RICO was around, but it wasn't used widely until Reagan took office in 1980. And it wasn't used effectively until the Commission trial in 1986 (when Giuliani and Blakey showed prosecutors how to effectively use it).
Yes, but if Gambino and Lombardo were still active as Commission members in the 80s, would the Commission trial ever be allowed to take place, or if it did, would it have had the same conclusion?
Are you kidding me? Allowed to take place? This isn't Sicily and you're giving them way too much credit.
Don't forget, the reason the Commission trial was brought about to begin with was because of Joe Bonanno's silly and self-serving book. And last time I checked, Bonanno was one Gambino's contemporaries and one of the original members of the Commission.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
