Joseph Bonanno
Nickname: Joe Bananas
Background:
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Bonanno was born on January 18, 1905.
He was born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily.
When he was three years old, his family moved to Brooklyn for about 10 years before
returning to Italy.
His family was very influential.
His father was badly wounded in World War I.
He studied at the Joeni Trabia Nautical Institute in Palermo to be become a sailor.
In 1924 Bonanno slipped back into the U.S. by stowing away on a Cuban fishing boat
bound for Tampa, Florida.
He became active in the Mafia during his youth in Italy
He fled to the United States after Benito Mussolini initiated a crackdown.
Bonanno himself claimed years later that he fled because he was ardently anti-Fascist
Bonanno became involved in bootlegging activities, and soon joined a Mafia family
Crimes Committed: conspiracy to obstruct justice, lying on his immigration-card application,
extort false testimony, obstruction of justice, money laundering, bootlegging, bookmaking, and
loan-sharking
Crime Convicted: Contempt of court- Lied to court
Sentence: 14 months
Quote: "Mafia is a process, not a thing. Mafia is a form of clan-cooperation to which its
individual members pledge lifelong loyalty.... Friendships, connections, family ties, trust,
loyalty, obedience-this was the glue that held us together."-Joe Bonanno
Theory That Explains his Behavior:
I believe the theory that best explains his criminal activity is the Differential-Assertion
Theory. Since Bonanno was introduced to the mafia at a young he was bound to be heavily
involved in it. His connections with the mafia helped him learn and perfect many crucial skills
needed to be a mob boss.
He could fit into the Social Control because he lost his parents at a young age. But he did
not have pressure to conform to “normal society”. He does not fit the Anomie Theory because he
came from a semi-wealthy family and did not have to turn to crime to make money. He does not
fit into the conflict theory because he was born into a semi-powerful family.