The book “Donnie Brasco” is about the undercover life of Joseph D. Pistone, an FBI agent who infiltrated one of New York City’s five families in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Joseph D. Pistone spent 28 years in the FBI, including six years working undercover in the New York Bonanno crime family. During this time, he posed as a jewel thief known as Donnie Brasco. His work led to the imprisonment of over 200 Mafia members.
Joseph D. Pistone was born in Pennsylvania and grew up there before moving to New Jersey. He completed his high school and college education in New Jersey, majoring in social studies. Throughout his childhood, Pistone had a strong desire to become an F.B.I agent, which led him to join Naval Intelligence. By spending three years working in law enforcement in the Navy, he hoped to gain the necessary experience to fulfill his dream of joining the F.B.I. Following his service in Naval Intelligence, Pistone underwent exams to become an F.B.I agent and officially joined the organization on July 7, 1969.
Starting his career in the FBI, Pistone initially focused on street work, handling numerous prostitution and robbery cases. However, in 1974, he was reassigned to the Truck and Hijack Squad in New York City. It was during this time that Pistone embarked on his first long-term undercover mission, which eventually led him into the world of the Mafia. The assignment took place in Tampa, Florida, where Pistone successfully infiltrated a car theft ring operating there. Adopting the alias Donnie Brasco, Pistone gained the gang’s trust as a fellow car thief, ultimately enabling him to penetrate the Mafia. In February 1976, Pistone’s remarkable efforts resulted in the entire ring being arrested and millions worth of stolen property being retrieved. In recognition of his work, Pistone received a letter of commendation from Clarence M. Kelley, the Director of the FBI, along with a $250 award” (Pistone, 1989, p. 36).
The FBI planned a long-term undercover operation against the Mafia, selecting Pistone due to his experience in both short-term undercover operations and a recent long-term operation in Florida. Pistone, who was Italian, was seen as an ideal candidate for infiltrating the mob since its members were also Italian. To successfully penetrate the mob, Pistone assumed the identity of Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief and burglar. In preparation for this new persona, Pistone acquired relevant experience by taking gemology courses and working with experts at a renowned jewelry company in New York City. Maintaining utmost secrecy, Pistone never returned to the FBI office after leaving in September 1976, continuing his undercover work for six years. With all the necessary precautions in place, Pistone was now ready to commence his undercover mission.
When Pistone began his undercover operation, he compiled a list of establishments frequented by mobsters in midtown and lower Manhattan. These venues were mainly bars and restaurants, as visiting mob hangouts in Little Italy would have been too conspicuous. Pistone made it a daily routine to frequent these establishments in order to blend in and become familiar to the locals. However, he always proceeded cautiously, gradually building trust instead of pushing too hard. His strategy involved having dinner and casually greeting the bartender without engaging in lengthy conversations or prying too much. Asking too many questions would have aroused suspicion, as trustworthy individuals rarely exhibit such behavior. Instead, Pistone focused on observing and listening while gradually becoming acquainted with certain wiseguys who eventually greeted him warmly. Over time, he subtly hinted that he was a jewel thief by presenting the FBI-confiscated jewelry to the wiseguys, hoping they would assist in its sale.
Later, these connected individuals introduced him to full Mafia members, known as “made guys,” who had been involved in a Mafia-sanctioned murder. One of these made men, Albert, introduced Pistone to active members of the Colombo crime family. Among these Colombo members was Jilly, who led a crew based in Brooklyn. Jilly and his crew frequently gathered at their store located on 15th Avenue and 76th Street in the Bensonhurst section. Agent Pistone began spending time with them in this setting.
Jilly’s store was accessible to the public, offering low-priced merchandise that had been stolen. The store had a separate area where Jilly’s men gathered, spending their day engaging in activities such as playing cards and consuming gin. At night, they embarked on various thefts from warehouses, docks, and houses. This daily routine persisted consistently. Agent Pistone spent several months associating with Jilly’s crew. Over this period, he gained credibility with Jilly’s men and became a trusted member of the criminal organization, establishing connections with many prominent individuals within the syndicate.
In March 1977, Benjamin “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero, a hit man in the Bonnano family, was introduced to Pistone.
Gradually, Pistone started spending more time with Lefty than with Jilly’s crew because Lefty held a higher rank in the Mafia hierarchy and had more connections. Pistone learned a lot about the rules and behavior of the mob from Lefty, making it a fruitful period for his undercover work. With Lefty’s help, Pistone successfully arranged the elimination of the Milwaukee crime family. Lefty also introduced Pistone to Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano, the leader of the Brooklyn Bonanno crew. Through his connection with Sonny Black, Pistone assisted the FBI in organizing the “Cold Water” operation, which brought together the Bonanno and Trafficante families to collaborate on gambling and other illegal activities. This project was a major success and dealt a heavy blow to the Mafia in New York and Florida. It marked Pistone’s final undercover mission as the FBI had gathered enough evidence to proceed with court cases, leading to Pistone being ordered to withdraw from the operation. Consequently, Donnie Brasco’s existence came to an end.
In my opinion, Joseph Pistone embodies the ideal image of an FBI agent. Thanks to individuals like Pistone, the FBI has gained a reputation as one of the top intelligence organizations worldwide. Personally, I find Pistone to be truly heroic because even after completing his undercover work, his character remained unaffected. Many agents have struggled with immense pressure and internal conflicts while undercover, resulting in addiction to drugs and alcohol as a means of escaping constant stress. In contrast, Pistone managed to avoid becoming a drug addict or an alcoholic. Additionally, he has continued to be a loyal husband and caring father.
Firstly, Pistone successfully maintained emotional detachment from mobsters like Lefty and Sonny Black, despite having close relationships with them. For instance, when Sonny Black discovered Pistone’s true identity as an agent, he expressed affection by saying, “I really loved this kid” (Pistone, 1989, p.400). This statement implies that Sonny Black had genuine feelings for Pistone. Learning the truth about Pistone deeply affected both Sonny Black and Lefty. These connections also had an impact on Pistone himself. He acknowledged, “I always liked Sonny. That hasn’t changed with me, either.” This quote reveals that Pistone still cared for Sonny Black as well. However, he managed to suppress his emotions because he understood that jeopardizing the operation was not worth his personal feelings towards these individuals, who were ultimately criminals deserving punishment. Despite enduring internal and external tensions, Pistone successfully concluded his undercover assignment and continued to lead a life as a devoted family man and law-abiding citizen.
References
- Pistone, J. (1989). Donnie Brasco. New York: Signet.
