Joseph D. Pistone

Pistone was responsible for a lucrative business venture in [[Holiday, Florida]], when he opened and operated the King's Court Bottle Club.<ref name=donnie/> In Florida, Pistone worked with another FBI agent working undercover as [[Edgar Robb|Tony Rossi]]. Napolitano later contracted Pistone, whom he hoped to make a [[made man]],<ref name="king112">DeStefano 2007, pp. 112, 117</ref>{{full citation needed|date=August 2024}} to murder [[Al Indelicato|Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato]]'s son, [[Anthony Indelicato|Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/05/nyregion/undercover-agent-describes-discussions-of-mob-murders.html|title=Undercover Agent Describes Discussions of Mob Murders|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 5, 1982}}</ref> who had previously evaded death after missing a May 1981 meeting which left Indelicato, [[Phillip Giaccone]], and [[Dominick Trinchera]] dead.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nAt6N8iQnYC&q=lino|title=Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires|last=Raab|first=Selwyn|date=May 13, 2014|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9781429907989|language=en}}</ref>

Pistone was responsible for a lucrative business venture in [[Holiday, Florida]], when he opened and operated the King's Court Bottle Club.<ref name=donnie/> In Florida, Pistone worked with another FBI agent working undercover as [[Edgar Robb|Tony Rossi]]. Napolitano later contracted Pistone, whom he hoped to make a [[made man]],<ref name="king112">DeStefano 2007, pp. 112, 117</ref>{{full citation needed|date=August 2024}} to murder [[Al Indelicato|Alphonse "Sonny Red" Indelicato]]'s son, [[Anthony Indelicato|Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/05/nyregion/undercover-agent-describes-discussions-of-mob-murders.html|title=Undercover Agent Describes Discussions of Mob Murders|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 5, 1982}}</ref> who had previously evaded death after missing a May 1981 meeting which left Indelicato, [[Phillip Giaccone]], and [[Dominick Trinchera]] dead.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nAt6N8iQnYC&q=lino|title=Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires|last=Raab|first=Selwyn|date=May 13, 2014|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9781429907989|language=en}}</ref>

The FBI then ordered the end of Pistone's operation. He wanted to continue until he was set to become a [[made man]] that December; Napolitano would lie about his "making his bones" (participating in a Mafia-ordered [[Contract killing|hit]]) to prove his loyalty.{{sfnp|Pistone|1989|pp=70–71}}<ref name="crime beat"/> However, Pistone's superiors decided that the operation was becoming too dangerous and set an end date of July 26, 1981.<ref name=donnie/> Only after Pistone departed did FBI agents Doug Fencl, Jim Kinne, and Jerry Loar inform Napolitano that his longtime associate was an FBI agent.<ref>Nate Hendley, ''American Gangsters, Then and Now: An Encyclopedia'' (ABC-CLIO, 2010) p. 192</ref><ref name="King 118">DeStefano 2007, pp. 118–120</ref> Pistone received a $500 bonus at the end of the operation.<ref name=life/>

The FBI then ordered the end of Pistone's operation. He wanted to continue until he was set to become a [[made man]] that December; Napolitano would lie about his "making his bones" (participating in a Mafia-ordered [[Contract killing|hit]]) to prove his loyalty.{{sfnp|Pistone|1988|pp=70–71}}<ref name="crime beat"/> However, Pistone's superiors decided that the operation was becoming too dangerous and set an end date of July 26, 1981.{{sfnp|Pistone|1988|p=4}} Only after Pistone departed did FBI agents Doug Fencl, Jim Kinne, and Jerry Loar inform Napolitano that his longtime associate was an FBI agent.<ref>Nate Hendley, ''American Gangsters, Then and Now: An Encyclopedia'' (ABC-CLIO, 2010) p. 192</ref><ref name="King 118">DeStefano 2007, pp. 118–120</ref> Pistone received a $500 bonus at the end of the operation.<ref name=life/>

===Aftermath===

===Aftermath===

Shortly thereafter, on August 17, 1981, Napolitano was murdered for having allowed an FBI agent to infiltrate the family; he was shot dead and his hands were cut off.<ref name="crime beat">{{cite news|title=Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business|publisher=Orchard Press Mysteries|date=December 30, 2007|isbn=9780786741199|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhBwVP1t16MC&q=donnie+brasco+jilly+greca&pg=PA78}}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2024}} Ruggiero was arrested by the FBI on August 29, 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/552/465/1526102/|title=United States v. Napolitano, 552 F. Supp. 465 (S.D.N.Y. 1982)|date=January 19, 1982}}</ref> Mirra was also later killed on February 18, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/17/tight-hit-family-close-cuz-chosen-to-kill-brasco-wiseguy/|publisher=nypost.com|title=Tight-hit Family – Close Cuz Chosen to Kill 'Brasco' Wiseguy |date=June 17, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/17/family-ties-made-it-easy-to-whack-cuz-mob-thug/|title=Family Ties Made It Easy to Whack Cuz: Mob Thug |publisher=nypost.com|date=June 17, 2004}}</ref> About Napolitano's fate, Pistone had stated, "My intention in all of this was to put people in jail, not get them killed".<ref>{{cite news|last=McPhee|first=Michele|title=After 20 years, ex-agent applauds mob bust|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708182438/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 19, 2003}}</ref> In November 1982, Ruggiero, along with [[Nicholas Santora]], [[Antonio Tomasulo]], and [[Anthony "Fat Tony" Rabito]], would be convicted in a six-week jury trial for racketeering conspiracy, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/16/nyregion/6-get-jail-terms-in-rackets-case-tied-to-mobsters.html|title=6 Get Jail Terms in Rackets Case Tied to Mobsters |work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 1982}}</ref>

Shortly thereafter, on August 17, 1981, Napolitano was murdered for having allowed an FBI agent to infiltrate the family; he was shot dead and his hands were cut off.<ref name="crime beat">{{cite news|title=Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business|publisher=Orchard Press Mysteries|date=December 30, 2007|isbn=9780786741199|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhBwVP1t16MC&q=donnie+brasco+jilly+greca&pg=PA78}}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2024}} Ruggiero was arrested by the FBI on August 29, 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/552/465/1526102/|title=United States v. Napolitano, 552 F. Supp. 465 (S.D.N.Y. 1982)|date=January 19, 1982}}</ref> Mirra was also later killed on February 18, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/17/tight-hit-family-close-cuz-chosen-to-kill-brasco-wiseguy/|publisher=nypost.com|title=Tight-hit Family – Close Cuz Chosen to Kill 'Brasco' Wiseguy |date=June 17, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/17/family-ties-made-it-easy-to-whack-cuz-mob-thug/|title=Family Ties Made It Easy to Whack Cuz: Mob Thug |publisher=nypost.com|date=June 17, 2004}}</ref> About Napolitano's fate, Pistone had stated, "My intention in all of this was to put people in jail, not get them killed".<ref>{{cite news|last=McPhee|first=Michele|title=After 20 years, ex-agent applauds mob bust|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708182438/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-19/news/18229346_1_donnie-brasco-joseph-massino-bonanno-family|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 19, 2003}}</ref> In November 1982, Ruggiero, along with [[Nicholas Santora]], [[Antonio Tomasulo]], and [[Anthony "Fat Tony" Rabito]], would be convicted in a six-week jury trial for racketeering conspiracy, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/16/nyregion/6-get-jail-terms-in-rackets-case-tied-to-mobsters.html|title=6 Get Jail Terms in Rackets Case Tied to Mobsters |work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 1982}}</ref>

The Mafia put out a $500,000 contract on Pistone and kicked the Bonanno family off [[The Commission (mafia)|the Commission]].<ref name=donnie2>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/289976/fact-file-who-is-joe-pistone-a-k-a-donnie-brasco/|publisher=globalnews.ca|date=September 24, 2012|title=Fact file: Who is Joe Pistone – a.k.a. Donnie Brasco?}}</ref> FBI agents visited Mafia bosses in New York and advised them not to murder Pistone. The contract was dropped by [[Paul Castellano]], who headed the Commission, as he thought killing a federal agent would "attract too much attention".<ref>{{cite web|author=Boss of Bosses: The Fall of the Godfather- The FBI and Paul Castellano |url=http://www.ideasandevents.com/bossofbosses.htm |title=Boss of Bosses |publisher=Andris Kurins and Joseph F. O'Brien |date=May 1, 1992 |access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref> Pistone publicly testified for the first time on August 2, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/03/nyregion/fbi-agent-dropping-disguise-tells-court-of-life-inside-the-mob.html|title=F.B.I. Agent, Dropping Disguise, Tells Court of Life Inside the Mob |work=The New York Times|date=August 3, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/04/nyregion/fbi-infiltrator-says-mob-chief-told-of-slayings.html|title=F.B.I. Infiltrator Says Mob Chief Told of Slayings |work=The New York Times|date=August 4, 1982}}</ref> The evidence collected by Pistone led to over 200 indictments and over 100 convictions of Mafia members.<ref name=donnie/> Although Pistone resigned from the FBI in 1986, he continued to testify when called upon,{{sfnp|Pistone|1989|p=400}} including at the [[Pizza Connection Trial]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/09/nyregion/agent-tells-about-tension-in-bonanno-group.html|title=Agent Tells About Tension in Bonanno Group|work=The New York Times|date=February 9, 1986}}</ref>

The Mafia put out a $500,000 contract on Pistone and kicked the Bonanno family off [[The Commission (mafia)|the Commission]].<ref name=donnie2>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/289976/fact-file-who-is-joe-pistone-a-k-a-donnie-brasco/|publisher=globalnews.ca|date=September 24, 2012|title=Fact file: Who is Joe Pistone – a.k.a. Donnie Brasco?}}</ref> FBI agents visited Mafia bosses in New York and advised them not to murder Pistone. The contract was dropped by [[Paul Castellano]], who headed the Commission, as he thought killing a federal agent would "attract too much attention".<ref>{{cite web|author=Boss of Bosses: The Fall of the Godfather- The FBI and Paul Castellano |url=http://www.ideasandevents.com/bossofbosses.htm |title=Boss of Bosses |publisher=Andris Kurins and Joseph F. O'Brien |date=May 1, 1992 |access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref> Pistone publicly testified for the first time on August 2, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/03/nyregion/fbi-agent-dropping-disguise-tells-court-of-life-inside-the-mob.html|title=F.B.I. Agent, Dropping Disguise, Tells Court of Life Inside the Mob |work=The New York Times|date=August 3, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/04/nyregion/fbi-infiltrator-says-mob-chief-told-of-slayings.html|title=F.B.I. Infiltrator Says Mob Chief Told of Slayings |work=The New York Times|date=August 4, 1982}}</ref> The evidence collected by Pistone led to over 200 indictments and over 100 convictions of Mafia members.<ref name=donnie/> Although Pistone resigned from the FBI in 1986, he continued to testify when called upon,{{sfnp|Pistone|1988|p=400}} including at the [[Pizza Connection Trial]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/09/nyregion/agent-tells-about-tension-in-bonanno-group.html|title=Agent Tells About Tension in Bonanno Group|work=The New York Times|date=February 9, 1986}}</ref>

While Pistone's infiltration decimated the Bonanno family, it also resulted in their expulsion from the [[The Commission (American Mafia)|Mafia Commission]]. Consequently, the Bonannos were not a target of the investigation leading to the [[Mafia Commission Trial]] that saw the top leadership of the "Five Families" sent to prison.<ref name=donnie/> By avoiding this, the family kept its leadership intact and was able to consolidate its power once again. The boss who led that resurgence, [[Joseph Massino]], was convicted in 2004 of ordering Napolitano to be killed for allowing Pistone into the family.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rashbaum|first=William|title=Reputed Boss Of Mob Family Is Indicted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/nyregion/reputed-boss-of-mob-family-is-indicted.html|access-date=March 25, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 10, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Top Bonanno Charged In '81 Mobster Rubout|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/top-bonanno-charged-81-mobster-rubout-article-1.664832|access-date=December 24, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 10, 2003}}</ref>

While Pistone's infiltration decimated the Bonanno family, it also resulted in their expulsion from the [[The Commission (American Mafia)|Mafia Commission]]. Consequently, the Bonannos were not a target of the investigation leading to the [[Mafia Commission Trial]] that saw the top leadership of the "Five Families" sent to prison.<ref name=donnie/> By avoiding this, the family kept its leadership intact and was able to consolidate its power once again. The boss who led that resurgence, [[Joseph Massino]], was convicted in 2004 of ordering Napolitano to be killed for allowing Pistone into the family.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rashbaum|first=William|title=Reputed Boss Of Mob Family Is Indicted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/nyregion/reputed-boss-of-mob-family-is-indicted.html|access-date=March 25, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 10, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Top Bonanno Charged In '81 Mobster Rubout|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/top-bonanno-charged-81-mobster-rubout-article-1.664832|access-date=December 24, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 10, 2003}}</ref>