Ep 9. Youngstown: Mob Hits and Misses

In this episode of City Confidential, the focus is on the city of Youngstown in Ohio, and its ties to organized crime. The episode explores the history of the Mob in Youngstown, and how it impacted the city and its residents.

The episode begins by giving viewers a brief history of the city of Youngstown, and its rise and fall as a major industrial hub. We learn about the city's many factories and steel mills, and how they brought tens of thousands of people to the area in the early part of the 20th century.

However, as the city's economy began to decline in the 1970s and 80s, organized crime began to flourish in Youngstown. The episode explores the connections between the Mob and the city's many labor unions, which were often controlled by organized crime figures. We also learn about Youngstown's reputation as a center for illegal gambling, and the role that the Mob played in that underworld.

One of the key characters in the episode is Lenny Strollo, a former Mob boss in Youngstown who played a major role in the city's organized crime scene. We learn about Strollo's rise to power, and how he controlled much of the city's criminal activity. The episode also features interviews with law enforcement officials who worked to take down Strollo and his allies, including former FBI agent Jim McLees.

Throughout the episode, we see how Youngstown became a battleground for rival factions within the Mob. The city was the site of several high-profile murders, including the killings of Jimmy "the Bull" Grillo and Ernie Biondillo. We also learn about the failed attempt to kill Strollo, which led to a major investigation of the Mob's activities in Youngstown.

Despite the efforts of law enforcement, organized crime continued to thrive in Youngstown for many years. The episode explores the reasons behind this, including the close-knit nature of the city's Italian-American community and the lack of economic opportunity for many of its residents.

As the episode draws to a close, we see how the city of Youngstown has changed in the years since the Mob's heyday. While the steel mills and factories that once defined the city are now largely gone, the legacy of organized crime in Youngstown still lingers. However, the episode also highlights the many positive aspects of the city and its people, and the efforts that are being made to build a brighter future for Youngstown.

Overall, this episode of City Confidential provides a fascinating look at the history of organized crime in Youngstown, and the impact that it had on the city and its residents. Through interviews with law enforcement officials, former Mob associates, and ordinary people who lived in the city during that time, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex web of relationships and rivalries that defined the city's underworld. With its compelling storytelling and insightful analysis, this episode is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of organized crime in America.