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The Mob's Business Mogul: How Robert DiBernardo Built (and Lost) a $50M Empire
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Nov 17, 2024
🔥 Uncover the shocking true story of Robert DiBernardo, the mobster who ruled a vast business empire! 🏙️ 👑 From humble beginnings to becoming a powerful "Business King" of America, discover how DiBernardo: • 💼 Built a multi-million dollar entertainment and distribution empire • 🏙️ Controlled Times Square's bustling business district • 🕵️♂️ Outsmarted the FBI for decades • 💀 Met his dramatic end at the hands of the Mafia 🎭 Witness the rise and fall of a criminal mastermind who transformed New York's business landscape forever! ⚖️ From his ties to John Gotti to his mysterious disappearance, this video exposes it all! 🔑 Keywords: #OrganizedCrime #MafiaHistory #BusinessEmpire #TrueCrime #JohnGotti #GambinoCrimeFamily #fbi 🔔 Don't miss out! LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell for more thrilling crime documentaries! 💰 Support our channel and get exclusive content by becoming a MEMBER today! 🕴️ The Mob's Business Mogul: How Robert DiBernardo Built (and Lost) a $50M Empire 💼💰
View Video Transcript
0:00
in the shadowy underbelly of the American dream where crime meets desire a captivating and controversial figure
0:07
emerged this video delves into the life of an enigmatic Mao who dominated the US
0:13
adult entertainment industry like no other prepare to be on the edge of your seat as we explore the mesmerizing world
0:20
of Robert De Bernardo the mobster who ruled the US porn industry from humble
0:26
beginnings on the tough Streets of New York City to becoming a prominent figure in the adult entertainment business
0:34
Robert debernardo's story will leave you astounded born on May 31
0:40
1937 debernardo grew up in the gritty streets of Ozone Park Queens from a
0:46
young age he was drawn to a life of crime and money eventually finding
0:51
himself entangled with the notorious Gambino crime family however it was in
0:57
the world of pornography that debernardo would truly make his Mark becoming one of the most influential figures in the
1:05
industry influential and significant among Mobsters linked to the mafia
1:10
Robert de Bernardo was a notable figure during the 1970s and 1980s remarkably he managed to rise to
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prominence without a single murder to his name before gaining Fame for flooding Times Square with all types of
1:25
adult entertainment videos debernardo worked closely with the deav crime
1:30
family in the 1960s for those new to the world of famous Mafia crime families the deav
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Volant crime family also known as the north Jersey Mafia or North Jersey crime
1:44
family is an Italian American organized crime group this powerful family engages
1:50
in various illicit activities including fraud bootlegging drug trafficking
1:56
prostitution extortion money laundering loan sharking racketeering pornography
2:02
hijacking and numerous other illegal acts the davalan crime family is part of
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the Nationwide criminal Network known as the American Mafia operating differently
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from the five families of New York its influence extends across Northern New Jersey West New York New York and
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surrounding areas surrounding areas in North Jersey the Daval countes are
2:28
considered the sixth family backed by these powerful crime families
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it was little wonder how debernardo was able to gather the means to purchased the softcore business star distributors
2:40
in the late 1960s star Distributors a magazine Distribution Company was previously
2:47
owned by a man named Theodore Ted Rothstein operating as far back as 1948
2:53
in brookin the company specialized in Niche trade Publications initially star
2:59
Distributors was doing reasonably well until richer competitors emerged pushing the company to the background Ted who
3:07
had taken over the company in the early 1960s had plans to restore it to its
3:12
former glory by Distributing risk softcore pinup magazines however it was difficult for
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Star Distributors to gain a foothold in the industry that was when the then
3:25
28-year-old Italian American Robert debernardo also known D stepped onto the
3:32
scene known as a polished operator with strong organized crime connections he
3:37
had what it took to turn star Distributors around debernardo approached Ted with an offer Ted could
3:44
remain as the company's president but debernardo would become the vice president Principal Finance year and
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most importantly have the final say on significant issues relating to Star
3:56
Distributors with few options Ted accept CED the offer this marked de bernardo's
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first and most crucial decision star Distributors would switch its focus to
4:08
hardcore sexual content not long after debadoo began importing pornographic films from the
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Netherlands in Denmark selling these hardcore media to adult industry businesses around Time Square as star
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Distributors started to gain significant control of the US porn industry debernardo switched his Allegiance from
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the Daval cantis to the gambino crime family through his connection with fellow pornographer and Gambino Capo
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Eddie zappi allegedly it was zappy who sponsored debernardo's membership in the
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Gambino family to fully grasp the magnitude of this shift one must
4:48
understand the power of the gambino crime family the gambino crime family an
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Italian American Mafia crime family is one of the big five families that dominate the organized crime scene in
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New York their operations extend far beyond New York reaching as far as
5:07
California like other crime syndicates The Gambino family is heavily involved
5:12
in labor and construction racketeering prostitution money laundering loone
5:17
sharking extortion fencing hijacking and many other illicit
5:22
activities the US porn industry where debadoo was operating was closely linked
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with organized crime syndicates for deado aligning himself with a powerful
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Mafia Family like the gambinos was crucial to disuade any form of
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competition despite his association with the American Mafia debernardo was not
5:44
known for being prone to violence he didn't have a crew to do his dirty bidding or back him up when needed
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instead debernardo was a relatively smart businessman who relied on his strategic Acumen and connections within
5:58
the mafia to maintain his dominance in the adult entertainment industry despite
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his affiliation with the mafia debernardo was careful not to develop a personal reputation for violence
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operating as a lone operator set him apart from other Wise Guys though a mobster debernardo ensured he wasn't
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deeply involved in Mafia activities allowing him to enjoy a special status
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where he didn't need to report to aapo even as he was starting as a pornographer in the US porn industry
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his connections with powerful crime families ensured substantial profits due
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to his financial success debernardo Rose from the rank of a soldier in the
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gambino crime family to the status of a captain later in his career by the
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1970s debernardo had become a well-known figure in the US porn industry with his
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reputation as a prominent dealer in pornography rapidly spreading his
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Enterprise star Distributors was also becoming one of the largest pornography
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operations in the United States with his connections and business Acumen deardo
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decided it was time to expand his Empire beyond the United States debernardo
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decided to venture into the global adult entertainment industry by forming an alliance that many in the business
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didn't see coming before debernardo's Venture into the US porn industry
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American adult magazines were all the rage and had the widest distribution since they could be legally distributed
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by the 1960s this Niche was thriving with adult magazines entering the
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mainstream thanks to Pioneers like Playboy soon after other magazines such
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as pubic Wars and Penthouse gained prominence as more sexually explicit
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Publications however screw magazine pushed the boundaries further becoming the largest of these Publications by
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embracing hardcore content by this time organized crime syndicates
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were beginning to recognize the gold mine that existed in the porn industry consequently most major hardcore
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pornographic magazines and newspapers in the United States were distributed by companies controlled by organized crime
8:17
members according to law enforcement officials and media reports despite the spread of these Publications the
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organized crime involvement ensured that distribution channels remained under the their control consolidating their grip
8:32
on the lucrative industry the rise of the porn industry couldn't have been possible without key Distributors and
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this is where Robert De berardo came in Star Distributors along with Astro news
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were the Two Chief Distributors of pornographic content in the nation both companies had mafia ties with the
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gambinos controlling star Distributors and the Columbo family specifically the
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Gallow Brothers controlling AST news according to a Colombo Defector the
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geneves crime family particularly Vincent chin Gigante backed the Gallow
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Brothers in the porn business star Distributors was easily the most popular of the two because it had one of the
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most lucrative clients in the sex business screw magazine an explicit
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magazine founded in 1968 screw was run by censorship
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challenging upstarts all Goldstein and Jim Buckley they freely admitted that their content was distributed by a mob
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controlled company like Star Distributors insisting it was the only way to make sales as they had no other
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options when screw was first published Distributors and operators of newsstands
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were reluctant to carry such explicit content but with the backing of organized crime star Distributors
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ensured that screw magazine reached a wide audience cementing its place in the
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industry Distributors and operators of news stands refused to handle screw
10:02
magazine out of fear that they would be arrested on obscenity charges Buckley
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said it's the law that forced us into Mafia distribution this was also the
10:13
period when the sex business was booming making it nearly impossible to discuss the United States porn industry without
10:20
mentioning the Golden Age of porn and its significant role in The industry's Evolution the Golden Age of porn refers
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to a 15-year period in commercial American pornography where sexually explicit films gained positive attention
10:35
from mainstream Cinemas movie critics and the general public this era began on
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June 12 1969 with the theatrical release of the film blue movie directed by Andy Warhol
10:48
which caused quite a stir soon after the 1970 film Mona was released marking the
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start of the golden age of porn during this time many producers in the US began
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creating adult erotic films depicting explicit sex scenes to achieve wide
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theatrical release and reception many of these adult erotic films were lowbudget
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Productions but due to their wide theatrical release they reached a broad
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audience and generated substantial profits the Golden Age of porn was instrumental in shaping the US porn
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industry andig figures like Robert de Bernardo through his company star
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Distributors played a crucial role in distributing these films and magazines
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further solidifying the mafia's involvement in the industry they raak in
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profits that made them extremely competitive with Hollywood films seeing the potential hidden in
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this market debernardo decided it was time to venture into the adult film
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industry now recognized as a prominent pornographic ific dealer with significant momentum de Bernardo began
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directly commissioning the production of many hardcore films during the Golden Age of porn in New York this was also
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when he decided to establish a working relationship with Ruben Sturman the United States largest porn seller known
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as the Walt Disney of porn Sturman was a well-known American pornographer and businessman from Ohio who co-founded the
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sex toys company Doc Johnson he was a significant figure in the US adult industry and was even featured in Eric
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schlosser's 2003 book on underground economies Reefer Madness sex drugs and
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cheap labor in the American black market Sturman started out selling comic books
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from his car in 1948 upon graduation by the 1960s he had expanded
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his business to include selling magazines with sexual content this expansion allowed him to dominate the
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market and his collaboration with debernardo further solidified their control over the burgeoning porn
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industry together they navigated the challenges and opportunities of the golden age of porn capitalizing on the
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era's profitability and influence as he discovered the immense profitability of adult content Sturman
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began to rake in profits that far surpassed anything he had earned from selling comic books by the late 1960s
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Sturman had ascended to become the largest porn seller in the United States Robert debernardo always driven by
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profit saw collaborating with Sturman as a perfect opportunity to increase his
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earnings together they came to control the US porn industry on a global scale
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the rapid expansion of the adult entertainment industry during this period was influenced by several factors
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firstly the industry's primary customers were businessmen white collar and blue
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collar workers and middleclass individuals who are disposable income this demographic could afford to
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regularly purchase pornographic content without issue additionally pornography
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proved to be lucrative for de berardo because a significant portion of his consumer base consisted of lonely and
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sexually frustrated men these individuals often used pornographic content for stimulation and to achieve
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sexual release moreover there were consumers who utilized such content to
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spice up their intimate lives contributing further to the industry's growth the convergence of these factors
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along with the Strategic collaborations between industry leaders like debernardo and Sturman fueled the rapid expansion
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and dominance of the US porn industry during this transformative era from his
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involvement with the gambino crime family to his alliance with Rubin Sturman the largest US porn seller de
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bernardo's Ascent to dominance was was driven by his astute business Acumen and knack for lucrative ventures in the
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1970s amid the sweeping sexual Revolution Across the Nation the US porn
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industry saw an unprecedented boom leveraging his mafia ties debernardo
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swiftly established himself as a formidable figure in the industry his criminal connections provided the
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necessary muscle and protection to navigate the industry's challenges de
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berardo was a sharp and Forward Thinking businessman always staying ahead of the
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curve he adeptly capitalized on emerging Trends and leveraged his extensive
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network to drive success his influence reached far and wide making him a
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trusted and formidable player in the world of adult entertainment doing business with debernardo was not just
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profitable but also strategically advantageous in an industry fraught with
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complexities and risks beyond the boardrooms and back rooms of the industry Robert debernardo had a Keen
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Eye for talent and was renowned for discovering and collaborating with influential pornographers and figures in
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the sex business another significant Revenue stream for Star Distributors was
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right on its doorstep in Time Square during that time Time Square was
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Infamous for being an area where even law enforcement struggled to enforce obscenity laws making it an ideal
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location for numerous sex related businesses ever vigilant for business
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opportunities debernardo identified this as the perfect area for what would
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become one of their most notable Ventures show world at 6,000 688 Avenue
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the brainchild behind show world was Richard carnello basano a fellow
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pornographer with real estate interests in the sex industry debernardo partnered
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with bazan and show world quickly became a renowned Time Square Porn Palace described as the
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flagship of New York's sex Industry Show World opened in 1975 as a sprawling 220,000 sqare foot
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Den construction reportedly cost $40,000 an investment that both basano
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and debernardo were able to recover swiftly under debernardo and Ted's
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guidance show world quickly became a profitable venture with nearly 100 women
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performing in rotating peep shows daily known for its explicit Acts including
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couples simulating copulation and performances by adult film stars show
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world catered to every desire from these activities alone debernardo was raking
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in thousands of dollars under debernardo's leadership star
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Distributors expanded into a multi-million doll sex Empire conglomerate branching out Nationwide
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and acquiring controlling interests in other sex industry companies the company Diversified its scope to include the
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distribution of sexual devices adult books and the management of bookstores movie theaters and Publishing houses
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that it supplied however debernardo's involvement in the US porn industry was
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not without controversy unlike some pornographers who preferred to remain in the shadows debernardo openly
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acknowledged his role in the sex business he saw no need to hide behind
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intermediaries or innocuous shell companies preferring instead to operate
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openly in an industry that thrived despite legal and societal scrutiny
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debernardo conducted his business openly regularly commuting between his Suburban
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home on Long Island and star Distributors offices at 150 Lafayette
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Street in downtown Manhattan in his 1972 Mercedes Benz with personalized plates
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his connections to the Mob were well known FBI bugs once caught him telling
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another pornography Mogul Michael thus that the family controlled all his
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Enterprises despite this transparency deado was unusual in that he reportedly
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became a maid man in the mafia without having committed murder or resorted to Violent tactics to assert his dominance
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in the adult entertainment industry nevertheless due to his public ties to organized crime many feared
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Crossing him leading to few direct competitors moreover his alliances with
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prominent pornographers further solidified his position despite ongoing scrutiny debernardo continued expanding
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his Empire accumulating wealth and influence within the industry he was widely perceived as a dominant Force
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whose influence extended far beyond the boundaries of the adult entertainment sector Robert debernardo was a
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phenomenal Money Maker earning praise from a journalist in 1977 for his unmatched reputation as a
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tough-minded competent and shrewd businessman he strategically cultivated
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a mainstream image and diversified his investments into automotive repair
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franchises car washes pinball arcades and mainstream media distribution firms
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his ability to navigate the complex Waters of the mafia while expanding his Empire show ased his cunning and
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resourcefulness the secrecy surrounding debernardo's operations added to his Mystique making him a figure of intrigue
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and Fascination within the underworld his reputation as a powerful and enigmatic figure in both the porn
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industry and the mafia solidified his status as a formidable Force however
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debono's dominance would abruptly end when he became the subject of a federal
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investigation into child pornography the charges were severe and
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his Empire began to crumble under the weight of legal troubles and public scrutiny debernardo's downfall marked
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the end of an era for his once thriving Enterprises highlighting the precarious
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balance between illicit activities and public accountability in his tumultuous
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career in the late 1980s as the US government intensified its Crackdown on
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the adult entertainment industry Robert debernardo found himself under investigation for his alleged role in
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distributing obscene materials deardo along with Ted epitomized the image of
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successful businessmen due to the high profile of star Distributors making them easy targets when the FBI launched an
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undercover operation in 1977 known as operation my porn and
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headquartered in Miami the operation aimed to dismantle a nationwide conspiracy
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controlling the multi-billion dollar pornography industry initially sented around a warehouse named Goldie Coast
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Specialty's Inc which masquerad as a male order house dealing exclusively in
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pornographic materials operation my porn deployed two undercover agents tasked
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with infiltrating key players in the pornography industry across the country
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debernardo and Ted were among the 45 individuals targeted arrested and
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charged with inter State involvement in distributing obscene materials this marked a significant turning point for
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debernardo leading to Legal battles that would ultimately challenge his standing
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in both the adult entertainment and organized crime circles in the late
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1980s amidst a government Crackdown on the adult entertainment industry Robert dub de Bernardo found himself embroiled
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in legal trouble for his alleged involvement in transporting obscene materials alongside Ruben Sturman of
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Cleveland Michael Mickey Zafarano and Harry Moy of Duran Michigan de Bernardo
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Michigan de Bernardo was identified by the FBI as a major trafficker in adult
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books and films all linked to organized crime federal law enforcement officials
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described the indictments as the largest single blow to the US pornography industry Michael Zano associated with
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the bonano crime family tragically passed away from a fatal heart attack
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just as the FBI attempted to arrest him at his Times Square adult movie theater
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on February 14th 1980 both de Bernardo and Ted Rothstein
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were convicted on charges including conspiracy to transport obscene materials for sale and distribution as
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well as using common carriers to transport obscene materials across state lines their convictions in June
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1981 marked a significant milestone in the government's efforts to dismantle the organized crime controlled aspects
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of the pornography industry both men Robert de Bernardo and Ted Rothstein were sentenced to 5 years
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in prison fortunately for them their conviction was overturned by a federal
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judge due to Serious concerns about the reliability of FBI agent Patrick Livingston one of the undercover agents
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involved in the case Livingston had been arrested for shoplifting a sweater in November
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1981 and was found to have psychiatric issues that compromised his ability to
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maintain his identities distinctively this raised doubts about his testimony to the grand jury leading to the
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dismissal of the case against Bernardo and rothin allowing them to resume their business
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activities however this was not the end of De bernardo's legal challenges he
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later became the subject of another federal investigation involving allegations of involvement in child
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pornography despite being recognized as an organized crime figure deon's notoriety grew significantly only after
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his legal lles and the controversies surrounding his business dealings in the adult entertainment industry over two
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decades Robert de Bernardo became embroiled in Scandal when his ties to
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Geraldine Ferraro the 1984 Democratic candidate for vice president of the
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United States came under scrutiny Ferraro and her husband John zacharo
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faced scrutiny over their finances revealing that de Bernardo a known
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member of organized crime had rented premises from a company owned by zacharo
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this connection significantly impacted Ferraro's political prospects additionally de Bernardo
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became associated with John Joseph Gotti Jr an American Gangster who aimed to
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ascend as the boss of the gambino crime family Bernardo was among the first to
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express support when Gotti disclosed his plan to eliminate then boss Paul Castellano and se's Leadership allegedly
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de Bernardo had expressed dissatisfaction with Castellano who reportedly disdained the porn industry
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but profited from it substantially in December 1985 Gotti orchestrated the
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assassination of castalano assuming control of the gambino crime family this
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event marked a pivotal moment in De bernardo's connections to organized crime and his broader influence in
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contentious spheres of influence Robert de Bernardo ascended to the status of
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Captain within the gambino crime family despite not having his own crew apart
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from his association with John goti de Bernardo also had ties to Salvatore Sami
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the bull gravano a mob underboss gravano initially linked with the Columbo crime
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family transitioned to the Gambino family after participating in the plot
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to assassinate castalano during this period de Bernardo viewed these affiliations purely as
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Partnerships among organized crime members however these alliances would
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ultimately lead to his downfall in 1986 following Gotti's imprisonment for
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racketeering Samy gravano in his Memoir recounted a directive from Gotti
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conveyed through angel rero allegedly Gotti wanted to Bernardo eliminated
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suspecting him of plotting against him despite lacking a crew capable of challenging gti's Authority gravano
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expressed initial reluctance to carry out Gotti's order questioning the rationale behind targeting de Bernardo
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who lacked the necessary resources for a power struggle within the organization
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nevertheless this directive marked the beginning of the end for Robert de Bernardo illustrating the complex and
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perilous Dynamics within organized crime networks in his recollection Samy
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gravano reflected on the perplexing directive from John Gotti to eliminate Robert de Bernardo whom gravano
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described as a wealthy and generally non-threatening figure within the gambino crime family despite his
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confusion gravano trusted Angelo ruggiero's relay of Gotti's orders and
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proceeded to carry out the assassination without hesitation on the Fateful evening of
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June 5th 1986 deardo unsuspecting and on his way
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home from Star distributor's office was LED under false pretenses to the basement offices of gano's draw company
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on Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn there Joseph peruta under gano's Direction
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fatally shot to Bernardo in the back of the head during what appeared to be a routine business business meeting set up
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this tragic event marked the end of Robert De bernardo's life orchestrated
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within the intricate and ruthless dynamics of organized crime other forms
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of media and the rise of the internet POS significant challenges to the profitability of the pornography
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industry despite these shifts star Distributors under Ted rothstein's leadership continued to adapt and expand
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the company Diversified its operations into three distinct Parts bizarre video
29:31
specializing in adult films media Distributors focusing on newspapers and
29:37
Novelty by nasswalk specializing in sex toys this strategic diversification
29:43
allowed star Distributors to maintain relevance and profitability in a changing Market
29:49
landscape however by the 2010s the Dynamics of the pornography industry
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underwent substantial transformation increasing competition from online platforms and alternative media sources
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posed formidable challenges these shifts forced traditional Distributors like
30:09
Star Distributors to navigate new territories and strategies to sustain
30:14
their Market position despite these challenges the legacy of Robert De Bernardo and his influence on Star
30:21
Distributors remained palpable shaping the company's trajectory and resilience
30:27
over the decades the detriment of moral and legal scrutiny despite the profitability of
30:33
the adult film industry the Advent of Internet piracy and affordable
30:38
professional content has significantly eroded traditional revenue streams such
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as DVD sales and erotic magazines star Distributors like many others in the
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adult film sector faced dwindling profits amid these technological
30:55
advancements Robert de bernardo's Legacy however remains indelible he boldly
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navigated and transformed the adult entertainment landscape unabashedly embracing his role in shaping the
31:07
industry his imprint on the business was profound marking a shift in societal
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perceptions of the US adult entertainment scene yet de bernardo's
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association with organized crime ultimately defined his legacy even today the influence of mafia
31:26
families persists Within in the pornography industry perpetuating its shadowy Allure the world of adult
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entertainment continues to Captivate with its complexities and controversies revealing a hidden narrative beneath its
31:40
surface one shaped by the rise of influential figures like de Bernardo and
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the persistent shadow of organized crime 1960s and 1970s witnessed a seesmic
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cultural shift known as the sexual Revolution which challenged societ soal
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norms and expanded the boundaries of what was considered acceptable behavior
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concurrently the adult entertainment industry experienced a rapid and
32:09
transformative emergence forever altering the entertainment landscape behind this public facing Evolution
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however lurked a hidden narrative involving the mafia's pivotal role in
32:21
both the production and distribution of x-rated films even before the ual Revolution the
32:29
mafia had clandestinely produced stag films catering to a niche audience
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seeking explicit content these films characterized by their focus on sexual
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acts and nudity were initially shown in discreet private settings to evade legal
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scrutiny and societal judgment however the mafia's significant escalation into
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the adult entertainment industry occurred notably in 1971 marking a turning point that would
32:58
shape its future trajectory the Columbo crime organization hit a gold mine with an
33:04
x-rated comedy called Deep Throat which unexpectedly generated $50 million in
33:10
profit capturing the attention of mobsters keen on exploiting the lucrative potential of the burgeoning
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adult entertainment industry among them was Robert De Bernardo who presented himself more as a Wall Street Broker
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Than a traditional underworld figure recognizing ing the financial opportunity to Bernardo founded star
33:31
Distributors quickly establishing it as the primary supplier of pornography in
33:36
New York City under de bernardo's leadership star Distributors
33:41
Consolidated various pornographers under Mafia control becoming a dominant force
33:47
in the industry this consolidation allowed the mafia to wield influence over the production distribution and
33:54
profits of x-rated films another pivotal figure in the mafia's influence over
33:59
adult entertainment was Michael Zafarano who acted as a crucial intermediary
34:05
between the mob and the porn industry resolving disputes and facilitating
34:12
transactions the mafia's influence over the production of x-rated movies
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extended deeply solidifying their control over the burgeoning industry as
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demand for explicit content soared during the sexual revolution of the 1970s Mobsters like Michael Zafarano
34:30
played pivotal roles in ensuring the mafia's firm grip across various aspects
34:35
of adult entertainment this period saw a dramatic increase in profits as
34:41
audiences clamored for more explicit and provocative films presenting organized
34:46
crime with a lucrative Revenue stream however the mafia's involvement
34:52
wasn't confined solely to x-rated movies stag films which had been a modest
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source of income for the mob for years continued to be significant these films
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catered to Niche audiences with specific tastes and fetishes providing the mafia
35:10
with a consistent source of income alongside the explosive growth of mainstream adult films overall the
35:18
emergence of x-rated movies in the 1970s marked a pivotal shift in the adult
35:24
entertainment landscape where the mafia's influence shap AP production distribution and profitability cementing
35:32
their role as powerful players in this controversial industry with the transition of the
35:37
adult entertainment industry to Southern California during the 1980s organized
35:43
crimes influence remained steadfast maintaining a firm grip on this
35:48
lucrative sector as the industry shifted away from the bustling streets of New York City the mafia's control over
35:55
production and distribution of explicit f films continued unabated according to Captain James D
36:03
sty of the lap who testified before the mlen commission nearly 90s of adult
36:08
films were being produced in Los Angeles Chief Daryl Gates further asserted that organized crime had sway
36:16
over at least 85 of the industry this dominance underscored the mafia's
36:22
successful establishment of a stronghold within the heart of the porn industry
36:28
the migration to Southern California not only marked a geographical shift but
36:34
also Consolidated organized crimes power ensuring their influence extended across
36:39
the production hubs and distribution channels of adult entertainment the FBI agents led to
36:46
multiple indictments in the pornography industry the operation codenamed my porn
36:52
was initiated by the FBI in early 1977 to uncover the deep rooted
36:58
connections between organized crime and the burgeoning adult entertainment sector over the course of a year
37:05
undercover agents meticulously gathered evidence documenting the mafia's
37:10
pervasive influence in this realm prosecutors from the justice department
37:15
leveraged the substantial evidence gathered which included testimony from undercover agent Patrick Livingston to
37:22
launch a grand jury investigation this investigation culminated in multiple
37:28
indictments within the pornography industry targeting key figures involved in the production distribution and
37:36
financial transactions of explicit content the FBI's operation and
37:41
subsequent legal actions marked a significant Crackdown on the mafia's control over adult entertainment
37:48
exposing the extent of organized crimes grip on this lucrative industry it also
37:53
served as a pivotal moment in law enforcement's efforts to dismantle illicit operations within the realm of
38:01
pornography the my porn investigation successfully revealed the mafia's Deep involvement in the pornography industry
38:08
years ago despite the passage of time organized crime continues to wield
38:13
significant influence over the US porn industry these crime families have
38:19
effectively cultivated a level of legitimacy among the American public with no federal investigations currently
38:26
targeting the broader pornography sector instead law enforcement focuses
38:32
primarily on issues like child pornography while some may view the sale
38:37
of explicit sexual content as a seedy business it remains a thriving part of
38:43
the global community and shows no signs of diminishing reflecting on the life of
38:48
Robert De Bernardo the mobster who shape the US porn industry sheds light on the
38:55
Stark realities of adult entertainment and the enduring impact of organized crime families as major industry
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