And they had politicians and judges in their pockets (as well as at least one US Senator and at least Congressmen who were paisan as well as at least one "jew congressman" from outside the district) like so many nickels and dimes.
They also had journalists and police scehdule makers on the payroll.

I imagine they ran the numbers racket, and bookmaking. They also made a lot of money by using their influence to allow the other families to run their prostitution and other rackets without police interference.