Organized crime never stands still. As technology, globalization and financial systems have evolved, so too have the criminal networks that exploit them. In recent weeks, national media outlets and one of the nation's most popular investigative podcasts have turned to Jay Albanese, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, to help explain what those changes mean for law enforcement, policymakers and the public.

An internationally recognized scholar of organized crime and transnational crime, Albanese has spent decades studying how criminal organizations adapt to changing technologies, markets and enforcement strategies.

"Many people still think of organized crime through the lens of The Godfather, but today's criminal organizations operate very differently," Albanese said. "As technology, globalization and international commerce have evolved, organized crime has shifted from local, family-based enterprises to sophisticated transnational networks that exploit people, financial systems and illicit markets. Understanding those changes is essential if policymakers and law enforcement hope to develop effective strategies to prevent and respond to emerging threats."

Among the recent topics Albanese has addressed is a sweeping federal indictment alleging that a transnational criminal organization orchestrated a Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $10.6 billion in fraudulent claims. In an interview with the New York Post, he explained how the case reflects the growing sophistication and international reach of modern organized crime.

Albanese also appeared on the American Scandal podcast in the episode "Mafia Cops: The New Underworld," offering historical perspective on organized crime through the infamous New York "Mafia Cops" corruption case and discussing the broader evolution of criminal enterprises.

In a separate interview with Salt Lake City Weekly, Albanese examined the decline of the traditional American Mafia, discussing how successful prosecutions, demographic shifts and technological advances have transformed organized crime in the United States.

Collectively, the three appearances highlight a central theme of Albanese's scholarship: Organized crime is not a static phenomenon but one that continually adapts to changing opportunities, technologies and global markets. Understanding those shifts is essential for developing effective public policy and criminal justice responses.