Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was Joe Pistone's background and how did it influence his work as an undercover FBI agent?
What was Joe Pistone's background and how did it influence his work as an undercover FBI agent?
Joe Pistone grew up in an all-Italian neighborhood with a Sicilian background. His family taught him to stay away from the mob. This helped him in his undercover work as he had a good understanding of Italian culture and language.
What are some of the rules that Joe Pistone had to follow as an undercover agent working with the Mafia?
What are some of the rules that Joe Pistone had to follow as an undercover agent working with the Mafia?
Some of the rules that Joe Pistone had to follow as an undercover agent working with the Mafia included never embarrassing a made guy in front of others and not giving anyone up.
Who did Donnie Brasco work with in the Mafia, and what activities were they involved in?
Who did Donnie Brasco work with in the Mafia, and what activities were they involved in?
Donnie Brasco worked with the Colombo family and later with the Bonanno family. He was part of Lefty's crew, which was involved in hijacking and other activities.
What happened when Donnie went to Milwaukee to help another undercover operation?
What happened when Donnie went to Milwaukee to help another undercover operation?
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How did Donnie's relationship with Lefty change over time, and what caused the tension between them?
How did Donnie's relationship with Lefty change over time, and what caused the tension between them?
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What did Sonny Black tell Donnie about the struggle for power in the Mafia?
What did Sonny Black tell Donnie about the struggle for power in the Mafia?
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Why was Donnie not able to become a made man in the Mafia?
Why was Donnie not able to become a made man in the Mafia?
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What happened when Donnie got a contract to kill Bruno?
What happened when Donnie got a contract to kill Bruno?
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Study Notes
Joe Pistone, the real-life Donnie Brasco, was an undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the Italian Mafia in New York City. He grew up in an all-Italian neighborhood and had a Sicilian background, but his family taught him to stay away from the mob. Prior to his undercover work, he had experience working on gambling and prostitution cases. He was recruited for the undercover operation in the Mafia after proving his skills in a year-and-a-half-long operation involving car theft. Pistone learned about diamonds and precious gems to establish his legend as a jewel thief. It took six months before he was introduced to the mobsters, and he was called "Don the jeweler" after selling some diamonds. Eventually, he met Lefty and became part of his crew, which was involved in hijacking and other activities.- Knowing the rules of the Mafia is important for undercover work
- Rules include never embarrassing a made guy in front of others and not giving anyone up
- Donnie works with the Colombo family and later with the Bonanno family
- Donnie meets Lefty and they become close, going to Sunday dinners together
- Donnie is tasked with helping another undercover operation in Milwaukee
- Donnie and Lefty fly to Milwaukee to meet with Tony, the undercover there
- They find out Tony has a vending machine business and need to get permission from the Bonanno family to conduct business in their territory
- Donnie and Lefty meet with the boss of the Bonanno family and his associates to discuss their plans
- Frank Bella story controls all the vending in Milwaukee and they need his permission to proceed
- Donnie and Lefty are working towards taking over the vending machine business in Milwaukee.1. Tony did all the work, the Bananas gave him stops to put machines in
- Bonannos gave the Ares a percentage of profits
- First victory in marrying two FBI families to conduct business together
- Joe Pistone never changed his personality in undercover work
- Joe Pistone never got emotionally attached to the mobsters he worked with
- Joe Pistone wanted to be made to show the FBI could infiltrate the Mafia
- Joe Pistone's wife had to be mentally and emotionally tough to handle the situation
- Joe Pistone saw his family once every 4-6 months
- Sonny Black was put in charge of Joe Pistone and Lefty
- There was animosity between Lefty and Sonny over who was in charge.- Donnie and Sonny meet with Trafficante for approval to do what they want
- They use a boat for a fishing trip that was later used in an FBI undercover operation
- Lefty discovers they were on the boat and questions Donnie's loyalty
- Sonny tells Donnie that the mob is a struggle for power and someone is always looking to take your position
- Sonny proposes Donnie for membership in the mob but the operation shuts down before he can become a made man
- Donnie gets a contract to kill Bruno but doesn't find him when he goes to Miami
- Donnie only carries a gun for the first time when Sonny gets a call to kill Bruno
- Sonny takes off his watch, ring, and money before going to a sit-down and tells his girlfriend to tell Donnie he loved him and was glad it was him.
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Description
Think you know the real story of Donnie Brasco? Test your knowledge with our quiz that delves into the life of Joe Pistone, the undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the Italian Mafia in New York City. From his early work on gambling and prostitution cases to his infiltration of the Colombo and Bonanno families, this quiz will challenge your understanding of the rules of the Mafia, the complexities of undercover work, and the dangers of getting emotionally attached to the people you're working to bring down
