NCJ Number
46555
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ESTIMATES ARE PRESENTED OF HOW MUCH MONEY CAN BE MADE BY SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AND OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE CRIMINALS.
Abstract
A NUMBERS RUNNER WHO HANDLES $500 EACH DAY EARNS $100 DAILY, TAX FREE. BURGLARY INCOME VARIES TREMENDOUSLY. A NEW YORK BURGLAR, WHO LIVES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND COMMUTES TO THE CITY TWICE A WEEK, TOOK IN $28,700 IN 1972. JEWELRY FENCING IS A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED, HIGHLY PROFITABLE OCCUPATION. ONE MANHATTAN FENCE REPORTEDLY CLEARED $300,000 ONE YEAR. PORNOGRAPHY STORE CLERKS CAN MAKE $25,000 A YEAR. HOW MUCH A MUSCLEMAN MAKES DEPENDS ON HOW ACTIVE HE IS. FOR BREAKING A MAN'S LEG, A MUSCLEMAN WILL CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $100 TO $1,000. THE SALARY OF A CONTRACT KILLER WHO IS ON THE PAYROLL OF A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION USUALLY IS IN THE HIGH FIVE OR LOW SIX FIGURES. ESTABLISHED LOAN SHARKS HAVE SIX-FIGURE INCOMES. STREET PEDDLERS OF DOPE OFTEN ARE JUST SCRAPING BY, BUT MARIJUANA IMPORTERS, WHOLESALERS, AND RETAILERS DO BETTER. CRIMINALS OFTEN ARGUE THAT THEIR OVERHEAD COSTS ARE JUST LIKE THOSE OF ANY OTHER BUSINESS. THE CRIMINAL'S OVERHEAD INCLUDES THINGS THAT CANNOT BE MEASURED IN DOLLARS AND CENTS (E.G., PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS) IN ADDITION TO ATTORNEYS' FEES AND THE COSTS INVOLVED IN DEALING WITH THE POLICE AND THE COURTS. THE OVERHEAD COSTS ARE SOMETIMES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF PERSONAL FREEDOM, BUT THE PAYOFF, ENHANCED BY THE FACT THAT IT IS TAX FREE, USUALLY IS HIGHER. (LKM)