Rudy Giuliani rose to fame as a U.S. attorney who pursued some of the most notorious Mafia figures in the United States. The latest season of the Fox Nation series, ‘Stories of the American Mafia’, provides an in-depth look at his decisive efforts to bring these criminals to justice.
The third season of the series, narrated by Eric Shawn, includes the episode “Rudy and the RICO Act.” It highlights Giuliani’s journey from a relatively unknown lawyer to the prosecutor of some of the most feared crime bosses in the country. During the 1980s, rising crime rates in Manhattan set a stage perfect for Mafia influence.
Former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro stated, “When you have a vacuum like that, you’re gonna have this shadow government step in.” Giuliani aimed to combat the growing power of organized crime groups. As New York City’s mayor and U.S. Attorney, he was key in convicting top leaders of New York’s organized crime networks.
In 1985, he initiated the Mafia Commission Trial, indicting 11 individuals, including heads of the notorious ‘Five Families,’ using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This allowed prosecutors to target entire Mafia operations instead of just individuals, facilitating criminal accountability.
Mauro explained that RICO changed the prosecution landscape, noting, “Previously, you had to make these cases based essentially on conspiracies.” With RICO, agreeing to act for an organization and doing something on its behalf was enough to press charges. This often led to insiders “flipping” against the Mafia.
Former Gambino associate Louis Ferrante likened Giuliani’s approach to cutting “the head off the Hydra.” He commended the strategy for dismantling Mafia organizations to an extent that made rebuilding tough.
Paul “Big Paul” Castellano, a Gambino crime family boss, was among those indicted. Ferrante asserted that this trial marked the beginning of the Mafia’s decline, a recovery many argue the Mafia has yet to make.
Season 3 of ‘Stories of the American Mafia’ includes other gripping episodes. Viewers can explore events like the fall of Murder, Inc., William “Billy Batts” Bentvena’s murder, and FBI agent Joe Pistone’s undercover work against the Bonanno family.
Throughout the season, former FBI undercover operative Giovanni Rocco joins Mauro and Ferrante, providing detailed analysis of these extraordinary but true tales.
The full season is available for streaming solely on Fox Nation.
Fox Nation offers programs viewable on demand through devices for subscribers. Start a free trial today to access a broad selection of FOX Nation content.
Leave a Reply