Do mob guys have deep ties to the pornography industry in Los Angeles? I find it difficult to believe that some of those sick fucks are able to get away with cranking out some of the more stomach-churning stuff that hits the video shelves (talking about the non-illegal stuff between adults that involves near fatal acts of choking or other just plain disgusting stuff) without any significant connections to powerful players in the underworld.
Deep ties? I don't think so. At least there's not much evidence of it anymore. There was a time when the mob was able to have a significant interest in the porn business because it was still fringe entertainment and the means for production and distribution were limited. However, over time social mores loosened up and porn became mainstream which led to more legit corporations getting involved. At the same time you had changing technology with video tape (easy duplication), DVD, and eventually the internet (where much of it is free).
That said, there are still a few holdouts. LA family member Mike Esposito owns Gentleman's Video, a porn production/distribution company. But you have Rob Spallone selling Italian ice in NYC because, as he claims, there's no money to be made in the business anymore.
Where you'll still find deep mob involvement in the sex business is strip clubs. And, of course, porn retail outlets are always a favorite shakedown target for the mob.
