A senior figure in what would become the Genovese crime family, Moretti operated as a powerful underboss across New York and New Jersey during the mid-twentieth century consolidation of American organized crime. His end came not from law enforcement but from within — his own colleagues ordered his killing after his Kefauver Committee testimony raised fears about what he might say next. The case illustrated a recurring dynamic in organized crime: the greater threat was often perceived to come from loose associations than from rival families.

The foundation of one of the nineteenth century's largest private fortunes was laid in human trafficking — specifically, the practice of purchasing enslaved people in poor health, restoring them, and reselling them at a profit. From that start, Terry expanded into sugar, banking, and commerce, becoming the commanding economic figure of Cienfuegos and accumulating wealth that placed him among the richest individuals in the world by the time of his death.

Three murders carried out within a three-week span in 2005 define Balakin's place in this record — all committed through a consistent pattern of feigned helpfulness, followed by rape and strangulation. His early criminal history, interrupted only by minor consequences, preceded a period of apparent stability that concealed what followed. The investigation required hundreds of witnesses and dozens of suspects before physical evidence and survivor identifications secured a confession and a life sentence.