Lucchese crime family New Jersey faction

Lucchese crime family
New Jersey faction
Founded1920s
FounderLucchese crime family
Founding locationNewark, New Jersey, United States
Years activec. 1920s–present
TerritoryNorthern New Jersey counties of Essex, Morris, Union, Monmouth, Passaic, Bergen and Sussex
EthnicityItalians as "made men" and other ethnicities as associates
Membership (est.)50 made members (2004)
ActivitiesRacketeering, conspiracy, loansharking, money laundering, murder, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and extortion
Allies
RivalsVarious gangs in New Jersey, including their allies

The New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family, also known as the Jersey Crew, is a powerful crew of Italian-American mobsters which operates throughout the Northern New Jersey area. During the 1970s into the late 1980s, the crew was led by Anthony Accetturo and his protégé Michael Taccetta. In 1987, Victor Amuso took over the family and began demanding a higher percentage of tribute from the crew. Accetturo refused and a war erupted between the New Jersey members and the New York members. This left brothers Michael and Martin Taccetta in charge of the crew as they tried to have Accetturo and his family murdered. In 1993, Accetturo defected and became a government witness. He helped convict Michael and Martin Taccetta. The crew is currently controlled by Joseph R. "Big Joe" Perna.