.
- Mafiosi used old Sicilian control over citrus and imports to corner groceries, construction, and protection rackets in New York.
