The Everything Mafia Book by Scott M Dietche

ranks and surpass more deserving mobsters.
    Associates—The Vital Link
    Next down on the Mafia food chain are the associates. They are not made guys, but they are the most important part of a successful Mafia family. They work with the crews, some with hopes of one day being made, others knowing they can’t because of their ethnic background. Some associates, like Chicago gangsters Murray “the Camel” Humphries and Gus Alex, were probably more powerful and influential than many of the made guys in the Mafia.
    Associates are usually the closest to the street and are the bookmakers, loan sharks, drug runners, as well as the errand boys and messengers for the made mobsters. Some associates are corrupt cops, accountants, politicians, business partners, and financial consultants who help the mobsters in a variety of ways—all illegal.
    Associates are the main group of criminals in a mobster’s crew. They are often used for the dirty work, and that includes murder and beatings. If a leg needs to be broken, a made guy will often send an associate. They report directly to their soldier or in some cases, the capo. They are ambitious young hoods who desperately want to be made. Though valuable (they are more than willing to hit, whack, ice, or burn any target, since this is a prerequisite to being made), they are also regarded with a wary eye by the elder gangsters, since they may be a threat sometime down the line.

    For a look at street-level gangster life, a great movie to see is the criminally underrated Friends of Eddie Coyle about low-level Irish gangsters in the Boston underworld. It gives an overview off the less-than-glamorous aspect of mob life.
    What It Means to Be Made
    As important as an associate may be, he is still thought of as a simple errand boy or enforcer. He may run a huge, sophisticated betting operation, or he may visit regular customers, take the bets, and collect the money and return it to the “office.” Either way, he is still not a made guy and does not get to enjoy some of the privileges of being an official member of the Mafia.
    To be made, a prospect must be sponsored by a made guy. The gangster vouches for the prospect (which can cause a problem if the prospect is an undercover cop). Then a ceremony is held to officially induct the prospect into the Mafia. From then on they are considered made guys, or “friends of ours.” To be made means they can control and demand money from associates, they cannot sleep with the girlfriend or wife of another made guy, and cannot hit another made guy. Being made also means a bigger set of responsibilities and respect from others in the underworld. Of course, being a made guy puts you out in front as a target for the law.

CHAPTER 9
The Five Families of New York
    The Mafia gained its greatest presence in New York City. From the turn of the twentieth century, the organized crime outfits that have become known as “the five families” of New York have had their share of family ties, family feuds, and family affairs. Together they carved up the biggest city in the nation into their own personal fiefdoms. A slogan that appeared on T-shirts a few years ago in Greenwich Village summed it up best: “New York City, Family Owned and Operated Since 1920.” This chapter will look at the history and the cast of characters of these infamous crime families.
    Epicenter of the Mafia
    New York gained a lot from the immigrants that streamed into the country at the turn of the twentieth century—future business leaders, politicians, doctors, and so on. As discussed in previous chapters, there was also the dark underside of the Mafia. New York was the breeding ground for thousands of mobsters over the years. It was a natural place for the mob to work their trade. As an economic powerhouse, New York also had a strong union presence, easy pickings for the mob. With two of the busiest airports in America, coupled with an extensive port facility, the mob had a ready supply of