Silver Spoons and the mob

You always hear mobsters saying how people with silver spoons shouldn't be involved in the mob.

Do you think they are right?

I mean people with silver spoons are usually well educated so wouldn't that actually help the mob instead of hurting them? Especially in the day and age of computers and so forth?

How about the advisors for mob bosses. Wouldn't you feel that a guy with a harvard degree would be better off for the job than some guy who has 3rd grade education?

There has to be some guys out there who were born into wealth and who became involved in organized crime. Any names come to mind?

if you make money you make money...thats all that matters

Exactly.

So why would a mobster be against someone getting involved just because they consider them spoiled?

I brought this up cause I was watching Sopranos and Tony didn't want Jackie Aprile Jr. involved cause he was born with a silver spoon.

its a tv show, FICTION

Yes but if someone was against a person getting involved because they considered them spoiled, what would be the logic behind that? Sloppiness?

I think more or less is that they've lead a privileged life and may not be able to stand up to time in jail or if they gotta put in work they may back out and what not, but mostly I think it has to do with the law and being able to stand up when the time comes.

it goes with the story line, its his deceased best friends kid

So perfect example would be......

"Hey Johnny, you gotta bury the motherfucker. You shot him in the head. Now you gotta go get rid of the body."

Johnny : "Oh ok. Let me go do that."

Four hours later.......

"Hey Johnny , did you get the job done or what?"

Johnny: "Oh fuck I forgot about that. I'm at the bar watching the game. I'll get to it as soon as possible!"

perfect example, you hit it on the head

Problem is you're using a TV show for real life. In reality, there was an LA family boss who was the son of the previous boss, his name escapes me right now. Anyway, his father sent him off to College, a prestigious one at that, he goes on to become a criminal lawyer, at some point in his life was made and became a well respected boss when his father died.

Look at Detroit, the majority of the last generation of bosses, underbosses and capo's are all Mob royalty and have college degrees, and graduated before they were made. Example, Tony Zerilli and Jack Tocco.

They aren't willing to do the dirty work. Bottom line.

These old school mobsters would have eat shit if they had to do it. They grew up on the streets.

Someone with a silver spoon wouldn't chop up bodies either.

i believe you are referring to tony brooklier, although he was never criminally involved in the life.

the simple answer is that people growing up in nice surroundings and with nice things are MUCH less likely to be able to tolerate the restraints of jail, and will go further to get out from under charges that may keep them there.

The guy I'm talking about isn't alive anymore. Brooklier is, and I don't know if he was ever the boss of anything.


Edit: Frank DeSimone is who I'm talking about.

Some people would say that Joey Merlino was somewhat of a spoiled Mob kid. He came from a Mob family so in South philly everyone kissed his punk ass. Plus he had all the new toys, sneakers, anything he wanted. Leonetti gets into this a little bit in his book. I don't think he was spoiled in the means that you guys are talking about like being born with a silver spoon. Just thought Id throw it out there.

Ok my thing is, you do what u gotta do. Ppl will judge you but its ur life, ur decisions, and u should accept the risks of that life. In my experience, ive seen tough as nails kids who grew up in mountain lakes who sell roxys and make 70k a yr, i know poor kids who ran with a set in belleville rat on there first pinch. imo, ur income level doesnt necessarily predetermine how tough u are. Ex-all the m lakes kids think boonton is ghetto, kids from boonton think bville is ghetto, kids from belleville think jc kids are all bad ass..... It doesnt mean shit. My thinking is, if ur rich, or even middle class, why go down that road? Maybe ur lazy, or think its glamorous or whatever, idk. If thats the reason i think ur foolish. Maybe your greedy, maybe ur not satisfied making 100k as a doctor or whatever so u make some book, thats ur perrogative, your educated enough to know the risks. Honestly, its one thing for the money, its another for the rush or whatever u get from doing something illegal. Its dumb. If someone comes from a lower income family, its much harder to get a head than someone from a middle class family, or higher. Kids like big angs kid wont ever understand that. Bc even after they flunk out of CSI there still getting checks from their parents. That kids never stayed up saying where am i gonna get the rent, probly never had a job he got for himself. But he sells shit bc he thinks it makes him some hard ass gangster. My thinking is, why do any of that shit if you dont have to? Why stay sleepless from worrying what if the cops come to my door? What am i gonna do with all this shit thats enough to put me away for ten years. Whos gonna bail me out? How will i pay a lawyer? What if one of my customers flips? What if he ods? What if my parents find out? What if they write up some big article about me in the paper? But if you quit hustling, what are u gonna do for tuition? Rent? Car payments? Car insurance? Gas? Food? This is shit no kid whos got wealthy parents sending him checks worries about. Whether he has a college degree or not. I can think of one guy as an example, he grew up in parsippany, good nhood, big house, in the life bc his dad. Honestly u dont see much ppl in there early 20s being with a crew unless theyre somebodys kid or the coffeeboy. Thats mostly how it is with younger guys, you can devide them up, wiseguys son, degenerate/bum/junkie kid, and kid thats poor and can hustle like a car salesman. Most tend to gravitate towards drugs unless they have some incredibly smart friend who convinces them all to make book instead. Bottom line, i dont think it makes a difference, "potential wise", how well off some one was raised, but as far as the overall benefit to be in that life, i just dont see it.

No matter the differences we've had in the past that was one of the best responces i,ve ever seen, good shit i know you don't give a fuck but that was masterfully worded, you hit it right on the head, Thanks.

Even today, I think there's examples of Italian guys who have become successful businessmen on their own and have no need for the Mafia. But they become involved with the Mafia anyway because that connection may give them an edge in their business. Maybe a way to cut costs or corners. Or maybe they just like being affiliated with the mob. It's an ego boost. I wonder if John S. (his last name is blocked on this site but I'm talking about the car/Millenium Yacht guy) is an example of this. I'm not sure if he really needed any mob influence to become as successful as he did. But getting his button with the Colombos may have filled another need. Not to mention give the family a big earner.

sal testa was born into mob royalty and he was lcn through and through. whereas sammy the bull was from a wealthy family and you saw what he chose when it was time(f****ng rat).its all just depends on the individuals size of his balls lol. obviously due to the second, third and fourth generation being more rich and americanized there has been more turncoats overall though.

At the end of the day, these guys do it to make a buck. In the beginning back in the early 20th century, there were very few ways to be upwardly mobile for immigrants so they found ways to make money through sharking, gambling and best of all Prohibition. The kicker is, a lot of the offspring of the Italian OC wanted to stay in that life. You ever think of why there is hardly a Jewish Mob anymore? These guys did what they had to so that their kids could have a better life than them. Many of the Jewish mobters kids became doctors, lawyers, etc. Their parents would never let them near that life. It was a way of getting out not staying in. In my opinion, if you were say Allie Boy Persico, you'd be a shit head to drop out of St. John's and become a gangster. You can do more with a pen and a briefcase than with a gun these days anyway.

or you can do more with a pen, briefcase and gun !!! haha

Thanks bro.