Why did J. Edgar Hoover publicly deny the existence of the Mafia for so long?

Did J. Edgar Hoover deny the existence of the Mafia?

During the 1930s, Hoover persistently denied the existence of organized crime, despite numerous gangland shootings as Mafia groups struggled for control of the lucrative profits deriving from illegal alcohol sales during Prohibition, and later for control of prostitution, illegal drugs and other criminal enterprises.

Why did the American Mafia decline?

The decline of the American Mafia can be attributed to the organization’s extreme conservatism and its failure to project a tough image in the crime world. The American Mafia’s conservative views prevented it from dealing with the incursions on its traditional territories by other criminal elements.

When did the Mafia start to decline?

The downsizing of the mafia began in 1959 with the arrest of Joe Valachi. Valachi was associated with the Genovese family of New York, which was prominent in Cosa Nostra. Offered a deal in which he could either testify about the mafia or face the death penalty, Valachi decided to talk.

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