system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are mafia crime bosses able to be publicly known as mafia crime bosses?

This question was inspired by the TIL about John Gotti and his son yesterday. I know very little about John Gotti or the mafia or the legal requirements needed to get people associated with the mafia behind bars. Just from the little I read up on him, he was publicly known as the head of the Gambino crime family for several years before his eventual arrest and imprisonment. I know most of these guys get taken down eventually, but how is it possible for someone to be the known head of an established criminal organization and walk around free for so long? The current head of the Gambino crime family is a guy named Domencino Cefalu. According to his Wikipedia page, he currently resides in Brooklyn with his mom and his “legitimate employment” is a salesman for a bakery. Again, how is Cefalu able to be publically known as the leader of a group infamous for murder, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, fraud, extortion, etc., and at the same time live free at home with his mother? 

I get that charges have to be brought up and proven and the FBI spends years building cases against these people. But how is the simple fact that they are the head of a crime family not cause for arrest and prosecution?
gpt
Without actually having something to prosecute him for, its technically just a reputation.  You could become know for being a murderer but if the police can't pin anything on you then what can they do?  Also, the cases they build against these guys can take years and sometimes decades to put together and then try.  So, while the FBI is putting together a case, these guys are going about their lives.  Keep in mind that you don't get to be the boss of the Gambino crime family without being smart about how to avoid prosecution.  They probably do some of their own dirty work but most of it is done by associates.  And typically there is only a few people he communicates the orders to directly.  Those captains are typically very loyal and not going to snitch (then again Sammy the Bull did snitch to save his ass).  Also if you've only got a few guys that can finger you for a crime, then you only have to clip a few people to save yourself.