In that part of Queens you had a lot of low level drug dealers and low level criminals that used drugs. Those were the type of people John Alite targeted. John Alite was not around unions, construction, trucking, garments, or the carting industry. Thats where the real money was and that is where the mafia had its power. The same is true with the bath avenue crew. They would rob drug dealers and other vulnerable people. They were much more akin to bloods and crips opposed to the mafia.
For some strange and bizare reason, John Alite thinks a gangster is someone who beats people with bats, pipes, and shoots. Tell that to Carlo Gambino or Tony Ducks, or some of the sicilian gambino’s. A gangster makes money and does his time.
The mob is notorious for using guys like Alite and the bath avenue crew for their dirty work and dangling a carrot about one day getting made. Same thing happened to Gene Borello. They had him do a bunch of dirty work because no one else was dumb enough to do it and they basically used him. Always promising getting made is right around the corner but it never happens.
John Gotti jr was a total fucking bully back in tne day, he changed as he got older though. But still, in the 80’s , early 90’s a total bully. So was Alite back in the day. Alite would would gang up on guys who were just out with their girfriends at dinner or nightclubs, it was bullshit. Same with Gotti jr to a certain extent.
Guys that get made usually have a racket.. whether a big shylocking biz, large gambling operation, a hook in a union or certain industry. Also many are groomed and brought under the wings of a guy with a big racket to where he learns the specialty. For the most part, thats what the mob wants, they dont want a guy who’s specialty is home invasions and robbing drug dealers.
Roy Demeo actually had a lucrative racket with stolen cars.