Is organized crime dead in Detroit?

**Gannon** · December-06-10, 05:24 AM

My girlfriend used to live in Philadelphia, and mentioned that one of her favorite restaurants was the one very famously known as the place where the 'last supper' would be served to someone scheduled to be whacked.

She said the tension among the made men in the room would be palpable, because until it happened...nearly nobody knew who was the hit. Apparently it was NOT done in the restaurant...I'd think it would be bad for business.

She holds a distinctively romantic view of the Mob, from her time there. I understand it, in a Soprano's sorta way.

From documentation many decades old, the CIA has worked with the Mafia to supply drugs to the inner city, while taking the profits out for their world-wide manipulations and war-mongering...and God-playing. This association keeps many of these folks free to do their thing, away from local prying eyes. Once the DEA or FBI [[or higher) declares their authority over an investigation, locals must back down.

No cheers on this one...

**mauser** · December-06-10, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by Gannon

From documentation many decades old, the CIA has worked with the Mafia

well, they are basically siblings - born and organized at the same time during the same effort. that whole ugly nazi SS thing after the war....

**mauser** · December-06-10, 06:30 AM

there is much more to organized crime than Sicilians, of course. gangs are a very serious form of organized crime. street gangs can be very complicated organizations. smaller ones model after pack animal behavior, and the larger ones rival the complexity of any large corporation or distributor.

**mauser** · December-06-10, 06:31 AM

and no - the television mafia stuff isnt gone either.

**Gannon** · December-06-10, 07:38 AM

I never knew that. Thought the Cosa Nostra was way older than the CIA/OSS.

I would've missed that question if it were on the Gaelic League's Trivia Contest on those fun third Sundays throughout the wintertime. There was a time when the Gannon's ruled, but now we've got some sharp-ass competition. Gotta step up our game this year!

**R8RBOB** · December-06-10, 08:59 AM

As long as you have the dope game in Detroit, there will be no organized crime. Too many independents. Perhaps if some gang had consolidated the game years ago, the murder rate may have been lower.

Blarf · December-07-10, 01:27 AM

Organized crime flourished in America because of the Prohibition on alcohol.
Organized crime, as well as gang activity, continue to thrive because of prohibition of drugs.

Making money off of things people want is actually smart business.

**old guy** · December-07-10, 01:02 PM

If you have casinos, you have organized crime.

**Zacha341** · December-07-10, 01:17 PM

Hah. Now that's a point... just a softer version of organized crime.

Originally Posted by old guy

If you have casinos, you have organized crime.

**GPCharles** · December-07-10, 01:14 PM

Some organized crime activities [[in no particular order)

1. gambling - for those that can't go to a casino i.e. no cash and need to gamble on credit;
2. prostitution;
3. loan sharking;
4. infiltration of legal business - remember Melrose Linen and Home Juice in the 60s and 70s?;
5. drugs - not street distribution, but importation;
6. theft - major targets;
7. union and political bribery;
8. bid rigging;
It goes on and on and on...

**Fury13** · December-10-10, 11:30 AM

The Detroit mob is still around. It's just less visible. They're mighty thick out there in Washington and Shelby townships... one reason why the power structure in Macomb County is so corrupt.

**punky1** · December-10-10, 09:47 PM

canuck, those photos are great. would love to know what kind of camera and how far away to take the pics. out in full view or hiding somewhere.

**canuck** · December-10-10, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by punky1

canuck, those photos are great. would love to know what kind of camera and how far away to take the pics. out in full view or hiding somewhere.

I dont know the photographer but you could ask him about it, he posts often on that forum. He complains on that thread or another about a Nikon he has which is not too good apparently. He is a really good photographer. Has an eye for the surreal and a lot of anger in him. His name is mrjohn.
I think he is self taught but I dont want to get ahead of myself.

**Red Devil** · December-12-10, 03:02 PM

The Italian mafia is a relic of a bygone era. Los Zetas rule the Americas...for now anyways.

**Patrick** · December-12-10, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Red Devil

The Italian mafia is a relic of a bygone era. Los Zetas rule the Americas...for now anyways.

Yea, but Los Zetas is no match for ICE

**canuck** · December-12-10, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Yea, but Los Zetas is no match for ICE

Are these the same Z's as in Nyquil, or is it stronger stuff?

**Red Devil** · December-12-10, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Yea, but Los Zetas is no match for ICE

Lol why would Los Zetas have to worry about ICE?

**blackmath** · December-14-10, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by canuck

I dont know the photographer but you could ask him about it, he posts often on that forum. He complains on that thread or another about a Nikon he has which is not too good apparently. He is a really good photographer. Has an eye for the surreal and a lot of anger in him. His name is mrjohn.
I think he is self taught but I dont want to get ahead of myself.

That menu says it all to me right there, canuck. The Mafia is too in the open, too public to be anywhere near what it once was. It's almost a shame, because they really were a sort of police force for criminals - along with all their other facets. Ask anyone who was in Vegas from the 40s up until Howard Hughes took over in the late 60s, early 70s - the town was one of the safest cities in all of North America. They really had almost zero street crime. The Mafia kept all the thugs out and did their dirty work outside of the city.

Montreal has some of the most interesting organized crime history in all of North America. It's often looked over in favor of New York, Chicago, Boston and Philly, but their's is just as old and just as turbulent.

Also, to answer another question upthread - I don't know where the Queensmen's clubhouse is nowadays. I was in the old one with a friend who's uncle was a member like 7 years ago, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Played pool with a guy who was about twice my size and beat him very badly at pool - which is odd because I'm normally horrific at pool. But he was cool about it and he even bought me a beer...haha.

**canuck** · December-10-10, 10:01 PM

Here's a restaurant in Montreal's Little Italy which is a sort of safe house for the mob. The Front entrance is on Jean Talon street, but there is an informal entrance/exit at the back that opens onto a public market. I was there a couple of times and years ago I noticed an item on the menu which confirmed my suspicion. This is a picture of the interior where old guns are displayed on the walls. The place is called Casa Cacciatore or Hunter's House.
A lot of the patrons were spooky. The last time I went, the food wasnt all that good. I also found the menu on the internet with the item in question...

**hogz** · December-14-10, 01:07 AM

Is BMF still around in Detroit?

I know the two leaders are in jail, and that they operated out of Atlanta and Los Angeles, but grew up in South West Detroit and kept Detroit connections.

What is [[or was) the extent of BMF business in Detroit?

Thank you to anyone who can answer these questions

**lpg** · December-14-10, 03:21 PM

I worked for a guy in the 70's that had a shop in SW Detroit. He must have borrowed money money from the mob, as every now and then a couple of big dudes in sharkskin suits would show up looking for him. He was usually hiding in the office closet. Later the shop moved to the southern burbs. The owner would leave and tell me to answer the phone. Every now and then a guy with a voice that sounded like he gargled with gravel mixed with broken glass would call and ask for the owner. He sounded like a pug from the Bronx "Deese, Dem, Dose". When I told the owner about the call he would get a funny look on his face and usually leave right away. Much later I asked another friend of the owner who the caller was and he just said "You don't want to meet this guy under any circumstances". Nuff said.