The Crime Observer
Second Issue
Editor-in-Chief: Howard Saltz

1490 Bicetown Road
New York,NY10013


EDITORIAL

We’d like to share with our readers that we’ve received in donations a total amount of five million and five hundred dollars since we published our first issue. This can only tell us that there are people interested in our work and that intend that we continue to develop our publication. We thank you all; with the promise to cover the facts and news you all want to read.



PROFACI DIES IN JAIL.
By: Samuel Stoddard

God’s right hand man, Mr Profaci, was found dead two days ago in jail, when he was there to serve a small sentence for tax evasion. No one knows yet the motivation of his murderer, but there’s a strong belief that it a classic case of a vengeance following his involvement in the recent LV/LA war.

The Commissioner of the Chicago Police Department, Ron Johnson, had created recently a team to investigate his crimes, in order to prepare, alongside with the department of justice, an accusation for more than fifty murders, perpetuated by him or directly under his orders.

Now the question is to know what consequences there will follow his death, since he was one of the most important men of the organization. There's also an high expectation on who's his substitute and how the dynamics will change inside The Cult.



WEST IN CRISIS.
By: David Boardman

In what some might call an incredible disclosure of events, it’s confirmed that LV and LA families, The LV Survivors led by Scotty (LV) and The Devil’s Rejects led by Wes (LA), have been extinct. It’s not yet clear why and how the dispute between the both families started, but whatever reason motivated the conflict, other leaders we’re not happy about the situation. It is known that “ProfaciA”, God’s gunman for several years until his murder, intervened after being asked for a favor from his formed associate Wes. He was almost the responsible for Scotty’s death, but something made him reconsider his actions and back out in the last minute. Apparently there were several forces trying to intervene in an attempt to avoid the worst to happen, but the fact that Wes has so poorly handled the situation, ending up killing Scotty, made crime-lord “50k” Gomez, Boss of the Brooklyn Mob of New York to give a final and fatal conclusion to the matter.

When we contacted the FBI in an attempt to get more details from this war, one of the analysts, who wished to remain anonymous, told us that “Ricardo Gomez probably did what he did in order to re-establish order in the underworld. A few people made the wrong decisions, whatever the reason, and men like the boss of The Brooklyn Mob are the type of leader who needs to be surrounded by other men with what they believe to be their moral standards, who are known for their self-control and good decision capabilities. Probably Wes infringed that rule and something needed to be done in order to establish peace. If nothing was done probably we would see a some kind of cold war among families in the next following months until finally they went to war again, because, in this particular line of work, trust and stability are crucial, as you might understand why. I don’t think he did what he did before consulting other mob Bosses”

The war has come to an end and now the cities of Los Angeles and Las Vegas are vacant. Expectations are now high in an attempt to know whom will be the next men in line, to substitute Scotty and Wes respectively.




INTERVIEW WITH A GANGSTER.

Note: For security reasons and as a condition to accept giving us an interview, the man who spoke with us about the state of the art inside the world of crime will be given a fake name.

Howard Saltz: So tell us, how profitable is to be in your line of work?

John Bush: Very. You probably won’t believe but a man like me can do easily earn more than 100 million dollars a month. It’s a risky business, many of us don’t reach retirement, but if you’re lucky enough, in the end of your career you ensure a good life, and the subsistence of the next ten generations of your family. If you’re gifted with a good head, you can make an empire. Many of my friends are now investing in legal companies, and let me tell you this: some of the business tycoons you read on the paper every day, work or worked with me.

H.S: If any of your friends you mentioned before discovered that you were talking to me, what would happen to you?

J.B: I would be tortured for more than two weeks, so badly, I would wish the whole time I was never even born.

H.S: Is it true that mafia in America has been able to extend their influence inside the political power, the departments of justice, the courts, the institutions of law?

J.B: Let me be very clear on this one: Don’t, for a single second, ever doubt that that’s the truth. That happens on a dimension it’s hard for a common citizen to imagine.

H.S: You’re saying that, let’s imagine, in the city where you run your business, you could easily get away from facing a charge when for instance you’re caught dealing drugs?

J.B: Yes. Very easily. It’s just takes a few thousand dollars to grease some hands.

H.S: I see. Let’s change the subject. What is your opinion about the leaders of today?

J.B: It’s only an opinion, because as you’d imagine, what happens between me, a small fish, and them, there’s a huge line. Lots of things are only known among the ones on top. But my point of view, based on what I see, is that they are mainly worried about their next rank. I mean it’s understandable they want to reach the top, be the Godfathers, whatever they call it, but in the end, if this is an organization, and I am a part of it, I feel they could do more to make my life easier. I pay more than 30% of my profits to the man who’s next in line in the food chain. What I get in return? You see what I mean? Half of the time friends of mine are killed because of mistakes of their Boss. In that order of ideas, something should be done.

H.S: How so?

J.B: This is a contract right? I pay them a cut of my profits; they ensure me protection to my business. If I do my part and they don’t do theirs, if they are not making the right decisions, if they are putting my life in risk, if they don’t have the vision to open the right doors and take their members alongside for the ride and give them part of its benefits, then maybe they should not be there. Maybe there are some guys on my level who are more capable. And if that’s so, maybe it should be considered to take them out, and replace them. That’s why we call this whole thing of crime syndicates. Syndicates. We appoint a leader, who should take care of our interests. I take care of you, you take care of me. When a leader is not a leader, then he should not be there. You see?

H.S: So you’re saying that something might happen? Something sort of war?

J.B: Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. In this game there is always every possibility. You know how things work; you just need to go back in the history to know that if that is to happen, it wouldn't be the first time.


H.S: One last question. In the mafia of today, Is there a Boss of all Bosses, that figure that some like to call of Godfather? If there is not, who could be a good man to take that “position” if you can call it that way?

J.B: No, there isn't. The actual mafia families do not go along with that way to running things. In my point of view that’s a weakness, because many things could be avoided. As I said before organizing the organized crime is needed. To ensure that nobody steps on anyone’s toes you know? And for that you need structure. Well, who could be the guy? I don’t know neither; nobody seems to want to be the one right now. My hopes? That this fact can be changed soon.

H.S: Thank you for your time.



TWISTING THE LOGIC.
By: Jim Witt

Times are changing. If when the first organized crime families in America were created with the idea of structure and hierarchy, where the upper structure was supposed to receive a cut from every member below them, it doesn't happen that way anymore. At least in Atlanta, with Mickey Costelle. One of our informants told us that this organization is working with a different scheme. Instead of receiving a tribute from their associates, Mickey Costelle is paying them. Exactly. We managed to find out that Goombas get a payment of 2 million and the value grows with the rank, to the point where those who are made into the family get a payment of 10 million dollars. It’s easy to assume that Mr. Costelle is adopting such policy in order to create some muscle inside his organization, but one thing is for sure, what was Mafia a month ago is not the same anymore – there’s a new logic inside the mob. Times are changing.

NEW POLICY IN NEW YORK.
By: Martin Gottlieb

It seems that “50k” Gomez, through his family messenger Johnny Ola, has let other crime families know that from now on they will be protecting the agents of the NYPD. From now on the only ones able to settle scores with the law enforcement officers in New York are the leaders of made families and no one else. Anyone apart of that strict list has to require a direct authorization from “50k” Gomez, otherwise they will face fatal consequences. It is believed that these measures were dictaded after “50k” and his most important man met with the NY Police Commissioner. It seems that they have reached an agreement in which, for an unknown amount of money, The Brooklyn Mob will protect the agents from other crime families. This is an uncommon decision among the families and we’re still not sure if they will be able to implement such a policy in NY, but one thing is for sure, our sources informed us that they mean their words.