Hmmm...personally I think "associates" is a pretty vague term. It could mean anything from a bookie to a realtor who looks the other way.
None of us will ever really know a lot of the nuances.
I do think there is merit, though, in the idea that if no one is being busted for anything, activity is likely down.
Harry Aleman was arrested literally 20 times. I don't buy the idea that the Outfit just got smarter and no one gets pinched for anything anymore.
That's the reason i'm always skeptical of Chicago street guys, not to mention it's usually Chicago posters who disagree with anything showing them as a mid level family, which it seems the FBI believe at least.
