Joseph D. Pistone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph D. Pistone
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FBI surveillance photo of Pistone as Donnie Brasco
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Joseph Dominick Pistone
September 17, 1939 Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Other names | "Donnie Brasco" |
| Alma mater | Paterson State College |
| Occupation | FBI special agent |
| Years active | 1969–1986 |
| Known for | Undercover work infiltrating the Bonanno crime family |
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Notable work
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Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia |
| Spouse(s) | Maggie Pistone |
| Children | 3 |
Joseph Dominick Pistone (born September 17, 1939) is a former FBI special agent. He is famous for working undercover as Donnie Brasco from September 1976 to July 1981. During this time, he secretly joined the Bonanno crime family, which was part of the Mafia in New York City. His work helped the FBI gather important information.
Pistone was an FBI agent for 17 years, from 1969 to 1986. The information he collected led to many arrests and convictions of Mafia members. His undercover work was groundbreaking because the FBI had not used long-term undercover agents much before. Pistone wrote about his experiences in his 1988 book, Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. This book later became the basis for the 1997 film Donnie Brasco.
Early Life and Career
Where Joseph Pistone Grew Up
Joseph Pistone was born in 1939 in Erie, Pennsylvania. His family had Italian roots. He grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, and went to Eastside High School. He then attended Paterson State College, which is now William Paterson University. In 1965, he earned a degree in anthropology, which is the study of human societies and cultures.
Joseph Pistone's Early Jobs
After college, Pistone worked as a teacher for a year. He also worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence for three years. On July 7, 1969, he officially joined the FBI. His first assignment was in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1974, he moved to New York to work in a unit that dealt with truck and theft cases. Because he could drive large trucks and bulldozers, he was given a special undercover job. He helped to secretly join a group that stole vehicles. This assignment led to over 30 arrests and made Pistone well-known in law enforcement.
FBI Undercover Work as Donnie Brasco
Starting the Undercover Operation
In 1976, Pistone volunteered for a very risky mission. He wanted to secretly join the Bonanno crime family. He was a good choice because he spoke Italian fluently and understood the ways of the Mafia from his background. For this secret mission, the FBI created a new identity for him: Donald "Donnie" Brasco. His fake story was that he was a small-time jewel thief. He even took FBI courses to learn about jewels.
The operation was called "Sun-Apple." This name came from the two main locations: Miami ("Sunny Miami") and New York City ("The Big Apple"). After months of planning, Pistone began his undercover work in September 1976. The mission was supposed to last about six months, but it ended up lasting several years. The FBI even removed Pistone's name from their records. This was to make sure no one could find him, not even his co-workers or friends.
Infiltrating the Mafia Families
Pistone first became involved with a group from the Colombo family. This group was mainly involved in thefts. After about six months, Pistone moved closer to the Bonanno family. He built a relationship with a man named Anthony Mirra. When Mirra was sent to prison, Pistone was guided by a Bonanno family member named Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero. Ruggiero's boss was Mike "Mimi" Sabella. Pistone also had business dealings with Frank Balistrieri from the Milwaukee crime family. After a leader named Carmine Galante was killed in 1979, Pistone reported to a new captain, Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano.
Pistone also helped set up a successful business in Holiday, Florida. He opened and ran a club there. In Florida, Pistone worked with another FBI agent who was also undercover, known as Tony Rossi. Napolitano wanted Pistone to become a full member of the Mafia. He even asked Pistone to take part in a serious act to prove his loyalty.
Ending the Undercover Mission
The FBI decided it was too dangerous for Pistone to continue his mission. He wanted to stay longer to become a "made man" (a full member of the Mafia). However, his bosses decided the operation had to end by July 26, 1981. After Pistone left, other FBI agents told Napolitano that "Donnie Brasco" was actually an FBI agent. Pistone received a $500 bonus for his work.
What Happened After the Operation
Soon after, on August 17, 1981, Napolitano was killed because he had allowed an FBI agent to join the family. Ruggiero was arrested by the FBI on August 29, 1981. Mirra was also killed later on February 18, 1982. Pistone later said that his goal was to put people in jail, not to get them killed. In November 1982, Ruggiero and others were found guilty in a trial and received a 15-year prison sentence.
The Mafia put a large bounty on Pistone's life. However, FBI agents visited Mafia leaders in New York and warned them not to harm Pistone. A top Mafia leader, Paul Castellano, decided to drop the bounty. He thought that harming a federal agent would bring too much unwanted attention. Pistone testified publicly for the first time on August 2, 1982. The information he gathered led to over 200 arrests and more than 100 convictions of Mafia members. Even though Pistone left the FBI in 1986, he continued to testify in court when needed.
Pistone's undercover work greatly weakened the Bonanno family. However, because they were weakened, they were not targeted in a major investigation that sent many top Mafia leaders to prison. This allowed the Bonanno family to keep some of its leaders and regain power later. The boss who led this comeback was Joseph Massino. He was found guilty in 2004 of ordering Napolitano to be killed for letting Pistone into the family.
Joseph Pistone lives in a secret location with his family. His wife, Maggie, passed away in 2025. He has three daughters. Pistone has written books and works as a consultant for law enforcement agencies around the world. He has also testified before the United States Senate as an expert on organized crime. In September 2012, Pistone testified in Montreal, Canada, as an expert witness in a public inquiry about corruption.
Media and Books
Books by Joseph Pistone
Pistone shared his undercover story in his 1988 book, Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. He also wrote more about his experiences in The Way of the Wiseguy (2004) and Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business (2007). Pistone wrote a novel called The Good Guys (2005) with Joseph Bonanno's son, Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno. He has also written other fiction books like Deep Cover, Mobbed Up, and Snake Eyes.
Films and TV Shows
His 1988 book was the basis for the 1997 film Donnie Brasco. In the movie, Johnny Depp played Pistone, and Al Pacino played "Lefty" Ruggiero. Pistone worked as a technical adviser for the film to make sure it was accurate. The book also inspired the short-lived 2000 TV series Falcone. Pistone's life was also featured in an episode of FBI: The Untold Stories. He has served as an executive producer for movies about the Mafia, including the 2006 film 10th & Wolf. In 2008, Italian artist Rossella Biscotti interviewed Pistone for her video The Undercover Man. A play based on Donnie Brasco also opened at the Pennsylvania Playhouse.
Documentaries and Podcasts
Pistone is featured in the eighth episode of the UK TV channel Yesterday's documentary series Mafia's Greatest Hits. An episode of Secrets of the Dead called "Gangland Graveyard" also features Pistone and his undercover work. Pistone was prominently featured in the 2013 mini-series Inside the American Mob. He was in episode 1, "Stayin' Alive in the '70s," and was the main focus of episode 2, "Operation Donnie Brasco." In May 2020, Pistone started a podcast called Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco. In July 2025, he was a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
See also
In Spanish: Joseph D. Pistone para niños
