In response to organized crime, on August 25, 1953, the FBI created the Top Hoodlum Program. The national office directed field offices to gather information on mobsters in their territories and to report it regularly to Washington for a centralized collection of intelligence on racketeers. After the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO Act, took effect, the FBI began investigating the former Prohibition-organized groups, which had become fronts for crime in major cities and small towns. All of the FBI work was done undercover and from within these organizations, using the provisions provided in the RICO Act. Gradually the agency dismantled many of the groups. Although Hoover initially denied the existence of a National Crime Syndicate in the United States, the Bureau later conducted operations against known organized crime syndicates and families, including those headed by Sam Giancana and John Gotti. The RICO Act is still used today for all organized crime and any individuals who might fall under the Act. COUNT 5
QSN1 What was the Top Hoodlum Program a response to? ANS1 organized crime QSN2 What did the Top Hoodlum Program gather information on? ANS2 mobsters QSN3 After the RICO Act took effect what did the FBI start investigating? ANS3 former Prohibition-organized groups QSN4 What groups did Hoover deny the existence of? ANS4 National Crime Syndicate QSN5 Is the RICO Act still used today? ANS5 The RICO Act is still used