Podcasts about Lucchese

In this episode of Gangland Wire, Gary Jenkins sits down with author Craig McGuire to discuss his gripping book, Empire City Under Siege, a deep dive into three decades of FBI manhunts, mob wars, and organized-crime investigations in New York City. Craig explains how the project grew out of his collaboration with retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson, whose career spanned the most violent and chaotic years of New York's Mafia history. From Nelson's early days as a radio dispatcher in 1969 to his transition into undercover and frontline investigative work, the book captures the gritty reality of law enforcement during the 1970s and 1980s. We explore how Nelson's career mirrored the evolution of organized crime and law-enforcement tactics, including the rise of undercover stings, inter-agency cooperation, and the increasing role of technology. Craig highlights the close working relationship between Nelson and NYPD detective Kenny McCabe, whose deep knowledge of Mafia families and quiet professionalism led to major breakthroughs against organized crime. He tells how these two investigators wathced and uncovered the Gambino Family Roy DeMeo crew under Paul Castellano and Nino Gaggi. Throughout the conversation, Craig shares vivid, often humorous slice-of-life stories from the book—tense undercover moments, dangerous confrontations, and the emotional toll of living a double life. These anecdotes reveal not only the danger of the job but also the camaraderie and resilience that sustained agents and detectives working in the shadows. The episode closes with a reminder that Empire City Under Siege is as much about honoring unsung law-enforcement professionals as it is about mob history. Craig encourages listeners to support true-crime storytelling that preserves these firsthand accounts before they're lost to time. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. 0:02 Welcome Back to Gangland Wire 2:14 The Journey to Anthony John Nelson 4:46 The Life and Work of Law Enforcement 15:00 Inside Anthony Nelson’s Early Career 26:49 The Dynamic Duo: Nelson and McCabe 30:16 Tales from the Underworld 35:55 The Tragedy of Everett Hatcher 39:12 The High-Stakes World of Undercover Work 40:56 Closing Thoughts and Inspirations transcript [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers. Good to be back here in studio of Gangland Wire. I say the same thing every time. I hope it doesn’t bore you too much, but I am back here in the Gangland Wire studio. And I have today an author who interviewed and wrote a book with an FBI agent named Anthony John Nelson, who was one of the premier FBI agents in New York City that was working the mob. And even more interesting about him to me was he formed a partnership with a local copper named Kenny McCabe, who you may know the name. I had read the name before several times as I started researching this and looking at the book, but he was a mob buster supreme and Agent Nelson really formed a dynamic duo. But first, let’s start talking to Craig, your book, Empire City Under Seize, Three Decades of New York FBI Field Office Manhunts, Murders and Mafia Wars. How did you get involved with Anthony John Nelson? [0:55] Hi, Gary. Thanks for having me on your show. Big fan. Appreciate the opportunity. Very interesting and winding path that led me to Anthony’s doorstep. I also previously wrote another book, Carmine and the 13th Avenue Boys, which was about an enforcer in the Colombo family during the Third Colombo War. And I was introduced to Carmine Imbriali through Thomas Dades. Tommy Dades, he’s a famous retired NYPD detective. So after the success of that book, Tommy introduced me to another member of law enforcement. I started to work on a project that sort of fell apart. And one of the sort of consultants, friends that I met with during that was Anthony Nelson. And then one day as that, due to my own fumbling, as that project was falling apart, I had a delightful breakfast with Anthony and his wonderful wife, Sydney, Cindy, one Sunday morning. And Anthony’s pulling out all these clips of all these investigations and all these Jerry Capiche gangland clips. And it was just fascinating. And so I started to realize that there’s something here because I’m also a true crime fan and I remember many of these cases. [2:08] So it took a while to get Anthony to agree to write a book. He’s not one for the spotlight. He’s really your sort of quintessential G-man, modern G-man. It’s also somewhat of a throwback. But he eventually was interested in doing a book if we didn’t just shine the spotlight on him. Gary, you should know the original, the working title of the book was In the Company of Courage. And that’s really the theme that Anthony wanted to bring forth. You’ll notice throughout the book, there are some vignettes and some biographical information about many of the members of law enforcement that I interviewed, but then we also covered and who are no longer with us. It was my privilege to write this book sharing Anthony’s amazing history, 30 years at the FBI and then several years at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. And just like one of the themes is just to really shed some light on the valuable work that members of law enforcement, including you, sir. Thank you for your service. And we think too often these days, members of law enforcement are maligned and there’s a negative light cast on them. It’s the most difficult job in the world. And we just want to make sure that we’re shining some light on that valuable work that the thousands of members of men and women in law enforcement do every day protecting us. [3:24] I appreciate that. I’ll tell you what, all the way from the rookie on the street making those domestic violence calls and party armed calls and armed robbery alarms calls that are, there’s nothing there the first five times you go. And then all of a sudden there’s a guy running out with a gun all the way up to the homicide detectives. And even the people that handle the budget, they all paid their dues out on the streets and organized crime investigators, of course, and narcotics. I really appreciate that. It’s a thankless job for the most part. Once in a while, you get a little thanks, but not much. As we used to say, it was fun. I can’t believe they pay us to do this. [4:01] Gary, it’s like you’re repeating some of the lines of Frank Pergola to Al King, just like that. And that’s key, that thankless piece. I remember interviewing Frank Pergola, just famous New York City detective, worked on Son of Sam. He also worked on solving 79 homicides related to the Gambinos and the DeMeo family. And he echoed those same sentiments. While you’re investigating a case, it’s the victims’ families and the victims, their nerves are so fraught. It’s such a stressful situation. And the members of law enforcement bear the brunt of a lot of that frustration. [4:41] And too often, there’s no thank you at the end. And it’s not that they want to thank you. It’s just that they want the sort of closure, not even the recognition, just some sort of realization that they did a great job. And it’s unfortunate that they don’t, that doesn’t happen as often as it should. I appreciate it. Let’s talk about Anthony Nelson. He sounds like a very interesting character. Talk a little bit about what you learned from him about his early career. And I want to tell you something, that recalcitrance, I believe that’s the word, $25 word if I’ve ever heard one. His refusal to really make himself a hero or the center of attention. That’s pretty common among cops and FBI agents. I’ve noticed we’ve got, I’ve got a good friend here in Kansas City, wrote a book about the mafia in Kansas City called Mopsers in Our Mist, but he refused to put himself into the book. He had a publishing company that wanted him to do it and was going to pay him to do it, but it had to have him as a hero. He said, we have to have a hero in this book. He says, I won’t do it. So that Mr. Nelson, Agent Nelson, that’s not that uncommon. So tell us a little more about some of his early cases. [5:49] Anthony Nelson, interestingly enough, his career trajectory and really his life tracks with the latter half of the last century. And a lot of the technological evolution, the rise of organized crime post-prohibition, these themes of urbanization, radicalization that came out from the starting in the middle of the century. But really heating up as a young Anthony Nelson joins the FBI in 1969, really mostly in administrative roles, radio dispatcher first, eventually he’s an electronics technician. So I’m sure, Gary, you can reflect on, and some of this will resonate with you, just how archaic some of the technology was. Oh my God, yeah. Yeah. Back then, we have some fantastic anecdotes and stories in the book, but just also like, for example, when you’re responding to a hostage crisis and you don’t have a cell phone, you don’t have minimal communications and talking about, you better make sure you have a pocket full of dimes and knocking on a neighbor’s door because time is of the essence and to establish contact. So just some of this great, really interesting material there. Eventually, Anthony was sworn in as an agent in 1976, and he entered the FBI Academy at Quantico, graduated in 77. [7:13] And interestingly enough, Anthony reflects like some of his fellow graduates, perhaps were not as keen on going to New York, one of the larger field offices, perhaps wanting to cut their teeth at a smaller office, but he obviously wanted to go home. So he was, and he jumped right into the fray, really assigned to hijacking. And he was an undercover operative in Red Hook during the 1970s, like the really gritty. And from the stories and from the various folks I interviewed, this really was gritty New York back then with the economy failing, crime on the rise. [7:48] Gary, you look, I heard an interesting stat last week where you had, there was almost a record setting that New York City had not reported a homicide for a record 12 consecutive days. And that had not happened in decades. So when Anthony joined the FBI, they were recording five homicides in New York City. And also during the 70s, you also had this, when you talk about radicalization, with 3,000 bombings nationwide, corruption was rampant. You had credit card fraud was just kicking off. You had widespread bread or auto theft and hijacking. Again, at the street level, Anthony was the front for a Gambino-affiliated warehouse where he had first right of refusal, where some of the hijackers would bring in the loads. And he was doing this on an undercover basis. So he jumped right in. They set him up in a warehouse and he was buying like a sting, what we called a sting operation. He was buying stolen property. They thought he was a fence. [8:50] Yeah, they started doing that in the 70s. They hadn’t really done, nobody had done that before in the 70s. ATF kind of started sting operates throughout the United States. We had one here, but they started doing that. And that was a new thing that these guys hadn’t seen before. So interesting. He was that big, blurly guy up front said, hey, yeah, bring that stuff on. Exactly. If you look on the cover, there are three images on the cover, and one of them is following one of the busts afterwards where they tracked down the hijacked goods. I believe it was in New Jersey. So you could get the sense of the volume. Now, think about it like this. So he’s in Red Hook in the mid-70s. This was actually where he was born. So when Anthony was born in 49, and if you think about Red Hook in the early 50s, this was just a decade removed from Al Capone as a leg-breaking bouncer along the saloons on the waterfront. And this was on the waterfront, Red Hook eventually moved to Park Slope. [9:49] And this was where Crazy Joe Gallo was prompted, started a mob war. And this was when any anthony is coming of age back then and most of his friends is gravitating so to these gangster types in the neighborhood these wise guys but this was a time pre-9-1-1 emergency response system so the only way to report or get help was to call the switchboard call the hospital directly call the fire department directly so you had the rise of the b cop where it wasn’t just the police they were integral part of the community and there’s this really provocative story Anthony tells the first time he saw a death up close and personal, an acquaintance of his had an overdose. And the beat cops really did a sincere effort to try to save him. And this really resonated with the young Anthony and he gravitated towards law enforcement. And then a little bit, a while later as a teenager, they’re having these promotional videos, these promotional sort of documentary style shows on television. And Anthony sees it, and he’s enamored by it, especially when they say this is the hardest job in America. So he’s challenged, and he’s a go-getter. So he writes a letter to J. Edgar Hoover, and Hoover writes him back. [11:03] So it’s a signed letter, and now Anthony laughs about it. He says it was probably a form letter with a rubber stamp, but it really had an amazing impact. And this is at the time when, you know, in the 50s, you really had J. Edgar really embrace the media. And he actually consulted on the other famous, the FBI television show, several movies, the rise of the G-Man archetype. So Anthony was fully on board. [11:28] Interesting. Of course, J. Edgar Hoover wanted to make sure the FBI looked good. Yes, exactly. Which he did. And they were good. They had a really high standards to get in. They had to be a lawyer or accountant or some extra educated kind of a deal. And so they always think, though, that they took these guys who had never been even a street policeman of any kind and they throw them right into the DPN many times. But that’s the way it was. They did have that higher level of recruit because of that. So, Anthony, was he a lawyer or accountant when he came in? Did he get in after they relaxed that? Oh, that’s spot on. I’m glad you brought that up. So now here’s a challenge. So Anthony needs that equalizer, correct? So if you’re a CPA, obviously a former member of the military, if you’re a successful detective or a local police force, one of these type of extra credentials. [12:20] Anthony’s specialty was technology. Now, when you think of technology… Not the ubiquitous nature of technology nowadays, where you have this massive processing power in your phone, and you don’t really have to be a technologist to be able to use the power of it. This is back in the 1960s. But he always had an affinity for technology. And he was able to, when he, one of the other requirements was as he had to hit the minimum age requirement, he had to work for a certain amount of time, he was able to get a job at the FBI. So he was an electronics technician before he became an agent. [12:59] And he had all of the, and back then this was, it was groundbreaking, the level of technology. And he has some funny story, odd, like man on the street stories about, I’m sure you remember Radio Shack when there was a Radio Shack on every other corner, ham radio enthusiasts. And it was cat and mouse. It was, they had the members of organized crime had the police scanners. And they were able to, if they had the right scanner, they had the right frequency. They were able to pick on the bugs planted really close to them. And he tells some really funny stories about one time there was a member of organized crime. They’re staking out, I believe it was the cotillion on 18th Avenue. And then I believe he’s sitting outside with Kenny McCabe. And then one of this member of organized crime, he’s waving a scanner inside and he’s taunting them saying, look, I know what you’re doing. And so it was that granularity of cat and mouse. [13:55] Rudimentary kind of stuff. Yeah. We had a guy that was wearing what we called a kelk kit. It was a wire and he was in this joint and they had the scanner and so but they had to scan her next door at this club And all of a sudden, a bunch of guys came running and there’s somebody in here wearing a wire. And my friend’s guy, the guy I worked with, Bobby, he’s going, oh, shit. And so he just fades into the background. And everybody except one guy had a suit on. Nobody had a suit on except this one guy. So they focused on this one guy that had a suit on and went after him and started trying to pat him down and everything. Bobby just slipped out the front door. So amazing. I mean, you know, Anthony has a bunch of those slice of life stories. I also interviewed a translator from the FBI to get a sort of a different perspective. [14:42] It’s different. Like the agents a little bit more, they’re tougher. They’re a tougher breed. They go through the training. Some of the administrative professionals, like the translators. So this one translator, it’s a pretty harrowing experience because remember the such the insular nature of the neighborhoods and how everyone is always [14:59] looking for someone out of place. So she actually got a real estate license and poses a realtor be able to rent apartments and then she spoke multiple dialects and then just to have to listen in and to decipher not only the code but also the dialects and put it together when you have agents on the line because remember you have an undercover agent if they get discovered more often than not the members of organized crime are going to think they’re members of another crew so you’re dead either they’re an informant if they think they’re an informant you’re dead if they think you’re an agent yeah just turn away from you say okay we don’t deal with this guy anymore if you think you’re informant or somebody another crew or something trying to worm their way in then yeah you’re dead exactly so interviewing maria for this you get that sense from someone who’s not in like not an agent to get true how truly harrowing and dangerous this type of activity was and how emboldened organized crime was until really the late 90s. And back then, it truly was death defying. [16:02] Oh, yeah, it was. They had so many things wired in the court system and in politically in the late 70s and early 80s and all these big cities. No big city was immune from that kind of thing. So they had all kinds of sources. They even had some clerks in the FBI and they definitely had all the court. The courthouses were just wired. And I don’t mean wired, but they had people in places and all those things. So it was death to find that you got into these working undercover. Ever. Hey, you want to laugh? I don’t want to give away all the stories, but there was a great story. I remember Anthony saying, they set up a surveillance post in an apartment and they brought in all the equipment while they were, then they got the court orders and the surveillance post actually got ripped off twice. So while they try, like after hours, someone’s going, yeah, ripping off all the FBI equipment. So you have this extra level of, so that gives you like, It really was Wild West then. Really? [17:00] So now he gets into organized crime pretty quick, into that squad and working organized crime pretty quick. I imagine they put him in undercover like that because of his accent, his ability to fit in the neighborhood. I would think he would have a little bit of trouble maybe running into somebody that remembered him from the old days. Did he have any problem with that? I spot on, Gary. I tell you, this was he. So he’s operating in Red Hook and actually throughout the next several years, he’s periodically flying down to Florida as a front for New York orchestrated drug deals. So he’s going down to Florida to negotiate multi-kilo drug deals on behalf of organized crime. But at the same time, he’s an agent. He eventually rose to be supervisory special agent. He’s managing multiple squads. So there did come an inflection point where it became too dangerous for him to continue to operate as an undercover while conducting other types of investigations. [18:02] Interestingly enough they opened up a resident agency office the ras are in the major field offices in the fbi they have these they’re called ras i’m sure you’re familiar these like mini offices with the office and they’ll focus on certain areas of crime more geographically based so they opened up the brooklyn queens ra and that really focuses heavily on organized crime but also hijacking because you had the, especially with the airport over there and a lot of the concentrations of, especially in South Brooklyn, going into Queens. So he worked there. Also the airport. Also the mass, you have this massive network of VA facilities. You have the forts. So you need these other RA offices. So you have a base of operations to be able to investigate. But Anthony has such a wide extent of case history, everything from airline attacks to art theft heists to kidnappings, manhunts, fugitives. There was Calvin Klein, the famous designer, when his daughter was kidnapped by the babysitter, it did do it. Anthony was investigating that. So it’s just, and while he has this heavy concentration in organized crime. I mentioned that. What’s this deal with? He investigated a robbery, a bank robbery that was a little bit like the dog day afternoon robbery, a standoff. What was that? [19:30] This was actually, it was the dog day afternoon robbery. They based a dog day afternoon on this. Exactly. What you had, and this was before Anthony was when he was still in his administrative role. So he had a communications position. So he was responsible for gathering all the intel and the communications and sharing it with the case, the special agents on site. So what you had was like, he’s with the play by play of this really provocative hostage. It was a bank robbery that quickly turned into a hostage crisis. And then, so throughout this whole, and the way it eventually resolved was the perpetrators insisted on a particular agent. I apologize. It slips my mind, but he’s a real famous agent. So he has to drive them to JFK airport where they’re supposed to have a flight ready to fly them out of the country. And what happens is they secrete a gun into the car and he winds up shooting the bank robbers to death. And there were so many different layers to this bank robbery. It eventually became the movie. And a funny story aside, the movie, while they’re filming the movie, Anthony’s at his friend’s house in downtown Brooklyn. It may have been Park Slope. And they’re calling for extras. His friends run in and say, hey, they’re filming a movie about this bank robbery that happened on Avenue U. You want to be an extra? And he said, nah, no thanks. The real thing was enough for me. [20:55] I’ll tell you what, it wasn’t for a New York City organized crime and New York City crime. Al Pacino wouldn’t have had a career. That’s the truth. [21:05] Now, let’s start. Let’s go back into organized crime. Now, we’ve talked about this detective, Kenny McCabe, who was really well known, was famous. And during the time they worked together and they were working with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Is that correct? Were both of them working for it? Was he at the FBI and Kenny was with the Brooklyn DA’s office? [21:26] When you think about thematically, in the company of courage, Kenny McCabe was really close. This was a career-long, lifelong, from when they met, relationship, professional relationship that became a deep friendship between two pretty similar members of law enforcement. [21:46] Kenny McCabe had a long career in the NYPD as organized crime investigator before he joined the Southern District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. So the way they first crossed paths was while Anthony was working a hijacking investigation. So he gets a tip from one of his CIs that there’s some hijacked stolen goods are in a vehicle parked in a certain location. So he goes to stake it out. Like they don’t want to seize the goods. They want to find out, they want to uncover who the hijackers are and investigate the conspiracy. So then while he’s there, he sees a sort of a familiar face staking it out as well. Then he goes to the, he goes to the NYA, a detective Nev Nevins later. And he asks about this guy. And so this detective introduces him to Kenny McCabe and right away strike up with his interesting chemistry. And they’re like, you know what? Let’s jointly investigate this. So they wind up foiling the hijacking. But what starts is like this amazing friendship. And I’ll tell you, the interesting thing about Kenny McCabe is almost universally, he’s held in the highest regard as perhaps law enforcement’s greatest weapon in dismantling organized crime in the latter half of the 20th century. For example, I interviewed George Terra, famous undercover detective who eventually went to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. [23:12] And he had a great way. I hope I don’t mangle. Kenny knew all the wise guys and they all knew Kenny. And when I say he knew all the wise guys, he knew their shoe sizes. He knew who they partnered with on bank jobs years ago. So he knew who their siblings were, who their cousins were, who they were married to, who their girlfriends were, what clubs they frequented. For example, during the fatical hearings, where they would do sentencing, often the defense attorneys would want the prosecutors to reveal who their CIs are for due process, for a sense of fairness. And they refused to do that, obviously, for safety reasons, and they want to compromise ongoing investigations. So in dozens, perhaps so many of these cases, they were bringing Kenny McCabe. He was known as the unofficial photographer of organized crime. [24:07] For example, I think it was 2003, he was the first one who revealed a new edict that new initiates into Cosa Nostra had to have both a mother and a father who were Italian. Oh, yeah. I remember that. Yeah. He was also, he revealed that when the Bonanno family renamed itself as Messino, he was the one who revealed that. And then when Messino went to prison for murder, his successor, Vinnie Bassiano, Vinnie gorgeous. When he was on trial, that trial was postponed because so many of law enforcement leaders had to attend Kenny McCabe’s funeral, unfortunately, when he passed. So this is such a fascinating thing. Now, why you don’t hear more about Kenny McCabe, and I interviewed his son, Kenny McCabe Jr. Duke, is like Kenny McCabe like really issued the media spotlight. He would not, he wasn’t interested in grabbing the microphone. So you have almost no media on Kenny McCabe. If you do a Google search for him, I believe the only thing I ever found was a picture in his uniform as an early career police officer. [25:19] So it’s really hard to even do a documentary style treatment without having any media because B-roll is just going to get you so far. So really what Duke has been doing over the last two decades or more is really consolidating all of these as much material as he can. And I think eventually when he does put out a book, this thing’s going to explode. It’s going to be like true Hollywood treatment. But now going back to the mid-70s, so these two guys hook up. You have the FBI agent and you have the police detective. [25:49] Craig, what you always hear is that the FBI is suspicious and doesn’t trust local authorities. And local policemen hate the FBI because they always grab all the glory and take everything, run with it. And they’re left out. And I didn’t have that experience myself. They’ve got the case. They’ve got the laws. We don’t locally, county and statewide, you don’t have the proper laws to investigate organized crime. Yes, sir. But the feds do. So that’s how it works. This really blows that myth up that the local police and the FBI never worked together and hated each other. [26:25] I’m so glad you brought that up because this was very important to Anthony. He has so many lifelong friends in the NYPD, and I’ve interviewed several of them. And just this sincerity comes across, the camaraderie. In any walk of life, in any profession, you’re always going to have rivalries and conflict, whether healthy conflict or negative conflict. [26:46] Even more, you’re going to find that in law enforcement because the stakes are so high. But it’s a disservice to… And what we want to do is sort of dispel the myth that there was no cooperation. Why there were very well-publicized conflicts between agencies prosecuting certain cases. This was the time where technology was really enabling collaboration. Remember, and you had a time, if you had to investigate a serial crime, you had to go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and you had to interview investigators. You had to comb through written records to piece this together. So it really was not conducive for collaboration. [27:22] So what you saw was the rise of, and then you had these investigative tools and these legal tools like RICO, while they were still trying to figure out and to build. So now you had the litigious tools where you could build conspiracies and prosecute them. So this sort of helped ferment this sort of collaborative interagency, which eventually led to these joint task force that were very successful. What I really love is this microcosm of Anthony Nelson and Kenny McCain. Now, Anthony Nelson was issued a Plymouth Grand Fury with the full police interceptor kit. If you’re familiar with that make and model, no automobile ever created screams cop-mobile like the Grand Fury. And so what you had was after hours, Anthony and Kenny would join up and they would go prowling the underworld with the Grand Fury on purpose. They wanted to be as conspicuous as possible. to the point where they would park in bus stops across the street from these social clubs. And when I say social clubs, they were… [28:29] Everywhere. There were dozens of them all over Brooklyn and Queens. And these are cafe, social clubs, bars, restaurants with heavy OC presence, blatantly conducting their business. So you have these two, Anthony’s always driving. Kenny’s always riding shotgun with his camera. I assume it was some sort of 35 millimeter hanging out the side, taking down names, license plates. Just a great story. You had Paul Castellano in front of Veterans and Friends on 86th Street when he had Dominic Montiglio start that social club so he could have more of a presence in Brooklyn on the street so that he actually crosses the street and he goes to Kenny and Anthony. And he’s saying, guys, you don’t have to sit out here. You could come down to Ponte Vecchio in Bay Ridge. I have a table there anytime you want to talk to me. So it’s that level of bravado. But pretty soon it changed. Once more of this intel started to build these real meaningful cases, Castellana put an edict, don’t talk to these two, don’t be photographed. What came out of that was an amazing partnership where they gathered so much intelligence and Anthony is very. [29:46] Quick to have me point out, give more credit to the investigators, to the agents, to the detectives. They gathered a lot of the intelligence to help with these investigations, but you had so many frontline folks that are doing a lot of the legwork, that are doing the investigations, making the arrests, that are crawling under the hoods. So it’s pretty inspiring. But then you also had some really good, and I don’t want to share all the stories [30:12] in the book. There’s a great story of Kenny and Anthony. They go into Rosal’s restaurant because they see this. [30:21] There may have been a warrant out on this member of law enforcement. So they had cause. So they go in and there’s actually some sort of family event going on. And they’re playing the theme song of The Godfather. As they go in and then they have to go into the back room to get this member of organized crime who’s hiding. So it’s these kind of really slice of life kind of stories that just jump out, jump out of the book. Really? I see, as I mentioned, they had some kind of a run-in with Roy DeMeo at the Gemini. You remember that story? Can you tell that one? Yeah, there’s, so Kenny and Anthony, throughout the hijacking investigations. [30:59] Were, they were among the first to really learn of this mysterious Roy. And his rise. And then also Nino. Remember Nino Gadgi was the Gambino Capo who took over Castellano’s crew, Brooklyn crew, when he was elevated. And then Roy DeMeo was really this larger than life maniac serial killer who formed the Gemini crew, which was a gang of murderers really on the Gemini Lounge in Flatlands, which is really close to Anthony’s house. And Kenny’s not too far. Didn’t they have a big stolen car operation also? Did they get into that at all? Yes. Stolen cars, chop shops. Remember, this is when you had the introduction of the tag job, where it was relatively easy to take the vehicle identification numbers off a junked auto and then just replace them with the stolen auto, and then you’re automatically making that legitimate. And then, so they’re doing this wholesale operation where they’re actually got to the point where they’re shipping hundreds, if not thousands of these tag jobs overseas. So it was at scale, a massive operation. Roy DeMay was a major earner. He was such an unbalanced, very savvy business for the underworld, business professional, but he was also a homicidal maniac. [32:22] Some say they could be upwards of a hundred to 200 crimes. Frank Pergola alone investigated and So 79 of these crimes associated with this crew. And it got to the point where, and he had a heavy sideline in drugs, which was punishable by death in the Gambino family, especially under Castellano. So then what you had was all these investigations and all this intelligence that, and then with this collaboration between the FBI and NYPD. Oh, wow. It is quite a crew. I’m just looking back over here at some of the other things in there in that crew in that. You had one instance where there was a sentencing hearing and of a drug dealer, I believe, a member of organized crime. And Kenny McCabe is offering testimony to make sure that the proper sentencing is given because a lot of times these guys are deceptive. [33:16] And he mentions DeMeo’s name. So DeMeo in a panic. So then maybe a couple of nights later, they’re parked in front of veterans and friends. And DeMeo comes racing across 86th Street. Now, 86th Street is like a four-lane thoroughfare. It’s almost like, oh, I grew up in the air a few blocks away. So he’s running through traffic. And then he’s weaving in and out. And he’s screaming at Kenny McCabe, what are you trying to kill me? Putting my name into a drug case? They’re going to kill me. And so it’s that kind of intimate exchanges that they have with, with these key members of organized crime of the era. [33:52] Wow. That’s, that’s crazy. I see that they worked to murder that DEA agent, Everett Hatcher, that was a low level mob associate that got involved in that. And then supposedly the mob put out the word, but you gotta, we gotta give this guy up. But you remember that story? Now, this is another instance where I remember this case. And I remember afterwards when they killed Gus Faraci. So what you had was, again, and this is very upsetting because you had DEA agent Everett Hatchard, who is a friend of Anthony’s. To the point where just prior to his assassination, they were attending a social event together with their children. And he would also, they would run into each other from time to time. They developed a really beyond like camaraderie, like real friendship. So then, so Hatcher has, there’s an undercover sting. So there’s Gus Faraci, who’s, I believe he was associated with the Lucchese’s, with Chile. [34:55] So he gets set up on the West Shore. And so he’s told to go to the West Shore Expressway. Now, if you’ve ever been on that end of Staten Island, that whips out heading towards the outer bridge. This really is the end of the earth. This is where you have those large industrial like water and oil tankers and there’s not really good lighting and all this. It’s just like a real gritty. So he loses his surveillance tail and they eventually, he’s gunned down while in his vehicle. So then Anthony gets the call to respond on site to investigate the murder. He doesn’t know exactly who it is until he opens up the door and he sees it’s his friend. And this is the first assassination of a DEA agent. It was just such a provocative case. And the aftermath of that was, again, like Gus Faraci, who was, he was a murderer. He was a drug dealer, but he did not know. He set him up. He thought he was a member of organized crime. [35:53] He was just another drug dealer. He did not realize he was a DEA agent. And then all hell broke loose. And you had just the all five families until they eventually produced Gus Faraci, set him up, and then he was gunned down in Brooklyn. [36:06] Case closed, huh? Exactly. Yeah. And as we were saying before, I don’t remember it was before I started recording or after that. When you’re working undercover, that’s the worst thing is they think that you’re an informant or a member of another crew and you’re liable to get killed. At one say, I had a sergeant one time. He said, if you get under suspicion when you’re like hanging out in some of these bars and stuff, just show them you’re the cops. Just get your badge out right away because everything just, all right, they just walk away then. It’s a immensely dangerous thing to maintain your cover. Yes, sir. Anthony was always good at that because tall gentleman has the right sort of Italian-American complexion. He’s passable at Italian. So with some of these folks, especially from Italy that come over, he could carry a conversation. He’s not fluent. [36:56] And he just walks in and talks in. It’s a different… George Terror was a fantastic undercover detective. And you talk to some of these undercovers, it’s like you have to be… There’s sort of this misperception that the organized crime members are like these thugs and flunkies. These are very intelligent, super suspicious, addled individuals that are able to pick up on signals really easy because they live on the edge. So you really can’t fake it, the slightest thing. And again, they’ll think that their first inclination is not that you’re a member of law enforcement. Their first inclination is that you’re a member of a rival crew that’s looking to kill me looks at looking to rip me off so i’m going to kill you first it’s just it’s just a wild and imagine that’s your day job oh man i know they could just and i’ve picked this up on people there’s just a look when you’re lying there’s just a look that just before you catch it quick but there’s a look of panic that then you get it back these guys can pick up that kind of stuff just so quickly any kind of a different body language they’re so good with that. [38:02] And he’s also, he has to be able to say just enough to establish his connection and credibility without saying too much that’s going to trip him up. And that’s like being able to walk that line. He tells, again, I hate giving away all these stories because I want readers to buy the book, but he has this fantastic story when he’s on an undercover buy and he’s, I don’t know if it’s Florida, if it’s Miami or it’s Fort Lauderdale and he has to go into a whole, like the drugs are in one location and he’s in that with the drug deals in one location and he’s in this location and, but he knows the money’s not going to come. [38:42] So he has to walk into this hotel room with all these cartel drug guys who are off balance, knowing that he’s got to figure out, how do I get out of this room without getting killed? And once I walk out, will the timing be right that I could drop to the floor right when the responding FBI agents, again, these are FBI agents from a different [39:08] field office that he perhaps doesn’t have intimate working. knowledge of. I got to trust that these guys got my back and they’re not distracted. So I can’t even imagine having to live with that stress. No, I can’t either. All right. I’ll tell you what, the book, guys, is Empire City Under Siege, the three decades of New York FBI field office man hunts, murders, and mafia wars by Craig McGuire with former retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson. I pulled as many stories as I could out of the book from him. You’re going to have to get the book to get to the rest of. And believe me, I’m looking at my notes here and the stuff they sent me. And there are a ton of great stories in there, guys. You want to get this book. [39:50] I also want to say there’s something special going on at Wild Blue Press. My publisher specializes in true crime. And it’s just, they’re so nurturing and supportive of writers. Just fantastic facilities and promotions. And they just help us get it right. That’s the most important thing, Anthony, accuracy. So if there’s anything wrong in the book, that’s totally on me. It’s really hard to put one of these together, especially decades removed. But then I’m just thankful for the support of nature of Wild Blue and Anthony and all the remarkable members of law enforcement like yourself, sir. Thank you for your service. And Anthony, and I’m just so inspired. I just have to say, they’re like a different breed. And you folks don’t realize how exciting. Because there are so many stories like Anthony would come up with and he would say, do you think readers would be interested in this story? And I fall out of my chair like, oh my God, this could be a whole chapter. So it was as a true crime fan myself of this material, it’s just, it was a wild ride and I enjoyed it. [40:56] Great. Thanks a lot for coming on the show, Craig. Thanks, Gary. You’re the best.

As we come to the end of another year, it feels like a good moment to pause—not to summarize everything, but to listen back. This episode is built around songs that lingered, resurfaced, and quietly insisted on being remembered. The playlist features Jérémie Lucchese; Chaerin Im [pictured]; Emiliano D'Auria; Ron Blake; James Brandon Lewis; Jakob Bro, Joe Lovano, Larry Grenadier, Thomas Morgan, Anders Christensen, Joey Baron, and Jorge Rossy. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21722582/Mondo-Jazz [from "L'Ogre" to "Mumbo Jumbo"]. Happy listening!

Here's a playlist featuring musicians paying tribute to where they come from, geographically or artistically... The playlist features Emiliano D'Auria; Dayna Stephens; Charles Lloyd; Jérémie Lucchese; James Newton. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21657081/Mondo-Jazz [from "Chasing the Flicker" to "Reincarnation of a Lovebird"]. Happy listening! Photo: Evan Goldstein.

This week we unpack the growing troubles for the Perna wing of the Lucchese Organized Crime Family as criminal charges keep mounting for the New Jersey faction of the crime syndicate. New RICO/ Gambling/Money laundering charges against Mob Soldier “Little Joe” Perna and 13 others have been in the headlines for two weeks now. Those charged include multiple Perna family members. George Anastasia joins the show to discuss what this means for the Lucchese's going forward and just how much trouble are they really in with this controversial case and last Spring's big Lucchese indictments .

Sports Chasers Podcast – Thursday Night Live Ep. 443 (November 13, 2025) MLB Gambling Scandal, College Betting Ring, Disney vs YouTube TV, NFL & NBAIn Episode 443 of the **Sports Chasers Podcast – Thursday Night Live Show**, host **Kevin L. Warren** and the crew break down a wild week in sports, from **betting scandals** to **streaming wars** to **NBA chaos**.

Michael Lucchese, founder of Pipe Creek Consulting and associate editor at Law & Liberty, joins Scot Bertram for a fascinating conversation that bridges politics, culture, and philosophy. From the history and modern meaning of the filibuster to the intellectual legacy of William F. Buckley's Cold War conservatism, Lucchese examines how ideas shape governance and values today. They also dive into the unexpected connections between classic conservative thought and the cinematic storytelling of Paul Thomas Anderson, exploring what both teach us about human nature, power, and moral conviction.

durée : 01:00:00 - Jérémie Lucchese "Essais pour l'imaginaire" - par : Nicolas Pommaret - Parution chez Fresh Sound New Talent de “Essais pour l'imaginaire (vol. II)” du saxophoniste et compositeur Jérémie Lucchese. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, there was a major FBI bust of an illegal sports betting scheme involving four NBA teams (Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors) and four mafia families (Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese), netting over $7 million. The NBA Has a problem, people need to have faith in the game. This is a massive blackeye for the NBA. Also, those who say ​that ​Israel ​will ​never ​annex ​the ​West Bank (Judea ​and ​Samaria), ​have ​no ​idea ​what's ​taking ​place ​in ​the ​West ​Bank. Israel ​will ​do ​whatever ​it ​chooses ​to ​do. The recent Knesset vote on annexation was initiated by the left to divide conservatives and the administration. If ​​Judea ​and ​Samaria ​don't ​belong ​to ​the ​Jews, ​who ​does ​it ​belong ​to? Shiloh's history proves Judea and Samaria as ancestral Jewish homeland is crucial to Judaism and Christianity. Later, Zohran Mamdani got his butt kicked at the NYC debate. He's a sloganeer, which is typical of Marxists, but he won't be substantive at all. Afterward, Obamacare is a lie focused on centralization and control rather than affordability, leading to loss of civil liberties, restricted benefits, and second-rate care where patients can't access desired doctors, hospitals, or medicines. It's just like socialist systems in Canada and Britain, from which people flee to the US for better care, yet Democrats aim to mimic them. Democrats caused the government shutdown to maintain and expand Obamacare subsidies and reinstate benefits for illegal aliens, refusing reforms and relying on media to blame Republicans, ultimately destroying Medicare, Medicaid, and employee insurance by inflating healthcare costs. Finally, a Daily Mail article predicts Christianity's decline as America's majority religion amid Islam's rise. U.S. was founded on tolerant Judeo-Christian values fused with Enlightenment, rejected by Marxists and Islamists. This ideological clash threatens free society's survival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny joins the show to talk about an extensive investigation into an NBA gambling scandal involving organized crime families. The case spans nearly two years and is linked to the Gambino, Bonano, Genovese, and Lucchese families. NBA figures like Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones, as well as intricate cheating mechanisms at poker games, are implicated. Over 30 people have been arrested, with the investigation ongoing. The FBI, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney's Office leading the efforts emphasize the severity of federal charges including wire fraud and money laundering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo y Lucchese… Esta serie documental de tres episodios explora la creación, el auge y la caída de los grandes clanes mafiosos de Nueva York.

BT & Sal react live to the explosive FBI announcement detailing a "sweeping criminal enterprise" that includes the arrests of NBA coach Chauncey Billups and guard Terry Rozier, along with members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families. The hosts slam the compromised integrity of sports, discussing how prop bets and high-tech rigged poker games were used to defraud millions. They call for "zero tolerance" from all leagues, comparing the scandal to the notorious Tim Donaghy incident, and question the wisdom of the NCAA's new rule allowing college athletes to bet on pro sports. The sheer scale of the fraud—involving wire fraud, extortion, and rigging games across eleven states—is dissected, leading to the devastating question: How many painful losses over the years were actually a fix?

Dominic Carter steps in for Rita Cosby to deliver a high-energy, opinionated hour on the Red Apple Podcast Network. The New York City mayoral race is down to the wire, with momentum shifting toward Andrew Cuomo, prompting fiery debate recaps and strategies to defeat Zorhan Mamdani. Find out why the incumbent mayor's endorsement is moving the needle and hear the harsh words exchanged between candidates regarding crime and housing. Then, the NBA is rocked by the FBI's announcement of a massive, years-long alleged illegal gambling and sports rigging operation. High-profile former and current NBA players and coaches, including Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rosier, were taken into custody in a coordinated takedown that allegedly involves the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families. Plus, the show covers President Trump's White House renovations, paid for at no expense to taxpayers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fair officials acknowledged the decline in a release on Sunday. More detailed numbers Wednesday revealed this year's fair attendance is the lowest over the past eight years. The drop has implications for the city of Dallas as well as the State Fair. A fair spokesperson said that several factors likely contributed to the drop in attendance. In other news, millions of Texans could lose food benefits at the end of this month if the government shutdown continues. In a letter to states this month, the U.S. Agriculture Department warned the federal government will have insufficient funds to pay for the Supplemental Food Assistance and Nutrition Program, known as SNAP, if the shutdown continues past next Monday; the Dallas City Council agreed Wednesday to pay Dallas County for jail services after a monthlong delay and approved an $8.7 million annual contract for housing and processing people arrested by Dallas police. The decision follows weeks of debate over performance measures and city concerns about delays in the jail intake process; and Big Tex needs a new pair of boots. The Big Tex Boot Design Contest, presented by Lucchese Bootmaker, opened Wednesday morning. To enter, draw, paint or illustrate the design on the sheets provided on the State Fair Design My Boots page and submit it with the entry form. Contest entries are due by Jan. 31, and the winning design will be announced March 2, next year.  All entries must be original works of art with no copyrighted material and include the Lucchese brand logo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nueva York, mediante el asesinato y traiciones dos capitanes de la familia mafiosa Lucchese se abren camino hacia la jefatura. Los nuevos jefes se embarcan una sangrienta guerra que estremece al mundo del hampa de Nueva York y obligados por el código de obediencia de la mafia los hombres no tienen más opción que seguirles, pero que sus propios jefes se traten las normas mafiosas no lo pueden tolerar ni los más leales subordinados que acuden al FBI provocando la caída de la familia Lucchese

Nueva York, mediante el asesinato y traiciones dos capitanes de la familia mafiosa Lucchese se abren camino hacia la jefatura. Los nuevos jefes se embarcan una sangrienta guerra que estremece al mundo del hampa de Nueva York y obligados por el código de obediencia de la mafia los hombres no tienen más opción que seguirles, pero que sus propios jefes se traten las normas mafiosas no lo pueden tolerar ni los más leales subordinados que acuden al FBI provocando la caída de la familia Lucchese

In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins dives deep into the life of James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke. Prompted by listener Paul Blackwood of Edinburgh, Gary explores Burke's world beyond the headlines of the Lufthansa heist. From his turbulent childhood in foster homes and orphanages to his rise as a feared and respected mobster in the Lucchese family, Burke's story is one of violence, loyalty, and paranoia. Gary traces Burke's early years of crime, his ties with Henry Hill and Paul Vario, and the meticulous planning of the Lufthansa heist that netted millions—and left a trail of blood in its aftermath. The episode also covers Burke's role in gambling and drug rackets, his eventual downfall in the Boston College point-shaving scandal, and his complicated legacy in mob history. Was Jimmy the Gent a loyal operator, or a ruthless killer who trusted no one? Tune in for a gripping exploration of one of organized crime's most enigmatic figures. Subscribe to Gangland Wire wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week as we uncover the stories buried beneath the headlines—and the bodies. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here 0:06 Introduction to Jimmy Burke 1:12 The Rise of Jimmy the Gent 6:19 Jimmy's Early Life and Influences 10:25 Family Ties and Notorious Names 14:41 Criminal Ventures Begin 17:51 The Notorious Lufthansa Heist 23:57 The Boston College Scandal 30:49 Conclusion and Legacy [0:00] I had a listener named Paul Blackwood from Edinburgh, Scotland, [0:04] email me with some great compliments about the show. So thank you, Paul. Hope you're listening to this.  I will try to remember to send you an email just before I release this one. However, Paul suggested that I do a story that focuses more specifically on Jimmy Burke, also known as Jimmy the Gent. And I looked around, and I agreed with Paul. Burke is mentioned on many podcasts because we all want to discuss the famous Lufthansa. I want to talk about Henry Hill, some of the other mob people in the Lucchese family, but it seems like I wasn't really finding a show that was just focused on Burke. So, James, Jimmy the Gent, Burke and where he came from and where he went. [0:43] Oh, and don't forget to hit me up on Venmo, buy me a cup of coffee once in a while, or maybe go donate on the podcast. I appreciate it. It helps pay the bills and keep me going. Now, Burke may be one of the most famous mob associates of all times, I would say. Oh, there's some in Chicago. They had a lot of associates in Chicago. But because of, of course, Henry Hill and Robert De Niro playing him, [1:07] why, he probably would be the most famous mob guy who is not a made man. If Henry Hill had not gone into witness protection, if Henry Hill had not done that book with Nicholas Pelleggi, Wise Guys, or if the famous filmmaker Martin Scorsese hadn't taken Wise Guys and Pellegi's book and got Pellegi to help write a script and titled it Goodfellas. And when Robert De Niro took the part of Jimmy the Gent, his place in history was assured, I'll tell you that, especially in mob history. In my humble opinion, this book and film were arguably the best depictions of day-to-day mob life ever that I've ever seen. I thought it was amazing. He did a heck of a job at the casino. [1:55] And to see the egos of these guys, once they turn, are just amazing. When Lefty Rosenthal heard Robert De Niro was going to play him, he told Pelleggio, oh yeah, I'll work with you, I'll work on this. And I'm not sure what brought Henry Hill around,

Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso was the Lucchese family's brutal underboss, the brains behind boss Vic Amuso's reign, and architect of one of the Mafia's bloodiest purges. Together they ruled the Luccheses with paranoia and brute force, wiping out rivals and even dozens of their own men if they sniffed disloyalty or simply didn't like them. Casso personally ordered or committed dozens of murders, turning the family into a machine of fear. But when the law finally closed in, the man who scared even the most toughest enforcers and hitmen shocked the underworld by flipping, becoming one of the highest-ranking mobsters ever to turn informant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pierre Hotel Affair: How Eight Gentleman Thieves Orchestrated the Largest Jewel Heist in HistoryNew York City, 1972: Bobby Comfort and Sammy "the Arab" Nalo were highly skilled jewel thieves who specialized in robbing luxury Manhattan hotels. (They once robbed Sophia Loren's suite, relieving the Italian actress of over $1 million in gems.) With the blessing of the Lucchese crime family, their next plot targeted the posh Pierre Hotel - host to kings and queens, presidents and aldermen, and the wealthiest of the wealthy. Attired in tuxedos and driven in a limousine, this band of thieves arrived at the Pierre and with perfect timing, they seized the security guards and, in systematically choreographed moves, they swiftly took the night staff - and several unfortunate guests who happened to be roaming around the lobby - as hostages. The deposit boxes inside the vault chamber were plundered and, after the intruders held the Pierre under siege for almost two hours, the gentlemanly thieves departed in their limousine with a haul of $28 million. But then matters began to deteriorate. Comfort, Nalo, and their partners began to double and triple cross one another - two absconding to Europe with the bulk of the booty while three were murdered by their former associates.https://amzn.to/3JiXTGWBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

 What if your marriage license came with an expiration date?In this hilarious and thought-provoking episode of The JB and Sandy Show, the crew dives into everything from high-end cowboy boots to unconventional marriage advice. It's a wild ride through Austin culture, relationship real talk, and the quirks that make Texas, well… Texas. The show kicks off with the Boot Wars heating up on South Congress. Lucchese drops a bombshell with their new University of Texas Longhorn boots, complete with ostrich leather and burnt orange flair—leaving Tacovas and their Chili's collab looking a little “chumpy.” Trisha breaks down the styles, prices, and why these boots are about to take over DKR Stadium. Then it's all about showing off Austin to out-of-town radio hosts during a national conference. From Terry Black's BBQ to Waymo self-driving Ubers, and even a guy who didn't know what a tamale was, the team shares laugh-out-loud stories of culture shock and local pride. Finally, the conversation turns personal as Sandy and Trisha reveal their long-standing idea of a “marriage lease”—a concept now echoed by none other than Christie Brinkley. Should marriages be renewable every 5 years? The crew debates the pros, cons, and what their daughter thinks of the whole thing.

Jimmy Burke wasn't just a career criminal—he was the mastermind behind one of the most infamous heists in American history: the 1978 Lufthansa robbery. From his early days as a feared associate of the Lucchese crime family to his brutal reputation and ultimate downfall, we dive deep into the life, crimes, and legacy of the man who inspired Robert De Niro's character in Goodfellas.Subscribe to our YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@bangdangnetworkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/outlaws-gunslingers--4737234/support.

On this month's mafia episode, we cover two more Lucchese family members. First up is Paul Vario, who you may have seen him immortalized in the movie Goodfellas. He ran his own crew in Brooklyn and approved the infamous Lufthansa Heist. Then we go to Christopher "Christie Tick" Furnari who was consigliere of the family until he went to prison in 1986. He is most known for bringing Vic Amuso and Anthony Casso into the family. We all know how that worked out.Subscribe to our YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@bangdangnetwork  Become a supporter of this podcast and get all episodes 2 DAYS EARLY and AD FREE! https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/outlaws-gunslingers--4737234/support

In this unfiltered and unforgettable episode, host Taylor McAdams kicks her boots up with one of her closest friends, Megan Ray. A social media powerhouse with deep rodeo roots, Megan shares her journey from the ticket booth of the Ellensburg Rodeo to managing social strategy for major Western brands. The two reminisce about their chaotic (and hilarious) internship during the 2020 NFR and how it trauma-bonded them for life: yes, including the time they became impromptu customer service reps when an entire streaming app crashed.Through laughter, lessons, and lots of "mhm's," Megan reminds us that the best career moments often come from simply saying yes and believing in your own potential. This is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered if they belong at the table and decided to pull up a chair anyway.

In this heartfelt episode of the Kick Your Boots Up Podcast, we sit down with Kalyn Grokett, A ranch wife, mom of two, proud Okie, and rising Western influencer. Hailing from Wyandotte, Oklahoma, Kalyn opens up about her journey from small-town roots to being named to the 2025 Class of 30 Under 30.A graduate of Oklahoma State University and the voice behind “Love Letter to the Lord,” Kalyn shares what life is really like balancing ranch chores, motherhood, and faith, while overcoming one of her greatest challenges: a horse accident that left her with a prosthetic eye.We talk about what keeps her grounded, what she's loving lately, her favorite pastimes, and the advice that fuels her drive. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation full of grace, grit, and gospel.Follow Kalyn on Instagram & TikTok: @kalyngrokett

We cover Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, one of the most notorious figures in the Lucchese crime family. Born in South Brooklyn in 1942, Casso rose from a violent street gang member to a powerful underboss, orchestrating a reign of crime that included drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. This video explores his early life, criminal career, and personal betrayals, including his secret affair that shattered his marriage. From leading the infamous "Bypass Gang" to his role in the Gambino coup, Casso's story is a chilling look at the Mafia's inner workings.Subscribe to our YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@bangdangnetworkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/outlaws-gunslingers--4737234/support.

In this episode of the Kick Your Boots Up Podcast, we're headed to the heart of rodeo in Las Vegas to sit down with the powerhouse behind the scenes—Brilynn Bentley. As the Corporate Marketing Partnerships Manager for Las Vegas Events and Assistant General Manager of the Junior World Finals, Brilynn wears many of hats (and probably a few pairs of boots, too).From her days as a high school rodeo barrel racer to her role as co-host of the NFR Extra Podcast, Brilynn shares her journey growing up in the western world, what she loves most about working with the NFR, and how 40 years of rodeo magic in Vegas continues to evolve.We also get a peek into who Brilynn is off the clock—what inspires her, her favorite downtime hobbies, and what advice she'd give to anyone chasing their rodeo dreams. Oh, and yes—we chat about her recent engagement, too!Saddle up and listen now for an insider's look at the people who help make the NFR the spectacle it is today.Follow Brilynn on Instagram and TikTok: @brilynn_bentleyLearn more at: www.NFRexperience.com/nfrextra

In today's episode, we wrap up one of the most detailed and historically rich series we've ever done. In Part Three of our special deep dive into the FBI's 1967 report on La Cosa Nostra, we close the book on an era where the mob's influence was at its peak across the United States.This final installment takes us beyond New York's Five Families and paints a broader picture of organized crime's national footprint — from the power struggles within familiar crime families to lesser-known but highly active Mafia outposts across the country.Read the full FBI report for yourself: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=113324

A TUTTA C con Lorenzo Beccarisi. Ospiti: Luca Esposito e Fabrizio Vincenti (Gazzetta Lucchese)

On this episode, Frank Murano takes a deep dive into the world of organized crime with special guest Jeff Nadu, host of 'The Sit Down.' They explore the current state of the mafia, discussing whether there's a resurgence, the dwindling influence of the old guard, and the challenges the mob faces today. Topics include the active involvement of figures like Gene Gotti and Vito Gazo, the recent Lucchese bust in New Jersey, and the entanglements between politics and organized crime. They also consider the mafia's adaptation to the digital age and the ongoing allure of mafia lore in popular culture. Jeff Nadu shares his insights on who to watch in the mafia world and makes a bold prediction for organized crime in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucchese Crime Family Linked to Illegal Poker Games!_ Only Friends Pod Ep 709 _ w_Matt Berkey by Solve For Why

A sweeping raid by NJ State Police across North & Central Jersey snares four top Lucchese Crime Family members, including two ranking leaders in a widespread, multi-million dollar gambling & racketeering operation. Mob expert George Anastasia joins the podcast as we break down the 39-defendant investigation, where else it could lead and the possible ramifications for the wiseguys caught up in the alleged scheme.

Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea…My guest today is Debra Fast; her story is the stuff of dreams. When Debra graduated from Music School, she embraced the opportunity to play Violin with a string quartet on Cruise ships where she met the Italian pianist, Sandro Ivo Bartoli, whom she married, and started a new life in Italy. Debra speaks about her dedication to music, and in particular, her professional career as a solo violinist. She tells a mesmerising story; I particularly found her Suono Solo project, with its links to the 18th century Lucchese composer, Geminiani, fascinating. Debra is a very talented and creative musician and her enthusiasm and encouragement extends beyond her own career to that of others, for example, you will hear about her research into female musicians from her birth country, Canada. **Debra Fast will be performing in "Lucca Classica" on the 24th of April 2025, at 3.pm at the Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi, Lucca.**Connect with DebraYouTube Channel: Debra Fast, Violinist https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNx_eSIve99gUKQH9In6lKgFacebook: Debra Fast, violinist: https://www.facebook.com/debrafast.violinist/LinkedIn: Debra Fast, violinist

Michael Lucchese, founder of Pipe Creek Consulting, an associate editor of Law & Liberty, and a contributing editor to Providence. It's time for Trump to get tough on China: Public opinion would be on his side.

Through the 1970s and 1980s Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa served in the NYPD, rising through the ranks, each becoming decorated detectives. They are also responsible for what may qualify as the department's darkest chapter. For years the two cops operated not only as paid informantsfor the Lucchese organized crime family, but served as mob henchmen, committed a multitude of crimes and were involved in at least twelve murders.  And they came remarkably close to getting away with all of it. MichaelCannell, a former editor at the New York Times andauthor of the critically acclaimed A Brotherhood Betrayed, now has written the definitive account of the crooked cops' escapades and the trail of terror they left—which included the deaths and wrongful imprisonment ofwholly innocent people.

In this enlightening episode of Numbers and Narratives, hosts Ibby Syed and Sean Collins engage in a riveting discussion with Austin Ripmaster, Chief Creative Officer and VP of Brand at Lucchese Bootmaker. Ripmaster offers listeners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how a 142-year-old American icon maintains its relevance and expands its customer base while staying true to its roots. From the challenges of transitioning to a direct-to-consumer model to the intricacies of luxury brand positioning, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in brand management and marketing.Ripmaster shares fascinating anecdotes about Lucchese's celebrity clientele and the brand's deep connection to American culture, explaining how these elements contribute to the brand's unique position in the luxury market. He delves into the concept of "Texan luxury" and how Lucchese differentiates itself from other high-end brands by focusing on the lifestyle and values associated with its products. The conversation also explores the delicate balance between attracting new customers and maintaining the loyalty of the brand's core audience, offering practical strategies for brand expansion without compromising authenticity.Don't wait - tune in now and discover how Lucchese Bootmaker continues to shape the landscape of American luxury.

It is November 6th, 1990. The air was crisp, the Belt Parkway humming with the usual New York traffic. Among the cars was Eddie Lino—an old-school Gambino enforcer, a man whose name carried weight in the city's underworld. He'd spent years dodging the law. But this time, the flashing red and blue lights in his rearview weren't just another routine hassle. As the unmarked car closed in, Lino must've felt it—something was off. Before he could react, gunfire rang out. The ambush was clean and professional in a city where power shifts with a trigger pull; Eddie Lino's time was up. For a man who had made a living by the gun, there were only two ways out: a prison cell or a body bag. Lino avoided the first. And he paid his dues in full on that Brooklyn highway in 1992. Dirty cops and the mob—nothing new in New York. But this case? This was different. Two high-ranking NYPD detectives weren't just looking the other way; they worked for the Lucchese crime family, pulling jobs and covering tracks for over a decade. They didn't just take bribes—they were on the payroll.Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Mafia's Finest: Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito.'Listener discretion by @octoberpodVHSMusic is by our editor @theinkypawprintSources:Mafia Cops Interview - Louis Eppolito on the Sally Jesse Raphael showhttps://www.amazon.com/Mafia-Cop-Lou-Eppolito/dp/1416517014http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/mafia-cops-louis-eppolito-stephen-caracappa-sentenced-life-prison-article-1.366777https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2009/2009mar06b.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/15ygama/louis_eppolito_on_sally_jesse_raphael_1992/https://nypost.com/2005/07/07/victims-mom-fingered-mafia-cop-from-tv-talk-show/https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2005/2005mar10.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/nyregion/louis-eppolito-dead.htmlhttps://www.silive.com/news/2017/04/report_mob_cop_with_staten_isl.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170412190201/http://gothamist.com/2017/04/12/nypd_cop_turned_mafia_hitman_dies_i.phphttps://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1532561.htmlhttps://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-mafia-cop-louis-eppolito-dead-20191105-55tnkoq4f5amvm5555qcp3fb34-story.htmlhttps://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2009/2009mar06b.htmlhttp://www.ipsn.org/indictments/caracappa_indictment/caracappa_indictment_newest.htmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20060111191537/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/05/60minutes/main1180833.shtmlhttp://www.ipsn.org/indictments/caracappa_indictment/caracappa_indictment_newest.htm

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. The Mafia Cops: NYPD Corruption and Murder with Michael Connell. In this explosive episode of Gangland Wire, I uncover the shocking true story of two NYPD detectives who became hitmen for the Mafia. Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa weren't just dirty cops—they were fully embedded in the Lucchese crime family, leaking intelligence, setting up murders, and betraying the very system they swore to uphold. Joining me is Michael Connell, author of a gripping account of their crimes. We break down how these officers, once respected members of law enforcement, used their badges to serve the mob. Eppolito's deep family ties to organized crime and Caracappa's access to high-level police intelligence made them the perfect duo for Gaspipe Casso and the Lucchese family. Their corruption ran so deep that they not only provided inside information but also carried out Mafia-ordered executions—including the tragic killing of an innocent man due to a case of mistaken identity. We discuss how their downfall unfolded, from a shocking whistleblower to the relentless detective work that finally exposed them. We dive into the role of Betty Heidel, a grieving mother determined to find justice for her murdered son, and Detective Tommy Dades, who helped piece together the case that brought Eppolito and Caracappa to justice. This story concerns power, betrayal, and the dark intersection between law enforcement and organized crime. Don't miss this deep dive into one of NYPD's most astonishing corruption cases. Find Michael's book Blood on the Badge at this link. Subscribe to get new gangster stories every week. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here! #TrueCrime #BostonMafia #OrganizedCrime #GanglandWire #AngiuloFamily #FBI #Surveillance #MafiaHistory Transcript [0:00] Well, hey, all you wiretappers out there. Good to be back here in Studio Gangland Wire. I have an author today, some stories about the mafia cops, the mob cops in New York City, Caracapa and Eppolito. Those two guys were bad dudes. So I have Michael Connell. Welcome, Michael. Hey, it's great to be here. Thanks. Thanks. Great to see you again. Yeah, you too. Yeah, you've been on the show before, haven't you? I have, yes. For my previous book, I guess that we were here together three or so years ago. Was it that long? Was it Abrellis? Was it Abrellis' book? It was Abrellis, right, exactly. Yeah, that guy's a character. Abrellis, also known as Kid Twist, who went out the window of a hotel in Coney Island. [0:48] Nobody knows exactly how he went out, but one thing's for sure, it wasn't voluntary. The canary could sing, but he couldn't fly, right? Exactly. So, guys, I know you all know me, but I'm retired intelligence unit detective Gary Jenkins, Kansas City Police Department. Got this show, Gangland Wire, and we deal with the mafia almost every week. So this story is blood and the bads, the mafia, two killer cops, and a scandal that shocked the nation. I know you know some of y'all will know this story about Steve Caraappa and Lou Eppilito I want to tell you what Joe Pistone who everybody knows is Donnie Brasco, said about this book "Cannell pulls back the veil to refill law enforcement's most lurid chapter an entwined tale of decorated detectives on the mafia payroll a true account of police depravity unearthed...

Through the 1970s and 1980s Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa served in the NYPD, rising through the ranks, each becoming decorated detectives. They are also responsible for what may qualify as the department's darkest chapter. For years the two cops operated not only as paid informants for the Lucchese organized crime family, but served as mob henchmen, committed a multitude of crimes and were involved in at least fifteen murders. And they came remarkably close to getting away with all of it. Michael Cannell, a former editor at the New York Times and author of the critically acclaimed A Brotherhood Betrayed, now has written the definitive account of the crooked cops' escapades and the trail of terror they left-which included the deaths and wrongful imprisonment of wholly innocent people-in BLOOD AND THE BADGE: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation (January 14, 2025; SMP). "Cannell pulls back the veil to reveal law enforcement's most lurid chapter, an entwined tale of decorated detectives on the mafia payroll - a true account of police depravity unearthed with intensive reporting." -Joe Pistone, New York Times bestselling author of Donnie Brasco "Michael Cannell's Blood and the Badge details the extraordinary 'Killer Cops' investigation, a harrowing story of corruption and murder within law enforcement itself. Cannell misses nothing."-Nicholas Pileggi, bestselling author of Wiseguy and co-writer of the Academy Award-winner Goodfellas Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell has unearthed the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia.No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn.For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once.Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place.Cannell's Blood and the Badge is based on entirely new research and never-before-released interviews with mobsters themselves, including Sammy “the Bull” Gravano. Joining me to discuss his new book, BLOOD AND THE BADGE: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal that shocked the Nation—N.Y. Times editor and author Michael Cannell Follow and comment on Facebook-TRUE MURDER: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064697978510Check out TRUE MURDER PODCAST @ truemurderpodcast.com

True Crime Tuesday presents: Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, & The Scandal That Shocked The Nation with Journalist/Author, Michael Cannell! No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once. Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place. On today's TCT, Michael Cannell, author of the book, "Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and The Scandal That Shocked The Nation" talks about the rise and fall of Eppolito and Caracappa, the players around them that drew out their dishonest and evil traits, how things even went wrong in the first place, and how one partner wanted to stay quiet, while one had Hollywood aspirations!  Get your copy of "Blood and the Badge" here: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/blood-and-the-badge-9781250817785/ PLUS: DUMB  CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS WITH JESSICA FREEBURG! Watch the video of the Hooters waitress flirting with the Florida cop here:  https://bit.ly/3DQk3gS Check out Jessica Freeburg's website and order her new books:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/books/ and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwrites There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store at our website! . check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/ #crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #michaelcannell #bloodandthebadge #stmartinspublishing #themafiatwokillercopsandthescandalthatrockedthenation #louieeppolito #stephencaracappa #nypd #mafia #lucchesefamily #gambinofamily #fatthegangster #jimmytheclam #gangster #gaspipecasso #johngotti #burtkaplan #lasvegas #hollywood #FBI #federalgovernment #mafia #RICO #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis #jessicafreeburg #paranormalauthor #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes #sexcrimes #dumbcrimes

True Crime Tuesday presents: Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, & The Scandal That Shocked The Nation with Journalist/Author, Michael Cannell! No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once. Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place. On today's TCT, Michael Cannell, author of the book, "Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and The Scandal That Shocked The Nation" talks about the rise and fall of Eppolito and Caracappa, the players around them that drew out their dishonest and evil traits, how things even went wrong in the first place, and how one partner wanted to stay quiet, while one had Hollywood aspirations!  Get your copy of "Blood and the Badge" here: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/blood-and-the-badge-9781250817785/ PLUS: DUMB  CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS WITH JESSICA FREEBURG! Watch the video of the Hooters waitress flirting with the Florida cop here:  https://bit.ly/3DQk3gS Check out Jessica Freeburg's website and order her new books:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/books/ and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwrites There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store at our website! . check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/ #crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #michaelcannell #bloodandthebadge #stmartinspublishing #themafiatwokillercopsandthescandalthatrockedthenation #louieeppolito #stephencaracappa #nypd #mafia #lucchesefamily #gambinofamily #fatthegangster #jimmytheclam #gangster #gaspipecasso #johngotti #burtkaplan #lasvegas #hollywood #FBI #federalgovernment #mafia #RICO #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis #jessicafreeburg #paranormalauthor #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes #sexcrimes #dumbcrimes

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell unearths the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia.No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn.For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once.Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place.Cannell's Blood and the Badge is based on entirely new research and never-before-released interviews with mobsters themselves, including Sammy “the Bull” Gravano. Eppolito and Caracappa's story is more relevant than ever as police conduct comes under ever-increasing scrutiny.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Michael Cannell about his book, Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the World. No episode in NYPD history surpasses the crimes committed by Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins for the mob in 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps, and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once. Cannell takes us on a deep dive, grabs us by the throat and never let's go. Expertly researched and written, Blood and the Badge reads like a screenplay, almost too outlandish to believe. But make no mistake, these stories are true and so are their victims. Cannell makes sure we maintain our humanity as we read and wait to see if justice will prevail. 

Michael Lucchese is the founder of Pipe Creek Consulting, an associate editor of Law & Liberty, and a contributing editor to Providence. Trump can't let Ukraine be his Afghanistan

Get ready to kick your boots up as we sit down with country music legend Terri Clark. From humble beginnings in Canada to becoming the first Canadian female artist inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Terri shares her extraordinary journey through decades of country music. Hear how a shoelace tied to her guitar led to her big break at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, her thoughts on today's music industry, and the wild story of Blake Shelton being mistaken for her!Terri opens up about life on the road, her iconic hits like “Better Things to Do” and “Girls Lie Too,” and how she's connecting with new generations through her new album Terri Clark: Take Two. Plus, find out why Cody Johnson's admiration for her music hits close to home, which 90s Western fashion she'd love to see make a comeback, and—of course—how she shapes her signature cowboy hat!With a career spanning three decades, Terri Clark proves why she's a true trailblazer in country music. Don't miss this unforgettable episode! Her latest album, Take Two, is out now.

Michael Lucchese is the founder of Pipe Creek Consulting, an associate editor of Law & Liberty, and a contributing editor to Providence. Restraint is not a serious option for the dangerous world Trump faces

In this enlightening episode of "Shark Theory," host Baylor Barbee recounts his spontaneous decision to buy his first pair of cowboy boots and the personal growth that followed. Despite his West Texas roots, Baylor had never worn cowboy boots. His curiosity led him on a journey of discovery, pushing the boundaries of his comfort zone and opening him to new experiences. This episode is a must-listen for anyone contemplating a leap into the unknown, underscoring the value of trying new things and seeking guidance when embarking on unfamiliar paths. Baylor takes us through his adventure from being clueless about cowboy boots to engaging with the experts at the Lucchese showroom. He shares how stepping into an unknown world—despite initial apprehensions and external skepticism—can yield unexpectedly positive experiences and insights. Throughout the episode, Baylor emphasizes the importance of allowing oneself to think differently and following through on ideas that might seem unconventional at first. Key Takeaways: Challenge Your Comfort Zone: Embrace unfamiliar ideas and adventures to discover new facets of yourself and your potential. Seek Expertise: Don't hesitate to ask for guidance from those more knowledgeable when pursuing new ventures. Stay Open-Minded: Be receptive to new information and perspectives when navigating uncharted territories. Trust Your Instincts: Ultimately, ensure that your decisions feel right to you, even if they differ from others' opinions. Plan for the Future: Start considering and planning for new opportunities as you approach significant milestones or changes, like a new year or career phase. Notable Quotes: "We have to start giving ourselves the freedom to pursue things that in the past we have not allowed ourselves to pursue." "It's 100% okay to ask people; it is strongly encouraged if you want to pursue any sort of endeavor." "Just go in there open minded. Go in there learning." "At the end of the day, when you put yourself out there, take all the pertinent information you need to make a decision and ensure it feels right to you." "We have to start looking at 2025 and start thinking differently." If you're looking to sharpen your mindset and achieve your goals, we've got you covered. Download our FREE Mindset Resources to get started on your journey to personal growth. Don't forget to check out our exclusive Shark Theory Apparel and Books for more tools and inspiration. Interested in taking your organization to the next level? Book Baylor to speak to your organization or at your next event. Mindset Matters - Let's make yours Unstoppable!

Billy Batts' murder is one of the most notorious events in mafia history, symbolizing the violent consequences of crossing the wrong person in the mob world. Batts, a respected associate of the Gambino crime family, made the fatal mistake of insulting Tommy DeSimone, a volatile member of the Lucchese family, during a celebratory party. This seemingly minor slight set off a brutal chain of events, with DeSimone, Jimmy Burke, and Henry Hill savagely beating Batts, stuffing him into the trunk of a car, and ultimately killing him in cold blood. His murder wasn't just about personal revenge—it violated the mafia's sacred rules and became a deadly example of what happens when power, ego, and respect clash within the mob.The fallout from Batts' death had far-reaching consequences. His murder helped expose the inner workings of New York's criminal underworld and contributed to the eventual downfall of key mafia figures like Burke and DeSimone. Decades later, Billy Batts' death is still remembered as a pivotal moment in mob history, illustrating the fragile, dangerous nature of life within organized crime. His story serves as a grim reminder that in the mafia, the line between loyalty and betrayal is thin, and crossing it often leads to violent and tragic consequences.(commercial at 8:56)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Al D'Arco, once a loyal and calculating member of the Lucchese crime family, rose to become its acting boss in the early 1990s amidst a turbulent period for the Mafia. Known for his discretion and adherence to the old-school Mafia code, D'Arco's leadership was marked by a growing sense of paranoia within the organization as law enforcement, empowered by the RICO Act, intensified its crackdown on organized crime. In 1991, suspecting he was targeted for assassination by his own associates, D'Arco made the unprecedented decision to turn informant, becoming one of the highest-ranking Mafia figures to cooperate with the FBI. His testimony was pivotal in dismantling not only the Lucchese family but also other major crime syndicates, leading to the conviction of dozens of mobsters. Entering witness protection, D'Arco lived the rest of his life in obscurity, passing away in 2019, but his defection remains one of the most significant blows to the Mafia, marking the decline of its power in New York.(commercial at 8:57)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. In this episode of the Gangland Wire podcast, Michael Vecchione, a former Brooklyn prosecutor and author, discusses his novels inspired by real-life experiences in the criminal underworld. Gary Jenkins and Michael Vecchione focus on Lucchese mobster […] The post Michael Vecchione on Gaspipe Casso appeared first on Gangland Wire.