In this episode, you will hear the real life conversation between Lefty and Joe as Donnie faced a life-and-death situation as he dealt with accusations of theft from fellow mobster Tony Mirra. 

Join co-hosts Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone as they dive into the first tape from Joe’s collection of undercover conversations. Hear from Lefty Ruggiero’s wife, as she urgently tries to contact Joe for Lefty, and then from Lefty himself as he questions Joe to find out the truth behind the accusations. 

It’s high drama on this episode of Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco! If you have questions about this episode or past episodes, you can ask them here by joining the Motion Lounge, where you can also listen to the full tape used in this episode.

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Episode notes:

[00:01:30] - Introduction to Joe’s defense for his life

[00:02:18] - Louise Ruggiero’s (Lefty’s wife) concerned call to Joe about Lefty’s meeting; quick brief on Tony Mirra

[00:04:34] - Lefty’s call to Joe about Lefty’s meeting with Tony Mirra

[00:05:37] - Who is Rocky?

[00:06:52] - $250,000 accusation

[00:07:46] - Lefty probing for information

[00:09:36] - Joe explains the story he’s trying to sell

[00:11:45] - Junk money, Zips

[00:19:37] - Lefty continues to probe/explain, compares Tony Mirra’s and Donnie’s situation

[00:24:59] - Sally - head of the Bonanno family

[00:29:27] - Federal “Stool Pigeon”

[00:35:29] - Lefty and Tony Mirra’s bad blood

[00:39:00] - Lefty and Joe (Donnie) are in pinch, how will this play out in the next episode?

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Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone are back with the third season! This season is called “Donnie’s Tapes." All season, Joe and Leo will be going over the actual tapes that Joe carried while undercover for six years with the mafia as Donnie Brasco. 

The tapes were recently found by Joe and then remastered by Jam Street Media. In this episode, Joe talks about how he did the actual recordings, the technology then versus today, and how others were not as lucky as him with their undercover recordings over the years. 

In this first episode of the season, you will hear a few of the tapes played "before and after" style to appreciate how much better they sound now. Buckle up, 'cause this season it’s all about the tapes on Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco.

JOIN THE MOTION LOUNGE !

For the first time, we are offering a subscription plan. For just $5.99 a month you will join the Motion Lounge and get:

Season Exclusives, such as the complete collection of tapes Joseph D. Pistone recorded while in deep cover with New York's most notorious crime families.

AD Free Podcast Episodes (Two Days Early)

Unedited Video Episodes & Behind the Scenes Content

Member-only Bonus Episodes

Member-only AMA's

Family-first access and discounts to live events.                  

Join now by clicking THIS LINK! 

Not ready to join the mob? Connect with us on social using the links below:

Instagram: @deepcoverpod

Facebook: @deepcoverpodcast

Twitter: @deepcoverpodcast

Episode notes and links:

[00:00:00] - Season 3 introduction; I am Leo Rossi[00:01:40] - Leo and Joe Pistone are back!

[00:03:16] - Joe found additional tapes from his Mafia days

[00:04:44] - Old school ways agents secretly recorded conversations

[00:08:40] - Introduction to Jules, Joe’s sounding board

[00:10:20] - Speaks on the validity of two Donnie Brasco movie scenes

[00:11:35] - What you will hear and subscribers will see in the forthcoming season

[00:12:47] - Leo speaks on meeting Joe for the first time 25 years ago with a $500,000 hit on his life

[00:13:55] - What’s coming next? Meet Quinn, the next 2 episodes and a fun game.

[00:15:25] - Before and after #1 -- original tape audio vs remastered audio; "a great clean-up job"

[00:16:30] - Re-introducing Lefty Ruggiero

[00:18:10] - Do mob wives know who is in “the life”?

[00:18:39] - The backstory on Lefty and Joe’s heated conversation; re-introducing Tony Mirra (re-listen to "Donnie Brasco vs. Tony Mirra" from season 1 ) ; Michael Francis Interview with Joe 

[00:20:20] - Before and after #2

[00:21:50] - Joe explains “the boat” and how Lefty identified it belonging to the FBI; Abscam 

[00:25:42] - Before and after #3

[00:26:30] - Explanation of audio; Lefty at the club questioning Joe on details

[00:28:40] - The difference between Sonny Black and Lefty

[00:29:10] - Joe compares Al Pacino as Lefty compared to real-life Lefty

[00:30:30] - Join The Motion Lounge to go deeper!

[00:31:40] - Season 3 overview

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Season 3 of Deep Cover will focus on the tapes Joseph D. Pistone recorded undercover as Donnie Brasco. Hear the voices of notorious mobsters, learn how "wiseguys" throw the English language around, and find out the stories behind the tapes that led to over 100 convictions of some of New Yorks most notorious families of crime. 

Season three airs on October 18th, 2022. Follow to never miss an episode.

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In the season 2 finale, producer Matty joins Joe and Leo to ask another round of questions submitted by you, the listeners! Thank you for listening to Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco and be sure to follow us on social media for updates on season 3!

Thank you to our sponsor Sunday! Get 20% off at checkout when you visit GetSunday.com/Deepcover20. Thank you to our sponsor Hunt a Killer! Visit huntakiller.com/deep for $10 off.

00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:52 - Fan Questions

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This week we’re getting a visit from Joe’s friend from the north, Eric from Montreal Canada. As a former detective with the Montreal Police Department, Eric has a resume as long as the rap sheets of some of the criminals he put away. The two former colleagues share with Leo about the cases they worked together, and about the connection the mafia had between the states and our neighbors from the north. Thank you to our sponsor Sunday! Get 20% off at checkout when you visit GetSunday.com/Deepcover20. Thank you to our sponsor Hunt a Killer! Visit huntakiller.com/deep for $10 off.

00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:51 - Interview with Eric from Canada 

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Go inside the mind of a criminal. This week Joe and Leo are joined by criminal psychiatrist and Joe’s old colleague, Dr. Frank, to take a deep dive into how the mind of a killer works. Listen as they talk about the differences between the mentality of a mafioso and a serial killer, as well as Dr. Frank’s history working with Joe in the FBI. 

Thank you to our sponsor Hunt a Killer! Visit huntakiller.com/deep for $10 off.

00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:54 - Dr. Frank 

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Just when we thought Joe was done with the FBI he decides to give it another shot. But before he can be reinstated he must go through what all rookies go through- training at the FBI Academy. He talks with Leo about his decision to go back to the bureau and the training process that he had to go through to once again become Special Agent Joe Pistone. Thank you to our sponsor Hunt a Killer! Visit huntakiller.com/deep for $10 off. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:09:32 - Joe is reinstated Follow us on social media: Deep Cover (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Jam Street Media (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Never before heard tapes! The year is 1978 as we listen to original recorded conversations between Joe “Donnie Brasco” Pistone, infamous Lefty “Two Guns” Ruggiero and another undercover agent known on the street as “Tony Conte”. Leo and Joe break down what they hear and analyze what is really being said all those years ago.

00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:16 - ‘Lefty’ Tape Follow us on social media: Deep Cover (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Jam Street Media (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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After years of unwarranted harassment from his superior, Joe finally had enough. He tells Leo about the incident that finally pushed him over the edge. In one final confrontation with his special agent in charge, Joe quit the FBI just a few years short of his 20-year mark. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:48 - Joe Quits the FBI Follow us on social media: Deep Cover (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Jam Street Media (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) 

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This week Joe begins to shut the door on his career with the FBI. He walks Leo through the years of harassment and unnecessary heat he faced at his assigned field office from his Special Agent in Charge. From calling his wife to check on his whereabouts to attempting to interrupt his time to testify in the Commission trial, the constant, insufferable behavior that Joe faced finally pushed him over the edge. We also get a look at some of his undercover work with never-before-heard tapes of a conversation he had with Sonny Black. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:22:20 - Sonny Black Tapes Follow us on social media: Deep Cover (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook) Jam Street Media (@twitter) (@instagram) (@facebook)

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