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This term could refer to the New York, New Jersey, New England, or Pennsylvania Mafiosi. Mafia are organized criminal syndicates with a hierarchical structure generally focused on a certain family. This ranking system includes such roles as the Don (head of family), Consigliere (advisor), Underboss (second in command), Captain (in Italian "Capo"), Solider, and Associate. The early years of criminal activity by the East Coast Mafia focused on bootlegging, loansharking, and importing drugs across the border from Canada.
"FBI mugshot of Francis "Frank Cadillac" Salemme, a former Don of the New England Mafia" by FBI is licensed under Public Domain.
Manuscripts
References
Deitche, Scott M.
N.d. East Coast Mafia Families.
http://www.netplaces.com/mafia/family-ties/east-coast-mafia-families.htm, accessed
February 4, 2015.