Part 12

Explore the criminal organizations and key figures of Empire Bay in Mafia II. Learn about the Vinci, O'Neill, Triad families, and more.

This section details the major criminal players and organizations operating within Empire Bay. It provides background on their origins, operations, and key members.

Don Clemente:

Don Clemente, a powerful figure, arrived in Empire Bay and amassed wealth through liquor smuggling during Prohibition. He was recognized by the Commission to establish his own family in 1929. Despite his influence, Clemente's gang is considered second-rate due to his unscrupulous business practices.

Frank Vinci:

Frank Vinci, the long-standing boss of the Vinci family, established extortion rackets in the Italian immigrant community upon his arrival in 1908. His gang dominated the city for a decade. Vinci operates discreetly, maintaining ties with politicians and police. The decline of Prohibition cash led to a war with the Moretti family, costing Vinci his top position, though he remains a staunch advocate for traditional mafia values, particularly against drugs.

Leo Galante:

Leo Galante serves as consigliere to Frank Vinci and is credited as the mastermind behind Empire Bay's most successful criminal organization. He and Frank established the Vinci family in 1908, with Leo handling strategy and Frank providing enforcement. They controlled the Southport docks for easy alcohol smuggling during Prohibition. Leo, a sports enthusiast, ran a major bookmaking operation for 20 years before being jailed for fight-fixing in 1943.

Stephen Coyne:

Stephen Coyne is an enforcer for the Vinci family. After serving five years for assaulting a police officer, he began working with Derek Pappalardo. Though unable to become a full member due to his heritage, Coyne became a trusted associate after assassinating rival boss Tamaso Moretti, ending the mob war.

Brian O'Neill:

Brian O'Neill leads a ragtag gang in the Dipton and Kingston districts, continuing the legacy of his grandfather, Jimmy O'Neill. The O'Neill clan has a long history in Empire Bay. Brian specializes in violent, opportunistic crimes like smash-and-grabs and burglaries, driven by a desire for quick cash and companionship.

Mr. Wong:

Mr. Wong is an Enforcer for the Triad criminal organization, operating from the Red Dragon restaurant. He arrived in America as forced labor on an opium-smuggling ship, escaping to Empire Bay. After falling into servitude with the Triads, he rose through the ranks by guarding opium dens and eventually masterminding their smuggling operations. He proved his loyalty by killing his cousin for stealing opium.

Antonio Balsamo:

Antonio "Tony Balls" Balsamo is a veteran soldier in the Falcone crime family. He was Tamaso Moretti's driver and was injured in the 1933 car bombing that killed Moretti. Balsamo now primarily works the Falcone family's protection rackets and is assigned to protect the family's accountant, Harvey "Beans" Epstein.

Greasers:

Greasers are a subculture that emerged in the early 1950s, known for their slicked-back hairstyles, motorcycles, hot rods, and rock and roll. In Empire Bay, they are led by Billy "Bones" Barnes and frequent garages and vacant lots in Millville for racing, drinking, and partying.

Mike Bruski:

Mike Bruski runs a junkyard in Riverside. A career criminal with prior prison time for bank heists, Bruski uses his junkyard for scams involving stolen auto parts, fencing stolen goods, and disposing of mob evidence.

Harry Marsden III:

Nathaniel Harold "Harry" Marsden III is a black market arms dealer operating from his basement in Kingston. A WWII veteran, Harry lost an eye during his service. He uses his Army contacts to acquire surplus ordnance and supplies weapons to organized crime elements, balancing this with his interest in military history and socializing with fellow veterans.