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 for assistance in getting his fellow undercover agent, Tony, a sit down with Frank Balistrieri, a Milwaukee Mafia boss. What could go wrong?
01:40 – Joe’s and Lefty Ruggerio’s work together
03:05 – Mafia family borders
05:03 – FBI’s Milwaukee Vending Machine Operation
07:11 – Joe gets the Bonanno family involved
12:07 – The Balistrieri and the Bonanno family go into business together
17:22 – Trouble with Tony
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Meeting with the Balistrieri Family

Johnny Depp might have played Donnie Brasco in the Academy Award-nominated film, but the real-life hero is Joe Pistone. Pistone came up on the mean streets of Patterson, New Jersey before going deep undercover and spending six years inside the Bonanno and Columbo crime families. In the new podcast “Deep Cover-The Real Donnie Brasco,” Joe Pistone shares the true stories of his time with The Mob to his friend, and our host, actor Leo Rossi. If you loved the Sopranos--“Fuhggedaboutit”--this is The Real Donnie Brasco. Learn more at deepcoverpodcast.com

TV & Film

True crime

Film Interviews

On this season finale of Deep Cover, Joe and Leo deep dive into your final movie questions to reveal fiction from fact. Joe shares more of Donnie Brasco’s day-to-day life, particularly from the last impactful moments with Sonny Black and Lefty Ruggiero. From the Japanese Steakhouse fight to the thwarted hit by Donnie the made man– what was a true story and what was fabricated by the brilliant Paul Attanasio? Listen to learn more and stay tuned at the end to hear what’s in store for the forthcoming season!
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Episode Notes:
[00:00] Introduction with Joe and Leo
[02:09] Movie clip: Don the Jeweler
[03:20] Joe shares how he knew so much in real life about diamonds during his first meet with Lefty Ruggiero
[06:40] Joe’s Cadillac and blending in as broke
[10:32] Movie clip: He says it’s a fugazi.
[12:00] Joe shares the seeds of the fake diamonds scene. 
[15:16] Movie clip: This is Lefty’s car 
[16:19] Movie clip: Donnie Brasco fights a DA at the airport to save his cover 
[17:45] Joe shares the truth about the shocking encounter
[19:06] Movie clip: Lefty hates the cold 
[20:57] Joe details what really happened with the air conditioner debate
[24:54] Movie clip: Donnie refuses to take off his shoes 
[26:11] Joe sets the record straight about the Japanese Steakhouse fight 
[28:09] Movie clip: “You think I’m a f******g rat?”
[29:56] The federal boat and dramatic licensing byway of Paul Attanasio
[33:33] Truth or false: the ending of the movie Deep Cover
[35:15] True Story: FBI agents told Sonny Black and Lefty Ruggiero that Donnie Brasco was a cop 
[37:40] Next season guests: Former undercover cop and beauty agent, Lisa Lockwood, Retired NYPD Ralph Friedman, former U.S. Customs Bob Starkman
[39:54] Happy New Year– until next time!
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Reality vs. Fiction Part 4, B.T.S. of Donnie Brasco

On this special episode of Deep Cover, Joe and Leo speak to former FBI boss, Jules Bonavolonta, who was Head of Organized Crime and Narcotics in New York during the Deep Cover investigation. Jules takes us down memory lane from the Vietnam War to his self-negotiations from the Army into the coveted federal agency.

But it’s really his untold stories about life-or-death moments with Joe Pistone, Lefty, Santo Trafficante, and the bureaucracy that will make you understand the severity of the undercover operation. Just how much trust and friendship played a major role in their success? You don’t want to miss this one.
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Episode Notes:
[00:00] Introducing guest, ex-FBI agent, Jules Bonavolonta
[02:00] The Garden State Trio: Bonavolonta, Leo and Joe.
[03:10] On Anthony Imperiale, former New Jersey state senator
[05:20] On using “dramatic licensing” with the truth for movies and tv 
[06:50] On the reaction of family and friends after joining the FBI
[09:00] Why Bonavolonta threatened to leave the military during the Vietnam War and made it in the FBI
[19:20] How Bonavolonta met Joe Pisone while running the organized crime division 
[21:15] What’s a successful organized crime? Jules speaks on monitoring Joe in the mafia 
[24:52] Joe explains to Bonavolonta what he does all day with Sunny Black and Lefty
[27:10] Jules details how much Lefty trusted Joe up until his trial testimony 
[29:09] Jules and Joe relive the moment the mafia gave Joe a contract to kill Bruno Indelicato
[33:55] The infamous argument between Jules and Joe prior to his meeting with Santo Trafficante
[41:55] When the mafia found out that Donnie Brasco is Joe Pistone– an open contract
[44:04] Jules can kill you with his hands 
[47:00] Outro
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Jules Interview - Joe's Handler & Donnie's Rabbi

On this episode of Deep Cover, Leo Rossi walks Joe Pistone through a few more scenes of his Hollywood blockbuster, “Donnie Brasco.” Joe shares intimate details about real-life challenges with his wife, Maggie, while undercover, reveals the subtle brilliance of a scene between Donnie and Lefty, and other insights. He also shares some unrelated stories about the Sicilian Mafioso turned informant, Luigi Ronsisvalle, and a drug deal gone bad in Pensacola, Florida. This one’s full of suspense! 
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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.

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Reality vs. Fiction, Part 3

On this special episode of Deep Cover, Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone are joined by ex-Colombo crime mobster turned motivational speaker Michael Franzese. He shares his personal testimony about the ways in which “the life” negatively impacted him and his family. Son to the notorious former underboss, Sonny Franzese, Michael was not only born into the life but contributed for nearly 20 years prior to incarceration which prompted his uncharacteristic exit. 
Michael and Joe met in their separate endeavors along the way and detailed the extent of their relationship then and now. Tune in for a true tale about the Mafia life from one of their very own.
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Episode Notes:[00:47] Intro with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone
[01:07] Introduction to Michael Franzese
[03:09] Franzese speaks on his meeting with Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano
[05:00] Joe remembers his first time meeting Michael Franzese in “the life”
[06:32] Michael Franzese breaks down how he and his family were impacted by the mob life.
[09:04] Franzese shares the story of his father, Sonny Franzese, who was imprisoned until 100 years old.
[11:36] What defines a leader?
[12:35] Franzese, Joe, and Leo discuss the relationship between crime mob and cops
[15:03] Franzese shares his relationship with Bernard “Bernie” Welsh
[16:47] Sonny Black’s girlfriend relays a message to Joe post-trial
[18:14] Franzese gives Joe his flowers
[20:09] How did Carmine “Junior” Persico run the family from prison?
[23:22] Michael Franzese’s dad agreed with the mob's decision to put a contract on his son’s life
[24:37] Nicky “Glasses” Marangello has a message for Donnie
[26:52] Leo shares a story about Carlo Gambino and the new age of mobsters
[29:47] The old neighborhoods just aren’t the same
[31:26] Michael Franzese speaks on his recent book, “Mafia Democracy”
[35:02] Franzese shares the similarities between the government and the mob
[38:04] Franzese went into business with an Armenian vineyard
[40:00] Outro
[40:26] Questions from the motion lounge
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Michael Franzese - Realities of the Mob and Life

Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi continue with more behind-the-scenes insight about the Blockbuster movie based on Joe’s time in the mob, “Donnie Brasco.” Accompanying clips featuring Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, and others, Pistone shares more deets about his undercover experience and offers some loving words in memory of Anne Heche, the actress who portrayed his wife Maggie Pistone on screen. He even clarifies facts from fiction regarding that infamous wife slap! More, when you tune in to Deep Cover now.
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.

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Episode Notes:
[00:00] Intro with Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi
[01:56] Joe visited the Mob Museum in Las Vegas
[03:04] Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone’s one-man-show about Donnie Braso
[03:27] How the movie designers recreated Sonny Black, Lefty and Nicky entering a disco nightclub
[07:45] Donnie Brasco gets caught by the cops; no permit for the lion
[10:29] On one-taker scenes that require precision
[12:30] How the bribed cop let everyone down; gambling operation at the club gone wrong.
[14:50] The arrest record of Donnie Brasco
[16:10] Meet us in the Motion Lounge
[17:27] The Boss, Carmine Galante, gets whacked
[20:31] Sonny Black becomes a Capo and Lefty gets nervous
[23:21] Paul Attansio, the screenwriter, continues to write accurate emotions for each character
[25:26] How does a hit get set up? Lefty, or Al Pacino, goes off on Donnie Brasco after being “sent for.”
[28:40] The truth about the $300,000 in cash and Joe Pistone remembers Anne Heche, the actress who portrayed his wife and best friend.
[29:07] Joe admits there was a time when he couldn’t turn ‘off’ his character, Donnie Brasco, in real life.
[33:05] Through Leo’s stage play, Joe’s family finally realized just how lonely the job was for him.
[34:50] 85% is true
[35:50] Maggie and Joe’s movie-stealing scenes: “Why do you hate me when I love you so much?” and “I’m not beginning like them, Maggie, I am them.” - the back story.
[36:44] When Lefty got saved from being whacked.
[37:50] Outro
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Meeting with the Balistrieri Family

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