Barnes and Organized Crime

Introduction

Nicky Barnes illegal activities included drug peddling and especially dealing with heroine, burglary where he would break into cars and possessing different burglary tools.  His drug trafficking also saw him commit many murders of people he perceived to be his rivals.  Barnes was also a drug addict and filled black neighborhoods with drugs and boasted about as an invulnerable outlaw. From early on, Barnes modus operandi involved employing individuals to sell the drugs in the streets and becoming business associates with other drug dealers where they would share information regarding the illegal enterprises (Biography.com, 2014).  He managed to bring together various African- American groups dealing with drugs and formed “The Council “through which they would address issues concerning their illegal business such as handling difficult people or situations.  He would engage in murder to eliminate those who challenged his activities.  He would bribe and some law enforcement officers so that he would have his way. He followed the example of the Italian-American Mafia, so that disputes, distribution problems and other issues related to drug trade could be settled (Biography.com, 2014).

 However, unlike other criminal groups, he built upfront companies that ensured that his assets were protected even though such forms were eventually discovered by law enforcement forces.  The two brief imprisonment in 1954 and in 1965 brought Barnes into known criminals Matty Madonna a known drug dealer and “Crazy Joe”Gallo a Mafia crime leader which seems to have further shape his character so that when he was released, his scale of drug business increased to an organized crime (New York Times, 1977). The two Mafia leaders he befriended appear to have influenced his actions to expand drug trade and trafficking.  To prevent theft from employees, Barnes resulted to torturing or murdering them or those close to them in order to get information about the thief’s whereabouts. One such case is the murder of Clifford Haynes who was killed while Barnes was trying to get information about his sister had stolen some money (New York Times, 1977).

 The typologies of organized crime focus on at least three models that consist of hierarchical structure models, local, cultural and ethnic focused models and economic models.   Barnes organized crime best fits in economic models. In economic models, organized crime is defined as being driven by business considerations where the Organized Crime Groups structure is determined by dynamics in the marker and they are normally pursuing profit (Le, 2012).  Thus, criminal groups’ behavior and thinking is shaped in line with the rational needs of a business.  These organizations will put into consideration aspects such as opportunities for new products, market changes, profits, competition in this marker and management of risks that may arise (Le, 2012). Such an explanation clearly fits Barnes’ illegal drug trading activities which were driven by the needs for the products in the neighborhoods. The employment of workers to supply the drugs to the users indicates the application of product opportunities idea with an aim of making as much money from the sales as possible.  The adoption of structures in the trade that involved partnering with associates and formation of “The Council “to deal with arising issues relates to the business idea of risk management shows hoe the activities aligned with the crime typology.  The issue of competition in the market is also addressed in the formation of such partnership so as to deal with supply difficulties and people who presented a threat to the illegal business.  Other crime typology related issues include core group and criminal networks.  Core group refers to unstructured criminals groups that whose members include a network of associates and which ensures that internal discipline is maintained (Le, 2012). Criminal networks relates to adaptable networks with members having different characteristics and skills who are sought to serve specific jobs (Le, 2012). The Council formed by Barnes, the various associates and employees indicates an adaptable network that enabled him to expand his operations in the neighborhoods, deal with law enforcement officers and other people who challenged their activities.  The members of the network were organized around the illegal activities and majorly connected through ethnic ties.

The Harlem’s community must have been intrigued by Barnes Charisma and the audacity to escpae the law enforcement on multiple times. The illegal business benefited the community members probably due to lack of sufficient means of livelihood. This resulted to a situation where the only major source of money was drugs and even other business were relate to this trade. For instance, Barnes invested in other types legal businesses which must have benefited the community members thereby tolerating his illegal activities (Roberts, 2007).  The place had become the drug-trafficking and trading center for the country so that it was openly sold to black people on the streets and whites in their cars.  Barnes was considered a legend in the community due to the flamboyant lifestyle and the invulnerable swagger that the people in the street saw as a way of defying the officialdom.  There was a significant part of community population – about 200,000 who were addicted to drugs forming a sizeable market.  There was unwillingness on the part of the community to deal with the drug menace (Roberts, 2007).

Furthermore, the fact that Barnes had not been sentenced for any charges brought before the court against him by the law enforcement led to the ide among the community that he was untouchable.  The researching and prosecution of the cases was poorly done and within a short time due to heightened publicity related to Barnes arrest and were often dismissed on appeal (Roberts, 2007).  The failure by the law enforcement officers to conducted thorough research and prosecution left the community with no choice but to contend with his activities since the saw that any action they would take would not bear any positive results.  In addition, some members of the community may have sided with Barnes’ lawyers that he was unjustly being targeted by the law enforcement authorities and prosecutors.

The structure of Barnes activities was centered on a drug council that he established with his associates such as Joseph Hayden to provide their resources necessary for offering security and allocation of territories for the sales mainly in Harlem. Earlier on, Nicky Barnes employed one person to provide security and others as street dealers.  Later he would employ people as captains who would act as his capo and would oversee the activities, collected the money and deliver it to him (New York Times, 1977).  He would use these employees for his dealings. This provided him with three levels of people at minimum between the drugs and himself and these acted as protection layers for him.  The many people working under him ensured that he remained organized.  The organization of his workers ensured that he was protected from the being ambushed by law enforcement officers who were always on his trail.  In partnership with his associates they came up with a specific a manner of exchanging the products so that they would not directly come into contact in the transaction but use the employees as the link.

Conclusion – organizational skills

Barnes organizational skills were depicted in his ability to securely carry out sensitive deals and transactions without being convicted for the crimes. The skills also extended to the recruitment of tactical employees who would carry out the transactions on his behalf. The creation of The Council was necessary so as to have internal controls for the various activities undertaken by the Mafia.  The networks established by Barnes and his associates also ensured that drug trade activities were coordinated make these organizations effective enterprises.  The organizational structure developed by these Mafia ensured that issues arising in terms of drug delivery were solved while dealing with individuals who were hindrance to drug trafficking and selling operations in the market.  However, Barnes could not manage to use such skills in operating legitimate businesses which requires one to be patient and expected losses or profits. For example, illegitimate drug trafficking business offered easy and quick cash generated from the available market in the community. The fact that drug were mostly consumed by people who were addicts assured the Barnes of constant cash inflow.  In the legitimate business, utilizing these skills requires dealing with dynamics in market demands and supply that did not assure profits

 

References

Le, V. (2012). Organised crime typologies: Structure, activities and conditions. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 1, 121-131.

Roberts S., (2007).Crime’s ‘Mr. Untouchable’ Emerges From Shadows. Retrieved from:

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/nyregion/04nicky.html

 

Biography.com (2014).Nicky Barnes Biography. A&E Television Networks

https://www.biography.com/people/nicky-barnes-481806

New York Times, (1977).Article 6. Retrieved from:

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/05/archives/article-6-no-title-nicky-barnes.html