Product Description
The fight against money laundering, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, cyber crime, and the promotion of the enhancement of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters have been at the core of the G8's actions in this field since the 1990s. This book sheds light on the nature, structure and modus operandi of the G8's specific expertise on transnational organized crime from a sociological approach in order to understand the elaboration, production and diffusion of international norms and standards. It provides a detailed analysis of an under-researched aspect of international politics: the intensification of expert-level exchanges on the international stage over the enhanced cooperation against transnational organized crime that has led to an impressive elaboration of best practices and soft law recommendations. Very few studies have focused on the experts who determine these: who they are, what their socio-professional background is, and the nature and impact of their collective work in the global fight against organized crime. ... Read more

Product Description
In his acclaimed exposé, Osama’s Revenge: The Next 9/11, terrorism expert Paul L. Williams revealed the likelihood of nuclear terrorism on American soil. Now in this chilling sequel Williams further explores the shocking dimensions of the international terrorist threat to Americans. Williams reveals persuasive evidence that al Qaeda has now established connections with the Sicilian Mafia, which is helping to finance terrorism through the sale of Number Four heroin, the present drug of choice in Europe and the United States. In addition, through its ties to the Chechen Mafia, the group responsible for the heinous attack on a Russian school, al Qaeda has managed to obtain nuclear weapons from poorly secured and carelessly guarded storehouses in Russia. Perhaps the most disturbing evidence uncovered by Williams is the relation of al Qaeda to an obscure Salvadoran street gang, which calls itself Mara Salvatrucha and has expanded exponentially. In exchange for big money, this violent group of anarchic thugs has smuggled weapons of mass destruction and sleeper agents across the Mexican border onto American soil, or what they refer to as the land of the "Great Satan."

No other book deals with the connection between international, extremist Islamic terrorism and organized crime—a connection that has made possible the establishment of a well-financed branch of al Qaeda in Latin America and the creation of terrorist cells in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Williams convincingly demonstrates that by means of this network Bin Laden is now in a position to execute his dream of an American Hiroshima, an apocalyptic act of mass murder within the borders of the United States. Though vigorously working to prevent such an attack, many military experts and security officials concede the probability of nuclear terrorism in America, perhaps in the immediate future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Terrorism at our door
The perfect book for shedding light on a problem that is at our door. This book will give you a perspective on the ideology and typology of terrorism as well as give you a new found respect for the need to secure our borders. Read this book and find out why our ignorance has given power to those who hate our democracy. See how terrorist are constantly trying to infiltrate to attack America and how M.S.13 is aiding Alqueda infiltrate our borders. See how terrorist groups have set up haven in South America where they live and train. See how terrorist are now living in Mexico and learning spanish. "Read the Book"

Emergency Responder
Ever wonder where Obama is going to get a civillian defense force larger than the military? Hint: Check plans in the incident command system. About 10 nukes in populated cities would make that happen in 72 hours. A good read.

Setting the Record Straight
For the most part a wealth of valuable information about the radical Islamist threat posed by al Qaeda.

However, I would like to make several corrections to Mr. Williams book.

1. On page 129 he writes, "In October 2000, Ali Mohamed, a former US Green Beret sergeant who plead guilty to..." Let me make it clear that Ali Mohamad was NOT a Green Beret.

2. On page 183 he discusses how Ali Mohamed's position as a supply sergeant afforded al Qaeda, "vivid proof of al Qaeda's amazing ability to stretch its tentacles into the very heart of military intelligence." This is a stretch (of the tentacles?) at best! The only thing that al Qaeda could have learned from Ali Mohamed,by virtue of his position as a supply sergeant, was supply-related only. Ali Mohammed was not given access to any intelligence;therefore, al Qaeda could not have accessed any Special Forces intelligence in any way, shape, or form from Mohammed. Mohamed may have picked up a manual or two while snooping around in places he was not authorized, but nothing of significance. I am interested in how Mr. Williams comes to this conclusion.

3. On page 184 he explains, "In 1989 Mohamed received an honorable discharge and began traveling back and forth to Afghanistan, where he provided training in special operations (the same training he supposedly received as a Green Beret!?!) to recruits at al Qaeda training camps." I'm not sure what special operations training Mr. Williams is talking about here, because Ali Mohamed, as a supply clerk, never received any formal Special Forces operational training at all! However, Mohamed was a former Egyptian Special Forces Officer who, before joining the U.S. Army, did participate in some military exchange training with U.S. Army Special Forces Officers.

In order to qualify as a Special Forces Green Beret, one must successfully complete all required Special Forces training to include graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q-Course). Upon successful completion of the Q-Course a Green Beret is awarded an 18 series identifier (e.g. 18A, 18D, 18E, 18C, 18B) and authorized to wear the Special Forces shoulder tab. Special Forces Warrant Officers are awarded the MOS 180A. Ali Mohamed never received any Special Forces training, did not graduate from the Q-Course, did not earn an identifier, and was not authorized to wear the Special Forces shoulder tab.In short, Ali Mohamad was a "supply clerk" (later an instructor) who worked only in a support capacity.

These may seem like small points, but to those who have earned the Green Beret they are not.

Concerned

Shocking and Very Informative
Every American should read this book. DO NOT count on learning the truth about the threat we are facing in this Country from the liberal media. They do not want you to know what we are facing, due to their hate for Bush and the Republicans.

EXCELLENT BOOK........

Another attack is coming: it may be terrible.
The The Al Qaeda Connection is the sequel to Osama's Revenge: THE NEXT 9/11 : What the Media and the Government Haven't Told You, another excellent book.

Some of the reviews raise interesting questions, "Why hasn't a suitcase nuke been used?" Others show political tunnel vision or refusal to accept facts they do not like. Paul Williams presents facts, some frightening, that make the reader wonder about the sanity of our government leaders. He does a terrific job of showing the fundamentalist Islamic mindset and objectives: they want to convert us to Islam, or turn us into slaves, or kill us. Nothing less is acceptable.

Perhaps current events provide the answer to the "Why" question above. Williams references Homeland security sources (page 94) when he says al Qaeda obtained small nukes from Chechens and smuggled them into the U.S. Such small nukes would use a polonium-beryllium neutron source, the "nuclear trigger" to cause an atomic explosion. Polonium-210, the poison used to kill the former KGB agent in London, has a short shelf life. Neutron triggers would not functions after a year, thus the triggers have to be replaced. See my book (p.59) for details on this type of trigger, but suffice it to say a courier carrying small packets of foil rapped Po-210 could have caused the multiple contaminated sites if one or more of the packages leaked. [...]

Williams' book is a must read. Al Qaeda and other fanatical Islamic terrorist groups are determine to destroy the Great Satan, the U.S., and will not stop trying until they die. Negotiations only encourage them. If we do not heed warnings such as the one in this book, we are doomed to become subjects of a "peaceful Islamic Empire."
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Book Nitty-Gritty
Released in 1975, Playboy's Illustrated History of Organized Crime is a chunky brick of a book, 377 pp, 3 pounds. B&w illustrations throughout with some color plates.

Hardcover: cloth over hardback boards with a sewn binding. With dustjacket. Indexed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The American Dream
Chicago and the Prohibition Years
Slicing Up the Big Apple
War in the Underworld
Happy Days and Hard Times
The Heat's On
Murder Incorporated
V for Victory, Vice, and Vegas
A Little Light on the Syndicate
Perils of Power
Attack on a Hoodlum Empire
The American Nightmare

Sure to Please Any Crime Buff
Unlike the previous reviewer, I wouldn't describe this as an "excellent" book, though it's certainly a fun one.Published in 1975, "Playboy's Illustrated History of Organized Crime" traces the development of the U.S. underworld from just before the turn of the twentieth century up until President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 and his memorable line, "I am not a crook."Packed with photos and first-rate illustrations, the Prohibition Era and the mobsters it produced are covered in great detail. The celebrated outlaws who plundered the South and Middle Western states during the Great Depression are also touched upon, though less extensively.A full chapter is devoted exclusively to Murder, Incorporated.Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Bugsy Siegel, the Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa's long-running feud with the Kennedys, the Kefauver hearings, Vito Genovese's power grab and the subsequent fiasco at Apalachin, N.Y., the Colombo-Gallo war, they're all included in these pages, as well as other subjects too numerous to mention in this format. In short, if you're into crime and enjoy looking at crime related photos, I would recommend this book.I doubt you'll be disappointed. At the very least, it would probably make a handsome addition to your coffee table.

Excellent Book!
This was an outstanding book. This book manages to cover the
history of organized crime from the early days until the present time. All of the famous gangsters are covered in this book,from
Al Capone,Lucky Luciano,up to the present day Mafia dons. You
are given insight into some of the businesses the the Mafia was
entered into such as gambling and bootlegging. Also recieving good coverage was the evolution of the modern day Mafia through
the takeover of Organized crime by Lucky Luciano,Meyer Lansky,and
Bugsy Seigel. The Mafia presence at the House UN-American activities hearings is also given good coverage. An excellent book on the subject of organized crime. You will not be dissapointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Carolyn Nordstrom explores the pathways of global crime in this stunning work of anthropology that has the power to change the way we think about the world. To write this book, she spent three years traveling to hot spots in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States investigating the dynamics of illegal trade around the world--from blood diamonds and arms to pharmaceuticals, exotica, and staples like food and oil. Global Outlaws peels away the layers of a vast economy that extends from a war orphan in Angola selling Marlboros on the street to powerful transnational networks reaching across continents and oceans. Nordstrom's extraordinary fieldwork includes interviews with scores of informants, including the smugglers, victims, power elite, and profiteers who populate these economic war zones. Her compelling investigation, showing that the sum total of extra-legal activities represents a significant part of the world's economy, provides a new framework for understanding twenty-first-century economics and economic power. Global Outlaws powerfully reveals the illusions and realities of security in all areas of transport and trade and illuminates many of the difficult ethical problems these extra-legal activities pose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

trading in corruption
Carolyn Nordstrom exposes a world of corruption and economic disparity intertwined with humanitarian aid and illegal trade.The interdependence of illicit and legitimate commerce sheds light on the complexity of our global trade systems and paints a dismal image of profiteering at the highest levels against a canvas of human suffering.The image she paints also depicts the diversity of forces driving war efforts, not just within Africa, but potentially throughout the planet.This ethnography discloses how these systems oppress entire nations, creating situations that damage health and well being for their populous and sustain poverty and hunger even in locations with access to humanitarian aid.

The striking aspect of this account is Nordstrom's ability to solicit such candor from those she interviewed.Perhaps this speaks to the futility of any hope of correcting or controling these corruptions, abuses, and tax avoidances, or perhaps this relates to a lack of willingness to correct these illegalities since it profits so many in high places.

wow
If you thought you knew anything about illegalities or illicit markets, if you thought you knew anything about actuality, ideology and morality this book will show you that in fact you did not know anything.

Good social science, good stories
An intriguing look at the culture and economy of smuggling and other illegal commerce, Global Outlaws opens many windows to provide a wide range of perspectives on the illegal economy, from the selling of a single smuggled cigarette in an African town to the movement of shipping containers (and their contents, legal and illegal) through a number of major American and European ports.Carolyn Nordstrom provides a rich view of the interdependencies of legal and illegal commerce, both the mundane (cigarettes, washing machines) and the exotic (endangered species of fish for high-end restaurants world-wide).She gives a sense of the range of people and networks involved in these activities, along with the benefits (how else could people get drugs to remote battlefields?) and the threats (could there be a bomb in that container of Barbie dolls?) of smuggling.
Much of the book represents deep field work at its best.Her presentation of trans-national shipping and port security contains good information that is not integrated so well as other parts of the book.

Change your thinking
If you want to change your thinking about how the world works and adjust it to how the world really works, then read this. If you want to believe that everything is on the up and up, then don't read this. The work covers everything from cigarettes to port security to portable wealth to banking. While most of us recognize that we live in a global world, we often forget that this global world has trade happening in the back room of the cafe with the help of the banks. This is a very honest look at many forms of illegal trade and finance from a very human perspective.

Crucial Reading For Those Interested in International Affairs
There's little doubt in my mind that transnational crime networks are vastly understudied relative to their impact on global health, security, and economics. Anthropologist Nordstrom clearly agrees, and lays out the fruits of three years of field work in this loosely arranged triptych of illegal (or as she would put it, "il/legal") trade. Broken into twenty brief (6-10 page) chapters, the book starts with the micro of a lone war orphan hawking cigarettes in Angola and slowly zooms out to the macro of international trade and finance. Each chapter opens with a photo, which helps to ground the discussion in the lives of people, rather than policy. The framework is an ambitious one, attempting to tie together a very broad range of material, and it doesn't always work. For example ports are the focus of three unconnected chapters rather than one sustained narrative.

Others have written about much of the same material before, especially the drug trade, the arms trade, and overhyped blood diamond trade. However, these accounts are generally written from a journalism or policy perspective -- none that I'm aware of have grounded their material in such deep fieldwork, nor written about it with such a good ear for the pithy quote or telling anecdote. One of the central themes of the book is that while drugs, arms, and diamonds get all the press, her fieldwork reveals that trafficking in more mundane goods, such as food, is ultimately a much larger part of the informal economy in much of the world. Particularly chilling is her expose of the international shipping industry and just how laughable the customs and security controls on it are. (The same problems are also well documented in William Langswiesche's Atlantic Monthly essays collected in the book The Outlaw Sea).

Unfortunately, the positive aspects Nordstrom's writing are sometimes weakened by the kinds of arcane theoretical digressions and awkward terminology that often pop up in works by academics. The writing is alo marred by a certain shrill tone when it comes to the workings of large multinational corporations and a somewhat snide approach to the operations of international aid and relief agencies. While I don't generally disagree with her analysis, I find the strident and bitter tone somewhat diverting from the truths she lays out. Criticisms of structure and writing aside, this is a valuable, and quick-reading work that anyone with an interest in world affairs should check out. Nordstrom has done a stellar job in illustrating the pervasiveness and flexibility of informal trade networks, and how they can be manipulated around the world to move just about anything, anywhere. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

great read
I bought this book and others as a gift for my husband and he loves it.Supper fast shipping...

great book
the product was described excellent and the pricing was awesome thanks for a great transaction. The reading is great can't put the book down if you like these kind of book you'll enjoy this read.

Boring
There are much better books out there on the Hell's Angels. The author does way too much jumping around back and forth and that makes this book very hard to follow. There is good info in this book concerning what goes on worldwide, but unfortunately, the author never stays on topic long enough to make the story and enjoyable read.

confusing!
I have read many books on this topic, and this one was very confusing.The author jumped from topic to topic and I never felt that each story finished.I recommend Under and Alone or 3 Can Keep a Secret if 2 are Dead.

Another HAMC book review by G. Nance
Well I read this book just as I've read every other HAMC book on the market and this book was (yawn) ho hum to say the least.I supose these days every undercover officer who works a Hells angels case feels compelled to ca$h in on writing a juicy "tell-all" book to supplement their meager cop salaries.Like the undercover operation itself - code named "black biscuit" (nicknamed after a ...hockey puck??)- failed to win any significant convictions/jail time for any Hells Angels the book basically fails too.The reader learns nothing new/exciting about the Hells Angels in this dull, bland and quite boring (yawn) book.Just an obvious attempt for a cop to try and make a few bucks writing a Hells Angels book as I mentioned above.What I did find interesting - or amusing rather - was the list at the end of the book giving a rundown of all the convictions or at least no contest pleas the Arizona authorities were able to obtain for their operation "black biscuit" (aagain as in HOCKEY PUCK??!!) efforts.Basically much adu about nothing.They obviously wasted a lot of their time, money, resources etc.with meager/minimal results just as the book achieves meager/minimal results.Thanks for reading my review. ... Read more

Product Description
Understanding Organized Crime Provides A Comprehensive Introduction To The Subject Of Organized Crime As It Relates To The Criminal Investigation.Topics Covered Include Definition(S) Of Organized Crime, Why It Exists, How It Has Evolved Throughout History, Different Types Of Organized Crime And Specific Organizations, And Strategies For Fighting Organized Crime. ... Read more

Product Description
Adrenaline Books' search for the world's best and most exciting stories has taken readers from the peaks of Everest to the jungles of Papua, New Guinea to the battlefields of World War II. Now, the editor of publishing's most successful adventure literature series takes readers into the heart of organized crime. Some of our culture's greatest literary talent has been drawn to this topic, which taps into our culture's deepest preoccupations--greed, violence, desire. Mob features work from best-selling writers such as Peter Maas, William Kennedy, Martin Cruz Smith, and Mario Puzo; from acknowledged masters of the genre such as Nicolas Pileggi (Wiseguy, Casino) and Joseph Pistone (Donnie Brasco); and from law enforcement insiders and mobsters such as Sammy Giancana and Joseph O’Brien. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A Fine Collection of Depravity
This is, for a "fan" of the Mafia, is almost a must own. It is filled with book excerpts and magazine articles and 2 works of fiction, the rest is all "true". Or at least as true as Mafia stories go. My favorite excerpts from this book were the brief portion of Donnie Brasco. It showed just how mundane going undercover in the Mob can be. I also quite enjoyed the section from "Killer". We get to see the mob through a hitmans eyes. He tells you how cold he is and how after the first couple of hits, he could murder someone then go spend a quiet evening with his family. He never felt remorse because in his mind "You must have done something pretty bad to bring em to your door." Also the excerpt from "Boss of Bosses" is comical in the sense that the Mafia Don of the Gambino crime family convinced the 2 FBI agents that had him in custody, to take him out to lunch. All in all this a fascinating collection that shows the dark side of the mob that tends to get glossed over by the Hollywood productions.

T

Blood and Gore With the Mafia
MOB, Stories of Death and Betrayal From Organized Crime


Each of the thirteen accounts in this book fulfills expectations raised by the above title.There are selections by Peter Maas and William Kennedy.A section from Mario Puzo's "The Godfather," accompanies a Fredrick Dannen report on "Defending the Mafia."
There are blood and gore sufficient to satisfy most appetites, as each selection entertains, informs, and above all, keeps the reader awake.

We are told at the beginning that there is no such thing as an organization called "the Mafia."Yet, some of the stories use the word as though there were.Maybe an unavoidable use when we recognize that Mafioso can be at war with each other so that, if the Mafia were an organization, some of its parts can become dysfunctional, threatening to tear the organization apart.

Rather, being "Mafia," the book's introductions tells us, represents an outlook, one in which personal honor and willingness to defend it, are far more important than civil law and peace, or of any personal code of virtue that doesn't place personal honor as paramount. Violation of a man's honor is to be redeemed by punishing the violator, perhaps by taking his life.In striking similarity with aspects we hear today of radical Islamism, a wife or sister violates the family honor by becoming pregnant out of wedlock, or consorting with the wrong types, often requiring that she be murdered to restore the family's (male) honor.It may be that this view of women in Islam and the Mafia code both arise from long-ago ideas about the sexes that prevailed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Notwithstanding that sorry concepts like that about female "virtue" can motivate violent acts, this collection of vignettes makes for exciting reading that will satisfy just about anyone.

Charles Tillinghast, author of "How Capitol Got the Beatles, and Then What Happened," and "American Broadcast Regulation and the First Amendment."

Mafia Buffet
This book is not unlike a buffet at a small office party. A few morsels here and there... most everything is pretty tasty, nothing's too filling, and there's one "mystery dish" that looks okay...... until you bite into it.

Clint Willis has compiled a baker's dozen of mob-stories, from the infamous, to the you-never-heard-of-em. Some are great, some are good, and some might have been better to have been left on the table.

On the infamous side is an excerpt from Mario Puzo's classic, THE GODFATHER. I've never read the book, but like any other self-respecting adult American male, I've seen the movie enough times to have lost count. After reading the excerpt in MOB, (regarding the memorable scene where Michael Corleone retrieves the gun from the restaurant bathroom and shoots the crooked cop in the head), I've discovered that I've GOT to read Puzo's book!

Another interesting story comes from David Fisher. It comes from a book by "JOEY," a long-time mob hit-man (though not a "made" man in the mob, because, as "Joey" tells it, as a member of the Jewish faith, he is ineligible to attain that level within the organization.) Still, he considers himself really good--and quite enjoys what he does for a living. And, it would appear that he's very much a psychopath. Whether one can believe everything that is written about JOEY is questionable, as there seemed to be a number of "facts" that contradicted other "facts," but I guess that's for each reader to decide.

I did actually SKIP one story: Bruce McCall's "GANGLAND STYLE: THE TRANSCRIPT." Written in the format of a play, I became disinterested after about a page and a half of reading accented-goombah-speak spelled out phonetically.

Jeffrey Goldberg's piece, THE DON IS DONE, is the final chapter in the book, and is the fascinating true story of the last days--along with some of the personal insights of mob boss, Paul Castellano... whacked, so the story goes, under the orders of the notorious John Gotti, Sr.

All in all, MOB was a pretty enjoyable read. And because each of the stories stands completely by itself, you could theoretically finish a chapter, and pick the book up a year later without having to start over.

- Jonathan Sabin

Nasty compilation of good books...
You're much better off going to the original books this compilation rips off. There are editing mistakes galore in this volume, and the editor adds nothing new (except some typos). I'd sell mine as a used book but I don't want to rip off someone else with this trash.

MOB is the best book I've ever read.
This book is great,it is what got me hooked on stories about the mob and mafia. I would recomend it to any one who is intrested in organized crime. ... Read more

Product Description

This book, Corruption and Racketeering In The New York City Construction Industry: The Final Report of the New York State Organized Task Force, lays out in close and compelling detail the intricate patterns of currupt activities and relationships that for the better part of a century have characterized business as usual in the construction industry in America's largest metropolis.

Customer Reviews (1)

Historical Organized Crime Stoppers
I'd have to say that this is 1 of the most comprehensive books on organized crime spanning from the 1st part of the 20th century to the mid-20th century.Further, it outlines not only the major crimes but also has many details on the people who did the crimes.I would say that this would be a good read for any aspiring crime stopper type people to see what it was like years ago in comparision to todays crimes as I'm sure many of the techniques for not only doing the crime but also foiling the crimes are adaptable to the modern world. ... Read more

Product Description
Organized crime in the twenty-first century is a knowledge war that poses an incalculable global threat to the world economy and harm to society - the economic and social costs are estimated at upwards of £20 billion a year for the UK alone (SOCA 2006/7). Organized Crime: Policing Illegal Business Entrepreneurialism offers a unique approach to the tackling of this area by exploring how it works through the conceptual framework of a business enterprise.

Structured in three parts, the book progresses systematically through key areas and concepts integral to dealing effectively with the myriad contemporary forms of organized crime and provides insights on where, how and when to disrupt and dismantle a criminal business activity through current policing practices and policies.From the initial set up of a crime business through to the long term forecasting for growth and profitability, the authors dissect and analyse the different phases of the business enterprise and propose a 'Knowledge-Managed Policing' (KMP) approach to criminal entrepreneurialism.

Combining conceptual and practical issues, this is a must-have reference for all police professionals, policing academics and government policy makers who are interested in a Strategy-led, Intelligence supported, Knowledge-Managed approach to policing illegal business entrepreneurialism. ... Read more

Product Description
In Chinatown Gangs, Ko-lin Chin penetrates a closed society and presents a rare portrait of the underworld of New York City's Chinatown. Based on first-hand accounts from gang members, gang victims, community leaders, and law enforcement authorities, this pioneering study reveals the pervasiveness, the muscle, the longevity, and the institutionalization of Chinatown gangs. Chin reveals the fear gangs instill in the Chinese community. At the same time, he shows how the economic viability of the community is sapped, and how gangs encourage lawlessness, making a mockery of law enforcement agencies.

Ko-lin Chin makes clear that gang crime is inexorably linked to Chinatown's political economy and social history. He shows how gangs are formed to become "equalizers" within a social environment where individual and group conflicts, whether social, political, or economic, are unlikely to be solved in American courts. Moreover, Chin argues that Chinatown's informal economy provides yet another opportunity for street gangs to become "providers" or "protectors" of illegal services. These gangs, therefore, are the pathological manifestation of a closed community, one whose problems are not easily seen--and less easily understood--by outsiders.

Chin's concrete data on gang characteristics, activities, methods of operation and violence make him uniquely qualified to propose ways to restrain gang violence, and Chinatown Gangs closes with his specific policy suggestions. It is the definitive study of gangs in an American Chinatown. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Research
This is indeed a well researched book.This is not the same old anectdotal story telling that are so many of these books.This is good quality scholarship.I urge the author to develop this work into more precisely focused analyses that are publishable in quality scholarly journals. This is one of several books that I refer my student to when they tell me they want to learn about gangs.A well done book for those who want to learn, not just be entertained.If you are looking purely to be entertained, this likely is not an appropriate book for you.....All others welcome too, but for legitimate scholarly business only.

What Might Have Been
This book was extensively researched.Unfortunately, the end results of this research is a very dry and somewhat boring academic study of Chinatown gangs.One feels that the author could have presented many "real life" stories of gangs and gang members.Instead we read about statistics and academic views. What a disappointment!I just wonder what a great book it might have been had there been more of a "human" look at the gangs. ... Read more

Product Description
Phil Cresta was no run-of-the-mill thief.Mastermind of the legendary Brink's armored truck robbery and a string of countless other high-stakes heists, he stole more than ten million dollars in escapades that often were breathtakingly daring and at times marvelously inventive.The robberies baffled both police and fellow outlaws for decades, and most of the crimes remain unsolved today.Now the open case files of these memorable thefts can be closed as Cresta himself provides the true story on how they were planned and carried out.

Born in Boston's North End in 1928, Cresta was raised in an abusive household. He was sent to Concord Reformatory as a teenager, where he learned the craft of picking locks, a skill later honed during stays at the Charlestown and Walpole prisons in Massachusetts.Following the Brink's robbery in 1969, he was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, but eluded the law for five years, living in Chicago under an assumed name.After serving time at Walpole for the Brink's job, Cresta died penniless in Chicago in 1995.Yet shortly before his death, he revealed the full extent of his astonishing capers to coauthor Bill Crowley, a retired Boston police detective.

Drawing from their extensive conversations, this riveting page-turner chronicles how Cresta, along with partners "Angelo" and "Tony," pulled off robberies of jewelers, rare coin dealers, furriers, and armored trucks, detailing the meticulous planning that marked his criminal career and made him a master at outwitting police.Cresta's final accounting is brimming with vivid tales of betrayal, murder, and intrigue as well as a colorful cast of characters, including mob bosses, wise guys, informants, paid "ears," corrupt judges, a Hollywood starlet, and even the Mayor of Chicago.

Filled with drama, tension, and humor, this absorbing saga takes the reader inside the dangerous yet exhilarating world of a life dedicated to crime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

It's not a Lehane Book
I you're searching Lehane books, this is not a Lehane book!Unclear listing by Amazon.Lehane: Good!Final Confession Fair.

Great read
I am not one to sit for hours and read...I finished the book in two evenings after work. Being from Boston I am familiar with many of the figures in the book and have read several books featuring the local mob figures. Though not a "made guy" Phil Cresta worked the mob circles, one time cheating death. Great read would recommend to anyone interested in true crime/mob related titles.

Great book A must read
Hello my name is Buddy Locatelli. I live in Fla. And i have the pleasure of riding in a taxi to south beach and the driver was a retired Boston police officer by the name of Billy Crowley. We had a conversation and on the way i asked him why he moved to Fla. He told me that he co-authored a book with a writer by the name of Brian Wallace of S.Boston about a Boston gangster named phil cresta, and after the book came out for publication they signed a movie deal with 20th century fox. After 2 yrs and 2 screenwriters hired they finally got a screenplay, but at the last minute on the last option the movie was not picked up. He had an extra copy of the book in his taxi and i read the book and was amazed about the crime scene in the Boston area. The book jumped out at me and i could not put it down. I read the book in one night I can see why 20th century fox signed it up it should be a movie.

THIS MUST BE MADE INTO A MOVIE!!!
This is the best book I have ever read. I read it cover to cover. I could not put it down. It was fascinating, well written and riveting from start to finish. This should defintely be made into a movie. Maybe DeNiro could play Cresta!

Unbelievable!Unbelievable the story is true that is...
Very well done.Will make a great movie too. ... Read more

Product Description
The chilling details of cleaning blood money.

What is money laundering? How does it work? And why is it such a threat to any democratic society?

International terrorism has focused federal and state law-enforcement's attention on the shadowy world of money laundering. While the media has examined money laundering, the topic is still little understood by the public.

In Crime School: Money Laundering, a twenty year law enforcement veteran of financial crime explains this felony in simple terms. Written anecdotally, the book describes what money laundering is and how the crimes behind it fit together.

Organized criminals operating both domestically and internationally corrupt bankers and subvert national economies through the use of drug money.

This book examines the history of money laundering from ancient times to the cocaine craze of the 1970s to the sophisticated, brutal techniques employed by today's terrorists and organized crime.

Lively and detailed, this book chronicles the stark realities and deadly dynamics of the lynchpin between organized crime and modern terrorism. It's a rare and fascinating look at a deadly world few have ever witnessed and lived to tell the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Very, very little information about money laundering
I was very excited to get and read this book.But after I started reading, it became a never ending disappointment.I kept thinking, "maybe it will pick up in a couple of chapters and will have some actual information."However I got to the end and I still hadn't learned anything.In my opinion this was a terrible book for these reasons:

There was hardly any actual information.Mostly the book was full of stories from the author's experiences or just made up stories to try to illustrate the evils of money laundering.Even when the author would talk about something interesting, he would cut off, nearly mid-sentence, and basically say that he can't tell you about that.I understand not wanting to educate the world about the most current forms of money laundering, but being introduced to something and then denied (repeatedly) was very annoying.The author could have wrote about money laundering of the 1960's to 1990's where those techniques don't work anymore, but he just didn't really talk about anything at all.Since he wrote a book titled: "Crime School: Money Laundering: True Crime Meets the World of Business and Finance" I expected him to actually say something about money laundering.He might as well have titled it, "Crime School: How to grow carrots, skydive, and become an astrophysicist" and the title would have been almost as accurate.

The book was poorly written.The table of contents doesn't even match up with the pages in the book.Also, the chapter titles had absolutely nothing to do with what was in those chapters.The best example is in "Bankruptcy of Murder Inc."This chapter doesn't talk about "bankruptcy" or of the infamous "Murder Inc" that contracted out assassinations for the mob.

Five minutes on the internet with your favorite search engine yields more information than reading the entire book!Throughout the entire book the author doesn't even talk about the three stages of money laundering: Placement, Layering, and Integration.Some have praised this book, saying that it is a must read for people in the banking industry to keep from unknowingly helping in money laundering.I also disagree with this because all the author really ever says in the book about this topic is to hire someone else to check your bank to see if you are laundering money.So overall this book was worthless to everyone on every level.I bought this book used for just a couple bucks and I still wish I could get my money back.

General knowledge
Not a well written book and contains very general information about money laundering that most people are already aware of such as off-shore banking.It is short on specifics, and long on trying to relate the author's experiences in the field.A bit boring.

Tons of Info and Street Slang! Mountie Breaks it Down
This dude knows his street slang!I was sorta worried when I found out he was a Canadian cop...Mathers covers pretty much every racket and how it launders the proceeds...He is a pretty funny writer as well..I felt like I was sitting down with an old cop having a beer....If you always wanted to know about how money is laundered...This book does it in a funny way...

Great intro to a complex subject
I've had a curiosity about money laundering for many years. I've heard about it on the news. It is often a shadowy subject, involving complex financial transactions and foreign intrigue. Here is a book that finally explains the subject to laypersons in a way that is accessible.

Mathers does an excellent job of explaining this subject to a layperson. He explains the various schemes, how they are executed, and how the criminals get caught. The explanations are backed up by examples from Mathers' long career in law enforcement. Most books about money laundering are intended for law enforcement personnel, so the authors assume some familiarity. Mathers' book is the first primer on the subject for laypersons. The jargon used by criminals and law enforcement are clearly explained as well, so those wanting to read further on the topic won't be bewildered by more advanced texts.

This is a great introduction for non-law enforcement persons to learn about money laundering. A great jumping off point.

How bank tellers and corporate execs canavoid pen time
The book is aimed at those who legitimately handle large amounts of money. It doesn't have to be 'their' money, any supervision of cash will do.This includes bank tellers, small business owners, and corporate executives.Since they all 'handle' money, they all risk 'being nice' and going to jail for their troubles.

Mathers tries to shares some street smarts. The book doesn't try to 'explain' money laundering as much as put you 'inside' the process.The look and feel is given first priority.Thus, the author spends a lot of time toying with the lingo.You will learn about 'backstops' (a false history), 'beards' (intermediaries), 'bottoms' (what you owe),'busting a cap' (discharge a bullet), 'Diming out' (informing), 'Dry conspiracy' (cop talk for an arrest with no contraband), 'juice' (interest rate), 'pooch' (fellow with no respect) and 'playing for shape' (willing to kill to curry favor).Mathers constantly belittles the intelligence of the crooks.Crime is easy, but getting away with it for long is difficult.

Along these lines, Mathers works hard to debunk popular perceptions.First, Hollywood doesn't do a good job of familiarizing us with 'real' crooks.Crooks don't look like Hollywood gangsters, they look like Joe average.Second, the crooks don't need high tech tricks to pull off their capers.All they need is a little, apparently harmless cooperation.For example, Mather describes the 'muffin man' method.The muffin man simply offers his bank teller a muffin every time he visits the bank.After giving away $5 worth of muffins, the recipient bank teller is likely to bend a rule.That bent rule may launder $100,000 in cash ($10,000+ profit to the crook).Additionally, it is all that is needed to put the teller in jail.

Mather makes his points by relentlessly bringing the reader down to the gutter level.Half the message is just the lingo and description of the terrain.Learn how to talk prison lingo, how to survive standing in line with a bunch of crooks, and most important, how a silly, everyday mistake can put you behind bars.

This is a book about avoiding the mistakes that have put many an otherwise innocent person in jail. Read and learn! ... Read more

Product Description
The author of The Terror Network provides a chilling analysis of international organized crime in the aftermath of the recent political restructuring worldwide. National ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A truly amazing organized crime book
Claire Sterling does an amazing job of exposing the new world order of organized crime. Her references seem impeccable and the story she tells is one of world governments crippled by an inability to coordinate and cooperate to the degree that counter-governments (ie, crime families) are cooperating. As a result, the world Sterling paints is one where crime is rapidly becoming the single dominant force in world politics and economics.

A Book Without Boundaries
For anyone who wants to know the indepth ramifications of the new threat of global organized crime then look no further than Claire Sterlings supberb effort. I have read two other of Claire Sterling's books and was impressed. Very few authors can boast such a talent for researching as Mrs Sterling does.
The book covers the networks of organized crime groups as she details their very important relationships with each of the other. Also what I found very impressive is the way she manages to get the figures for the numerous sums of money that is floating around so many the illegal markets. She also talks about the "Pax Mafiosi", something that Judge Falcone was aware of, the Pax Mafiosi being the new conglomeration of multinational criminal confederations, that is now the biggest threat to the worlds economy. The Russian Mafia are also mentioned to great aplomb, the mysterious syndicates that are now thriving following the break down of the old USSR. This book is an absolute must for anyone seeking knowledge about how the modern Mafia's are joining forces and becoming a multi hydra headed monster, that just keeps on growing new heads, when others are cut off.

A Book Without Boundaries
For anyone who wants to know the indepth ramifications of the new threat of global organized crime then look no further than Claire Sterlings supberb effort. I have read two other of Claire Sterling's books and was impressed. Very few authors can boast such a talent for researching as Mrs Sterling does.
The book covers the networks of organized crime groups as she details their very important relationships with each of the other. Also what I found very impressive is the way she manages to get the figures for the numerous sums of money that is floating around so many the illegal markets. She also talks about the "Pax Mafiosi", something that Judge Falcone was aware of, the Pax Mafiosi being the new conglomeration of multinational criminal confederations, that is now the biggest threat to the worlds economy. The Russian Mafia are also mentioned to great aplomb, the mysterious syndicates that are now thriving following the break down of the old USSR. This book is an absolute must for anyone seeking knowledge about how the modern Mafia's are joining forces and becoming a multi hydra headed monster, that just keeps on growing new heads, when others are cut off.

An ExcellentWork that Deserves Serious Attention.
This book represents and remains one of the most significant studies ofthe threat magnitude of international organized crime available today.Itis a shame that it is out of print and that it has not received theattention it deserves. Sterling's thoroughly documented study makes crystalclear the breadth and depth of control/leverage purchased with drug profitsby international crime organizations acting as a cooperative internationalaffiliation of predators with an objective of power and all that can beachieved with such power over societies little aware of their existence. Sterling's work is an important statement that should have received farmore visibility. ... Read more

Product Description
The riveting front-page news story of an FBI agent falsely accused of ordering four mob hits.

FBI agent Lin DeVecchio was a key player in the New York Mafia wars from the late seventies through the early nineties. Yet despite his stunning success fighting organized crime, DeVecchio was accused of taking bribes, selling information to the man who was his informant, and even personally ordering four mob hits.

Who went after Lin DeVecchio and why? How did a highly respected FBI agent become suspected of corruption and charged with four counts of murder? DeVecchio and bestselling author Charles Brandt go behind the front-page headlines and tell the fascinating story of a law enforcement officer who beat the mob bosses, only to end up fighting for his own freedom. ... Read more

Product Description
Last Rites chronicles one man's dramatic descent intothe seedy world of New England mobster RaymondPatriarca and his underboss, Gennaro 'Jerry' Angiulo.In the early 1980s, Gigi Portalla, a well-liked student,athlete and Revere prom king, transformed into a mafiahit man after discovering that his biological father was'Big Eddy' Marino. Portalla rose through the rankswithin the Angiulo organization, joining famous Bostonwise guys like Sean Cote, Joseph 'J.R.' Russo and BobbyCarrozza. Drawing on wiretaps, court testimonies andinterviews through personal relationships with thecriminals in question, Revere writer William J. Craiguncovers the depths of criminality. Portalla clung to aself-imposed moral code, striving to find honor withinthievery, even as the lure of his family's past eclipsedhis promising future. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

Not a fan
As a fan of the American Italian mafia genre and having read numerous books on the subject, this book was disappointing.It did not have a consistent chronology and was repetitive throughout the book.It lacked details on how the Smaldone operation worked, how their family structure worked in comparison to other crime families, and did not go into details on the Smaldone's relationships with other key mafia figures during their hayday.It was somewhat interesting in learning that their was an element of the mafia in Colorado however the book was hard to get through and lacked the page-turning elements of other mafia books.

Interesting book
I enjoyed the book and the history that was revealed in it. I did feel that it was a whitewash of the family, but if the family helped write it, that should be expected. It really kept my interest but I grew up in Denver, not so sure it would be that engaging for someone outside the state.

Larger than life: enter the Smaldones.
Few of those in the Denver area are strangers to legacy of the Smaldone syndicate. It's legacy lives one well after the end of the Smaldones. Anyone who has eaten at Gaotano's has probably heard of the former owners (the Smaldones) and the restaurants role in their exploits.

If you are living in the Denver area, the first time you hear of the Smaldones may conjure up images of Al Capone or other large scale organized crime. The most interesting aspect of the book was the conclusion that the Smaldones role in crime, though real, was relatively small in the grand scheme of things.

Smaldone
This is a great book about not only the family - Smaldone, but of Denver and north Denver and the are of the 1920's - 1950's.The mobs hay-day. I live in Denver and know the area.In fact I am an artist and I am in a gallery at 37th and Navajo, it used to be a drug store.To imagine back in the day what it looked like is amazing to me.The restaurant is still there.
I grew up in Chicago and have an interest in the mob there while growing up, so it tied things together.

Very Good Book!
Being a native Denverite, and having heard of the Smaldone family all my life (I can recall my dad referring to the North Denver area as "Little Italy" when I was a little girl) I enjoyed this book very much.It was factual, well written, and fascinating.I'd like to see it made into a movie! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent book about the camorra from its birth to near extinction to today's power based by good research
After witnessing the recent months-long garbage crisis in Campania, in particular, Naples, it prompted me to develop a better understanding in the Camorra and their short-sighted and callous crimes and how they were able to thrive for so long. The problem is so deep rooted that one cannot really formulate a practical solution without a solid grasp of Naples' (or the region of Campania's) history, culture and people. Whether you agree with the solutions hinted by the author or not, the facts are clear to see and you can see that a solution is neither simple nor easy.

Caserta is a place that had its city council dissolved more times due to Mafia infiltration than any other places in Italy. I lived there.

I first read Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano, who wrote more graphical and vivid style book on the Camorra. I wanted to learn more, so I bought See Naples and Die: Camorra and Organized Crime by Tom Beha, this book is a more formal approach to the Camorra problem starting from its root during the Kingdom of Naples monarchy.

It explores the history of the region during the last days of the Kingdom of Naples, which gave rise to the Camorra because the ruling class wanted to keep the citizens in order and deter them from revolution. At one point, the Camorra was on the verge of extinction, but made a come back after World War II as the American was their ally. During the years of the Christian Democrats (whose corrupted political system neither embrace the value of Christians nor Democrats), the career politicians helped the Camorra's further rise to power by exchanging favors for votes.

The system is corrupt. Most politicians are corrupt, instead of wholeheartedly bring justice and orders to society, they have been actively undermining the society by bedding the Camorra. This book gives a big view with a strong emphasis on the political system's dealing with the Camorra and how this helped to create a powerful economic empire in Campania and elsewhere where many local people are depended on the Camorra. Whereas Robert Saviano's book tend to focus on the smaller picture of the elements in the Camorra economy such as how certain products get to be delivered, how they kill someone, and where the clothes are made, etc.

I just selected some disturbing excerpts from the book, but there is much more than these:

"It is no longer simply a question of the Camorra manoeuvring votes toward 'friendly' politicians in exchange for favours and protection. Many politicians of the Christian Democrat era have been accused, and some convicted, of being part of the Camorra. The question is no longer one of 'bad government' or clientelism but in some cases total commitment to a violent and illegal organisation". -p. 217

"Galasso was on the run at the time from a 10-year-sentence for Camorra membership and extortion: 'What made me almost laugh was to hear the ideas put foward to this future MP; I heard Vito talking about fighting the Camorra, and even though I was on the run I was due to meet him in a few minutes.. He told me that he knew all about my situation and promised to take an interest in it particularly as regards my trial at the Court of Appeal in Naples, as he had lots of friends within the judiciary"

"..several police officers whose 'salaries' from the leading crime families ranged from $1300 to $2800 per month. .. In February the former head of the Naples Flying Squad was arrested...regularly faked investigation into the criminal activities of the Camorra factions who were paying them, while arresting members of rival clans." p. 234

"Harsh sentences at the main trail create the perceptoin in the public's mind that criminals are being convicted and put behind bars. Once public interest wanes and few years pass, the sentences are then either drastically reduced or simply overturned on appeal." p.237

However, this is not to say that all judges are corrupt and linked to the Camorra, far from it. Investigating magistrates are probably the people most at risk from assassination, they work in inadequate conditions, and in the majority of cases are really dedicated to their job.

Furthermore, senior judges are also senior members of the Italian state. As a group, for decades they turned a blind eye to the rampant corruption and bribery among politicians and the busienss community, as well as politicians' links with organised crime." p.239

"an unemployed seller of contraband is far more likely to spend time in jail than a gang leader acued of murder or drug trafficking".

Agostino Cordova, Federal prosecutor said,"In Naples the state is a vague, virtual and random entity. I'm only talking about the official one. The only one that people in Naples fear and recognise is the Camorra."

Buy this book, and buy two other books: Gomorrah and Excellent Cadaver.

A thorough, but dry analysis of the Camorra
After finishing John Dickie's engaging and eye opening book "Cosa Nostra : A History of the Sicilian Mafia " I decided to try to learn a bit more about Naples' version. Tom Behan's book is thorough and well researched. I know that because he is not afraid to present table and statistics, and then analyse them. There are a total of nine tables in this book dealing with things like "Sectoral employment in Campania, 1991", "Councils classified as damaged before and after May 1981" and so on... Tom Behan has a Marxist solution to the problem of the Camorra: "(...) any strategy for defeating organised crime has to involve the overthrow of the ruling class and their capitalist system through the creation of a completely different system."As a lot of Marxists Behan likes to think in groups, and human beings are often lost in that type of thinking. The victims and the members of the criminal organization are treated in a disinterested fashion. We never get to know them like we do in Dickie's book, and personally I lost all interest in knowing more about the organization and the region. I would only recommend this book if you are going to write a paper about Naples, the Camorra, and Campania.



... Read more