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- "Never try to match wits with a Stracci when death's on the line."
- ―Plinio Ottaviano[src]
The Stracci crime family is one of New York's Five Families, although operating mainly in New Jersey, besides Staten Island.
History
Background
Don Victor Stracci.
The Stracci family was founded by Anthony Stracci and his brother Mario at the end of 1920s. It was consolided his position in the mid-1930s, with the fall of the Maranzano, Mariposa and LaConti crime families and the birth of the Commission and the Five Families. They set up a legitimate business front in New Jersey, all the while pulling the strings and gradually gaining influence in New York City.
Business wise, the Stracci family had a fleet of freight hauling trucks. They also had enough political influence to allow their trucks to travel overloaded, which damaged the highways. However, the Straccis also owned road repair businesses which had exclusive government contracts, leading one business to create work for another. Due to Don Stracci's old fashioned nature, they had little involvement in prostitution, but due to their control of the docks in New Jersey and Manhattan, they had an important role in the distribution of narcotics.
The Stracci family ran the gambling in New Jersey and had illegal casino's in the Jersey Palisades. They also controlled the Democratic political machine in the Jersey state and the linen service and waste removal in Atlantic City. As the Stracci family's powerbase was in New Jersey, which was less prestigious and lucrative, they were considered the least powerful of the New York families, but the most well disposed.
In the novel
In the novel, the boss of Stracci family is named Anthony "Black Tony" Stracci.
The Stracci crime family was modest active during the Five Families War (1946-1948), but at the end of this, it's reduced at the most less of the families of New York City.[1] Anthony Stracci was present in the 1948 Mafia meeting, for negotiate a peace between Vito Corleone and Philip Tattaglia.
After the death of Vito in 1955 and the consolidation of Michael Corleone as boss, the Straccis take advantage of the Corleones' rivals murders (Philip Tattaglia, Emilio Barzini, Moe Greene, Carlo Rizzi and Fabrizio) for increase its influence in NYC, mainly Brooklyn and Manhattan, as the Cuneos.[2]
In the 1963, Anthony Stracci and Frank Greco from Philadelphia helped Nick Geraci to make a coup d'état in to Corleone crime family, against Michael. But Stracci and Greco, understand that their scheme is impossible to realize, and informs Michael of the Geraci's plain.[3]
Anthony Stracci is probably arrested after the meeting organized by Ottilio Cuneo for officialise the Michael's ritire.
In the film
In the film, the boss of Stracci family is named Victor Stracci. In 1948, Victor Stracci search of negotiate a peace between Vito Corleone and Philip Tattaglia.[4]
In 1955, Don Stracci was executed by Peter Clemenza while he was on the way to a negotiation. After Victor Stracci's death, the new Don sued for peace with the Corleone family.
Victor's successor was probably killed during the Atlantic City Massacre in 1979.
Historical leadership
Novel
Boss (official and acting)
- 1928-19?? — Anthony "Black Tony" Stracci — probably arrested in 1963.
- Acting 1963-19?? — Unknown
Underboss
- 1928-1963 — Mario Stracci
Consigliere
- 1955-19?? — Elio Nunziato
Film
Boss
- 1928-1955 — Victor "The Butcher" Stracci — murdered in 1955.
- 1955-1979 — Unknown — murdered in 1979.
Stracci family structure (1920s-1955)
| Don Victor/Anthony Stracci |
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In the video game
In The Godfather: The Game, the Straccis control New Jersey, but also own some businesses in Hell's Kitchen, the home of their ally, the Cuneo family. Their family was dealt a great blow with the death of Don Victor Stracci, but were only finally crushed when the Stracci Compound was blown up following the don's death.
Family structure in the video game
| Don Victor Stracci |
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Influences
The Stracci crime family could be based on the Colombo and DeCavalcante crime families. As the Colombo family, the Stracci family is the youngest and less powerful of the Five Families, related mainly to the Cuneo crime family (similar to the Colombo-Magaddino partnership); as the DeCavalcante family, the Stracci family is very active and influential in the New Jersey, especially on the Hudson River's docks. Also, Anthony/Victor Stracci is described as entrepreneur and a devoted and prude catholics, that refuse the prostitution, similar to Colombo first boss Joe Profaci.
References
- ↑ The Godfather (novel), Mario Puzo, 1969
- ↑ The Godfather Returns, Mark Winegardner, 2004
- ↑ The Godfather's Revenge, Mark Winegardner, 2006
- ↑ The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola, 1972