The End of the New England Mafia: FBI Shuts Down Organized Crime Unit

Can you imagine the mafia? Secret rituals, inductions, blood oaths—that was the New England Mafia once. But times have changed. The FBI’s Boston office has quietly shut down its organized crime unit, signaling a shift in power. The mafia, once a dominant force with generations of bosses, is now a shadow of its former self. High-profile busts and federal prosecutions have sent many mafia members to jail. Even mafia informants have shattered the code of silence, making recruitment difficult. Now, there are just around 30 “made” members, down from hundreds. Ex-law enforcement officials say the mafia isn’t the top threat anymore. The FBI has bigger concerns, like terrorism and cybercrime. But was the mafia ever as big as the FBI made it out to be? Former attorney Anthony Cardinale thinks the FBI exaggerated. The mafia might have been a few guys running a bookmaking operation, not a worldwide crime organization. So, is the end of the organized crime unit good news? It depends on who you ask. Some see it as a sign of success, while others might wonder what threats are left unchecked.