It is an odd thing to note, but one cannot really think of an Anglican crime family, a Methodist gang, or a bunch of Presbyterian mobsters. Organised crime, in artistic terms at least, is best left to the Catholics, and of course the Jews: Hymen Roth, a relatively minor character in The Godfather saga, makes a huge impact (“He’s been dying of the same heart attack for forty years,” as Michael Corleone remarks.) The same is true of Mo Green, who is supposed to be based on the character of Bugsy Seigel. Roth is supposed to be based on Myer Lansky. Say what you like about these mobsters, they had a certain panache.Meyer Lansky was the prime architect of the Jewish Mafia.The area around Hallandale and Gulfstream Park Race Track in Florida is still referenced by some local residents there as "Lanskyland." They said that by 1980, Lansky's worth may have grown to $400 million (he died in '83).
The Detroit Purple Gang during Prohibition times was Jewish mobster-run. Some estimates put their death totals beyond 500.
Well, then there's the Irish. My first mother in law grew up back in the 20s and 30s in an old school NYC Irish family with 13 brothers and sisters. She used to say there were five career paths in her neighborhood; Priest, Cop, Fireman, Bartender and Gangster, and she had at least one brother in each. Actually the gangster was a numbers runner for the Dutch Shultz mob (another Jewish gangster) for a couple of years, but he got out and bought a bar.
Anyway, she and her siblings used to try to get to sleep in a bit on Sunday by promising to go to Mass at the Italian church later. Her mom used to tell them “Italians aren't real Catholics!”, which she always found hilarious.