Technically speaking, they were never seen by other families or the FBI as a Mafia family. They were Italian, they knew some Mafia people, they ran their strip club business, etc. in very mob-like ways, but not really an LCN group.
It's because its Washington. On extreme opposite ends of the U.S. based on typical Mob power base, not even counting the handful that were in L.A./O.C.
"The Feds are a business Anthony, millions of tax dollars are invested in watching your ass, sooner or later, just like you, their gonna want a return on their investment." --- Neil Mink, Tony Soprano's lawyer
