The Chicago Outfit - Essay Example

The Chicago Outfit The Chicago Outfit is a criminal syndicate based in Chicago United s. Its existence s back to 1910. The syndicate exists till date. The operations of this mafia group were so coordinated that reports emanating from some quarters indicate that the Chicago Outfit also operates in California, Los Angeles and Wisconsin (Mallory, 2007). Although the gang has had different leaders, their gang till date can be traced to its third and (arguably) best leader, Alphonse Capone. His impact was so felt that the Chicago Outfit is also referred to as “the Capone.

” One of the factors that aided the flourish of the gang is political corruption. It has been alleged that the Chicago outfit, in its operations, have directly or indirectly been aided and abetted some legal structures of government. For instance, they were said to have been behind many electoral malpractices, particularly the 1960 elections into the office of president. The Chicago Outfit is also alleged of short-changing Hollywood by having power over the unions that direct the affairs of Hollywood.

Perhaps the action which is most indicative of the political corruption that aided the rise of the syndicate is that which touches on the attempts allegedly made by the government of the United States to use them to scuttle the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro (Mallory, 2007).The government and her institutions seem to now know that they need to tighten things up a little bit. Thus, some years ago, precisely between 1999 and 2009, a number of crackdowns on members and associates of the Chicago Outfits took place.

Many of them were prosecuted. Most of them were found guilty of atrocities like gambling, tax evasion, extortion, and above all, murder (Mallory, 2007). They were handed prison terms and some were even given life imprisonment. This crackdown has indicated the government’s readiness to find an end to the gang. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean the Chicago Outfit still doesn’t have its way as organized crime by the Chicago Outfit is still a societal menace.ReferenceMallory S.L. (2007). Understanding Organized Crime.

Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.