Organized Crime
Organized Crime refers to the criminal organizations that are run to produce an illicit profit. Commonly, organized crime deals in drug trafficking, prostitution and illegal gambling. In the United States, such activity is referred to as "racketeering."
Fast Facts
- Defined as "the unlawful activities of ... a highly organized, disciplined association"
- 1970: Passage of the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act
- The American Mafia's origin traces back to 19th century Italy
Notable Criminal Organizations
Organized Crime During Prohibition
When the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920, outlawing the sale of liquor, the opportunity for organized crime to sell illicit alcohol created a golden era of organized crime in the United States, especially in Chicago. The most notorious Chicago gangster was Al Capone, who built one of the largest criminal organizations of the era by selling illegal spirits, as well as prostitution and gambling. Capone has been the subject of numerous films and the inspiration for a number of fictional organized crime bosses, including the original 1932 film Scarface, named for one of Capone's aliases.
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