The Sit Down: A Crime History Podcast

Today we are joined by former Kansas City detective and current organized crime content creator Gary Jenkins. We discuss the very violent past of the interesting underworld of Kansas City and its control of government and ultimately the takeover of Las Vegas through the skin operations portrayed in the major motion picture Casino. Go check out MyBookie! https://mybookie.website/joinwithSITDOWN Use...

In this episode I delve into Michael "Mikey Scars" DiLeonardo. Michael was a Gambino capo. He goes back hundreds of years in the Mafia and was raised around it due to his long lineage. He rose in the Family and became close to John Gotti Sr and John Gotti Jr and ultimately became one of the final great capos in the family. Go check out MyBookie! https://mybookie.website/joinwithSITDOWNUse Promo Co...

In this episode I delve into Vito Rizzuto. The Rizzuto Crime Family of Canada is a very underreported Mafia family. They in essence were a very powerful criminal enterprise aligned with the Bonanno Crime Family but would become essentially their own family. Vito would become the boss after taking over from his father Nicolo. The Gangster Report's Scott Burnstein joins me as we jump into the histor...

In this episode I delve into Frank Gioia Jr. Frank was a Lucchese made man. He grew up in Little Italy and was around the Mob his entire life. His father was made and he learned quickly about different mob rackets. He'd graduate to selling drugs and much more leading to an arrest and defection. He then pocketed millions scamming investors moonlighting as a real estate investor after cooperating an...

In this episode I delve into Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo who ultimately became the boss of the DeCavalcante Crime Family in New Jersey. Vinny began his life working in a fish market to gain the eye of New Jersey mob royalty and making his way up the ranks of the Jersey family. Presented as always by Barstool Sports If you enjoy our show, please hit the like button and make sure if you're new aro...

At one point in 1963, the FBI would claim that 22 Mafia families dominated crime in America. Today it is much different. Yes, the Mafia is still around but it's much smaller, not as powerful and more concerned with just making money. Today I'm joined by Scott Burnstein as we go city to city and discuss the current hierarchies. Need great grooming products including razors and more? You need Harrys...

Pablo Escobar is a name that lives in infamy. He is and was the most transcendent drug trafficker ever and made billions of dollars selling cocaine. He ultimately became drunk with power and started attacking the government, eventually becoming a fugitive and suffering a terrible end. Presented as always by Barstool Sports If you enjoy our show, please hit the like button and make sure if you're n...

In the mid 80's, ethnic Albanian, Alex Rudaj emigrated to America. He would settle in New York City and began hanging around associates of crime families who were beginning to be annoyed with the Mafia. So they decided to take what they thought was there and attempted to strong arm the Mafia out of rackets and become the Sixth Mafia Family Of New York City Presented as always by Barstool Sports If...

This week I delve into the life of John Alite who was a Gambino Crime Family associate. He is a polarizing figure and has popped up all over the place discussing his life of crime in Queens NY and his infamous connection with the Gotti Family. Today we delve into the interesting life of Alite. Is it fact or fiction? Achieve your fitness goals now... Go get 25% off your subscription or try the app...

This week I am joined by journalist Scott Burnstein. Joseph "Chickie" Ciancaglini was a capo in the Philly Mafia. He had three sons and after going to prison in the 80's, the sons were embroiled in a feud that pitted two factions of the Philly family against each other. It would eventually turn into a Shakespeare like tragedy. Check out Scott Burnstein on @originalgangsterspod and at https://gangs...

In this episode of the Sit Down, I speak to Pulitzer Prize finalist, author Pete Earley as we delve into the life of Thomas "Terrible Tom" Silverstein. Silverstein was the longest inmate in solitary confinement in the history of the federal prison system. We discuss his early life, the depraved murders he committed and his excruciating experiences in the worst and most secure federal prisons in Am...

In this episode I delved into the life of Joe Vito Mastronardo. Joe was a gambling legend and prominent bookmaker in the Philly area. He did things the right way and crossed his T's and dotted his I's even avoiding having to be involved with the Mafia. He was a huge bookmaker who made millions and was an industry standard in the world of sports betting. In the end, the FEDS came calling Need great...

In this episode I interviewed an individual named Howard Santos. Howie grew up in Queens and as a teenager he became associated with members of the Gambino Crime Family including powerful Queens capo Jojo Corozzo. He would eventually learn the rackets of the mob, become a driver and work his way up as a successful earner and ultimate violent associate of the family. Need great grooming products in...

In this special episode we celebrate a big milestone here on the show, our 100th episode. We let our hair down a bit and answered some of your mob/crime questions as well as said some thanks and welcomed back former Bonanno associate Frank Fiordilino who gives more insight into his life tied to the mob and what it was like "growing up Mafia." Need great grooming products including razors and more?...

In this episode, in unison with the upcoming Madness of March and college hoops, I combine two of my loves... mob history and college basketball. We delve into the interesting story involving the 1979 Boston College basketball team and its alleged involvement with Lucchese Crime Family associates Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke which were immortalized in the major motion picture "Goodfellas." Presented...

In this episode I was joined by one of my coworkers, KB. We delve into the Murdaugh Murder case and offer theories about the captivating case that's enthralled America We kick around different tangled parts of the sad web of a powerful family that in the end resulted in the patriarch spending the rest of his life in prison Presented as always by Barstool Sports We hope you enjoy the show, please l...

In this special episode I was joined today by former Bonanno Crime Family captain Dominick Cicale. Dom came up around the Genovese Family ultimately settling into the Bonannos around the fiery Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano. We discuss his rise to captain, murders, his cooperation and more. Presented as always by Barstool Sports We hope you enjoy the show, please leave us a deserving rating and...

In this episode I was joined in a very interesting interview by former Chicago Outfit associate Frank Calabrese Jr. Frank is the son of a violent loan shark, murderer and high ranking member of the Outfit, Frank Sr. Throughout his youth, he would follow his dad into the world and in the end, his father would become out of control, paranoid and a change was needed. It would set up one of the most d...

In this special episode I was joined today by my friend journalist Luis Chaparro. Luis has for 10 plus years worked as a freelancer journalist and content creator reporting on the drug war in Mexico. He has embedded with cartels, worked in very violent areas and has connections everywhere. This was truly one of the most fascinating and fun interviews I've ever done. Please go follow Luis on Instag...

Jeff delves into the life of gang leader Barry Mills, one of the most dangerous inmates in the history of the American federal prison. Mills was essentially a prison lifer starting his life at California's San Quentin ultimately ending up in the federal system where he created an organization of the Aryan Brotherhood eventually monopolizing the drug trade and ruling with an iron fist ordering murd...

Jeff is joined today by organized crime journalist Scott Burnstein as they delve into the life of Philadelphia mobster Joey Merlino. "Skinny Joey" is mob royalty growing up around the life, making a play to take it over and ultimately living a very colorful life filled with time in prison for his involvement in the Mafia, run-ins with celebrities and even a photo with Donald Trump. Presented as al...

Jeff is welcomed today by Ioan Grillo, one of the best journalists in the game today on narcos and drug cartels. Ioan got involved in journalism over 20 years ago and has been on the front lines of the drug war for years. We discussed the current state of Mexico, life covering the most dangerous groups on the planet, the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez and much more. Please go follow Ioan on Twitter...

Jeff delves into the disturbing case of four young men who went missing in the summer of 2017 in Bucks County, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. We would ultimately find out the depraved person that did it was a young man from the same area who believed he was a cartel boss or mobster selling drugs and killing people with reckless abandon. Presented as always by Barstool Sports We hope you enjoy the s...

Jeff is welcomed today by former Bonanno associate Frank Fiordilino. We dive into the story of the life of Bonanno underboss Sal Vitale. Vitale was the brother-in-law of Joe Massino. He started his life in the interesting world of corrections, yes, corrections. Ultimately he left and got into the Mafia world rising to the title of underboss under his brother in law. In the end, he betrayed everyon...

Jeff is welcomed today again by former FBI Agent Bobby Chacon. Bobby is an extremely well polished agent who worked on major organized crime cases surrounding the Lucchese crime family, Jamaican Posse, terrorist organizations and more. He has also worked on dozens of death investigations and serial killers and joins me to discuss the recent arrest of an individual who Moscow Idaho police believe k...