u/SnowBorn4392

I’ve been lurking here for a while, but I finally need to ask people who actually know mob history. Looking back on my childhood, too many things about my family’s lifestyle just don't add up.

We’ve always lived remarkably well, but neither of my parents ever had a standard 9-to-5 job. The main reason I’m writing this is because my family has always had an endless supply of unexplained money. To give you an idea: anytime I’ve ever wanted plastic surgery, nose job, fillers, whatever - my parents just hand me a stack of cash or write a check without batting an eye. No questions asked, no budget discussions.
When I was younger, I used to sneak around my parents' room. My mother literally kept multiple briefcases filled with organized stacks of cash under her bed. Her closet looked like a department store: full-length fur coats, heavy gold chains, and ridiculous amounts of diamond jewelry.

What’s even weirder was running errands with her. She frequented local pawn shops constantly. The owners who always looked pretty shady themselves treated her like royalty. As soon as she walked in, they’d immediately give her whatever she asked for, usually dropping prices or pulling items out from the back that weren't on display. It always felt like she had some kind of leverage or "protection" status with them.

Does this pattern sound like a specific crew or family outfit from back in the day? Did mob wives/families typically keep their liquid assets in cash and use local pawn shop networks to move or launder things? I’m trying to figure out if I’m overthinking this or if I’m literally living off old mob money. Any insights from historians here would be appreciated.