Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. The families all use similar structures and methods, and while there is not believed to be a ruling council over all, on occasion the heads of the more powerful families have gotten together to work out differences (Meltzer, 1990, 40-41).
One area of criminal activity where organized crime has increased its role and which is not a matter of supplying goods and services the public wants is in extortion of both legitimate and illegitimate businesses. The mob sells protection, which in effect means that it collects money not to harm a given business. A manufacturer may have to buy goods and services from suppliers controlled by organized crime. Money is loaned to some businessmen in desperate need of cash, and their businesses may end up being owned by the mob. Organized crime today controls many kinds of production and service industries and businesses and has invested many illegal profits in legal enterprises. These provide sources for a steady flow of cash to the criminal organization:
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