Rudy Giuliani, known as “America’s Mayor,” was once a U.S. attorney targeting some of the most notorious Mafia leaders in the United States. The latest season of the Fox Nation series uncovers his courageous efforts to bring these dangerous figures to justice.
In the third season of ‘Stories of the American Mafia,’ narrated by Eric Shawn, the episode “Rudy and the RICO Act” explores Giuliani’s journey from an obscure lawyer to a prosecutor taking on the country’s most feared crime bosses. During the 1980s, crime rates soared in Manhattan, providing a fertile ground for the Mafia to strengthen their control over the city.
Former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro noted that such conditions created opportunities for organized crime groups to fill the power void. Giuliani came up with a plan to tackle the expanding presence of these syndicates. He played a crucial role in the conviction of top leaders of New York’s Mafia families.
In 1985, the former New York City mayor initiated the Mafia Commission Trial. He indicted 11 individuals, including the heads of the infamous ‘Five Families,’ using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Charges included murder for hire, extortion, and labor racketeering. This approach allowed New York City prosecutors to target entire criminal organizations rather than just individuals, simplifying the process of holding them accountable.
Paul Mauro explained that RICO changed the traditional approach of prosecuting cases based solely on conspiracies. Under RICO, involvement with a criminal organization and acting on its behalf could lead to prosecution, encouraging many members to cooperate with authorities. Giuliani and FBI Director William Webster famously presented a chart of “The Commission” of La Cosa Nostra during a press conference, symbolizing the shift in tactics.
Former Gambino associate Louis Ferrante praised Giuliani’s strategy, likening it to cutting “the head off the Hydra.” He argued that although bosses could be replaced, the talent within the Mafia could not, leading to a decline from which the organization has yet to recover.
In this gripping series, other episodes cover the brief rise and fall of Murder, Inc., the murder of William “Billy Batts” Bentvena, and FBI agent Joe Pistone’s infiltration of the Bonanno crime family. Former FBI undercover operative Giovanni Rocco joins the series to provide detailed insights into these compelling stories.
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