In "Idiots Guide to the Mafia", Jerry Capeci cites Stephen "Stevie Coogan" Grammauta as taking part in the 1957 barbershop murder of Gambino Boss Albert Anastasia (we've all heard heaps of different claims and versions of this classic hit; i tend to give credence to Capeci's) This guy, according to Capeci "was seemingly inactive for decades. He reemerged in the late 1990's as the Capo of a the crew-" After a stint on a Gambino ruling panel, he is apparantly, as of 2002 at least, a Capo again.

Sure he spent 25 of those 35-odd years serving a heroin rap, but he obviously operates on a level above all but the nosiest and aggresive of investigators. San Francisco Boss James "Jimmy" Lanza apparantly managed to fake his own death in 87 and continue a life in the mob until supposedly dieing for real in 2006 (Admittedly, this could be false; the James Lanza dead as of 2006 could perhaps be a relative or cousin, though both born in 1917)

Really, id say that by running a tight ship and keeping crew members loyal through fair leadership and respect, by not being either a loudmouth douch like Gotti or a murderous nut like Scarfo and most importantly by watching what they say, do and deal with 24/7/365. Insulation is key.

For the average "button" man, wouldnt it all be in the rackets first, his reactions second? For example, a married man with a routine committing various white and low-key blue-collar crimes under the auspices of his "front"(think tony soprano and maserone garbage hauling) is for obvious reasons far less conspicuous than a dedicated hi-jacker/drug-dealer/enforcer, living far beyond his means with no reported source of income. Some people scream "gangster", some gangsters scream "grandpa"