An associate is an unofficial member of a crime family who is involved in Mafia rackets. Associates act as intermediaries between the family and other organizations/people, such as labor unions, drug dealers, and politicians. If an associate does not come from full Italian heritage, he cannot become a full “made” member of a Mafia family.
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Associate Term Timeline in The Godfather
The timeline below shows where the term Associate appears in The Godfather. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 17
...clandestine and therefore less vulnerable to attack. Meanwhile, the Five Families continue to murder Corleone associates in the garment and banking sectors, and they manage to persuade Corleone bookmakers to switch...
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