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

by William Kleinknecht, published by The Free Press (Simon and Schuster), New York, New York, 1996.

The faces, makeup, sophistication, and worldwide activities of organized ethnic criminal groups have changed since the days when law enforcement associated only the Mafia with organized crime. Using greater cultural appreciation, foreign language usage, and sophisticated penetration techniques, law enforcement must handle the new challenges posed by these increasingly violent groups.

The New Ethnic Mobs provides more than just a growing list of organized crime in America. The author presents a detailed, historical view of each major emerging group (e.g., Asian, Russian, Italian, black, and Caribbean) and describes their current activities. This book is an updated, comprehensive study of the evolving underworld of the 21st century. Law enforcement must prepare for the globalized syndication, now underway, of criminal groups connected by strong ethnic ties (Chinese), large numbers (black gangs), sophistication (Russian), and drug-related violence (all of the above). With more formal education and financial resources than their street gang ancestors, these criminals use increasingly sophisticated means, including the Internet and cryptography, to ply their trades.

The author discusses specific active, illicit groups in the United States - from Chinese Triad and Tong activity to the Italian La Cosa Nostra's demise from the pedestal of traditional organized criminal power. Additionally, the author describes the growing 21st century global, ethnic, and criminal alliances between various street gangs. These powerful new organizations have diverted law enforcement's attention from the Mafia, allowing time for it to regroup. At the same time, the author criticizes those who grandly pronounce the Italian Mafia dead due to recent federal convictions of top leaders.

Which emerging 21st century criminal group should law enforcement scrutinize the most? The author believes that Chinese gangs have emerged as the organizations to watch. They possess numerous overseas members, strong ethnic ties, cultural secretiveness, business sophistication, violence, and a lack of respect for outside authority. Additionally, the author believes that with strong central leadership and greater unity, large black street gangs could become a formidable national criminal threat after the year 2000.

Readers will appreciate the book's documented, historical analysis of each criminal group and the author's articulation of powerful, new, ethnic-based criminal organizations, regardless of whether they agree with the author's reasoned conclusions. In fact, according to the author, "The view, then, is hardly optimistic for the nation. Tomorrow's chief racketeers will not be Italian, Chinese, black, Hispanic, or Russian. They will be all of the above. Even more than today, organized crime will be a diffuse threat that challenges law enforcement from a host of different nationalities, regions, and activities."

The New Ethnic Mobs presents a sophisticated collection of updated research on emerging criminal groups. For law enforcement officers, it offers an exhortation to update priorities, review investigative strategies, and adapt training to a changing criminal environment. This book offers excellent information for investigators of any organized crime activity.

Reviewed by Special Agent Norman C. Couns Investigative Training Unit FBI Academy Quantico, Virginia