The Roth Syndicate (also known as the Kosher Nostra) was an organized crime outfit led by Hyman Roth. Their main interests were gambling operations in Las Vegas and Havana. The inner-core of the syndicate was largely composed of Jewish and Italian-Americans.
History[]
The syndicate was formed following Hyman Roth's success during Prohibition, running molasses with Vito Corleone, as well as after his days leading Murder, Inc. The largely Jewish/Italian membership led Roth's criminal empire to become known as 'Kosher Nostra'.
In the 1950s, Hyman Roth and his associates formed a lucrative partnership with the government of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba. Batista would offer Roth and the Mafia control of Havana’s racetracks and casinos. Roth, of course, would place himself at the center of Cuba's gambling operations. He later called on all his men and business partners to hold a summit in Havana on his birthday, shortly before the outbreak of the Cuban Revolution. It was during this time that Roth and his men were conspiring against their business partner Michael Corleone, as revenge for the death of Roth’s friend Moe Greene. However, Roth and his operation dealt a major blow when Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution forced the mafia out of Cuba, thus ending their casino deal before it could come to fruition. Roth’s right hand man Johnny Ola was also killed that night by Michael Corleone’s assassin during a failed assassination on Hyman Roth.
After Hyman Roth was assassinated by Rocco Lampone, the syndicate presumably dissolved.
Inner-core[]
- Boss - Hyman Roth
- Underboss - Johnny Ola
- Enforcers - Moe Greene, Sam Roth, Mortie Whiteshoes, Lucky Luciano, Ola’s Hitmen.
- Associates - Meyer Klingman, Eddie Levine, Eddie Pennino, Dino Pennino, Jake Cohen, Questadt
Business Partners[]
- Fulgencio Batista
- Vito Corleone
- Michael Corleone
- Fredo Corleone
- Vincent Forlenza
- Carmine and Tony Rosato
- Ben Tamarkin
- Louie Russo
Fronts and Properties[]
In the video game[]
In the video game, Roth Syndicate was third most powerful family in game also Hyman Roth had connections with CIA Agent Henry Mitchell, and Roth kept their noses clean and the CIA kept them informed.
Roth and Dominic[]
After Dominic Trapani killed Carmine Rosato in New York, Roth asked Dominic to travel to Miami and assist him in defeating the Granados family, and also to rescue Roth's soldato Steven. After taking over at least one crime ring and killing two rival made men in Florida, Dominic was contacted by Michael Corleone to return to New York, but a strike at the airport had cancelled all flights. Dominic went to Roth who introduced him to CIA Agent Henry Mitchell, who informed Dominic the strike was being caused by Cuban rebel Alejandro Almeida. Dominic killed Alejandro, and returned to New York. When Dominic returned to Miami, he allied himself with Samuele Mangano. Dominic and Michael's brother, Fredo, where ambushed at Dominic's Miami safehouse by Roth's hitmen, but the two believed that Mangano was behind it and that sparked a violent mob war. Fredo suggested that Dominic went to Roth for assistance, which Dominic did, and was tasked by Roth and Mitchell to kill Fidel Castro to regain Cuba. Dominic travelled to Cuba, and earned Castro's trust by eliminating the resistence. Once inside the Presidential palace, Dominic shot but didn't kill Castro, forcing Dominic to flee the country.
Double-cross[]
It turned out that Roth was playing both Dominic and the Almeida family, whose Don, Esteban Almeida, was also in the Palace at the time of Castro's shooting. After Michael Corleone's trial, Michael ordered the elimination of the Corleone's enemies, and Henry Mitchell. Eventually, Dominic shot and killed Roth at the airport in Miami.