Episodes
The case is finally closed and it’s time for Joe Pistone, a.k.a the real Donnie Brasco to face The Mafia in court. For six years, he rubbed elbows with some of the scariest gangsters alive and now he’s working with the then U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani to bring them to justice. Joe’s testimony was crucial in The Pizza Connection Trial and The Commission Trial, which was the most expensive trial in New York City history. Usually, the mafia doesn’t deal in the business of drugs. But at the end...
Published 05/05/21
Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone are back and diving even further into the Donnie Brasco story. This week is all about mafia business and the cash-raking hustle of hijacking. From Sonny Black to John Gotti, these wise guys worked some of the most successful (and dangerous) car-jacking rings in the country. So much so it worked them up the family hierarchy. But what happens when the mighty inevitably fall? Do they fall back into a life of crime or try and go straight?
Published 04/28/21
Leo and Joe are back with even more jaw-dropping stories that will have you inching toward the edge of your seat. After spending six years undercover, it was time for Joe to take the stand against the mafia men that he spent nearly every day with. You’ll hear stories about The Pizza Connection Trial, The Commission Trial and about some of the other operations that took him around the globe. Throughout this season, you’ll hear secret recordings of conversations Joe had with the members of the...
Published 04/22/21
Happy Holidays! We have a gift for all of the listeners that have made this year special. It’s a two part holiday special with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone, the real Donnie Brasco. Joe tells us what it was like spending so many holiday seasons with the mafia. From stolen Christmas gifts to Charlie Brown Christmas trees, they discuss it all. Follow us on social media Facebook Instagram Twitter   Watch on YouTube -...
Published 12/21/20
Happy Holidays! We have a gift for all of the listeners that have made this year special. It’s a two part holiday special with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone, the real Donnie Brasco. Joe tells us what it was like spending so many holiday seasons with the mafia. From stolen Christmas gifts to Charlie Brown Christmas trees, they discuss it all. - Follow us on social media - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter Watch on YouTube -...
Published 12/16/20
We're back with another bonus episode! This time, with Joe and Leo's first interview where THEY ask the questions. Their guest, the interviewee, is Joseph Woodring, a retired prison warden and associate warden who oversaw murderers, high level drug dealers, maximum security facilities, worked for the department of justice, and the state department. He shares his experiences, and even discusses what it was like working closely with some of the world's most dangerous inmates, including ones who...
Published 11/18/20
While we're waiting for Season 2... the president and founder of our favorite show's production company, Matty Staudt, is taking this opportunity to get to know Leo and Joe's story better. From Leo's days in radio to Joe's peccadillos, we get to be flies on the wall to this humorous and revealing discussion between three Italians who have more in common than they realized. - Follow us on social media - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter Watch on YouTube -...
Published 10/28/20
In this Season 1 finale of Deep Cover, Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone reminisce on tales of Hollywood related to the production of the movie, Donnie Brasco, and more. They’ve known each other for years and have many stories to share to prove it. Joe may have been deep undercover with the mafia, but according to him, Hollywood executives are the ones not to be trusted. Coming soon, Deep Cover Season 2, will continue where Joe left off, sharing more stories of his time deep undercover in not just...
Published 09/16/20
Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone get into the showbiz of Donnie Brasco, the movie. Revealing stories of what it was like to work with an A-list actor like Johnny Depp, especially the relationship of respect established between Depp and Joe. Joe Pistone also reveals what parts of the movie were true to his actual experience undercover, and which were fictionalized for the big screen.      - Follow us on social media - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter A Jam Street Media Production.   See...
Published 09/09/20
In this two-part episode, Leo and Joe continue to reveal close calls and other untold stories from Joe’s time deep undercover, as Donnie Brasco. From the dangers of wearing a wire, to meeting a doctor that wanted to sell drugs to the mob, and other curious occurrences that will have you wondering how he did it all and made it out unscathed. What was it really like working with Lefty Ruggiero? Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, will tell you.    Follow us on social...
Published 09/02/20
In this two-part episode, Leo and Joe reveal close calls and other untold stories from Joe’s time deep undercover, as Donnie Brasco. From the dangers of wearing a wire, to meeting a doctor that wanted to sell drugs to the mob, and other curious occurrences that will have you wondering how he did it all and made it out unscathed. What was it like to share an apartment with Sonny Black, a caporegime in the Bonanno crime family? Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, will tell you. Follow us on...
Published 08/26/20
Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone dive deeper into the three capos murder that took place towards the end of the Donnie Brasco operation. A big war was going on in the Bonanno family that led to the ultimate murder of Philip Giaccone, Al Indelicato and Dominick Trinchera. Joe has special insight into this event, because he was still undercover when Sonny Black placed the hit to prevent the further planning by the three capos, to overthrow the Bonanno boss. - Follow us on social media - Facebook ...
Published 08/19/20
Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi sit down to answer more of the listener’s questions. This time, Joe talks about his family, the impact his work has had on the world of deep cover operations, and even Leo gets to answer a few questions! All of these questions, and more, are answered in this two-part Q&A. - 00:45 – Was there anything Joe enjoyed about working for the mafia? - 01:52 – Would Joe have done anything different? - 02:45 – What other criminal profession would Joe have liked to have...
Published 08/12/20
Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi sit down to answer some of the listener’s questions. Now that we know the story of how Donnie Brasco came to be, we’re going to dive even deeper into the finer details of the operation. What happened after the operation? What did Lefty Ruggiero do when he got out? What was the most difficult part of being Donnie Brasco? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this two-part Q&A. - 01:25 – What happened when the operation ended? - 03:24 – Sonny’s...
Published 08/05/20
The FBI now knows there’s a lot of bad blood and enemies turning the mafia inside out and placing Joe Pistone’s life in danger. He’s set to become a made guy, but the FBI wants to close the operation and start convicting with the evidence they’ve collected thus far. The likes of Sonny Black and Lefty Ruggiero wrestle with the realization that Donnie Brasco has been an undercover agent the entire time, but the true is undeniable as Joe (aka Donnie Brasco) begins to testify before the jury in...
Published 07/29/20
Tensions are at an all-time high within the Bonnano family, as there’s a struggle for power amongst the caporegime. Anthony “Tony” Mirra returns from prison to reclaim Joe from Lefty Ruggiero, but with no leverage or right to it, he resorts to throwing baseless claims of theft and insubordination Joe’s (aka Donnie Brasco’s) way. This ultimately leads to a sit down with Sonny Black that could either go in Joe’s favor or cut his time deep undercover within the mafia, short. - 00:55 –...
Published 07/22/20
If last time wasn’t risky enough, Joe finds himself assisting another fellow undercover FBI operation. Except this time, it’s a gambling scene based out of Florida. Joe has to find a way to get the caporegime of the Bonanno crime family, Dominick Napolitano aka Sonny Black, to agree to getting involved with the crime family controlling Florida, the Trafficante family. In this episode, Joe takes us behind the scenes of a rigged gambling operation, that runs into some trouble along the way.  ...
Published 07/15/20
Now that Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco) has been helping Lefty Ruggerio do the bookkeeping and movement of stolen property for Nicholas Marangello, the underboss of the Bonanno crime family, for some time, he’s got a favor to ask. The FBI needs Joe’s help with a new operation in Milwaukee to try and get the Balistrieri family for extortion. But one family cannot conduct illegal business in the territory of another’s. Joe has to ask Michael Sabella, a caporegime in the Bonanno crime family...
Published 07/08/20
So, Joe has left the Colombo family, he’s a free mobster… where to next? The Bonannno family. Utilizing his acquaintance with Anthony “Tony” Mirra, an American mobster, soldier and later caporegime for the Bonanno crime family, Joe gets introduced to various contacts in the Bonnano family. He’s even introduced to the likes of Carmine Persico, the long-time boss of the Colombo crime family. Throughout this episode, Joe and Leo discuss the cold-blooded and graphic nature of the mafia’s kills,...
Published 07/01/20
What can you do when a pistol is placed in front of you, and you’re given an ultimatum to prove yourself, or be killed? Well, Joe chose to go on the offensive with a made man of the mafia to maintain his respect and credibility. In this episode, Joe walks us through his brief time with the Colombo’s at Jilly’s social club. He reveals how he avoided getting too involved in criminal activities with help from the FBI. And how he selectively picked a fight to avoid further suspicion. Episode...
Published 06/24/20
When the head writer of the Sopranos and creator of Boardwalk Empire, Terence Winter, sees death in your eyes, you know you’re convincing enough for the mafia. From the Lucchese to the Colombo family, Joe walks us through how he made first contact. Following the rules of the mafia to stay alive, Joe Pistone aka Donnie Brasco, shows the mafia that he’s a legitimate street guy with intentions to join their illegal dealings, as a jewel thief. How hard could it be? Well, in this episode, we learn...
Published 06/17/20
Rather than be attracted to the lifestyle of a gangster, Joe Pistone found himself drawn to a career in law enforcement. So how did a freshly recruited FBI agent go from routine undercover cases, to going deep undercover as a jewel thief, for the Italian mafia? In this first episode with the help of our host, Leo Rossi, we find out how the most decorated undercover agent in the FBI, Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, got his start. From crimes against the government to making back alley deals on...
Published 06/09/20
Did you see the movie “Donnie Brasco” starring Johny Depp and Al Pacino and wonder if all of that really happened? The true story is even more interesting than the movie. The real Donnie Brasco is Joe Pistone, and he spent 5 years undercover with Bonano and Columbo crime families and 17 years as an FBI agent. In the new podcast “Deep Cover-The Real Donnie Brasco” he tells his true stories of his time with The Mob to his friend, and our host, actor Leo Rossi. Real stories from the real Donnie...
Published 05/27/20