NCJ Number
55497
Date Published
1978
Length
221 pages
Annotation
THIS THIRD IN A THREE-PART SERIES OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS INVESTIGATES ORGANIZED CRIME IN SOUTH FLORIDA WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DOPE SMUGGLING, GAMBLING, EXTORTION, AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
Abstract
THE TESTIMONY FOCUSES ON THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN FLORIDA, THE DEGREE TO WHICH THIS CRIME IS EXPORTED TO THE REST OF THE NATION, THE DEGREE TO WHICH VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE COORDINATING THEIR EFFORTS AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE EFFORTS. THOSE TESTIFYING INCLUDE TWO PILOTS WHO FLEW NARCOTICS FOR ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUPS, MEMBERS OF THE STATE ATTORNEY'S STAFF, THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME BUREAU OF THE DADE COUNTY (MIAMI) PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF OF THE FT. LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND FEDERAL JUDGES. FLORIDA HAS A SPECIAL ORGANIZED CRIME PROBLEM. THERE ARE 27 IDENTIFIED MAFIA STRUCTURES OR 'FAMILIES' THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND MOST STATES HAVE ONLY ONE OF THESE 'FAMILIES' REPRESENTED. NEW YORK, HOWEVER, HAS 5 IN CONTROL OF A WIDE RANGE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND DADE COUNTY AND LAS VEGAS, NEV., BOTH HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL 27 'FAMILIES' IN RESIDENCE. A TABLE GIVES THE NAMES OF THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR MEMBERS ALONG WITH THEIR FLORIDA RESIDENCE STATUS. THE TESTIMONY COVERS NARCOTICS LAW VIOLATIONS, FINANCIAL FRAUD, FRADULENT SECURITIES, BOOKMAKING, LOTTERIES, PROSTITUTION, PORNOGRAPHY, LABOR RACKETEERING, AND EXTORTION. LINKS WITH CANADIAN ORGANIZED CRIME AND ORGANIZED CRIME IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE EXPLORED. THE FRAGMENTED NATURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CRITICIZED. THE NEED FOR REDOUBLED EFFORTS ON THE PART OF BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS IS POINTED OUT. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ESPECIALLY IS CRITICIZED FOR DROPPING ITS ORGANIZED CRIME ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. THE SECOND PART OF THESE HEARINGS COVERED THE ATLANTA (GA.) FEDERAL PENITENTIARY. SEE NCJ-55496.