Joseph Pistone

Donnie Brasco

My undercover life in the mob is a true story based on the life of undercover F.B.I agent Joseph Pistone. Pistone went undercover for six years in the 1970's, observing one of New York's top crime families the Bonnano's. Pistone posed as a street jeweler and went by the name "Donnie Brasco". As a jewel thief, Pistone had to know the street values of all precious gems. He learned how to pick locks and dismantle alarms from real-life jewelers. Following this disguise Donnie Brasco caught the eye of Bonanno soldier Tony Mirra, who later introduced him to his friend Lefty Ruggiero. Lefty Ruggiero had a reputation for being a stone killer who made his bones by killing 20 to 30 people. Both Tony and Lefty found potential in Brasco. Meanwhile Lefty and Brasco became really close and Lefty began to introduce him to the mafia. The two even became business partners, Lefty took it upon himself to educate Brasco in the ways of being a wiseguy. He spent hours telling me about the proper conduct for mob members and associates while criticizing others for not complying with it. Nevertheless, he would then turn around and break the rules when it served his purpose, or if he could make an extra buck doing so. Brasco close relationship with Lefty bothered Tony Mirra, since he was the one who discovered Brasco and introduced him to Lefty. Tony wanted Brasco to be under him up eventually Lefty won the battle, and Brasco went under him. Brasco close relationship with Lefty; enabled Pistone to feed the F.B.I, more information about the founding members and operations of the mob. Lefty introduced Brasco to his made friend

Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano. Napolitano accepted Pistone into his crew, having no idea that Pistone was an FBI agent and conducted many crimes with him. Which including theft, bribery, and hits. Lefty and Brasco together collected money for bosses. And this task was extremely difficult for Brasco, who had to witness and sometimes participate in beatings and killings of mob debtors. There crew was highly involved in gambling; betting on horse races, and sport games.

Meanwhile as Pistone continued to pose as Brasco and collected information for the F.B.I, is personal life began to collapse. Pistone was constantly in New York and barely had time for his family. He became very distant from his wife and this lack of communication placed an extreme amount of stress on their marriage.

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