"they don't have any illicit money-makers worth investigating, any capable structure worth investigating, any crews worth investigating. In all, for the FBI to completely ignore them, they would have to be weaker than a street gang"
That’s not exactly my point.
I think the US don't care for traditional (White) complex OC networks (Philly and NYC are mostly murder/gambling cases.). So i don't know if LCN are active in Buffalo. But I’m sure if they active they can do allot without trouble. Street gang are more sociological problem with a lot media attention. If they had a choice between a violent group (without much power) or a quiet (local) Crew (involved in some Blue & White dollar crime). I'm sure they take the gang shit.
Maybe old LCN family are death, but the high Ndrangheta & Cosa Nostra activity over the border makes it very likely for me they also have someone in Buffalo. But i don't know. The old family structure can also evolve. Maybe if we look for Boss and Underboss we commit a mistake.
In my opinion a good barometer are people they live there. Beneficial employed in nightlife, construction or the food industry. Of course this people can talk bullshit. I will become suspicious if it gets too detailed.
Another point FBI and other agencies are interested in transnational groups. "The TOC Strategy recognizes that organized crime is no longer associated exclusively with traditional domestic groups, but is now fully Transnational in its origin, composition, and scope and poses unprecedented threats to the United States’ national and economic security. " @ https://www.justice.gov/jmd/file/821331/download
But i think we should be carefully, because FBI talks a lot. FBI told us Ndrangheta had 200 active members. I have not heard of a single case. In my opinion fight against Middle Eastern groups is more a political stuff. I have not seen many cases. For example the Lebanese-Montreal Drug case. FBI talks about Hezbollah but everybody knows the guys are Christians. Some Christians parties are members of "March 8 Alliance" and Hezbollah it is too. This was the link. A absolute weak case. I'm not sure but I think it does not come to a court hearing.
