What do you call people in positions of power or some criminal who protect you in some way?

The closest I can think of are the idioms “friends in high places” or “connections”.

For instance, if there is a local crime ring that never seems to be targeted by the police (or if they are, never gets convicted), you might suspect they “have friends in high places” or are “connected”.

Both have a non-criminal sense; for instance, you might get a job because you’re connected to (known by) people at that company who are high enough up to get you hired.

I'm not sure that this is the best answer but it is an answer.

Godfather

2: one having a relation to someone or something analogous to that of a male sponsor to his godchild: such as a: one that founds, supports, or inspires made him the godfather of a whole generation of rebels — The Times Literary Supplement (London)

b: the leader of an organized crime syndicate

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/godfather

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