Throughout history, the world of organized crime has been dominated by men, but there have been a number of women who have risen to the top of the criminal underworld, leaving their mark as some of the most notorious female mobsters of all time. From the streets of New York to the drug cartels of Colombia, these women proved that they could be just as ruthless, strategic, and daring as their male counterparts. In this blog post, we‘ll explore the lives and crimes of 10 of the most infamous female mobsters in history.
1. Griselda Blanco (1943-2012)
Known as the "Cocaine Godmother," Griselda Blanco was a Colombian drug lord who played a key role in the Medellín Cartel during the 1970s and 1980s. Born into poverty in Cartagena, Colombia, Blanco turned to a life of crime at a young age, earning a reputation for her ruthless tactics and willingness to use violence to get what she wanted.
At the height of her power, Blanco was trafficking massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia to the United States, earning an estimated $80 million per month. She was known for her lavish lifestyle and her penchant for violence, ordering the deaths of anyone who crossed her. In the end, Blanco‘s criminal empire came crashing down, and she was eventually killed in a motorcycle drive-by shooting in Medellín in 2012.
2. Stephanie St. Clair (1897-1969)
Stephanie St. Clair, also known as "Madame Queen," was a legendary figure in the world of organized crime in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s. Born in the French Caribbean island of Martinique, St. Clair immigrated to the United States as a young woman and quickly made a name for herself as a powerful and influential numbers runner in Harlem.
Despite facing constant harassment from corrupt police officers and rival gangs, St. Clair refused to back down, using her intelligence and street smarts to stay one step ahead of her enemies. She was known for her flamboyant style and her commitment to the Harlem community, using her wealth to support local businesses and charities. In the end, St. Clair retired from the numbers game and became an advocate for African American rights, dying peacefully in 1969 as a wealthy and respected figure in Harlem.
3. Virginia Hill (1916-1966)
Virginia Hill, nicknamed "Queen of the Mob" and "Flamingo," was an American organized crime figure who was famous for her relationships with several high-profile mobsters, including Bugsy Siegel. Born in Alabama, Hill moved to Chicago as a teenager and quickly became involved in the criminal underworld, working as a courier and money launderer for various gangs.
Hill‘s good looks and charm helped her to rise through the ranks of the underworld, and she eventually became a key figure in the illegal gambling operations in Las Vegas. However, her association with Siegel ultimately proved to be her downfall, and after his murder in 1947, Hill was forced to flee the country to avoid prosecution. She died in Austria in 1966, likely from a self-administered overdose of sleeping pills.
4. Bonnie Parker (1910-1934)
Bonnie Parker, one half of the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde, was a notorious outlaw who terrorized the central United States during the Great Depression. Born in Texas, Parker met Clyde Barrow in 1930 and quickly fell in love, embarking on a crime spree that would make them two of the most famous outlaws in American history.
Over the course of their criminal career, Bonnie and Clyde robbed banks, stole cars, and killed several police officers and civilians. Their exploits captured the public imagination, and they became folk heroes to many Americans who were struggling during the Depression. However, their luck eventually ran out, and in 1934, they were ambushed and killed by law enforcement officers in Louisiana.
5. Lottie Cretella (1911-1992)
Lottie Cretella, also known as "Lottie the Body," was a high-ranking member of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Born in Italy, Cretella immigrated to the United States as a child and quickly became involved in the criminal underworld, working as a prostitute and later as a madam.
Cretella‘s intelligence and toughness caught the attention of Carlo Gambino, who recruited her to work for his organization. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most powerful women in the New York Mafia. Cretella was known for her fierce loyalty to the Gambino family and her willingness to use violence to protect their interests. She died in 1992, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most notorious female mobsters in American history.
6. Maria Licciardi (1951-)
Maria Licciardi, also known as "The Princess," is an Italian Camorra crime boss who has been active in the underworld since the 1990s. Born in Naples, Licciardi took over the Licciardi clan after the death of her husband and the arrest of her brothers, becoming one of the most powerful women in the Camorra.
Under Licciardi‘s leadership, the Licciardi clan expanded their criminal activities, engaging in drug trafficking, extortion, and prostitution. Licciardi was known for her intelligence and her ability to forge alliances with other criminal organizations, helping to solidify her power in the underworld. She was arrested in 2001 and served several years in prison, but has since been released and continues to be a significant figure in the Camorra.
7. Judy Moran (1944-)
Judy Moran is an Australian criminal and matriarch of the notorious Moran family, which has been involved in organized crime in Melbourne for decades. Born in England, Moran married into the Moran family in the 1960s and quickly became involved in their criminal activities, which included drug trafficking and murder.
Moran‘s husband and two of her sons were killed in gangland wars in the 1990s and 2000s, but she remained a powerful figure in the Melbourne underworld. In 2009, she was arrested and convicted of murder for her role in the death of her brother-in-law, and she is currently serving a 26-year prison sentence.
8. Raffaella D‘Alterio (1965-)
Raffaella D‘Alterio, also known as "The Big Female Kitten," is an Italian Camorra crime boss who has been active in the underworld since the 1980s. Born in Naples, D‘Alterio married into the powerful D‘Alterio clan and quickly became involved in their criminal activities, which included drug trafficking and extortion.
D‘Alterio‘s intelligence and ruthlessness helped her to rise through the ranks of the Camorra, and she eventually took over leadership of the D‘Alterio clan after the arrest of her husband. She was known for her lavish lifestyle and her ability to intimidate rivals and law enforcement alike. D‘Alterio was arrested in 2012 and is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence.
9. Sandra Ávila Beltrán (1960-)
Sandra Ávila Beltrán, also known as "The Queen of the Pacific," is a Mexican drug lord who played a key role in the Sinaloa Cartel. Born into a family with deep ties to the drug trade, Ávila Beltrán began her criminal career in the 1980s, working as a money launderer and logistics coordinator for the cartel.
Ávila Beltrán‘s intelligence and her ability to forge connections with high-level government officials helped her to rise through the ranks of the cartel, and she eventually became one of the most powerful women in the Mexican drug trade. She was arrested in 2007 and extradited to the United States, where she served a prison sentence before being released in 2015.
10. Enedina Arellano Félix (1961-)
Enedina Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug lord who has been a key figure in the Tijuana Cartel since the 1990s. Born into a family of drug traffickers, Arellano Félix began her criminal career as a money launderer and logistics coordinator for the cartel, working alongside her brothers, who were the leaders of the organization.
After the arrest or death of her brothers, Arellano Félix took over leadership of the Tijuana Cartel, becoming one of the most powerful women in the Mexican drug trade. She is known for her business acumen and her ability to maintain the cartel‘s power in the face of increasing pressure from law enforcement and rival organizations. Despite being one of the most wanted criminals in Mexico, Arellano Félix remains at large and continues to be a major player in the drug trade.
These ten women demonstrate that gender is no barrier to reaching the highest echelons of organized crime. While their stories are often marked by violence, tragedy, and ultimate downfall, they also reveal the complex nature of the criminal underworld and the many factors that can lead individuals to pursue a life of crime. By studying these notorious female mobsters, we can gain a deeper understanding of the history and dynamics of organized crime, and the enduring fascination that these figures hold in popular culture.
