The Dirty Thirties represented a high-water mark for the mobs. It was during this period that Charlie “Lucky” Luciano brought some order to underworld proceedings with the creation of the Commission (for the five New York Mafia families) and the Syndicate (for organized crime throughout the country, including the Mafia). In theory, all gang criminal activity was now to be overseen by these two groups. In other words, crime was organized.
The 1930s also saw the creation of Murder Incorporated, run by Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, his buddy Jacob “Gurrah” Shapiro, and Albert “The Lord High Executioner” Anastasia. To keep things tidy, the murder group was to oversee a large number of the killings contracted by the Commission and the Syndicate. It’s estimated that Murder Inc. was responsible for the death of approximately 1,000 people.