Informally or generally, a mafia is any of various criminal organizations that include, or bear a strong similarity to, the original Sicilian Mafia, the Italian-American Mafia, or other Italian …

Dec 27, 2025 · Mafia, hierarchically structured society of criminals primarily of Italian or Sicilian birth or extraction.

Oct 29, 2009 · The Mafia, a network of organized-crime groups based in Italy and America, evolved over centuries in Sicily, an island ruled until the mid-19th century by a long line of …

Mar 24, 2025 · In 1931, the Five Families were established among New York City’s mafia. They included the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo crime families.

The American Mafia, specifically the Five Families of New York, has its roots in the Sicilian Mafia, but has been a separate organization in the United States for many years.

The mafia has an illustrious and storied history that dates back to the early 19th century up to the present day. Learn all about the people and conditions that helped create the modern mafia here.

La Cosa Nostra evolved from the Sicilian Mafia and is one of the foremost organized criminal threats to American society. Translated into English it means “this thing of ours.”

From the Five Families of New York to the present day, this history of the Italian-American Mafia reveals the bloody story that few outside its ranks know.

3 days ago · The state's high court handed down a decision Monday that vacated court fines for an alleged prison gang leader, setting a precedent that advocates said will help indigent …

Learn how the Mafia formed in the 19th century and how it spread from Sicily to New York City and beyond