The Sit Down: A Crime History Podcast

On Episode 63, Jeff delves into the life of Gambino associate Joe "The German" Watts. Watts was an extremely respected Gambino loan shark and associate who was awarded the same respect a made man would get. Watts could never be made due to not being Italian but arched out a pivotal role in the family and gained the respect of all the heavy hitters including Paul Castellano and John Gotti. A fascin...

On Episode 62, Jeff is joined by crime reporter, blogger and podcaster Scott Burnstein. They delve into the current state of the Mafia in America. They highlight what families are active, what the leadership looks like and what the families are doing to earn nowadays. A huge episode chocked full of info. Check out Scott at www.thegangsterreport.com and the "Original Gangsters" podcast which can be...

On Episode 61, Jeff delves into the wild story of a corrupt investigation unit in the Baltimore Police Department called the Gun Trace Task Force. The ringleader of the group Wayne Jenkins and his crew extorted and stole from citizens, planted drugs and guns, stole overtime and sold drugs. In the end, they'd face the wrath of the Feds and all sit currently in federal prison. PLEASE give us a follo...

On Episode 60, Jeff delves into Gambino Family hitmen John and Charles Carneglia. The brothers who hailed for Ozone Park Queens both came up and ultimately became major killers for John Gotti and the Gambinos. They were both involved in very high profile hits and both ended up where they belonged. A very violent but great episode. In the first 20 minutes or so, I answered some of your mob related...

On Episode 59, Jeff is joined by an individual named Robert Ross. Robert spent just south of 24 years in some of the toughest federal prisons in the country including Leavenworth and Lewisburg for a nonviolent drug offense. He received LIFE in 1997. During his time, he rubbed elbows and was very close with many mobsters and infamous people including Carmine Persico, Little Jimmy Ida, Matty the Hor...

On Episode 58, Jeff delves into the life of Gambino psycho and capo Nino Gaggi. Nino lived a very normal childhood, but ultimately as a teen, he joined a gang and followed a cousin into the life. He was schooled on the game and became a highly respected earner. He eventually became a capo and formed a very powerful dangerous crew that housed lunatic Roy DeMeo. Madness would ensue and many deaths w...

On Episode 57, Blackjack returns and he and Jeff delve into some mafia news regarding a former associate in the Luccheses plus it was a bad month or so for the Genovese Crime Family. We also delve into the life of former Lucchese family underboss Neil Migliore. Migliore is one of the most underrated people in the history of the mob, learning the art of labor racketeering and mostly avoiding prison...

On Episode 56, John Gleeson is a former federal judge and assistant US Attorney in the Eastern District of New York. He led two unsuccessful prosecutions of Gambino boss John Gotti eventually finding a way to bring the Dapper Don down with a successful prosecution. I spoke with him about his life, his work as a prosecutor and on the bench plus the inner workings of the prosecution. We also discuss...

On Episode 55, Jeff delves into the life of Colombo boss Andrew "Mush" Russo. Late last week, Russo passed away at the age of 87. Mush had a famous cousin Carmine Persico and they would both go to the upper echelons of the family. Russo spent many years in prison and year after year to attempt to continue the golden years of the mob, in the end though, the old mob was gone and late last year he fa...

On Episode 54 of the show, Jeff delves into the life of Bonanno soldier Tony Mirra. Mirra was known as an unlikeable nasty man but someone who could earn and kill you in a second. The problem for him was he introduced the wrong guy to the family and it was his downfall in the end. In the first 20 minutes I answered some of your listener sent in questions. Mirra biography starts around 23:40 ------...

On Episode 53 of the Sit Down, Jeff delves into the life of Bonanno boss Joe Bonanno. Joe had a quick rise in the Mafia, he was born into it in Sicily. Upon arriving in America, he quickly vaulted into a leadership position and for years ran a family and made money. Ultimately though, many lost respect for him and he had an issue in his family that he ran away from. He eventually made a decision t...

On Episode 52 of the Sit Down, Jeff delves into the life of Chicago Outfit heavyweight Sam Giancana. Sam grew up in the poverty stricken Chicago neighborhood called "the Patch". He was an accomplished wheelman and enforcer in the Outfit. But in the early 30's meeting a woman changed him and he changed his ways and ultimately became a huge money maker and leader. In the history of organized crime,...

On Episode 51 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of Bonanno boss Vinny Gorgeous Basciano. Vinny grew up in Yonkers and started being mentored by mobsters in his teens ultimately becoming a bookmaker and making his ascent as an earner and tough guy in the family. He gained the respect of a Bronx capo then ultimately Joe Massino. In the end, after Massinos arrest, he would make...

On Episode 50 of the Sit Down, Jeff delivers a special interview with an individual named Francesco "Frank"  Fiordilino  who for years was a Bonanno Family associate. Frank was born in Sicily and came to America as a young child. He grew up in Queens and came up under his uncle, a Bonnano capo. He ultimately started running around with a group called the Giannini Crew and in the end faced major de...

On Episode 49 of the Sit Down, Jeff delves into the life of drug kingpin and Lucchese mobster Joseph "Joe Beck" DiPalermo. Joe Beck is a guy many people don't know, but he is one of the largest drug dealers in the history of the mob and knew some very powerful people. He is one of the wheels that turned the Lucchese family during the golden age of the mob. Also in the first few minutes of the show...

On Episode 48 of the Sit Down, Jeff delves into the life of Genovese boss Vito Genovese. Vito was an egomaniac drunk for power and would attempt to systematically eliminate all the competition to be the boss of all bosses. He came from humble beginnings, made the right connections but it was never enough. He wanted all the power and it would end for him in embarrassment. A great episode, hope you...

On Episode 47 of the Sit Down, Jeff sits down Retired Undercover FBI Agent Joaquin "Jack" Garcia. In 26 years as a member of the FBI, he was undercover for 24 infiltrating various parts of organized crime, drug traffickers, and more. He ultimately would be involved in a 3 year case involving various high ranking members of the Gambino Crime Family. He shares his story in a terrific interview that...

On Episode 46 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of NE PA boss Russell Bufalino. Bufalino was among the most powerful people in the history of the mob who got his start in Buffalo learning from the likes of people like Maggadino. He ultimately would take control of the NE area of Pennsylvania and create powerful connections and become a very rich man. He ultimately made his fo...

On Episode 45 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of Bonnano captain Vinny Asaro. Vinny was a gangsters gangster and lived a very interesting life. By the end though, he was brought in by the FEDS for his alleged involvement in a very famous crime. He would beat the rap on those crimes but would face the music because he couldn't let go of the life he coveted as a gangster. Bef...

On Episode 44 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of Chicago Outfit and Las Vegas mobster Tony Spilotro. Tony got his start as an enforcer and ultimately a bookmaker in Chi Town before wearing out his welcome and was sent to Las Vegas to oversee the skim operations for the Outfit. Ultimately he'd wear out his welcome again getting involved with members wives, killing people wit...

On Episode 43 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of Lucchese underboss Steven Crea. Crea did what the Lucchese Family did best, run construction rackets and was very adept at labor racketeering. He made a lot of money and became a capable earner and would ultimately rise to the upper echelons of the family. In 2013 though he would be implicated in taking part in the last known...

On Episode 42 of the Sit Down, Jeff and Blackjack delve into the life of Colombo Family renegade Joe Gallo. Gallo was someone who marched to the beat of his own drum. He was diagnosed with a mental disorder at an early age but fit right in with the Mafia. He had balls and was always willing to fight for control. Ultimately though his renegade was his end, because as we know you don't ever think yo...

On Episode 41 of the Sit Down, Jeff delves into the wild times in the City of Brotherly Love during the early 90's. We discuss the life of young hot head John Veasey as he gets into the life doing pieces of work for mob boss John Stanfa. We also discuss the war that would consume South Philly between two mob sides and the ending that would put Stanfa and Veasey head to head. ----------------------...

On Episode 40 of the Sit Down, Jeff and BlackJack delve into the life of Gambino boss and son of Senior, John Gotti Jr. Junior lives a life in the shadow of his father, he became boss at a young age all to deal with the scrutiny of the government multiple times. He lived his life through his father and paid for it. Give it a listen now! -------------------------------------------------------------...

On Episode 39 of the Sit Down, Jeff and BlackJack delve into the life of Lucchese capo Paul Vario. Paul was immortalized in the classic gangster film "Goodfellas." Paul was a gigantic earner and really one of the most powerful capos in the Mafia. He oversaw a huge crew and was involved in many rackets and ruled with an iron first. One of the last of the Mohicans in the Lucchese family! Give it a l...