Mob Wives: Did Andrea Giovino Flip for Feds?

On last night's Mob Wives, Episode 9, "Drittany," Karen said, "Who knew Drita would flip this b*tch faster than the Feds flipped her mother?" And, as one would expect, both Brittany and her mother, Andrea Giovino took issue with Karen's statement and had a hissy fit. Having been a fan and blogger of the show from day one, I have not known Karen to lie about anything, especially about a sensitive subject like this. I blogged an episode of "I Married A Mobster," based on the life of Andrea Giovino, back in July 2011. According to what I remember of "Working Mom," Andrea seemed to admit she cooperated with the Feds. In fact, according to other sources and from Andrea's own words in her book and to CBS News, she seems to admit telling the Feds whatever she had to in order to stay out of prison. Below are some excerpts with the links to the source so you can read and decide for yourself.  Maybe someone owes Karen an apology?

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-two-mobs/

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From: http://articles.philly.com/2004-08-31/news/25392149_1_mob-john-gotti-victoria-gotti

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From our blog dated 7/21/11 Right from "I Married A Mobster"  Working Mom Recap

"One day her brother tells her that a guy won’t or can’t pay back the loan. It was for $20,000. Andrea gets extremely upset. She tells her brother to get that money and do whatever he has to do. Her brother understands, so does law enforcement. The DEA hears her 1982 conversations through wire taps. Andrea and 22 other crew members were arrested.

The Feds take Andrea into an interrogation room. They know her history and all the mobsters she had been with. She can’t play dumb. The Feds say either she tells them everything she knows or she will be facing 10 years in prison. They play her the tapes they have, including some that have recorded threats on her life. If she goes to prison she is sure to lose her kids. The mob wanted her dead. So , Andrea tells the Feds everything she knows. Andrea cannot go into the witness protection program because she shares joint custody of one of her children with her ex-husband, and that child would not be allowed to enter."  http://mobwives.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-married-mobster-giovinos-working-mom.html

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Andrea's primary concern has always been her children.  She seemingly admits to cooperating with the Feds to keep custody of her babies. Her full story, including her dealings with the Feds are in her book.

See pages 232 and 233 from "Divorced From the Mob" By Andrea Giovino

You can find excerpts at this Amazon link by clicking "Look Inside" 
http://www.amazon.com/Divorced-Mob-Journey-Organized-Independent/dp/0786713550

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Here is the episode of "Working Mom" if you've never seen it. Andrea says, "I wasn't being no stand up person for any of those scumbags."  When she faces prison and losing her kids she makes the decision to tell the Feds everything (18:30). By the end of the episode it sounds as though she cooperated for $75,000 and relocation to Pennsylvania.

So did Andrea cooperate, strike a deal, inform on mobsters and talk her husband and brother into cooperating in exchange for money and relocation?  Is that flipping?  You decide.

MM’s 2 cents on the matter:

I’ve kept silent on this matter because frankly I hold a lot of respect for Andrea Giovino.  She’s a woman who had guts, hustle and smarts to do what she needed to do for her family, especially her babies.  I am aware that Andrea is big on charity; helping down & out women get on their feet or ensuring children don’t miss out on a holiday.

I’m sure there is an end game/goal for Brittany Fogarty joining Mob Wives.  On production’s end, blonde eye candy and maybe Drita D’avanzo having someone to talk to besides Big Ang who had way bigger fish to fry.  Brittany’s goal may be exposure for something bigger.  Do I know for sure? No.  Do I know the operation of Brittany’s mind? No.

Frankly, I was floored in learning of Brittany Fogarty joining the Mob Wives franchise.  For reasons I am not comfortable to share, out of respect for private conversations.  For clarity, I’m not referring to any conversation with Brittany.

My take on Brittany Fogarty in regards to her Mob Wives scenes only:

She’s seemingly has become Drita’s puppet.  It’s comical for me to see her one minute tell Karen, “….no one tells me what to do….”  Then see her with Drita slurping up  the advice to tell Carla this and Renee that. In conclusion, Karen Gravano isn’t lying about Andrea Giovino giving the Feds information.  It’s not a secret.  What I don’t understand is the denial about what has been well documented.  Oh the irony continues.

I Married A Mobster: “Crazy” Joe Gallo

Andrea Giovino and her family were always well connected in the mob. She tells the story of how, in the early 1960’s, “Crazy” Joe Gallo needed a place to conduct some illegal gambling and her mother, Dolly Silvestri, offered the basement of her home and hosted their games. Andrea and her sisters would bring them expressos and pastries and Dolly would earn some extra money to support the family of ten children. He paid her weekly, until 1963, when police busted their nice little operation.
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“Crazy” Joe Gallo, also known as “Joe the Blond” had quite a reputation, before he was murdered the day after his 43rd birthday, on April 7, 1972, at Umberto’s Clam House in NYC’s “Little Italy.” He became a “made man” at the young age of 17, which is really remarkable. He worked for a mobster named Joe Profaci, with his two brothers, Larry and Albert “Kid Blast” Gallo. Profaci ordered the Gallo brothers to whack gambler “Frankie Shots” Abbatemarcco because he refused to pay Profaci $50,000. Larry and Joe both worked with Frankie Shots for many years and they had a close friendship, but nevertheless, they followed orders. A big problem arose between the Gallo brothers and Profaci. He had promised them that he would divide up Frankie Shots “business operations” with them, but after the job was done, Profaci gave it all away to his close associates and the Gallo brothers got nothing and were even told to get lost.

Profaci obviously underestimated the Gallo brothers, because they were not going to walk away quietly or empty handed. Instead they killed some members of Profaci’s crew and kidnapped a few capos. Profaci died in 1962 and Crazy Joe was later incarcerated for extortion. Joe Colombo took over as head of the family.

Crazy Joe was let out of prison in 1971. He made a deal with a black man, Jerome Johnson, to murder Joe Colombo in the middle of Colombus Square. Joe promised him that the Gallo brothers would create enough of a distraction so he could safely flee the scene. However, the plan didn’t work out quite that way. Once Jerome killed Colombo, the Gallo crew whacked Jerome on the spot.

“Crazy” Joe was a loose canon and became greedy and careless. As soon as Colombo was out of the picture, Crazy Joe walked into a nightclub, San Susan Nightclub in Long Island, owned by Colombo capo Johnny Franzese, and declared himself the owner. A couple of other guys got whacked soon after and Joe Gallo’s fate was sealed.

Joe had his 43rd birthday party at the Copa Cabana, in NYC. Actor Jerry Orbach, a friend of Joe Gallo’s, also attended with his wife. It was a big bash and they left the place at 4 am. A large group pile into the car and drive around looking for something to eat. They end up at Umberto’s for a big seafood dinner. Some time during the middle of their meal, several mobsters come in through the front door and, in a blaze of gunshots, killed “Crazy” Joe gangland style, just like the movies.

Imagine the stories Andrea could tell us about “Crazy” Joe? He is just one of a host of mobsters whose paths crossed with Andrea’s, during her life in the mob. For a very interesting, detailed account of “Crazy” Joe Gallo, check out the following link:

Crazy Joe Gallo

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Be sure to tune in Wednesday, July 20^th, at 10:30 pm for her story, Working Mom," on Investigation Discovery! Also, Andrea will be on The View the morning of July 20^th, revealing more details of her life. Check your local listings!