MOSCOW: Russian Mafia has a reputation challenging the Sicilian Mafia in the United States. It is equally brutal and well organized. One estimate states there are over 300,000 members from Russia in the United States, right now.
The Russian Mafia also goes by the name of The Odessa or Bratva Mafia. The group established itself in the Brighton Beach of New York City between 1975 and 1981. There are a number of major cities that have a significant number beside New York City: Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Los Vegas, Philadelphia, and Kansas City among them.
“On June 7, 2017, 33 Russian Mafia affiliated and members were arrested and charged by the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and NYPD, for: Extortion, Racketeering, Illegal gambling, Firearm offenses, Narcotic trafficking, Wire fraud, Credit card fraud, Identity theft, Casino slot machine fraud, Using electronic hacking devices, Murder for hire.”
The money trail is interesting. For example. Prostitution. The ladies in Vegas can earn about $10,000 per night. She keeps $500.00, the pimp gets $750.00, the Mafia gets $8,750.00. The Mafia sends $6,750.00 to Moscow for Vladimir Putin. He is considered one of the richest men in the world.
Did you know that marijuana was grown in Jamestown settlers around 1600? Before the Civil War the U.S. government sold it for revenue. In the 1800’s there were plantations that grew it. During Prohibition days, it became a substitute for alcohol. It is also legal in many States as medical marijuana. California is one of them.
The drug AMPHETAMINE became popular in the 1920’s and was taken by soldiers in World War II to combat fatigue and depression. In the 1930’s its name was changed to Benzedrine. It was and is commonly used to stay awake by truck drivers and students to help them study.
Cocaine was a popular medical drug in Europe for decades before it became popular in America. In 1886, Coca-Cola was introduced. It contained syrup derived from coco leaves. By 1902 there were an estimated 200,000 cocaine addicts. It was outlawed in 1914.
