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Lucchese Family

In New York City, five Italian-American Mafia families rule and are commonly referred to as the Five Families. Get to know the wise guys who run the Big Apple.

History: The Lucchese crime family, as it is known today, emerged out of the Castellamarese War of 1929-1931, with Gaetano "Tommy" Gagliano serving as the appointed boss and Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese as the appointed underboss. The family was known for its successful forays into industries such as trucking and clothing. Following Gagliano’s death in 1953, Lucchese took over and successfully ran the organization for many years with an excellent reputation. He never received a criminal conviction in his 44 years in the Mafia.

First Boss: Prior to the Castellamarese War and the formal creation of the Lucchese family, Gaetano "Tom" Reina ruled supreme. Reina’s assassination (as ordered by Lucky Luciano) was a catalyst of the Castellamarese War.

Alliances: In the 1980s, boss Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and underboss Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso were close allies of Genovese crime family boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante. Together, the two families plotted the assassination of Gambino family boss John Gotti, which failed.

Low Point: The reign of Amuso and Casso in the 1980s and early '90s marks perhaps the most turbulent point of the family’s history. The failed hit on John Gotti sparked tension between the three families involved, and was followed by a series of hits-gone-wrong that caught a lot of attention. Amuso and Casso were caught by the FBI in the early 1990s and sentenced to life in prison.

Current Status: Officially, boss Vittorio Amuso continues to rule the family, though day-to-day operations are managed by a three-man panel, including Aniello "Neil" Miglore. The latter, who is believed to have the final say on issues, has brought the Lucchese family to a place of stability and success.