I don't know any of these guys personally, so take this for what it's worth. But I think some of those guys were not necessarily stupid, but they just didn't give a fuck. I think because of ego and pride they valued their buttons and their title of Boss ,Captain, or Soldier, whatever the case may be, more than their freedom. And the ones like Sonny Franzese who grew up before rats or RICO or any of that, they spent the first several years of their careers invincible to the law. That kind of power and respect must go to a guy's head. Money and power is addictive, it makes people crave more.
1000% correct Fleming. 1000%
Power, the recognition, the chance for money, etc.
And let me state for the record, Junior was no dope. Far from it in fact.
But as a previous poster pointed out, Persico allegedly had a high IQ.
But my feeling and experience in life has shown me that no matter how brilliant or intelligent a fella may be. They nonetheless are capable of doing extremely stupid things. As you say, maybe the power and money went to his head and he just didn't give a fuck (In fact I am certain of that). Guys like Persico, Franzese, etc., were dyed in the wool hoodlums from the womb.
They didn't know anything else. Cosa Nostra was their entire world. Their entire life.....so no matter how "logical" an answer may have been. Jail was in the cards. and the position and "button" was worth everything to them. Freedom, family, happiness, etc etc
It's been proven time and again by many mafiosi. Cosa Nostra is a strange world. And many in it have an even stranger mentality as a mafioso.
