Mafiosi and the Mob: Part 3 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Genovese

Charles 'Lucky' Luciano is the mafioso most widely credited with turning the mafia in America into a organised criminal enterprise. During the Castellammarese war of the early 1930s Luciano was a key ally of Joe 'the boss' Masseria until he switched sides to Salvatore Maranzano and arranged Masseria's murder.

This was followed a few moths later by Maranzano's murder. Luciano became boss of his family from 1931 until 1936 when he was sentenced to 30-50 years for running prostitution. Luciano was strongly against open warfare, and was a strong force behind the organisation and modernisation of the mafia.

He was one of first wave of more business-minded mafiosi, who included men such as Frank Costello, Joe Bonanno and Vito Genovese.

Answer: Vincent Mangano

Vincent Mangano became boss of his family in 1931 after the Castellammerse war. He led his family until 1951. His family, beside being involved in countless illegal activities, quickly came to dominate the Brooklyn docks and, along with Frank Costello, took over the private garbage-carting companies in New York. Mangano disapeared in 1951 presumably murdered by his psychopathic under boss Albert Anastasia. Anastasia would in turn be murdered in 1957, leading to the rise of Carlo Gambino.

Answer: Wales

Murray 'The Hump' Humphrey's is a very unusual individual in the history of the mafia. He is the only significant Welsh gangster to be involved with the mafia. Due to the Chicago outfit allowing non-Italians to join and his incredible intelligence, he quickly rose to the top in the 1930s along with Tony Accardo, Paul Ricca and Johhnny Rosselli.

They helped make the Chicago outfit massively powerful from Hollywood to Washington. Murray Humprey's was the brain's behind many of their money making schemes. Nicknames given to him by his associates included 'Mr Einstein' and 'The Brainy Hood'. Al Capone reportedly described how "Anybody can use a gun. 'The Hump' can shoot if he has to, but he likes to negotiate with cash when he can." Murray shied away from attention and advised his associated to do the same.

Answer: Buffalo

The Buffalo mafia was founded around 1910 by Angelo "Buffalo Bill" Palmieri. From then on it quickly grew in size and influence. The most famous boss was Stefano Maggadino who led the crime family from the mid-1920s till his death in 1974. Stefano Maggadino was also a founding member of the mafia commission. Stefano Maggadino was Joe Bonanno's cousin and to begin with they enjoyed close relations.

However, by the 1960's their relationship had soured as Bonanno's family started extending into his territory. Bonanno unsuccessfully plotted to kill Maggadino, along with Gambino and Lucchese, in the mid 1960s resulting in his expulsion to Arizona.

Answer: True

Incredibly, this is true. Joe Bonanno was born January 18th 1905 in Catellammare Del Golfo in Sicily (the birthplace of several other prominent mafiosi such as Salavatore Maranzano and Stefano Maggadino, Joe Bonanno's cousin) and died on May 11th 2002 in Tucson, Arizona.

After been sent into exile in the mid 60s he lived out his retirment in Arizona. In 1983 he published his autobiography 'A Man Of Honour'. Rudolf Guiliani read his book and had him subpoened on 1984. In response he checked into hospital and his doctors claimed he had a weak heart.

As he lived another 18 years it seems his heart was stronger than his doctor's thought!

Answer: Bonanno

The Bonanno family did not have any members become government informers during the 20th century. This is all the more impressive considering the large government offensive against the Bonannos in cases such as the Pizza Connection trial and the infiltration of 'Donnie Brasco', in reality FBI agent Joseph Pistone.

These, and several other cases, resulted in numerous life sentences for Bonanno members. Despite this it was not until 2002 that the government managed to 'flip' a member. Their first government witness was Frank 'Curly' Lino, a captain. Since then their have been 10 othe members of the Bonanno family who have became informants, including former boss, Joseph Massino in 2004.

Answer: Villalba

After the imprisonment of Don Vito Cascio Ferro in 1929 by the Fascist prefect Cesare Mori, Calogero Vizzini became the undisputed top boss in Sicily. 'Don Callo' Vizzini played a key role in the shaping of post-war politics in Sicily. He first sided with the Sicilian separatists then switched his allegiance to the Christian Democrats when it became his advantage to do so.

His role was invaluable in rebuilding the mafia's strength in Sicily after decades of Fascist crack downs.

Answer: Bonanno

Joseph Massino rebuilt the Bonanno family after the massive damage done to it in the 80s. Perhaps most importantly of which was the infiltration of FBI agent Joseph Pistone who worked undercover as 'Donnie Brasco' in the Bonanno family from 1976 - 1981.

This not only resulted in numerous arrests but massively hurt the Bonanno families respect and resulted in them being kicked off the commission. It was Joseph Massino who ordered the murder of Dominick 'Sonny Black' Napolitano for allowing 'Donnie Brasco' to infiltrate the family.

He was the effective boss of the Bonanno's from the early 90s and transformed them into one of the strongest families in the country. He was convicted in July 2oo4 of seven murders, arson, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, conspiracy and money laundering. To avoid the death penalty, Massino agreed to become an informant.

Answer: 13 life sentences

This incredibly long sentence works out at 455 years in prison. Although Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso was officially the underboss to Vittorio 'Littl Vic' Amuso, Casso is generally credited as being the brains behind the Lucchese crime family at this time and in effect its leader. Casso was greatly feared in the mafia and purged the Lucchese family of anyone suspected of the slightest disloyality.

When Casso was finally arrested he became an informant in the hope of getting a deal similar to Sammy 'the bull' Gravano's.

However,due to his claims that Gravano had not only dealt drugs, which he had denied, but had killed far more people than the 19 he had admitted to the government disregarded his testimony and he was not used to convict any mobsters.

The government feared his revelation would lead to John Gotti possibly being released from prison. On top of this Casso is believed to have commited an assault while in prison. Charges he admitted to include 37 counts of murder and 25 counts of attempted or planned murder.

Answer: 1963

Incredibly, Provenzano spent 43 years of his life on the run. Provenzano fled to avoid a murder charge in 1963. Since then he has been convicted of numerous murders in absentia including for judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. Provevenzano and Salvatore 'toto' Riina were the two key henchemen of Luciano Leggio a ruthless mafioso from Corleone. With their help Leggio took over the Corleone mafia.

After this he began establishing the Corleonesi as the dominant faction in the mafia. After his imrisonment in 1974 Riina and Provenzano continued with this plan.

In the early 1980's they seized control of the mafia in the bloodiest war in mafia history in which 1000 people are believed to have died in just a year. As well this they declared war on the government killing numerous judges, politicians and police.

After Falcone and Borsellino's murders in 1992 there was a massive police crackdown culminating in Riina being arrested. After this period Provenzano is credited with rebuilding the mafia and getting it to adopt a low - key approach. Provenzano was eventually tracked, thanks to his laundry, to a farm house on the outskirts of his home town of Corleone.

This fact alone suggests at the massive levels of corruption Provenzano managed within the police, judiciary and politics.