The FBI's Boston office has disbanded its organized crime squad, marking a significant shift in the region's law enforcement priorities. This change reflects the dramatic decline of the New England Mafia, which once dominated illegal gambling, loansharking, and extortion throughout the Northeast.

FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera confirms the agency will continue monitoring organized crime while shifting resources to more pressing threats like terrorism, foreign espionage, and cybercrime.

The New England Mafia's influence has dwindled significantly, with current membership estimated at just 30 "made" members, down from hundreds in the 1960s. Former Massachusetts State Police detective lieutenant Steve Johnson describes today's organization as mostly "figurehead people and wannabes" trying to emulate "The Sopranos."

This decline coincides with the recent death of Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, 93, the last traditional boss of the Patriarca crime family. The organization began losing power after Raymond Patriarca's death in 1984, when internal conflicts erupted between Rhode Island and Boston factions.

The family's downfall accelerated through the 1980s and 1990s, with eight bosses and underbosses imprisoned. Advanced surveillance technology, including the first-ever recording of a Mafia induction ceremony, aided these prosecutions.

The Boston office's history includes the controversial relationship between FBI agent John Connolly and Winter Hill Gang leader James "Whitey" Bulger. This partnership led to multiple murders, including that of World Jai Alai owner Roger Wheeler and president John Callahan. Connolly served prison time for his crimes and was paroled in 2021.

Bulger, who became an FBI informant, eventually spent 16 years as a fugitive before his capture in Santa Monica in 2011. He was murdered in prison in 2018 by an inmate connected to the Patriarca family, marking a symbolic end to an era of organized crime in New England.

Related Articles

Previous Articles