Underboss
In Mafia groups - especially the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the US American La Cosa Nostra - the underboss (or capo bastone or sotto capo ) is a high-ranking member within the organization's hierarchy . The underboss is the vice boss behind the boss . The underboss is often a close family member of the boss and represents him when he is sick or imprisoned. If the boss dies, he takes over the leadership of the gang until a succession decision has been made.
Content of the task
The power of an underboss varies greatly. Some are marginalized while others are the most powerful people in the family. In families that are run more cooperatively, he can be an important and sought-after decision maker for his family in addition to the consigliere .
Traditionally, they take care of the daily family affairs. In some criminal families, the task is given for life. When a boss has to serve a prison sentence, the underboss stands in for him. In this context one speaks of the "acting boss".
In most families, the underboss mediates disputes. Depending on the severity of the problem, he advises the boss. In any case, the highest authority rests with the boss. In the sense of Omertà , it is his job to keep the boss out of the actual activities and to shield the chain of commands and information up and down like a filter.
An underboss usually receives financial compensation in a variety of ways. For example, he can estimate a percentage of the money that the capos pass on to the boss, and he can (continue to) lead his own crew.
Just like the boss of a family, an underboss can have his own deputy who is at his side as his right hand.
Well-known underbosses
American Cosa Nostra
- Aniello Dellacroce was long the underboss of the Gambino family . He served under Carlo Gambino from 1957 to 1976. And from 1976 to 1985 he served as an underboss under Paul Castellano . After his death from cancer, the conflict broke out within the two factions of the family, which led to the 1985 murder of Castellano and made John Gotti boss.
- Sammy Gravano had become John Gotti's underboss in the Gambino family after Gotti assassinated himself to power and former underboss Frank DeCicco was accidentally murdered.
- Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso was the underboss of the Lucchese family . After his arrest in 1994, he became a Pentito.
- Salvatore Vitale was the underboss of the Bonanno family under his brother-in-law Joseph Massino and also became an informant after his arrest.
In fiction
- In the HBO series The Sopranos , Johnny Sack (played by Vincent Curatola ) was the underboss of the fantasy mafia family Lupertazzi. Paulie Gualtieri (played by Tony Sirico ) is Underboss under Tony Soprano.
- In the mafia classic The Godfather , Sonny Corleone (played by James Caan ) is the underboss of the Corleone family under his father Vito.
literature
- Maas, Peter , Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia . NY: HarperCollins, 1997. ISBN 0-06-093096-9
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia . Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2