By David Amoruso

Chicago Outfit mobster Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro continues to fascinate the public. Thanks in large part to Martin Scorsese’s epic movie Casino and Joe Pesci’s portrayal of him, but also due to the gangster’s violent way of doing business. For those interested, you can now live in his former home or…

By David Amoruso

Now just a dilapidated façade, once the place was booming. The William Whiteley Warehouse in Glasgow, Scotland, secretly shipped thousands of cases of Scottish whisky to American bootleggers during Prohibition.

Back then, quality booze sold for top dollar in the United States, and bootleggers with…

By Gary Jenkins

This is the 4th and final installment about the life and times of Chicago’s most feared hitman, Harry “The Hook” Aleman. We have arrived at the downfall of this infamous mobster. Though he got away with countless murders, justice finally caught up and brought him down. Here’s how.

Harry had been…

By David Amoruso

The Chinese Mafia - better known as the Triads - has a complicated history seeped in political conflict that occurred centuries ago, when emperors and dynasties ruled China and monks used kung fu to rise up against their oppressors.

During its long and rich history China has seen a lot of bloodshed. Centuries ago Chinese…

By Gary Jenkins

In this third installment about Harry “The Hook” Aleman, a half Mexican, half Sicilian Chicago Outfit hitman, enforcer, street tax collector, and the capo of a home invasion crew, I will examine the case that will eventually bring Aleman to justice. This will be a long and crazy path so hang on and keep…

By David Amoruso

Drug lord Griselda Blanco ruled the streets by pure terror, killing hundreds and making millions with Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel. Now her son, Michael Corleone Blanco, aims to turn that notoriety into a career in show business with a new reality show on VH1 called Cartel Crew.

Yes, Michael…

By David Amoruso

The murdered brother of a Calabrian Mafia turncoat had asked to be released from the government’s witness protection program. 51-year-old Marcello Bruzzese was shot dead on Christmas Day last year, when he arrived at his home in the historical center of Pesaro.

The killing had all the indications of…

By Gary Jenkins

This is the second installment of a 4-part series about the life of Chicago mobster Harry “The Hook” Aleman, who operated as a thief, enforcer, juice loan collector, and hitman. In this edition, I will detail Aleman’s use of violence and murder as a tool to increase his power in the Chicago underworld and…

By David Amoruso

Two different cases. Both, violent killings committed by members of the Yakuza, Japan’s Mafia, and both resulted in its murderers being on death row. One gangster was executed on Thursday. The other, a former Yakuza boss, is playing games with the justice system to evade a similar fate.

Keizo Kawamura (right, who…

By Gary Jenkins

Harry “The Hook” Aleman was one of the Chicago Outfit’s most feared mobsters. In the first of a 4-part series documenting the life and violent crimes of this notorious thief, enforcer, juice loan collector, and hitman I recount how Aleman’s criminal career began.

He was born Harry Peralt Aleman on…