several billions – it is impossible to say how many – in revenue for the Mob. Dollar for dollar, usury is Mafia’s best investment; though the gross is lower than
it is in gambling, profit is higher. The fourth one is narcotics traffic. Narcotic traffic, chiefly in heroin, is less lucrative than gambling, but still profitable
enough. Because of the risks involved in peddling drugs directly, Mafia once again contracts the retail trade to its sharecroppers, saving for itself the less
dangerous and infinitely more profitable role of importer and wholesaler. The fifth is labor racketeering. It has no price tag, but obviously nets the Mob many
millions. It takes several forms. One of the simplest is extortion. The last one is business infiltration. It is the organization’s fastest-growing source. Indeed,
mafia’s penetration of the above-ground world of finance and commerce is probably the greatest threat that it poses to the nation today. A business can be
acquired in any number of ways, from foreclosure on a usurious loan to outright purchase. Once brought under the Mob’s umbrella, a business almost always
ceases to operate legitimately. If it is a restaurant or a nightclub, it buys coal or oil from one Mafia affiliate, rents linen from another, ships garbage out through still
another Cahill 212-217.
3. The Structure of Mafia
Grabianowski’s The Structure of La Cosa Nostra states that the structure described below refers specifically to La Cosa Nostra. Other groups have similar
structures, but they may differ in some ways. Each group is made up of several gangs, known as families. The number
of families can range from fewer than 10 to more than 100. Sometimes, the
emergence of a new family must be approved by the heads of other families, while in some cases a group can splinter off from another family and consolidate its
power, becoming recognized as a new family over time. Each family has separate business dealings, but the dealings of the families can intermingle to a large extent
depending on their proximity to one another and the commonality of their ventures The Structure of La Cosa Nostra.
The leader of each family is known as the boss, or don. All major decisions are made by the boss, and money made by the family ultimately flows
to him. The bosss authority is needed to resolve disputes and keep everyone in line The Structure of La Cosa Nostra.
Just below the boss is the underboss. The underboss is the second in command, although the amount of power he wields can vary. Some underbosses
resolve disputes without involving the boss. Some are groomed to replace the boss if he is old or in danger of going to jail The Structure of La Cosa Nostra.
Beneath the underboss are several capos. The number of capos varies depending on the overall size of the family. A capo acts like a lieutenant, leading
his own section of the family. He has specific activities that he operates. The capos territory may be defined geographically or by the rackets he operates. The
key to being a successful capo is making money. The capo keeps some of the money his rackets earn and then passes the rest up to the underboss and boss The
Structure of La Cosa Nostra. The dirty work is done by the soldiers. A soldier is the lowest rank
among made men. Theyre part of the family, but they hold little power and make
relatively little money. The number of soldiers that belong to any given capo can vary tremendously The Structure of La Cosa Nostra.
In addition to soldiers, the Mafia will use associates. Associates are not actual members of the Mafia, but they work with Mafia soldiers and capos on
various criminal enterprises. An associate is simply someone who works with the mob, including anyone from a burglar or drug dealer to a lawyer, investment
banker, police officer or politician The Structure of La Cosa Nostra. There is one other position within the family that is somewhat legendary --
the consigliori. The consigliori is not supposed to be part of the familys hierarchy. He is supposed to act as an advisor and make impartial decisions based
on fairness rather than personal feelings or vendettas. This position is meant to be elected by the members of the family, rather than appointed by the boss. In reality,
consiglieres are sometimes appointed and are not always impartial The Structure of La Cosa Nostra.
4. Types of Crime
