Issue focuses on Nicola "Nick" Gentile, Mafia leader in U.S. and Sicily, author of 1963 tell-all autobiography. Informer provides Gentile's entire life story, building on original research by Mafia history experts, balancing Gentile's self-serving and self-aggrandizing autobiographical work with verifiable history, correcting misinformation and filling in wide gaps left in his personal account. In addition to studying Gentile's life and career, Informer provides biographical information for dozens of individuals who contributed in interesting ways to his life story. Also in this issue: - 1900s Mafia feuds in Los Angeles, - Book excerpts, - Book announcements, - COVID-19's impact on Mafia, - Obituary. Contributors: Thomas Hunt, David Critchley, Steve Turner, Lennert van't Riet, Richard N. Warner, Justin Cascio, Sam Carlino, Michael O'Haire, Jon Black, Margaret Janco, Bill Feather, Christian Cipollini.

This Informer issue focuses on the mafiosi of California, particularly those who relocated to the Golden State after launching criminal careers in other regions. California-related articles include: - Trail of blood: Mafia murder of Barnett Baff linked Corleone, East Harlem and the ghettos of Los Angeles; - Sam Streva and the 'San Pedro gang'; - Was DeJohn a victim of Cheese War? - Golden State often unfriendly to transplanted mobsters; - San Francisco boss Lanza held key role with Colorado's Mafia; - New Orleans connection to San Francisco Mafia. Other articles in this issue: - Reinhold Engel: Forgotten leader of a big-time robbery gang; - Another, other Gentile family; - Police rarely appear on U.S. postage; - New York revolutions in policing and crime.

From 1922 to 1931, Pete and Sam Carlino controlled the flow of Prohibition alcohol from southern Colorado to Denver before their empire suffered a gruesome, bloody demise. The brothers battled their own kin in the Danna family to secure southern Colorado's bootleg liquor territory. Dozens perished in their rise to power. Eventually, mafia boss Nicola Gentile intervened to settle a dispute involving the brothers' associates. Pete Carlino's grandson, author Sam Carlino, uncovers intimate photos and new revelations, including confirmation that Pete Carlino met with Salvatore Maranzano in New York and that the death of both men on September 10, 1931, may not have been a coincidence.

The Youngstown story often is told with a beginning in iron and steel and ending in decay with a subplot driven by violent mobsters and corrupt politicians. Aiming to provide a more well-rounded examination of Youngstown, this collection of essays provides an authentic look at the city through a diverse set of experiences from the perspectives of those who have lived there. Readers will gain a sense of the past, present, and future of the city.

The New York Times bestseller chronicling the history of NYC’s infamous five mafia families is now the basis for the upcoming The HISTORY® Channel documentary series American Godfathers: The Five Families. Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo and Lucchese. For decades these Five Families ruled New York and built the American Mafia (or Cosa Nostra) into an underworld empire. Today, the Mafia is an endangered species, battered and beleaguered by aggressive investigators, incompetent leadership, betrayals and generational changes that produced violent and unreliable leaders and recruits. A twenty year assault against the five families in particular blossomed into the most successful law enforcement campaign of the last century. Selwyn Raab's Five Families is the vivid story of the rise and fall of New York's premier dons from Lucky Luciano to Paul Castellano to John Gotti and more. The book also brings the reader right up to the possible resurgence of the Mafia as the FBI and local law enforcement agencies turn their attention to homeland security and away from organized crime.

Through a combination of brains, cunning and daring Legs Diamond became one of the top gangsters in the East, but because of his stubbornness, treachery and poor decision making he lost it all; his friends, his money and finally his life. Legs Diamond is the most comprehensive biography yet written on New York's most famous Prohibition era gangster. The book covers Legs' youth in Philadelphia, his ascension through the New York underworld, which resulted in his becoming an international celebrity, and his inevitable demise in a cheap rooming house. Along the way, the many myths and untruths that have been written about Diamond over the years are corrected. Detailed in the book are: - Full accounts of all four attempts on his life. - The war between Diamond and his one time protégé Dutch Schultz, which resulted in the almost assassination of Legs' brother Eddie.-The famous Hotsy-Totsy murder case.- Diamond's ill-fated trip to Europe to purchase drugs.-His bid to monopolize bootlegging in New York's Greene County.-The death of his brother Eddie.-New information on Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll and his possible partnership with Diamond.-Jack's final night.-The origin of the nick name Legs.-His relationship with Ziegfeld showgirl Kiki RobertsAnd much more.