The New Ethnic Mobs: The Changing Face of Organized Crime in America

Newark [N.J.] Star-Ledger crime reporter Kleinknecht, after reviewing the history of the Italian Mafia and pointing out that notices of its demise are premature, turns his sights on the newcomers to the field. Although his account of the Cosa Nostra doesn't offer many new revelations, it is apparent that he has done his homework on the Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Hispanics, blacks and Russians. He analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each ethnic group, ranging from the lack of permanent leadership among African-Americans to the career-criminal backgrounds of many Russians and Cubans. He is not optimistic about the future but expresses the hope that some city will try to legalize heroin and cocaine, since law enforcement isn't winning the drug war. An impressive survey. Photos not seen by PW. (Mar.)