I've been reading on FBI files indicting mafia loansharks and extortion operations. What surprised me in the files was the many acts of violence directed at debtors that were carried out by made members.

I always thought that a soldier who ran a loansharking operation would have 2-3 close associates that help run the business, and then when they needed to have someone assualted in order to collect money they would contract out legbreakers to collect their loans. It just seems that a soldier beating someone up is a easy way to give a prison term, and it makes it seem like the mob can't be that powerful if they have to commit acts of violence themselves without insulation.

Thoughts/comments?

Being at the bottom in terms of members, I don't think it's ever been unusual for soldiers to get their hands dirty. Using associates to collect can provide insulation but can also leave you vulnerable if they flip. That said, there's plenty of examples of the mob using others for enforcement work. For example, it's used Albanians in that role for years now.

Thanks for the response Ivy.

My interpratation of the structure of the mafia was that associates were supposed to do the dirty work. They talk about how being made is a great honor but it doesn't seem like that big of a promotion if they are still the ones beating up debtors instead of giving the orders for others to do so.

when did that go out for hire.?silly

Well I assumed that if a soldier has 5-10 associates some of them would be debt collectors so that he doesn't get caught up in a assualt rap. I would have thought that made guys would be focusing on bigger business deals/ventures instead laying a beating on someone when they could just hire out street gang members or farm teams to do the dirty work for them

I think you are glamorizing them a little bit too much. Sure there are guys who own or run legitimate business and probably could have made it the business world. And they may have some associates that would do the dirty work for them.

But I would guess a large portion of them are just typical thugs trying to make a buck anyway they can.

My bad, when i meant business deals I meant illegal ones, scores, and scams.

yes that does happen often, ill agree on that, but not because they need someone to threaten or beat people up to collect..you better have a tough rep or go drive an egg truck for a living

What do farm teams do for made guys then if they don't commit acts of violence for them? I thought the point of farm teams was for them to run errands and do the dirty work for soldiers.

It really all depends on who the loanshark is. An older member may have a reputation built enough to where he doesn't have to chase anyone down (for the most part) or get his hands dirty and others will use their Soldiers and/or associates to collect.

I knew some loansharks in The Bronx that wouldn't even lend out a large amount of money unless the guy who was asking for it had a business of his own so that the loanshark could take it over if the debt wasn't paid.

Bottom line, most loansharks have different methods to collect depending on the person and situation.

Thanks for the info onthefly.

Is it the same for bookies as it is for loansharks? I remember seeing a chart of a bookmaking ring where a soldier was the head of it. Below the soldier there were about five agents and two collectors. This is where I got a little confused when I read that a soldier was chasing his own debtors. But I guess its like you said, they all have their own methods.