EMERGING AREAS - THE FEDERAL VIEW (FROM COMBATTING ORGANIZED CRIME, 1978 - SEE NCJ-48903)

• NCJ Number: 53827
• Author(s): A N KING
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: National Assoc of Attorneys General
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ORGANIZED CRIME'S INVOLVEMENT IN LABOR UNIONS, LEGITIMATE BUSINESS, AND CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS DISCUSSED AS HAVING PRIORITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

MANIPULATION OF LABOR UNIONS IS ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF ORGANIZED CRIME THAT IS RECEIVING PRIORITY FROM THE ORGANIZED CRIME PLANNING COUNCIL, A BODY ESTABLISHED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO SET POLICY AND DEVELOP PLANNING FOR THE FEDERAL STRIKE FORCES. THE EFFORT IS TO LIBERATE FROM THE CONTROL OF ORGANIZED CRIME 300 LABOR UNIONS CONCENTRATED IN FIVE TO SEVEN MAJOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL UNIONS. ONE IS THE TEAMSTERS, ALONG WITH THE ILA, HOTEL AND RESTAURANT WORKERS UNION, AND LABORERS UNION. ORGANIZED CRIME HAS BEEN ATTRACTED TO LABOR UNIONS BECAUSE OF THE ENDLESS WAYS AVAILABLE TO GENERATE MONEY. THE MANIPULATION OF PENSION FUND MONEY IS ONE OF THE WAYS. MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COUNCIL HAVE AGREED ON A LIST OF 430 LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN INFILTRATED BY ORGANIZED CRIME. ABOUT 17 PERCENT OF THOSE LISTED ARE BARS; ABOUT 13 PERCENT ARE RESTAURANTS. SINCE THESE BUSINESSES REQUIRE LIQUOR LICENSES IN MOST STATES, STATES CAN EXERCISE CONTROL OVER ORGANIZED CRIME'S INFILTRATION OF THESE BUSINESSES THROUGH THE LICENSING PROCESS. FURTHER BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS: 5 PERCENT VENDING, 5 PERCENT TRUCKING, 5 PERCENT THE CHEESE INDUSTRY, AND 4 PERCENT IN THE WOMEN'S CLOTHING INDUSTRY. THE LATTER BUSINESSES ARE CONCENTRATED IN NEW YORK CITY, LOS ANGELES (CALIF.), AND MIAMI (FLA.). CAB COMPANIES ARE OFTEN OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE MOB, AS ARE AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS. SOME OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES NOTED ARE HOTELS AND MOTELS, WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER BEING IN THE NEW ORLEANS (LA.) AREA; MEAT DEALERSHIPS, LOCATED MAINLY IN NEW YORK CITY, DALLAS (TEX.) AND KANSAS CITY (MO.); SANITATION FIRMS, MAINLY IN NEW JERSEY AND MIAMI (FLA.); TRAVEL AGENCIES; AIR CRAFT AND AIR FREIGHT; TALENT AGENCIES; AND FUNERAL HOMES. CORRUPTION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS OF MAJOR CONCERN IN THE PLANNING COUNCIL, AS CORRUPTION OF SUCH OFFICIALS EXTENDS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF INFLUENCE. DIVISIVENESS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AT VARIOUS LEVELS MUST BE OVERCOME IF THE GRIP OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN MAJOR POWER AREAS IS TO BE BROKEN. (RCB)