Organized Crime: Political & Corporate Support Since 18th Century - Essay Sample

Introduction

Organized crime groups do not exist in a vacuum. The leaders and the owners of the criminal enterprises have to ensure that they integrate with political and business leaders in their areas of operations to ensure that the real undertakings of the firms are not revealed to the authorities, therefore, since the emergence of major organized crime groups in the 18th century, a common trend in political and corporate support have been witnessed in different countries.

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Explain the significance of organized crime's alliance with politicians and business leaders. Cite specific examples (federal, state, or your local community), preferably current ones in the news that are not in the textbook.

Organized crime groups rely majorly on political support to expand their operations. They have to ensure that the legislation passed by the legislators in their different places of operations do not interfere with their work. The existence of organized crime is similar to that of a typical business enterprise, and the only difference between them is the legality of their undertakings. Therefore, the political factors that affect other businesses have a significant impact on organized crime enterprises. However, the riskiness of their operations makes it adamant about bribing or controlling political leaders to ensure that they have a backup plan in case they are investigated.

Political parties require massive financial support to win elections in the United States if America. Therefore, the problem of organized crime gangs funding key electoral officials in the country has been reported several in the news. The political power gained after the election is supposed to protect the gangs from prosecution, deportation, or other legal charges that may be raised against them. In world history, many criminal organizations in Latin America have worked closely with government officials, especially at the municipal level, to protect their enterprises (Godson, 2017).

In the recent past, interviews, magazines, and television shows have revealed the involvement of key political officials in the United States of America in organized crime groups. For example, in an article by The Conversation, “In August, prosecutors there showed that El Salvador’s two main political parties had colluded with MS-13 and other gangs, paying them more than US$300,000 for help winning the country’s 2014 presidential election. Party officials allegedly utilized MS-13 to mobilize some voters and suppress others. Still, the attorney general’s office has not indicted party leaders "(October 23, 2017). The report on El Salvador case was not the only political party involvement reported by the newspaper article. The cases of political support in Central America makes the United States of America a target of the organized crimes.

In another article by EJDickson, Jeffrey Epstein, an American billionaire recently accused of sex trafficking, can be linked to major political leaders in the United States of America (July 9, 2019). Although the political involvement or the fate of the accused have not been decided, the association of the Epstein with leaders such as President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton among others is a clear example of how organized crime leaders can associate with political and corporate leaders without them knowing the nature of their business.

Other cases regarding United States governors, sheriffs, senators, prosecutors, judges, and many other officials linked to criminal organizations have been in the headlines several times (Godson, 2017). However, the involvement may be direct with the knowledge of the nature of the person's operations or indirect where illegal business are legitimized to hide their true nature. However, regardless of the nature of the relationship, it is evident that organized crime gangs hide behind public figures to hide their connections to the groups. Corruption is a key facilitator in the growth and expansion of organized criminal groups, especially if top government officials are involved.

Define the specific ways in which politicians can benefit from a partnership with organized crime, and in what ways the reverse is true. Cite one real-life example that has been covered in the news media, including what is perceived to have been gained by each side.

Corruption cases and involvement of politicians with organized crimes are disadvantageous to the country but have its merits to both the groups. Organized crimes have massive economic strength that is essential for politicians in winning elections and fulfilling their agendas to ensure that they secure the same office or a higher one in the future. Organized crime groups rely on political leaders to shield them from investigations by authorities and to avoid prosecution. Therefore, the mutual benefit is witnessed through their interactions. However, in addition to the benefits derived, there are dire consequences for partnering with organized crimes.

The Cost of campaigning and securing an elective position is substantially high and impossible to cover as an individual. Therefore, politicians need investors to chip in their resources and contribute to their campaigns. Sometimes, the leaders are desperate for money such that they are willing to go the extra mile to acquire the resources. Although it is against the ethical standard to receive funds from criminals, it remains the only viable option during that period. The organized crime group's financial strengths make them potential investors or lenders for the politicians. However, the financial aid is linked to the partnership of the politician with the criminal group, and they must commit to protecting them when they win the elections—politicians benefit from the financial aids which they utilize in buying voters either directly or indirectly.

During the election period, the competitors often receive security threats from unknown groups either about their deaths or that of their loved ones if they do not denounce their candidacy. Therefore, politicians need personal protections and bodyguards for their families. In most cases, the United States government officials provide security details for the candidates during the electoral period. However, the security officers assigned to them may feel inadequate, and for them and a need to hire private security arises. Most Private securities firms are costly, and the financial capabilities of the politicians during this period are diminished. Organized crime groups offer to protect the politicians and their family members using their hired paramilitaries. In return, the politicians agree to partner with them.

After an election, politicians are expected to deliver their promises to the citizens who vote for them. However, the financial allocations given to them by the government cannot be enough for them to outshine their predecessors. Partnering with organized crime ensures that they contribute to corporate social responsibility and therefore aids in helping the citizens of the area that a politician represents.

Although the politicians benefit most from the partnerships, the organized crime groups are guaranteed protection from prosecution because if they are arrested, the involvement of the political leaders in their operations may be made public. Therefore, the politicians ensure that the criminal groups are shielded from federal prosecutions or investigations that can link them to the corporations. However, if the authorities discover the politician, they risk jail terms and loss of their properties. They also live in constant fear of the criminal groups who may double-cross them and eliminate their loved ones. According to Allum and Gilmour, an example of a politician who benefited from a partnership with organized crime is Hugh Addonizo, the mayor of Newark city in New Jersey who, apart from leaping personal benefits, his city received massive donations from organized crime groups (2019).

This module talked about Meyer Lansky's contribution to legitimatizing organized crime and how his involvement enables us to better understand organized crime and the corporate and political alliances. Explain your beliefs about the major influences of Lansky.

According to Lansky, in 1920-1930, organized crimes moved from street criminal organizations to business enterprises with legit characteristics (2018). Meyer Lansky was born in 1902 in Russia but relocated to New York City before the prohibition era. Before the illegalization of alcohol production in the United States of America, Lansky, together with his friends, adopted methods of extorting money from Young Jewish who were domiciles of the city. Before adopting the bootlegging business in 1920, Lansky, who was a math genius, formulated a gambling business that he used as a means of acquiring wealth and establishing himself as a business person. However, after the prohibition of alcohol in1920, Lansky, together with his friends, formulated organizations similar to the Jewish and Italians Mafias that was majoring in the bootlegging business.

Meyer Lansky formulated several criminal organizations such as Murder Inc, which was headed by Albert Anastasia and Louis Capone, who were by then known criminal operatives (Lansky, 2018). Although Lansky was involved with criminal organizations, his gambling business and other enterprises were run similar to legitimate corporations. Lansky utilized his great mastery of mathematics to analyze the odds in gambling and thereby to ensure honesty is adhered to. After the end of the prohibition era in 1933. Meyer Lansky established gambling casinos in New York, New Orleans, and Florida (Lansky, 2018). The established casinos evolved from the criminal organizations formulated in the 1920s to legitimate business adhering to legal requirements.

Lansky utilized two principals in running his business operations. He strictly adhered to honesty in gambling, using mathematical formulae for odds and wagering (Lansky, 2018). The second principle was the nonviolent operation, which focused on having the citizens and the authorities on his side through bribery (Lansky, 2018). Lansky protected himself from being prosecuted by opening offshore bank accounts in countries such as Switzerland (Lansky, 2018). The operations undertaken by Meyer proved that criminal organizations required smart individuals instead of hired gangs for them to progress.

The significant influences of Lansky in the modernization of organized crimes are witnessed in his principals and methods of operations. Unlike other criminal groups in the 19th century who did not care about public opinion or legitimizing their operations, Lansky's ideas were game-changers in the industry. As a mob accountant, Lansky effectively practiced money laundering making it difficult for authorities to track his illegal undertakings. He paid off investigators and the local government officials to ensure that any case built against him could not stand. The criminal organizations also utilized nonviolent activities, which gave him a reputable public image.

The modern-day criminal organizations have adopted Lansky's method in their operations to disguise the illegality o their activities. They hire highly qualified accountants and IT experts to ensure that money from their illicit undertakings cannot be traced. Local and federal authorities wishing to investigate the modern-day criminal organizations have to be smart and ensure that the public image of enterprises does not fool them. Legitimization of criminal enterprises has significantly contributed to the success and expansions of these groups while undermining the efforts of federal and local authorities in curbing their operations.

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