The beginning of the end!

Joseph Michael Valachi (1904–1971) was an American mobster associated with the Genovese crime family. He holds the distinction of being the **first** member of the Italian-American Mafia to **publicly acknowledge its existence** in 1963 during the **Valachi hearings**¹³. His testimony revealed the Mob's secrets, which had previously been known only to organized crime insiders. Valachi's courageous act significantly impacted the Mafia and led to the popularization of the term "cosa nostra."² 🕶️🔍