The Mafia of Omaha
https://thenewyorkmafia.com/the-mafia-of-omaha/

I was simply amazed by all the historical information I uncovered during the research needed for the following article and membership chart.

After all, with a little less than 43,000 Italians living in the State of Nebraska — among a total population of almost 2,000,000 — Italians represented a measly 2.5% of all residents in The Cornhusker State.

Yet, amazingly enough, the Cosa Nostra-tied faction they established and headed still managed to wrest control of a sprawling and vibrant criminal underworld economy. With a network of over 100 criminal associates — and a slew of lucrative rackets to operate — Biase and Barone and their crew were a force to be reckoned with.

...This membership chart also includes a mugshot gallery with two dozen rare photos.

Is it possible that in early days of Investigators investigating the "mafia" when they weren't even sure there was a "mafia" that many "made members" were labeled as associates
For example ,it would be like saying Genovese was an Associate of Luciano. Or both Genovese and Luciano were Associates of Masseria

Then as time went on and more was learned about the "Mafia" or "Cosa Nostra" investigators became aware that there were secret societies and that there were such a thing as Members-"Made Members" who took oaths to join
But that the FBI or other Investigators may not have bothered to go back and rename all their formerly labeled "Associates" as "Made Members" maybe because they were already dead or out of the life?

Especially in areas outside of places like NYC,Philadelphia,Chicago there were cities where guys were known to be in someway "Associates" of mob guys in the bigger cities but no way to know if they were ever actual "Made Members" or not,regardless of volumes maybe being known about their organized crime activities.

Good morning, Havana.

I have little doubt that at some point in time somewhere along the way — here in NY and elsewhere — that certainly did happen.

I think a good example of what you’re asking about occurred up in New England back in the 1930s when future Genovese Family consiglieri Michele (Mike) Miranda’s brother — Antonio Miranda — relocated there to marry a woman, who — for lack of a better term — was a gangster in her own right. He ended up becoming enmeshed as her partner in a bootlegging operation and other activities.

As the brother of Miranda, I strongly suspect that Antonio must have also been an inducted member of that Family. In fact, I’d actually be very surprised if he was not.

I’m sure there are other examples as well. But I immediately thought of Tony Miranda as I read your comment.

I think it worked the other way around too.

For example, I think that for a certain amount time Meyer Lansky was thought to be a Mafia or Cosa Nostra member of high rank
Not sure if that's what Law Enforecement thought ,but that's what I think a lot of people believed,based on things they'd read or maybe say on TV or movies.

100%! There are many examples of that. And as you mentioned, Meyer Lansky is a perfect one.

For many years he was considered an actual "inducted" member of the Mafia, when the reality was a bit different.

The Colombo Family's Charles (Ruby) Stein was another one. He was a top-ranked associate, not a Mafia member, per se.

Wasn't James Napoli, of NYC ,a big underworld gambling figure not listed as a member of Cosa Nostra,until fairly recently?
Maybe still not considered a made guy ?

What is his true status in the Mafia,and if not a member or at least not a member until recently,what is the story on him?

Thats 100% correct, Havana.

For decades Jimmy Nap was thought to have been an 'inducted' soldier of the old Genovese Family's Brooklyn faction. Because of his 'status' as one of the country's biggest gambling kingpins -- specifically the numbers racket -- law enforcement and many in the mob itself always thought he was a 'good fellow.'

Mob lore has it that Napoli actually turned down the 'honor' of being made several times. Until -- in the late 1970s -- he was allegedly 'told' to accept it.

He was subsequently inducted into that family and was later elevated to a capo status.

PS: Some say -- those really in the know -- that it was the biggest mistake of his life. And one he verbally regretted on several occasions.

If the mob members themselves werent't sure who was a member and who wasn't ,then its likely Law Enforecement made made wrong assumptions about who they named as true members of the mafia.and who weren't

And this would probably be more true of guys who were or weren't members before 1960 or maybe even as late as 1970 when they were just getting any kind of real look into the mafia

I'm not talking about OTHER good fellows, per se. I'm referring to various mob 'associates' around NYC who didn't have an insiders perspective as to who was really who, and what was really what.

Made guys were usually told who other made guys were.