In 1980s New York City, pouring concrete for a major building could mean dealing with more than contractors, unions, and developers. Federal prosecutors alleged that organized-crime families manipulated parts of the construction industry through a system that became known as the Concrete Club. Contractors could face restricted competition, inflated costs, and payments designed to keep lucrative projects moving. The scheme demonstrated how organized crime could make money without operating an obviously illegal storefront. Behind the cranes, contracts, and concrete trucks was a hidden economy built on influence, intimidation, and control.