Inside the Mob: 15 Photos That Capture the Mafia in the 1970s
The 1970s were a time of power, excess, and bloodshed for the Mafia. The Five Families ruled New York with an iron fist, while casinos (and even storefronts) in major cities like Las Vegas and Chicago served as money laundering operations for the Mob. But beneath the fancy suits and wads of cash, the decade wasn’t all blazes of glory like “The Sopranos” might have you believe. It also brought relentless police crackdowns, internal betrayals, and dead bodies found in trunks.
From the rise of John Gotti to the dramatic downfall of “Crazy Joe Gallo,” here are 15 photos that capture the Mafia in the ’70s — before its grip began to slip.
1. ‘Mafia Dinner in Prison, Circa 1970’
2. Slain Mafia Don Carmine Galante’s Coffin Being Carried to St. John’s Cemetery in Queens, New York, After a Funeral Mass Was Denied, 1979
3. Mafia Turncoat Joseph ‘The Baron’ Barboza Testifies Before the US House Crime Committee, 1972
4. ‘Sonny Black Napolitano & John Gotti at Greenhaven, Early 1970s’
5. Mugshot of Tommy DeSimone, the Real-Life Mobster Portrayed by Joe Pesci in ‘Goodfellas.’ DeSimone Mysteriously Vanished in 1979
6. Surveillance Photo of Phil Leonetti (left), Nicodemo ‘Nicky’ Scarfo, and Lawrence Merlino in Philadelphia
7. Gennaro ‘Tony’ Sirico, an Associate for the Colombo Crime Family, Pictured Alongside His Mother, Circa 1970s
8. Michael Franzese, Mobster and Son of Colombo Underboss John Franzese, Is Escorted in Handcuffs Following His Arrest
9. Mobster Mickey Cohen Inspects His Home Following a Bombing Attempt in Brentwood, California
10. Joseph ‘Joey the Clown’ Lombardo Hides Behind a Newspaper to Avoid Cameras During a Court Appearance
11. FBI Mugshot of Colombo Mobster Gregory Scarpa in New York, 1974
12. Early Mugshot of Future Gambino Boss John Gotti, Flashing a Smile
13. Mob Associates Pictured With a Tuxedo-Clad Chimpanzee, 1970s
14. Chicago Mobster Paul ‘The Waiter’ Ricca, Ignores a Reporter, 1970
15. Colorized Image of Joseph ‘Crazy Joe’ Gallo in New York City Before He Was Shot and Killed in 1972
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For a look at the mafia a decade earlier, check out From Courtrooms to Kingpins: 15 Photos That Reveal the Mafia’s Power in the ’60s. You might also like 14 Photos of Police Officers Over the Years and The Rise and Fall of Former Billionaires: Where Are They Now?