for families after Prohibition, brought in an estimated $20 million a year, with annual net profits of approximately $7 million. Towards the latter half of the 20th century, Mafia families made increasingly larger strides to enter the legitimate business world.The American Mafia as a business enterprise has done exceptionally well for itself in the United States. Prohibition provided the perfect scenario for the Mafia to make money, all the while playing the role of the good guy in the eyes of the public. Though public opinion has certainly turned against the Mafia since the 1920's, unfortunately this has occurred through misinformation on a grand scale. The common American perception of the Mafia is as substantiated as a fairy-tale, the truth being something altogether different. They originally came to America as extortionists, but very quickly knew they would have to extend their expertise into other fields. With this expansion came the fame and fortune that has made the American Mafia famous in the United States. In time, the Mafia honed their skills, and aligned them with common legitimate businesses practices, which has separated them from common criminals, and allowed themselves to excel. ...
