Personal Relationships
I have ties to the Irish Mafia. My great-grandparents were born and raised in Ireland but they were sent over to the states on prison ships. They were accused by the English of being horse theives and booze runners and thus thrown in prison until those became overcrowded and had to be emptied out. My grandmother's family settled in New York City and my grandfather's family settled in Philadelphia. My grandmother was raised in Brooklyn and the Bronx and grew up alongside Frank Sinatra (who was often mistakenly accused of being a part of the mafia) in the 1930s amidst the rise of organized crime. My Irish grandfather's family moved into New Jersey and eventually took over the town of Wildwood. They ran the area for many years until the last member died (date unknown). My grandfather was then accused of murder, however the prosecution's inability to produce a body resulted in all charges being dropped.
My mother married into the Italian mafia, which caused many problems in both families. Her then husband was the nephew of an underboss previously listed. That underboss was eventually sentenced to twenty plus years in prison, however his cooperation with the federal government allowed his early release. He is still alive and unfortunately, is living comfortably despite his many atrocious acts. This is the case for numerous mobsters, who have turned their backs on their family oath in favor of their own self-interest and are able to now live in luxury despite their many crimes.