My URL
http://www.myspace.com/josephdpistone
Hello, my name is Joseph Dominick Pistone, alias Donnie Brasco. I was an FBI agent who worked undercover for 5 years to infiltrate the Bonanno family, a branch of the Mafia in New York City. In December of 1981 I would have become a made member of the Bonanno family if I had murdered capo Alphonse Indelicato's son, Anthony Indelicato. I was sworn-in as a Special Agent of the FBI in 1969, 7 years before going 'undercover'.
I was born in Pennsylvannia and grew up in the Sandy Hill section of Paterson, New Jersey. I graduated from Paterson State College (now William Paterson University) in 1965 with a degree in elementary education/social studies. After a year of working as a teacher in Paterson School No. 10, I worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence. I became an FBI special agent in 1969 (Diehl 2006).
I was selected to be an undercover agent because I was of Sicilian origin, could speak the Sicilian dialect of Italian, and was acquainted with the Mob from growing up in Paterson. I also said that I do not perspire under pressure and was aware of the mafia's codes of conduct and system.
I developed a close relationship with the Bonanno "capo" (crew captain) Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano, and was tutored in the ways of the Mafia by Bonanno soldier Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero.
The evidence I collected led to over 200 indictments and over 100 convictions of Mafia members. My performance was so convincing that, at the time the operation ended, I had been proposed to become a "made man" (officially inducted into the Mafia).
My operation ended after six years when Napolitano requested that I murder Anthony Indelicato, who previously evaded a meeting which left Anthony's father Alphonse Indelicato together with Phillip "Philly" Giaconne and Dominick "Big Trin" Trinchera dead. I never witnessed, or was involved in the murder of the three. Two days later, FBI agents informed Napolitano and Ruggiero that I, their longtime associate, was in fact an FBI agent. Shortly thereafter, Black was murdered for having allowed me, an FBI agent, to infiltrate the family. Following Napolitano's murder, the Mafia put out a $500,000 contract on my life, but the contract was rescinded following a sitdown between FBI agents and members of the Bonanno family.
Bonanno boss Joe Massino was convicted in 2004 of ordering Napolitano to be killed for allowing me into the family.
I've detailed my undercover experience in my 1987 book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. This book was the basis for the 1997 film Donnie Brasco, starring Johnny Depp as myself and Al Pacino as Ruggiero. I revisited my experiences as Donnie Brasco in my 2004 book The Way of the Wiseguy.
I continue to be active as an author and consultant to worldwide law enforcement agencies. I also wrote a novel, titled The Good Guys, with Joe Bonanno's son, Salvatore Bonanno. I was the subject of 10th & Wolf, a 2006 action film with Val Kilmer, Dennis Hopper and others released by Thinkfilm and Lionsgate.
To this day, I'm still recognized on the streets as a "Fucking Rat".
Go figure. First off, I was never a rat. I was a Special Agent for the FBI. Not a turncoat, not a rat, not a stool pigeon, an undercover agent. Second off, little do they realize I'm doing more for the mafia now then I ever did for the FBI. The FBI did nothing for me except ruin my life and force me to hurt my friends and loved ones. I was ready to tip everyone off and give them an out just as the FBI terminated "Operation Don Brasco". All I got was a check for $500 stinkin' dollas and a piece of shit medal. From a bunch of stinkin' bureaucrats in cheap suits who didn't even appreciate the danger I put myself in day in and day out. Now I've taken that "intelligence" and I've put it to work on the inside. Were running shit they haven't even thought of yet. Thanks to this internet thing, we are bigger than ever, and more invisible than ever. I still have my connections. I have cops, in almost any area you can imagine, in my pocket. I pay them well, and they keep me informed. I can still pull so many strings, I'm practically a puppeteer. We're untouchable.
I know it's hard fucking work putting my past aside and trusting me now. I can't blame anybody for being hesitant. All I can say is, those who have put their trust in me now, have a better friend than they have ever had in their life. Salut!
