Rocco LaDucca’s “The Mob Files” 4-14-25

In this episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday, I interview journalist Rocco LaDucca about the “Mob Files,” his series of articles detailing the history of organized crime in Utica.  Rocco discusses the local mafia, the political corruption that enabled their operations, and the role of journalism in exposing these issues, especially regarding the 1959 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting by the Observer Dispatch. Key moments discussed include the rise of the Falcones in the 1920s, the public's gradual realization of organized crime's impact, and significant events like the Appalachian meeting that thrust Utica into the national spotlight.