I do know that. And it wasnt just the rent controlled building, he didnt have much money. OK he wasnt broke...but he didnt have as much as you'd think. Considering he spent alot of years behind bars and made out about as well as a slightly above average plumber...not too good.

He often said that it wasnt a good life and once you get in 'they got you'. He steered his kids FAR away from it.

I really don't care what he said, wiseguys lie all the time they're notorious liars. Everyone from the government and even their fellow comrades are after their wealth, so even if he did have a lot of money it's not like he's gonna tell anyone. You don't know if he had a lot of money or not. I personally knew of an old bitch who didn't look like she had any money, then when she died it was discovered she had $800,000. Quit acting like you lived with these people or you know them personally. Okay?

Frank Calabrese Sr got the Govt to pay for his lawyer in family secrets because he swore that he was broke. In 2010 when they raided his house they found over 728k and over 1 thousand pieces of jewlery

Good example Louie, I don't believe shit these professional liars say.

What wiseguy or hoodlum in his right mind you know is gonna VOLUNTARILY say he's got a ton of money stashed away? LOL What are you fucking nuts or something?

OF COURSE they lie about that. I would too! Wouldn't you???

And they lie about other subjects also. And sometimes they'll lie about big and small things too (like most of us) LOL.

But that does not mean that certain things that are said are NOT the truth. It all depends upon if its self-serving or not. Understandable, no?

Some that were smart put their money in other people's names. Opened semi legit businesses. A lot of others wasted it on Cars, Clothing,Jewelry, and Their Gomatta's.

Another good example is in 1991 they found 230k in cash in Vinny Basciano's house, that wasn't even paid for was still under mortgage. That's equivalent to around 450k in 2021. Now my first instinct is to assume that anyone still paying a mortgage, who can't even pay his house off, must be living paycheck to paycheck and doesn't have much cash. But appearances aren't always what they seem.

Not true. Lots of guys can't show the money. But never forget what I'm gonna tell you. For every street guys who is well heeled, there's ten who aren't. Maybe more.

I get that, all I'm saying is just because someone looks like they're broke or struggling doesn't mean they are. It can go both ways, and keep in mind not everyone has expensive taste. Many people are okay with less stuff, they'd rather have money. Depends on the individual. But I knew there's a lot of brokesters since Donnie Brasco.

This is why Moe Dalitz was the man. The amount of money Meyer Lansky had access to was astronomical and he couldn't show any of it. Died with almost nothing to his name.

NYMafia, this is where the Mafia could really benefit from business infiltration. The amount of clean faces and legitimate businessmen that they could hide behind in that world is endless.