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Organized Crime and Punishment
Steve Guerra and Mustache Chris
Organized crime has been a part of human society for centuries, and Organized Crime and Punishment: A History and Crime Podcast takes a deep dive into its roots, evolution, and impact on different cultures and countries. In Organized Crime and Punishment: A History and Crime Podcast, we explore the rise of organized crime in various regions of the world. Throughout different seasons of the show, we will examine the different types of organized crime, from the American Mafia to modern-day cartels, and how they have adapted to changes in society and law enforcement. We also delve into the lives of notorious gangsters and their criminal empires, revealing the inner workings of these secretive organizations. We will explore the political, economic, and social factors that have fueled the growth of organized crime, as well as the efforts of governments and law enforcement agencies to combat it. Join us as we take a journey through the shadowy world of organized crime, exploring its history, impact, and ongoing influence on our societies today. Whether you're a history buff, true crime aficionado, or simply curious about this fascinating topic, Organized Crime and Punishment: A History and Crime Podcast is sure to entertain and inform.
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Coming Soon Fighting Corruption with True Crime
September 25, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:https://atozhistorypage.start.pagewww.organizedcrimeandpunishment.comClick to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rssemail: crime@atozhistorypage.comParthenon Podcast Network Home:parthenonpodcast.comOn Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@atozhistoryhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/atozhistorypagehttps://facebook.com/atozhistorypagehttps://twitter.com/atozhistorypagehttps://www.instagram.com/atozhistorypage/Music Provided by:Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's GruvUsed by permission.© 2021 All Rights Reserved.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Game of Crimes: Mafia Hitman or Serial Killer
September 20, 2023 - 61 min
Title: Game of Crimes: Mafia Hitman or Serial Killer
Original Publication Date: 9/20/2023
Transcript URL: https://share.descript.com/view/ryW2CowG6ow
Description: Join Mustache Chris and Steve are joined today by veteran police officer and crime fiction author Frank (https://www.frankzafiro.com) to play the game: Mafia Hitman or Serial Killer. You can play at home and see if you can beat us! Send us your score and thoughts on the fuzzy line between two different kinds of mass murders.
#TrueCrime #MafiaMysteries #SerialKillers #CrimePsychology #CriminalProfiling
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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www.organizedcrimeandpunishment.com
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/atozhistorypage
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUu
Begin Transcript:
[00:00:00] Welcome back to a really special episode of Organized Crime and Punishment. This episode, we are going to wrap up Season 1 of Organized Crime and Punishment, where we really talked a lot about the murder involved with the Mafia. And the way we're going to wrap it up is with a little... We're going to play the in show style of Serial Killer or Mafia Member.
So we're joined by our crew member, Frank Scalise. I believe this is, we've recorded other episodes with Frank, but this is the first time you're actually meeting Frank. It's kind of weird the way that lined up. But this is our first introduction to Frank, you're going to learn a lot more about Frank in future series.
We are also joined by none other than our very own Mustache Chris. And Mustache Chris is going to take the hosting duties today, and he is going to be our host in our game show [00:01:00] of Mafia Member or Serial Killer. Yeah, we, we'd been, we thought about coming, we came up with this idea and we thought it'd be a little bit fun and then, uh, we got in touch with Frank and figured, you know, this would be a good episode to have Frank come on for, and this is one of those tougher questions when it comes to the mob, but I suppose, but I suppose crime in general, like the difference between, say, a mafia hitman and a serial killer can become pretty blurry.
Like, Many mob hitmen, uh, have a much higher body count than most serial killers, like, um, you know, mob hitmen also, like, are notorious for, like, cutting up the bodies after the fact to help. You know, with the help, uh, have them not get caught, obviously, right? You know, throwing the body parts in dumps and stuff like that.
Uh, but, uh, the truth of the matter is, uh, many of the mob hitmen, they enjoyed killing people. And some of them... Some of them it comes across like they just kind of saw it as a [00:02:00] job like, uh, you know, if you look at the likes of, say, Harry Strauss or Roy DeMaio, we were looking at, you know, body counts that go high above even the Green River Killer, who I believe still in American history is, has the highest, uh, body count.
You know, the typical argument that I, uh, find is people say, like, well, serial killers enjoy, like, sadistically killing their victims, whereas mob hitmen tend to just get the job done as quickly as possible. And I think, for the most part, that generalization is, uh, Is correct, but there there's examples where it doesn't entirely fit.
What do you guys think? Well, uh, this is Frank here, uh, saying hello to your audience for the 1st time. We'll chat some more in future episodes. And, uh, but for this 1, I, I think I would say that the difference between a serial killer and a mob hitman. Is a matter of compulsion. I think that most [00:03:00] people that and let me back up a step.
I think you could clearly label a mob hit man as a serial killer by the letter of the definition. I mean, they meet the criteria, but I think in popular parlance when we say serial killer. We're not talking about a mob hit m

Coming Soon: Antisocial Behavior and Hoosier Hating
September 18, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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Click to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rss
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parthenon Roundtable: Which Person From History Deserves a Movie?
September 13, 2023 - 51 min
Who are people from the past whose lives are so cinematic that they deserve their own movie, but haven't received the right silver screen treatment, such as, say, Abraham Lincoln from Steven Spielberg or Napoleon Bonaparte from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Hosts from different shows on the Parthenon Podcast Network are here to discuss this question, including Steve Guerra (History of the Papacy), Richard Lim (This American President), yours truly, and Mark Vinet (History of North America).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming Soon When Woodrow Met Edith
September 11, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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Click to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rss
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On Social Media:
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https://facebook.com/atozhistorypage
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https://www.instagram.com/atozhistorypage/
Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming Soon Fighting Corruption with True Crime
September 10, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
https://atozhistorypage.start.page
www.organizedcrimeandpunishment.com
Click to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rss
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On Social Media:
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mob's Grim Reaper: Roy DeMeo's Violent Odyssey
September 6, 2023 - 38 min
Title: Mob's Grim Reaper: Roy DeMeo's Violent Odyssey
Original Publication Date: 8/30/2023
Transcript URL: https://share.descript.com/view/bkHR55zM1qY
Description: In this episode of Organized Crime and Punishment, Mustache Chris and Steve delve into the chilling tale of Roy DeMeo, a ruthless figure who left an indelible mark on the world of organized crime. Join us as we trace DeMeo's meteoric rise through the ranks of the Gambino crime family, his notorious "DeMeo Crew," and their involvement in a string of gruesome murders and criminal enterprises. From his reputation as a cold-blooded enforcer to his ties with powerful crime syndicates, we explore the factors that fueled DeMeo's dominance and the empire he built. However, as the walls closed in and law enforcement tightened their grip, his empire began to crumble, leading to his eventual demise in a hail of bullets. Tune in to unravel the complex web of power, violence, and justice in the underworld, and don't miss our expert analysis on the legacy that Roy DeMeo leaves behind. #OrganizedCrime #TrueCrime #RoyDeMeo #CriminalEmpire #GambinoFamily #DeMeoCrew #RiseAndFall #ColdBlooded #PodcastEpisode #TrueCrimeStory
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUu
Begin Transcript:
[00:00:00] Welcome to Organized Crime and Punishment, the best spot in town to hang out and talk about history and crime with your hosts, Steve and Mustache Chris.
Let's talk a little bit about Paul Castellano because Paul Castellano, he came up in our last episode about the Iceman. To me, he seemed like the... Really the most unlikeliest of mafia guys, because he had a huge legitimate business in meatpacking that, uh, the, his business was in selling meat and chicken, and he made tons and tons of [00:01:00] money.
If I'm not mistaken, both of his sons were involved in the business and they were completely legit. And I. Don't understand why someone like Paul Castellano would want to be involved in this really dirty, nasty. Underworld element of the, the mafia when he could have just been involved completely in the white collar part of the mafia, which in the 60s and the 70s and the 80s.
Sure. If you were. In labor unions, or if you were in something like meatpacking, yeah, you were connected to the mafia, but you didn't have to be in the nitty gritty of being around people like Roy DeMeo and the Westies, and the really gritty, nasty part of the mafia and the organized crime. No, I just, I think.
It's because he just kind of grew up with it and kind of got pulled into it. And [00:02:00] because he was such a good earner, I mean, it, it would make kind of sense that you would want that guy to be the head of the family because nobody knew how to like make as much money as Paul and do it somewhat. I mean, do it legitimately for the most part and not attract like police attention, but.
I don't like Paul wasn't really cut out for the job to like, I don't think he really understood like stuff that was coming down the pipe in terms of like week, uh, Rico and like wiretapping. Cause he would have all the dude, you would have all the guys like show up at the, I believe it was like the veterans club that they called every two weeks, every week to sit down and talk about, you know, what was Gambino family.
And it's the cops are just kind of sitting there laughing at them and say, well, I mean, really, they're all going to show up at the same time. We're just. I'm going to stand out here and take pictures and, you know, and his own house was wiretapped at one point. He just doesn't seem, it seemed like probably like a good idea in theory.
This guy's a great [00:03:00] earner and he seems to keep his nose pretty cl

Coming Soon: A True Mafia Soldier
September 4, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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Click to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rss
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Making of a Mob Monster: Roy DeMeo's Dark Origins
August 30, 2023 - 33 min
Title: The Making of a Mob Monster: Roy DeMeo's Dark Origins
Original Publication Date: 8/23/2023
Transcript URL: https://share.descript.com/view/Dl1OmvVefjj
Description: In this episode, Mustache Chris and Steve delve into the intriguing early life and career of the notorious Roy DeMeo, whose journey into organized crime paved the way for an empire built on fear and brutality. From his humble beginnings on the streets of Brooklyn to his calculated entrance into the Gambino crime family, we uncover the pivotal moments that shaped DeMeo's transformation into a ruthless enforcer and prolific contract killer. Join us as we unravel the layers of deception, ambition, and ruthlessness that defined DeMeo's ascent to power, and explore the shadowy world of organized crime that he would come to dominate with an iron fist. #TrueCrimeTales #MafiaChronicles #CriminalMasterminds #roydemeo #serialkiller
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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www.organizedcrimeandpunishment.com
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Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUu
Begin Transcript:
[00:00:00] Welcome to Organized Crime and Punishment, the best spot in town to hang out and talk about history and crime, with your hosts, Steve and Mustache Chris.
I'm excited again to be joined by Chris to talk about the background of a really infamous and in a sick way. Intriguing Mafia figure Roy DeMeo. Chris and I are jumping into a really the deep end of the Mafia pool here, and we're really glad you joined us today. This episode and the previous episode on Richard Kuklinski, the Iceman, is going to build a lot of background that we'll use to talk about the 2012 movie Iceman.
So let's really get into [00:01:00] it. And I think Roy DeMeo is maybe not a Mafia. He's probably not one of the names that really comes up as one of people's first, like, most known Mafia figures, especially, uh, compared to his contemporary of somebody like John Gotti, but he was really extremely influential in his time, and maybe one of the most intriguing Mafia characters of all time.
What do you think, just like, your first brush and your first blush, I guess you might say, of Roy DeMeo? Yeah, as Luke pointed out, Roy DeMeo isn't, um, as particularly, particularly well known as some of these other Mafia guys. I think one of the reasons is where Hollywood and popular culture tries to present the Mafia as kind of glitz and glamorous to a degree where it almost seems like kind of like a fun thing.
Where, like, when you start reading about Roy DeMeo, it's the exact opposite of that. It's the... Kind of really, [00:02:00] really what the mob is, you know, boiled down to its essence and Roy kind of perfectly represents that where it's, it's not glitz and glamour, uh, glamour, it's, it's rough, it's dirty, it's kind of vile and disgusting.
It's a horror story, really. I mean, if you, if you took away and said that this wasn't real and you just told somebody about a, I mean, not to give away too much, but a place where people go in, they get murdered, and dismembered, and just disappear. It's literally a scene from a horror movie, Ray D'Ameo's life.
Yeah, you know, and it's, it really does come across, yeah, his entire life is, it's like a, kind of like what you would think would be like, almost like a cheesy B kind of horror film. Um, where, you know, this guy is, he's one thing, uh, to certain group of people, but then like when he's not away, when he's [00:03:00] away from those people, he's, he's an upstanding citizen.
It's a really, but you know, this is real. It's a, it's a hundred percent real. I am doing a little bit of ancestry. com. I knew from my family that there was de Mayo's that sort of overarching, uh, family that my family belongs to as my. Great grandmother was, her maiden name was DeM

Coming Soon: The Making of the Ultimate Bad Guy
August 28, 2023 - 2 min
Coming Soon on Organized Crime and Punishment!
You can learn more about Organized Crime and Punishment and subscribe at all these great places:
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Click to Subscribe: https://omny.fm/shows/organized-crime-and-punishment/playlists/podcast.rss
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On Social Media:
https://www.youtube.com/@atozhistory
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https://facebook.com/atozhistorypage
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https://www.instagram.com/atozhistorypage/
Music Provided by:
Music from "5/8 Socket" by Rico's Gruv
Used by permission.
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=210vQJ4-Ns0
https://open.spotify.com/album/32EOkwDG1YdZwfm8pFOzUuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meet Your Hosts

Meet Your Hosts
Steve Guerra is a historian and podcaster who hosts three different shows. He started with the History of the Papacy Podcast in 2013. In 2017, Steve began Beyond the Big Screen, a podcast that delves into the fascinating stories behind films through lively interviews. His newest show, Organized Crime and Punishment, takes a deep dive into the roots, evolution, and impact of organized crime across different cultures and countries.

Meet Your Hosts
Mustache Chris is the co-host of Organized Crime and Punishment. He is from the True North, born and bred in Toronto, Canada. Some say he bears a striking resemblance to Gambino Crime Family associate Chris Rosenberg, but we'll leave that up to you.