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<br /> I <br /> 2'2('50. I <br /> fashion with organized crime either the mafia or some other facet of non- -I <br /> mafia never-the-Iess highly organized crime. <br /> - <br /> Id. at 1047-48. I <br /> Thomas Bohling of the Chicago Police Department Organized Crime Division, Vice I <br /> Control Section, told the Pornography Comrnission that "it ls the belief of state, federal. <br /> and local law enforcement that the pornography industry is controlled by organized <br /> crime families. If they do not own the business outright, they most certainly extract . <br /> street tax from independent smut peddlers." Id. at 1048 (emphasis in original). <br /> The Pornography Commission stated that it had been advised by Los Angeles I <br /> Police Chief Daryl F. Gates that "organized crime families from Chicago, New York, I <br /> New Jersey and Florida are openly controlling and directing the major pornography <br /> operations in Los Angeles." Id. <br /> The Pornography.Comrnission was told by Jimmy Fratianno, described by the I <br /> Commission as a member of LCN, "that large profits have kept organized crime heavily -. <br /> involved in the obscenity industry.' Id. at 1052. Fratianno testified that. "95% of the <br /> families are involved in one way or another in pornography. ... It's too big. They just I <br /> won't let it go.' Id. at 1052-53. <br /> The Pomography Comrnission concluded that "organized crime in its traditional I <br /> I LCN forms and other forms exerts substantial influence and control over the obscenity <br /> I <br /> industry. Though a number of significant producers and distributors are not members I <br /> I of LCN families, all major producers and distributors of obscene material are highly <br /> organized and carry out illegal activities with a great deal of sophistication." Id. at 1053. I <br /> I <br /> The Pomography Commission reported that Michael George Thevis, reportedly <br /> I <br /> j one of the largest pornographers in the United States during the 1970's was convicted <br /> in 1979 of RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) violations including <br /> I murder, arson and extortion. The Commission also reported examples of other crimes I <br /> associated with the pornography industry, including prostitution and other sexual <br /> I . <br /> -. <br /> I -18- <br /> C I <br />