There is good and bad in every family. On my mother's father's side, he had a brother who was a Sicilian who started up what we call the mob around 1917.
As a child, I remember these east coast relatives visiting Los Angeles. All were teamsters bosses here on business.
None of our family ever kept contact with that branch of the family. What you might find interesting is the power is never were you think it is.
In this modern day on the east coast, I think it lies with twins.
How's that for a cryptic post?
I keep no contact with them. We are a religious family and that one small part is a disappointment to say the least.
But yes, my mother shielded us from some of the more unsavory elements of her family as I was growing up.