His connection with the mafia was that in his early years as a struggling singer the mafia bosses would get him some more shows. And in return for this Dean would sing at the shows organized by the mafia bosses. A simple "you scratch your back and I scratch yours" kind of arrangement.
However he was never involved in crime, he used to do the mafias some small favors which were of very little or no nuisance to him. It is said that the police had picked up reports of some mafia boss planning to kill Dean Martin because of his lack of appreciation for what the mob had done for him.
His contemporary Sinatra is supposed to have had his share of Mafia connections as well. Unlike Dean he even had the book by Mario Puzo the Godfather draw an analogy of his connections with the friends of the friends.
However he was never involved in crime, he used to do the mafias some small favors which were of very little or no nuisance to him. It is said that the police had picked up reports of some mafia boss planning to kill Dean Martin because of his lack of appreciation for what the mob had done for him.
His contemporary Sinatra is supposed to have had his share of Mafia connections as well. Unlike Dean he even had the book by Mario Puzo the Godfather draw an analogy of his connections with the friends of the friends.
