I'm curious what people mean when they use the phrase "going legit"? If you are talking about like what happened in buffalo, going into a food business, that's complete legit and no longer really organized crime. They have to compete like every other guy and the LCN really is no longer LCN. That kind of going "legit" is another word for people just leaving the life all together and admitting the mafia in chicago is dying.
Then you got guys like Nicky Jr that believe that white collar scams are a form of going "legit".
I guess a middling position is using the front businesses for more than money laundering, but relying on them as a source of revenue. But there is still some criminal revenue.
In Chicago, more specificly Elmwood Park, Melrose park and the NW Burbs, as previously expalned, means going into legitamate dealings, and earning by the activity that surrounds it. This is nothing new, if fact it is a throwback to the 50s and 60s. For example, the construction of the interstate highway system MADE Buffalo,The LIUNA pension funds was like a money tree and money laundry all rolled into one. Buffalo controled everything from the heavy equipment to the Por a Pottys and no one got a contract without a "performence bond" This is not unlike what the outfit and Rockford are doing in Cook, Lake, Mchenry, Boon and Winnebago counties, just on a smaller scale.
Been there and done it I am very much for real, so if you ask, make sure you really want to know.
