Colombo was flooded with cash from his numerous rackets and enjoying the good life. Distress grew in the highest circles of the Mafia that law enforcement scrutiny would intensify because of Colombo’s actions. And he gained even more attention when he used the growing civil rights movement as retaliation against the FBI.

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; "Fog," "Lucerna," and "She-Wolf In My Heart" by Sergey Cheremisinov; "Dark Alleys," "Difference," "Imminence," "January," "Snowfall (Intro)," and "Universe In Hands" by Kai Engel; "How the Night Came" by Showdown; "Unanswered Questions" by Kevin MacLeod.

Sound Effects from freesound.org | Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Joseph Colombo was a mid-ranking Mafioso in one of New York’s Five Families. But when Colombo decided to break one of the mob’s most important rules, his career began to skyrocket. The FBI took notice and Colombo, once again, made a daring move.

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; "Fog" and "Lucerna" by Sergey Cheremisinov; "Dark Alleys" and "Scenery" by Kai Engel; "Bankrupt" by Jahzzar; "Battalion" by krackatoa; “Waltz (Tchaikovsky Op. 40),” "On The Ground," "Deadly Roulette," and "Impact Moderato" by Kevin MacLeod.

Sound Effects from freesound.org | Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Valachi took the stand and revealed some of the strangest Cosa Nostra secrets - but the Mafia wouldn't stand idly by while their rules were broken. And when he had served his purpose, even the FBI couldn't keep him safe forever. 

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Gagool,” “Acid Jazz,” “Heart of the Beast,” “Dances and Dames,” and “Mourning Song,”  by Kevin MacLeod; “The One Great Step” by the Victor Dance Orchestra; “Angst” by Xenojam; “Golden Eye” by Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley; and “Thoughts About Future” by Parvus Decree.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by Kyster, Incarnadine, and lawnjelly. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Joe Valachi had been in the Mafia for years, but hadn't risen much in the ranks. But when he was facing a life sentence, there was one group of people who thought he was high enough  - for information. The FBI saw in Valachi a chance to learn the mob's structure; and Valachi saw a chance to get out of jail.

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is “Life” and ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Thoughts About Future” by Parvus Decree; “Gagool,” “Night on the Docks,” “Mourning Song,” “Walking Along,” “I Knew a Guy,” and “Heart of the Beast” by Kevin MacLeod.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by tim.kahn, Pedaling-Prince, edwar64896, cemagar, pauliep83, and Omar-Alvarado. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

While Costello made his mafia money through gambling, Vito Genovese found something more lucrative: drugs. The brash and homicidal Don Vito was put in and out of exile from the United States - but when he returned at last, he went after Costello's mafia seat. And Costello, though unwilling to fight back, soon found himself on Don Vito's short hit list.

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Audible (Text MAFIA to 500-500)

Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is “Soldraconis” and ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Dark Alleys,” and “Imminence” by  Kai Engel; “Angst” by Xenojam; “Fading” and “Computations Altmix” by Scott Buckley; “Night on the Dock,” and “Covert Affairs”  by Kevin MacLeod; “Wastelands” by Sergey Cheremisinov; and “Like an Empty Sky” by Daniel Birch & Ben Pegley.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by Soundholder, miastodzwiekow, iainmccurdy, manychefsbroth, ramston, CarlosCarty, shall555, Leoctiurs, JakLocke, Robinhood76, CastleofSamples, davidmenke, and timb12957. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Vito Genovese had been biding his time for 4 years to take over the Luciano crime family. But when an old crime came back for him, the position was taken over by Frank Costello. Costello, the Prime Minister, had high-reaching connections and an approachable bearing. Costello was an agreeable leader who got along with everyone; until Genovese came back into the picture.

Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is “Soldraconis” and ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Dark Alleys” by  Kai Engel; “Hard Boiled,” and “Waltz Tschikovsky Op 40,” by Kevin MacLeod; “Like an Empty Sky” by  Daniel Birch and Ben Pegley; “Fading” by Scott Buckley; and “Fog”  by Sergey Cheremisinov.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by arnaud-coutancier, kolezan, miastodzwiekow, and odditonic. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

After gaining fortune and notoriety, Rothstein moved from bootlegging to drug smuggling to labor racketeering. With his connections and friendly demeanor, Rothstein was able to get out of any situation, and taught the likes of Charles Luciano, Meyer Lanksy, and Dutch Schultz to do the same. But a gambler is a gambler, and at some point there are some debts you can't get out of. 

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Rolling at 5,” “Backed Vibes Clean,” “On the Cool Side,” “Night on the Docks,” “On the Ground,” “Deadly Roulette,” “I Knew a Guy,” by Kevin MacLeod; “daedalus” and “Snowfall” by  Kai Engel; and “Wastelands” and “Breath of Death Part 1,” by Sergey Cheremisinov.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by Audionautics, konakaboom, pastabra, ceberation,  bennychico11, and bmoreno. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Before the Mafia existed, at the turn of the century, there was Arnold Rothstein, known as The Brain. Rothstein would teach an entire generation of gangsters how to organize, act like gentlemen, and interact with the upper crust. And Rothstein himself, well-connected,  could get away with almost anything - including fixing the World Series.

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Audible (text MAFIA to 500-500)

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Rolling at 5,” “Night on the Docks,” “On the Cool Side,” “Dances and Dames,” “On the Ground,” “Acid Jazz,” “Walking Alone,” “Faster Does It,” “Deadly Roulette,” by Kevin MacLeod; “Breath of Death Part 1,” and “Wastelands” by Sergey Cheremisinov; and “daedalus” and “Junction” by  Kai Engel.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by Ellary, stereodivo, shelf-employed, AshFox,  and InspectorJ. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Three investigators try to put together the murder of Andrei Katz with the car thievery that the DeMeo crew has been doing for years without notice. And once the cops are on the case, it spells trouble for DeMeo. With rats running rampant and family members turning informant, even DeMeo's earning power can't save him.

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Mafia's theme is "Spellbound Hell" by Damiano Baldoni. Music in this episode is “Life” and ”Misery" by Damiano Baldoni; “Unification on Multiplicity” by Ad Serpentae; “Backed Vibes Clean,” “Unanswered Questions,” “Night on the Docks” and “I Knew a Guy” by Kevin MacLeod; “Imminence,” “Dark Alleys,” and “River” by  Kai Engel; and “Lucerna” and “Book of Mirrors,” by Sergey Cheremisinov.

Sound Effects from freesound.org by kfosse13, willybilly1984, theshaggyfreak, Leoctiurs, Ellary,  Pastabra, Dynamicell, kernschall, wertstahl, and InspectorJ. Additional sound effects from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Listen to new episodes of What Makes a Killer for a look into the life and crimes of the world’s most infamous serial killers. Featuring interviews with family members, forensic experts, law enforcement, and witnesses.

What Makes a Killer premieres 10/31. Subscribe to What Makes a Killer on Apple Podcasts.