This might seem like a dumb question but Im a newb

How big are typical loansharking operations in terms of manpower not money. Is it usually just a made man who puts his money out on the street and deals with borrowers directly, and then he hires out a collector so everything is paid on time? Is it as simple as a two guys operation or is it more complex than that?

The bank, a few runners and the muscle

Thanks!

So would any of runners or muscle for the operation be considered connected guys/on record or would they be considered low-level associates?

It depends which family we're talking about these days, I never heard of made guys from the Genovese family for instance, being used as muscle to collect debts, they have associates for that..

But Vince Filipelli, made man in the Philly mob, was twice convicted for violently collecting debts. That can either mean they don't have enough associates or that he likes to intimidate people and use violence. Being that he was a 260 pound Gorilla juice head at the time, that is also very plausible..

Thanks for the response BillyBrizzi.

Yeah I read the Philly has more made guys than associates so that wouldn't surprise me if soldiers have to collect themselves. But even then though, I don't see why the cant hire non-Italian associates to collect for them so that they avoid an assault or extortion charge like the guy mentioned in your post.

Although saying that, I remember reading in Murder Machine that Nino Gaggi would sometimes collect from debtors himself even though he had his nephew working for him.

These guys don't hire people. No one gets a salary like in the movies. They collect there own money. What you collect you kick up. Thats how it has always been done.

I know thats true for made guys and connected guys, but for low-level associates such as debt collectors I thought they were paid in salaries etc. Am I wrong about that then?

No one gets a salary. You earn what you can and kick up a piece to who you are with. Thats how it goes.

How much muscle does a shybook usually need?

SMH

Pfft whatever