Category: Mafia

Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family – Joaquin “Jack” Garcia with Michael Levin

On By Genyc79In Mafia, Organized CrimeLeave a comment

falcone” Organized crime constitutes nothing less than a guerilla war against society”.
– Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908-1973).

On December 16, 1985, Gambino Crime Family boss Paul “Big Paul” Castellano (1915-1985), was shot and killed by assassins as he exited his vehicle in front of Spark’s Steakhouse at 210 West 46th Street in Manhattan. The murder sent shockwaves across the city and law enforcement prepared themselves for mob wars that could have turned the streets of New York City red. The fallout never reached that level but six years later in 1992, John Gotti (1940-2002), the man behind Castellano’s demise, was convicted on thirteen criminal counts, including the hit on his former boss. Gotti was gone but the U.S. Government was far from done with the Gambino Crime Family. In 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) initiated a covert mission to infiltrate the mob outfit. The mission became the second time an FBI agent significantly moved through the ranks of a mafia family. Readers will easily recall the story of agent Joe Pistone who was known on the street as “Donnie Brasco“. This time around, the agent is Joaquin “Jack” Garcia who becomes known as “Jack Falcone”.

As a primer, Garcia takes us through his early days as a child in Cuba, and the family’s move to the United States, where they eventually settle in the Bronx, New York. In 1980, he applies to the FBI and after a minor setback, is on his way to becoming an agent. However, the ice was not easily broken as we see in the book. But Garcia was undeterred and a chance to hit the streets presented itself and changed his career for good. After successfully becoming a skilled undercover asset, he is given the task of infiltrating the feared La Cosa Nostra. And this is where the book changes gears. From the moment he begins to find himself in the same circles as the mobsters, we are introduced to the book’s antagonist, caporegime Gregory DePalma (1932-2009). Garcia thoroughly explains DePalma’s story which has resulted in a stone-cold mobster whose actions throughout the book reflect his life of crime and allegiance to the streets. The seasoned mobster takes a liking to Garcia and soon enough, the two are inseparable.

Garcia’s story is like Pistone’s in many ways, but I did take notice of the staggering amount of food they consumed. In fact, the meals are so voluminous that Garcia jokes about how much weight he gained while working undercover for the FBI. It is no secret that mobsters loved to eat, and I found myself getting cravings for Italian cuisine while reading the book. However, I did not lose track of the main point in the story that DePalma and others were dangerous and deadly people. They killed often and easily, as their lifestyle dictated. And on a couple of occasions, the author comes close to having his cover blown but manages to keep working on his case. From a personal perspective, the amount of sacrifice required by his family cannot be overlooked. Garcia’s wife does enter the story on occasion to give her husband a reality check. But despite all the craziness, Garcia never loses sight of goal to bring down the Gambino family for the last time.

DePalma is easily the least likeable character in the book. The anecdotes from Garcia about the mobster’s arrogance and criminal aptitude should remove any notion of “stand up” gangsters. Further, there is no “honor” or “family” in the traditional sense. The organization was a dysfunctional hierarchy that existed solely for profit. And DePalma was only one of hundreds of mobsters whose sole purposes were money and power. But not even they can escape the realities of life, and the story about DePalma’s son Craig is heartbreaking. I recall an interview with former mobster Phil Leonetti who said mob life is an entirely different world that most people would not understand. I must concur.

The story moves along at a good pace, and Garcia continues to move through the ranks, going as far to earn the complete trust of DePalma who wants to make him an official member of the family. Well, the FBI could not have this, and decides to pull the plug on the operation but not before Garcia builds an airtight case. And one by one, they fall with DePalma staying true to his mafioso code even as the evidence is stacked against him. Following the finale, Garcia provides a nice epilogue about his life after the FBI and the lives of the gangsters he spent time with as he embraced the role of Jack Falcone. Today there are other agents working undercover and putting their lives on the line. Their jobs are often thankless, and their efforts hidden from the public. But this book by Garcia is a blueprint for the hardships and successes that come with a life as a covert law enforcement operative immersed in the criminal underworld.

ASIN: B002QJZ9XG

The Rise and Fall of a ‘Casino’ Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through a Hitman’s Eyes – Frank Cullotta & Dennis N. Griffin

On By Genyc79In MafiaLeave a comment

CulottaIf you have viewed the 1995 film ‘Casino‘ by Martin Scorsese, then I am sure you recoiled in shock at the fate of Joe Pesci’s character Nicki and his brother. Pesci’s character is unbelievable at times during the film but is based on real-life mobster Anthony John “Tony” Spilotro (1938-1986). And from what is known, Spilotro could be as volatile as his on-screen composite. The film is entertaining, and all the actors and actresses deliver stand-up performances but as to be expected, some liberties were taken during the screenwriting and editing processes. Frank Cullotta (1938-2020) was mobster in the Chicago Outfit and close friend and associate of Spilotro. In fact, Spilotro was the reason Cullotta made the move to Las Vegas which brought money, excitement, and his downfall. This is his account of the time he spent with Tony Spilotro and the events that transpired on the dark side of Sin City.

The story begins in Chicago with Cullotta reminiscing about his childhood and the beginning of his friendship with Spilotro. And it is not long before both leave school foregoing a formal education and start learning the streets. Spilotro is quickly seduced by the lure of the Mafia and convinces Cullotta to help him while earning good money. And as the say goes, the rest was history. And once both are in Las Vegas working for the Outfit, the story picks up in pace and never slows down. The book is short but make no mistake, Cullotta was a wealth of information, and that knowledge was used when he testified against Spilotro and other members of the Outfit. But before we reach that point, there is a lot of ground to cover and some of what he reveals fills in the gaps in the film.

When the story shifts to Las Vegas, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal (1929-2008) makes his appearance in the story. In the film, Robert DeNiro plays his composite character, and like the movie, bad blood existed between Rosenthal and Spilotro. Cullotta speaks frankly when it comes to their relationship, which was bitter to say the least. However, Spilotro is the focus of the story, and Cullotta shows a side of the mobster that is both interesting and dark. Murders, schemes, and betrayal all play into the story told by Cullotta, but a main issue was the gangster’s inability to remain committed to his wife. On screen, Lefty’s wife Geri, played by Sharon Stone, is out of control and causes serious issues within the Outfit. In the story at hand, the real-life Geri is just as wild, but we also learn about the role and actions of Spilotro’s wife Nancy, whose life was altered significantly through her husband’s actions and demise, and their son Vincent.

True crime lovers will be satisfied as well with the information Cullotta provides about the crimes committed and the murders that took place. Some of the stories are surreal but documented, including the infamous “M & M” murders which Cullotta explains thoroughly. But surprisingly, the downfall of both men did not come from a murder but from trusting a criminal named Sal Romano. His association with the crew set into a motion a series of events that resulted in the arrest of Cullotta, his associates, and the deterioration of the relationship between him and Spilotro. The final act that fractures the relationship permanently is a story we have seen before, but it shows that there is no honor among thieves.

Before Spilotro could stand trial for the second time, he and his brother Michael disappeared and were found deceased outside of Chicago. Cullotta explains their last moments and offers reason as to why it happened. The whole truth about the incident may never be known but Cullotta was right in his belief that Spilotro had become a problem that needed to be resolved. But the fallout from his death and the criminal prosecutions should not be overlooked. And as a bonus, Cullotta provides a sort of epilogue wherein he tells what he knew about the lives of former associates in the Outfit. Every story ends negatively proving that in the end, crime does not pay. Cullotta served his time and died a free man and as the book concludes he provides a quote that sums up the days the Chicago Outfit ruled Las Vegas:

“When people ask me if Vegas was better when the Mob ran it, my answer is that for civilians, it was a hell of a lot safer.” 

If you like stories about the Italian American Mafia and the heyday of organized crime, this is must read.

ASIN:‎ B08DCLVBFS

Meyer Lansky: The Thinking Man’s Gangster – Robert Lacey

On By Genyc79In Biographies, MafiaLeave a comment

LanskyIn September 1971, reputed mobster Meyer Lansky (b. Maier Suchowljansky)(1902-1983) was denied Israeli citizenship by Dr. Yosef Burg after a careful review of the evidence presented to him. Prior to his ruling, he had consulted with Prime Minster Golda Meir (1898-1978) who proclaimed, “no Mafia in Israel”. Lansky was dejected and continued to seek out ways to live abroad beyond the reach of the U.S. Government. His next stop was South America but there he refused entry and accepted his fate as he returned to the United States. When he arrived at Miami International Airport, I am sure onlookers wondered what the commotion was regarding one man who stood about five feet four inches. The media dubbed him “the Mob’s Accountant” due to his uncanny ability to process figures in his head. And rumors have persisted that he once had three hundred million dollars hidden from investigators. The allegations are grandiose, but the truth is that Lansky was a figure of his era, nothing more and nothing less. Robert Lacey first published this book in 1991 under the title ‘Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life‘. It was republished in 2016 under the current title and includes an updated account by the author. It is by far, a definitive biography of the late Lansky.

Mob aficionados will know Lansky’s story and readers who have viewed ‘The Godfather Part II‘ (1974) will recognize the inspiration for the fictional character “Hyman Roth” which was based on the real-life Lansky. Lee Strasberg (1901-1982) nailed the role and as Lacey discusses in the book, Lansky contacted the actor following the film’s release to discuss the portrayal of himself on screen. Lansky must have been thrilled to serve as an inspiration for a character in a film but the belief that he was a larger-than-life mobster who bankrolled La Costra Nostra may be misleading. In fact, the real story, as presented here, shows a complicated life that was anything but glamorous. There is more than meets the eye. Two marriages, a son with special needs and emotionally dysfunctional children are only parts of the Lansky story which begins in Grodno, Belarus in 1902. Like his contemporaries, Lansky emigrated to the United States as a child and the family settled in New York City. Max Lansky (1879-1939) found a new life for his family in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. I took notice of this part because the author touches on a part of the borough’s long forgotten history. In comparison to the Brownsville that exist today, known for a high crime rate and low income, the area was once a hotbed for Jewish immigrants. However, the story is just beginning and the move to the Lower East Side in Manhattan changed all their lives for good.

The section about Meyer’s childhood in Manhattan is key for it is here that he forms the alliances he would keep for decades with other immigrants, Italian and Jewish, who learned the way of the streets and the money to be made. The most famous of these friends are Charles “Lucky” Luciano (1896-1962) and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel (1906-1947). Lacey takes us back in time to the era of prohibition and crime fighting politicians such as former Governor Thomas E. Dewey (1902-1971) and former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947). Luciano fell victim to Dewey’s administration and was convicted on prostitution charges on June 7, 1936, and subsequently incarcerated. But his story was far from over. In fact, the United States Government would later need Luciano as the war effort heated up. And at the center of the events was Lansky himself. The covert operation and Lansky’s role are covered in the book and show that when it came to defeating the Axis powers, all avenues were open.

As his underworld life evolved, Lansky also became a family man, and that story is far more complicated and unglamorous than his criminal exploits. His two marriages and the three children he had with first wife Anna (1910-1984) provide some of the most emotional parts of the story. The family’s struggle is nothing short of heartbreaking and the private side of Lansky’s life stands in stark contrast to the public facade of the seasoned mogul who helped build casinos and fill the Mafia’s coffers. Lansky’s oldest son Buddy has a story of his own in the book and the trials and tribulations of father and son are difficult moments. Second son Paul and daughter Sandra are equally chaotic, and Sandra plays another role in the book that will shock readers. And throughout the story is the importance of Judaism and Lansky’s adherence to his faith. It can be argued that his life was anything but Jewish and one that no believer would subscribe to. But in his defense, he was one of hundreds of Jewish mobsters in the early 1900s. There is never a shortage of gangsters in America.

On New Year’s Eve, January 1959, Cuban President Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973) fled the country, evading capture by Fidel Castro (1926-2016) and his Revolutionary Army. For Lansky and other gangsters, the source of income Cuba had become was now over. The events of that night were fictionalized for the Godfather Part II and Lacey provides additional facts about Batista’s last flight from the island which I was unaware of. I also noticed that after Castro seizes power in Cuba, there are no further moves by Lansky that could be considered “big”. In fact, I saw the opposite. Aside from investments and miscellaneous sources of income, there is nothing in the book that alludes to him being a financial mogul with streams of hidden income. Even when Lansky moves to Florida later in the book, the belief that he had hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed income continued to haunt him. The stress from relentless investigations combined with his failing health only added to the tragedy his life slowly became. His second wife Teddy (1907-1997) stayed by his side, but also found herself under the prying eyes of the press. Her response to the press upon her return to Miami International Airport following Meyer’s failed attempt to establish residence in South America, was captured by television cameras and must be seen to be believed.

Despite the increased pressure by investigators, Lansky evaded prosecution for major crimes and that is one of the ironies in the book. If he was a criminal mastermind, he shrewdly kept himself out of long prison sentences. The reality I gleaned from the book is that Lansky was not the person he was portrayed to be. He did have dealings with mobsters and earned significant amounts of cash, but the only section in the book that shows extravagance is when he took his second wife Teddy on a first-class European vacation. Lansky did have income and the author provides details of his earnings as the story progresses, but the figures are well short of what would be expected from the “mob’s accountant”. Added to Lansky’s financial woes in Florida are the struggles each of his children had throughout their lives. This is a sobering reality in the story; Lansky could control hardened gangsters but struggled with his own kids. And what we see in the book about the Lansky home is all too familiar in mobster stories. Long nights out, weeks away from home and secrets of the streets combine to strain even the most committed marriages and bonds between a father and his children.

Lansky’s life in Miami during his final years closes out the story, but before it is over, the decline of the aging mobster plays out in the final act. Years of chain smoking and stress took their toll, and the decades-long health issues he endured came to a head. He dutifully walked Teddy’s dog Bruzzer but on the inside, his body was slowly breaking down. Readers will see the writing is on the wall and that Lansky does not have much time left. But when death comes for him, there are no last words in the form of a confession but instead Lansky affirmation that he was ready to go. He lived and died on code as the thinking man’s gangster. This is the legacy and tragedy of Meyer Lansky.

ASIN:‎ B01CZXARGG

Carmine the Snake: Carmine Persico and His Murderous Mafia Family – Frank DiMatteo and Michael Benson

On By Genyc79In Mafia, New York City, Organized CrimeLeave a comment

carmineInfamous gangster Alphonse “Al” Capone (1899-1947) famously quipped that “once you’re in the racket, you’re always in it”. The seasoned gangster knew the pitfalls of a life of crime and conditions that apply. He was convicted on October 18, 1931, of tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison. On November 16, 1939, Capone was released from prison due to effects of Syphilis which had spread to his brain. The disease continued to cause deterioration in the mobster and on January 25, 1947, Capone did in his sleep. It was a sad ending for America’s most famous mobster but less violent than the grisly fates met by other gangsters “in the life”. Carmine “the Snake” Persico (1933-2019), a former Colombo Family boss, also escaped a grisly fate but remained in prison until his death on March 7, 2019. And with his passing was the end of another era in New York City history. In his prime, Persico was one of the City’s most notorious figures and implicated in scores of mafia-related crimes, including the murder of Albert “The Mad Hatter” Anastasia (1902-1957), revisited by here by Frank DiMatteo is a Brooklyn native raised in the Park Slope neighborhood controlled by the Persicos, with whom his father was affiliated. This is the story of Carmine Persico and the terror his mob family unleashed on the City of New York.

Readers familiar with Park Slope might be surprised to learn how saturated the area was with mobsters in the past. Today, the area has changed significantly but remnants of the old days still exist there as they do in other parts of New York. The early part of the book focuses heavily on the Park Slope area where the budding gangsters are getting experience on the gritty streets of Brooklyn. The crimes are petty and routine, until Carmine and older brother Alphonse Persico (d. 1989) have a fateful encounter with a friend turned rival named Steve Bove. At this point in the book, the writing is on the wall that Carmine is destined for a life of crime. From this point on, the schemes become more daring and the violence deadlier. Yet, Persico always manages to slip out of tense situations, earning him the nickname of “the Snake”.

Though Matteo is writing about Persico’s life, a bonus is that the book is filled with information about mob events that shocked the city. Sadly, there are no “smoking guns” that have not been previously revealed but he does offer information that might explain why the events happened. In particular, the murder of Joseph “Joe” Colombo (1923-1978) remains controversial. The assailant Jerome Johnson, was shot and killed immediately by one of Colombo’s bodyguards but the woman he was with, masquerading as a reporter, has never been found along with a second man in their group. The hit has never been fully explained but has been blamed on Colombo’s rival at the time, Joseph “Crazy Joe” Gallo (1929-1972) and his brothers at odds with Colombo and the family’s prior boss, Giuseppe “Joe” Profaci (1897-1962). DiMatteo discusses the Colombo murder, and it is possible that Gallo was telling the truth when he stated he had nothing to do with the shooting. As the author shows, Colombo was respected by not well-liked, and the list of people who might have wanted to see him removed was long. The truth about the crime may be lost to history. But there is no question regarding the bad blood between the Gallo and Colombo factions, a simmering animosity that caused division within the family. The feud between them became so infamous that a part of it was reenacted on screen in The Godfather Part II. I won’t go into detail here, but if you have seen the movie and read this book, you will know which scene it is. Also provided is a satisfying amount of inside information about the production of the Godfather films and the filmmakers’ interactions with real-life gangsters including Persico. DiMatteo does mention other notable crimes in mafia lore such as the Air France Cargo robbery in 1967 and the Lufthansa Heist in 1978, both of which are depicted in Martin Scorsese’s mob classic ‘Goodfellas‘. The crimes are well-documented, so the author does not devote too much of the book to them, but they are discussed in relation to Persico’s story and the state of the mafia at the time.

Hollywood eventually moved on, but as we see in the book, the mob was getting stronger, and more blood was spilled on the streets of New York City before peace was established. But the difference is that the next war was within the family. With Colombo in a comatose state, the grabs for power kicked into high gear. And at Persico’s side was notorious hitman Gregory “The Grim Reaper” Scarpa (1928-1994). Scarpa’s reputation in mob history is cemented as someone not to cross. The section about Scarpa is not a biography but readers unfamiliar with him may want to read Peter Lance’s ‘Deal With The Devil: The FBI’s Secret Thirty-Year Relationship With A Mafia Killer‘ and the account by Scarpa’s daughter titled ‘The Mafia Hitman’s Daughter‘. Scarpa was a dark figure and the battles between the Persico faction and the soldiers loyal to acting boss Vittorio “Little Vic” Orena feel like a story out of the motion picture industry.

The story takes a significant turn at this point and is nothing short of wild. Combined with the inter-family wars brewing, Persico is also on the radar of the U.S. Government and was indicted multiple times as detailed by the author. Franklyn, it seemed that as soon as he was released, he was back inside yet again facing more charges. The unbelievable story as told by DiMatteo highlights the lengths to which federal prosecutors were willing to go in their mission to dismantle the Italian American mafia. The introduction of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as the “RICO Act”, signaled that the end was near for the mob. The legislation drafted by attorney G. Robert Blakely became an invincible tool in the Government’s arsenal that is still used to this day. As the convictions piled up, mobsters facing RICO charges knew the only options were to make a plea or face life in prison. Persico ended up with life in prison and had to live with the fact that his sons “Allie Boy” and Michael also followed their dad down the path of no return.

The sad fates of the major players compose the concluding section of the book and there are no happy conclusions. Death, incarceration, and financial ruin decimated the mobsters who found themselves targets of the Government. DiMatteo finished the story before Persico’s death resulting in the epilogue not containing mention of his passing. However, the sentence Persico received made it clear that he would die behind bars and that is exactly what happened. At the time of his death, the power, fame, and money he enjoyed on streets was gone but at his height, his life was one heck of a ride that even Hollywood could not have scripted. This is a fascinating look at the mob and the reality of life in it.

ASIN: B077WW4W1T