caporegime

criminal

Also known as: lieutenant

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A caporegime, or capo, is a lieutenant in a crime syndicate, often of Italian or Sicilian origin. This term is associated with the Mafia, a hierarchical criminal organization that originated in Sicily and also has a presence in the United States.1234

The Mafia is structured with a boss (or don) at the top, an underboss, and counselors. Below them are the caporegime, who act as buffers between the lower-ranking members, known as soldiers, and the leadership. These organizations engage in various criminal activities, including extortion, smuggling, and gambling. The term "Mafia" itself is thought to derive from Sicilian or Arabic words related to "swagger" or "protector".324

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Mafia
The 20th century and the Five Families
Below the underboss were the caporegime, or lieutenants, who, acting as buffers between the lower echelon workers and the don himself, protected him from a too-direct association with the organization’s illicit operations. The lieutenants supervised squads of “soldiers,” who often had charge of one of the family’s legal operations (e.g.,…
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Below the underboss were the caporegime, or lieutenants, who, acting as buffers between the lower echelon workers and the don himself, protected him from a too-direct association with the organization’s illicit operations. The lieutenants supervised squads of “soldiers,” who often had charge of one of the family’s legal operations (e.g.,…
Read More