" (84). .
Although many criminals are mentally defected organized crime leaders are somewhat ingenious. In a world where the law stands strong these organized criminals have found ways to make millions. Many of these men consider themselves business men. Says one former crime family member, Sonny Reles, " me and my partners are in shylocking, the restaurant business, garment industry, crap games, slot machines, bookmaking- (69). In early years in New York racketeering was a big business. Organized crime officials had set up a type of underworld lottery. Many of the most respected people in the community played the "numbers". The rackets became the first major business that organized crime gained total control over. Later organized crime stretched their involvement from the rackets to gambling, sports, and just about every small business you could think of. They seemed to find money in every thing they touched. Prostitution also became a widely spread business in America. Most organized crime families were tied into more than business at a time. States Burton Turkus, " in 1945, New York City Investigations Commissioner Edgar Bromberger found that Erickson (New York Organized crime leader of the 30's and 40's) had made bank deposits of over $30,000,000 over a twelve year period- (91). More recently organized crime has found it's way into bigger commercial businesses. Sports and entertainment have proved to be some of the biggest money maker for organized criminals. Many sport teams have an influence from the mafia. Throughout the past history of professional sports thousands of scandals have been revealed. Behind the majority of these scandals are ties to organized crime. Entertainment is now one of the biggest markets involving organized crime. From music stars to movie stars, organized crime has it's effect on them too. Organized crime has also produced the Union, which is a group of employees with protected rights.