There's little if any reports that have actually proven the "Russian mafia" holds any significant power at all in America.
Except on most police themed television shows and in movies. at least once a week I see a Law and Order or similar show with Russian gangsters. In reality they are close to nothing here in this country. In Russia they may still be big but here they are almost non existent.
What were the last "Russian" racketeering busts in the USA? A few Ukrainian-Israelis shaking down a businessman, selling pot and running a few underground poker games and a group of Georgians involved in organized theft and robbery. Both got taken down quite easily.
Even during the "Russian mafia" heydays in the late 80's and 90's the more noteworthy groups had to pay off the Italians just to operate.
If we're talking about gangsters, the "Russian" groups are definitely existent but not dominant.
