Infiltrated

Part of OCGS' mission involves combating the infiltration by organized criminal groups of labor unions, employer organizations and their affiliated employee benefit plans in the private sector of the economy. Historically, elements of organized criminal groups referred to as La Cosa Nostra (LCN ) or the "Mafia" gained substantial corrupt influence, and even control in some instances, over labor unions by creating a climate of fear and intimidation among their members by threats and acts of violence. Through such domination, these criminal groups were able to place their associates in key official positions with various unions and in other positions of influence and to thereby exploit the unions and the employers which dealt with such unions and derive illegal proceeds from the operation of the unions' affairs and labor-management relations. See, President's Commission on Organized Crime (PCOC), The Edge: Organized Crime, Business and labor Unions (U.S. G.P.O. Washington, DC 1986) at 1-32. The PCOC specifically concluded that the LCN had for decades controlled and corruptly influenced certain