America's Book of Secrets (2012)

S2E2 The Mafia

Title: The Mafia Plot: For years, "The Mafia" has cast a dark shadow over American life. What fuels the Mob's nefarious power? The FBI estimates that around 3,000 members remain active within the American Mafia, and like their notorious predecessors, today's mobsters achieve wealth through violence and a staggering death toll. Explore the concealed realm of organized crime and the ruthless strategies employed by the Cosa Nostra to amass riches and control. How did the Mafia rise to such influence? Despite numerous gang-related murders in 1920s Chicago, why did no criminal, including the infamous Al Capone, face murder charges? What led FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to hesitate in pursuing the Mafia during the 1930s and 40s? Can the Mafia's reach extend into local law enforcement and politics? Additionally, what new illicit activities are they engaged in today?