I think you always tend to follow you hometown more so I think the Patriarca crime families heyday of the early 60's to the early 80's is legendary and should be studied closer.

The "Old Man" was the most powerful person in New England and had everyone on the payroll from Police Chiefs to Judges to people is public office. He got a piece of everything that happened in 6 states and was so well thought of by his peers he had pieces in Cuban and Las Vegas Casino's.

Not a single person ever dreamed of taking the family away or making a play for the top spot and when NY families needed him he was there for them.

I know he didn't have 500 made guys and probably didn't make as much money because of his lack of construction and Union's that the NY families had but he truly had an empire.