Elias nodded, his face a mask of practiced indifference. But as he hoisted the bag, a corner caught on a jagged rock, tearing the nylon. A flash of gold tumbled out—a locket. Elias knew that locket. It belonged to
The answer lies in the American Dream. Mob Land is the dark mirror of the American Dream. It is the ethos of "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" taken to its extreme. In a society that prizes wealth, power, and success, the Mob boss represents the ultimate self-made man. He creates his own rules, answers to no one, and lives a life of luxury. There is a seductive freedom in that. Mob Land
However, Gotti’s flamboyance was the beginning of the end. The Federal Government, embarrassed by their inability to convict him, ramped up their efforts. The RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) became the battering ram that finally broke down the walls of Mob Land. Designed to target the leadership of criminal organizations, RICO allowed prosecutors to charge bosses for the crimes of their underlings. Elias nodded, his face a mask of practiced indifference