many on here constantly state that the american mafia is finished, dwindling, fighting for scraps etc. so to say that some possible low level associates being involved in gun trafficking is not a 'typical mafia crime' begs the question. in 2025 what is a 'typical crime?' if the rackets so to speak are dwindling, the number of oc groups appear to be rising, what is an italian american criminal who aspires to be made do to make money. they adapt, they start getting into crimes that in todays world, NOT 1950s era mafia world that can still make money. ghost guns, fentanyl dealing/dark web imports, cyber crime. it might be fine with some older made members to now sit around and talk about the old days of massive statewide gambling syndicates, heroin imports, juice loans etc. but those are not viable crimes anymore. one can run an international gambling network with a pittance the amount of manpower. heroin imports and distribution has not been a common racket amongst most mafia families for near 30 years, juice loans do still happen but the sentences have been increased significantly.

there will always be italian men striving to be made in the small amount of cities and states with a still functioning crime family. their ways to make money have changed and those who aspire to be the don someday need to change as well. nothing about any current functioning criminal group remains static and unchanging they adapt to the times, make criminal alliances amongst other oc groups to survive, and the ones who dont are not presently being talked about in 2025 because they are defunct.