Mob Wives: Mob Bust FBI Agent Talks

During the shooting of the series Mob Wives, in January 2011, the FBI arrested approximately 135 members of organized crime. It was the largest mob bust in FBI history. There were 800 FBI agents and employees involved, along with 130 law enforcement officers involved in this operation. Those arrested were processed at the Fort Hamilton Army base in Brooklyn, NY. One of the FBI agents involved, Supervisory Special Agent George Khouzami, was interviewed by New York Magazine regarding reality shows about mob wives.

Shows about mob wives seem to be a new trend in television. Mobsters and their activities have been depicted in movies, television, and books for decades. Now the focus is shifting to the women who are their wives, mistresses and daughters. They want to tell their stories and break the long standing code of silence the mafia was built on.  NY Magazine wanted to know how real are these shows and how does the mafia feel about them. 

Agent Khouzami says that the mafia is not pleased with these shows and considers them disrespectful. As for the spouses, he believes that they know their husbands are in the mob and are aware of where the money comes for that pays for their luxuries, but they always deny knowing anything. The wives also know about the girlfriends and they tolerate the cheating because of all the money the mobster “earns.” He mentions Karen Gravano, saying that many people are still very angry with her father, Sammy, and that she is taking a risk by going on television and writing a book. He goes on to discuss the changes in the mob and their crimes that have occurred over the years. The mob is now more involved in stock crimes.

Overall, this was a very interesting interview and if you have time it is definitely worthwhile reading.

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Interview link nymag.com

Mob Wives: Sammy Gravano’s 1997 Interview With Diane Sawyer

On April 16,1997, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC Primetime. The interview was conducted at an inn, in an undisclosed location, in California. The title of the interview was: “Sammy The Bull: The Man Who Brought Down John Gotti.” I found a transcript of most of the interview online and will blog about the highlights here.

Sammy compares himself to a soldier in Vietnam, who killed many people. He was a soldier too, of La Cosa Nostra. Sammy is the single most important informant against the mob. Diane asks if he is a “rat.?” Sammy explains that he feels he was betrayed by Gotti, so he in turn betrayed Gotti. “John`s a double-crosser. I’m a master double-crosser. We played chess, and he lost.”

Sammy worked very closely with Gotti and was so trusted that, on FBI surveillance tapes, Gotti was recorded saying, “This is my wishes that if – if I’m in the f------ can, this Family is going to be run by Sammy. I’m still the boss. If I get 50 years, I know what I’ve got to do. But when I’m in the can, Sammy’s in charge.” They were talking about the Gambino crime family.

Diane comments about a book that compares Sammy’s cavalier attitude about committing murder as like “pulling open a tab on a can of beer.” Sammy just says he was good at being a hit man. He admits to being involved in 19 murders, including that of his brother-in-law, Nicholas Scibetta. But, even though he agrees that the mob is worse than serial killers, he justifies it by saying, they only kill each other, not the general public. Then he goes on to say, that the boss (Gotti) gives the orders, so ultimately he is responsible for all the murders. Gravano says, that before he cooperated with authorities, the media treated him like a hero, they treated Gotti like a hero. When he began an informant, a “rat”, a “snitch” then he became “the worst scum of the earth to them.”

Gravano admits to making a couple of million a year and says that Gotti made anywhere from 5 to 20 million a year.

Gravano had worked as an associate for the mob for 8 years before becoming a “made man” at the age of 31. At that time Paul Castellano was the boss of the Gambino crime family. He describes his initiation into the mob and the oath they are required to take. And then he says the words that we hear Renee repeat each week on the show: “There’s honor. There’s respect. There’s integrity. There’s loyalty.” That’s what he believed the mob was all about. But after 14 years, he turned on the mob. Even though that made him a marked man, he refuses to live in fear.

Sammy is the son of Italian immigrants from Sicily. He admits to Diane that his father’s heart would have be broken to learn that he was an active member of the Mafia. Just like Sammy says it would break his heart to know his son had joined the mob, because he is aware of the lifestyle and what it involves.

How did Sammy get his nickname “the bull?” Some kids robbed his bike one day and he fought like hell to get it back. Some guy, from the mafia hangout across the street, watched the fight and then went over and rubbed Sammy’s head, saying, “Look at him, he’s like a little bull. Sammy the Bull” The name stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Sammy had trouble in school. He said he has dyslexia and had trouble learning, had trouble with teachers, authority and school in general. Kids would tease him until, “I gave a few of them a beating.” But he didn’t join the mob because of his problems at school, he says he joined for the money, it was all about greed. Then a judge sent him into the army, instead of prison. But, when he got home, he went straight back to the old neighborhood and back to “loansharking, stealing cars, burglaries, break an arm here, break a leg there.” By the time he was 24, the mob bosses started asking him to do more and Sammy added murder to his list of crimes.

They discus how they lure their “target” into a false sense of security by inviting them to dinner. That’s how he killed is friend, Joe Colucci, a bricklayer. They had a good night of eating and drinking. Then they get into their cars to drive away and Sammy shoots him twice in the head. The family didn’t find out until 22 years later that Sammy, Joe’s friend, was the one who killed him. And Sammy discovered something too. After he killed Joe, he was not sorry, he had no remorse, just an adrenaline rush from the power, “like an animal going after its prey.”

Another victim, Louis Milito, was Sammy’s best friend. They were literally partners in crime. Louis disappeared one day and his daughter went to Sammy for help. "Uncle Sammy, I haven’t talked to my father in two days, and he didn’t go to work. There’s something wrong.” Sammy said, "Why do you say that, princess?" She said, "Because that’s not my father." Sammy said, "And there’s something wrong. Don’t worry, I’ll find your father. Don’t worry about a thing.” Sammy had killed her father two night before, but he looked her right in the eyes and lied. He had put two bullets in his head and the body had disappeared, never to be found. Sammy says he did what he had to do, the guy double crossed the mob.

They discuss the case of Nick Scibetta, Sammy’s brother in-law. The order to have him killed came from Paul Castellano, there was nothing Sammy could do. He admits to participating in the murder and then went home and faced his wife and in-laws as though nothing happened. He claims he did not know Nick’s body would be cut up. He tells Diane, if he had interfered in anyway with the execution of the murder, he would have been killed too.

Sammy ran the concrete and construction business of the Gambino crime family.
Sammy says: “I literally marvel at the sight of Manhattan when I see it, because I controlled it. I literally controlled Manhattan. When I see it at night -- those lights and everything about it -- I think of Donald Trump and Tishman and everybody else who couldn’t build a building if I didn’t want them to build it. That got me off. Plus, I made a lot of money with it.”

On to the discussion about the “hit” on Paul Castellano, the family boss. Gotti and Sammy conspired to plan Castellano’s murder. The family wasn’t too happy with Castellano, but the incident that really set the wheels in motion for his murder was when Gotti’s crew got indicted for drug trafficking, and Castellano was very angry that they broke the “no drug rule” and were caught. Gotti was afraid that Castellano would take “action” against him so he decided to make the first move and called on Sammy for help. This plan broke every rule and oath that Sammy and Gotti swore to uphold. The hit itself took seven months to plan.
It was set for December 16^th, 1985 outside of Sparks Steakhouse in Manhattan. Eleven mobsters showed up wearing white trench coats and black Russian hats. Castellano had to be killed, then and there, even if it meant the mobsters themselves would be killed. As soon as Castellano’s car pulled up and he got out, he was shot dead on the spot. And, in January 1986, Gotti was made the new head of the Gambino crime family. After that, the Gambino crime family virtually had a hand in everything that was going on in the city.

Sammy goes on to describe all the ways the family made money. And while he and Gotti did not get involved in drugs, they looked the other way when family members did. Gotti was flashy and loved the attention of the media and the public. He was called the “Teflon Don” because no charges would stick and he was getting off in trials. But, it was Sammy who was bribing jurors behind the scenes, to vote not guilty. By 1987, Sammy was appointed Gotti’s consigliore. Yet, Sammy could not convince Gotti that all this attention and being in the spotlight was putting everyone in the family at risk. He would conduct mob meetings at a club in Manhattan every week, with the FBI outside doing surveillance.

This is where the online transcript ends, however, FBI agents eventually allow Sammy to hear taped conversations of Gotti, implying that Sammy was guilty of several murders. It was clear that Gotti was setting up Sammy to take the fall. Sammy thought about what he had heard. It was clear that Gotti was double crossing him, so he cut a plea deal with the FBI. In exchange for his cooperation, Sammy would get 5 years in prison for his involvement in 19 murders and other crimes. Sammy’s testimony ended up getting Gotti life in prison, where he died.

Link to Interview Transcript: http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=509533

Mob Wives: Recap Ep 103 Mob Bust

Before the recap, a little background on the news. On January 20, 2011, the biggest FBI mob bust in the history of New York took place, with over 100 suspected mobsters (reports go as high as 127) arrested for a variety of Federal charges which include illegal gambling, drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. The suspects include members from all five New York families and one New Jersey Family. Many high ranking mafia men were involved. Of course, the main significance for VH1’s Mob Wives is that Hector “Junior” Pagan, Renee Graziano’s ex-husband, was among those arrested. If you have never read an indictment, here is Count 57, page 116, of the indictment located at the following link http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/1-20-2011-russo.pdf  which reads as follows:

COUNT FIFTY-SEVEN

(Illegal Gambling – Sports Betting)

250. In or about September 2010, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants JOSEPH SAVARESE and HECTOR PAGAN, also known as “Junior,” together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct and own all or part of an illegal gambling business, to wit: a gambling business involving bookmaking, which operated in violation of the laws of New York State, to wit: New York Penal Law Sections 225.05 and 20.00, which involved five or more persons who conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed and owned all or part of such business and which remained in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days and had a gross revenue of at least $2,000 in any single day.

So now you have seen the official reason why Renee is hysterical about the “Mob Bust.” Now on to the episode three’s recap!
　
Drita visit’s the Secret Gardens Spa with her friend, Michelle, for a pedicure. She is ranting about Lee, she talks about her past, at age 24, when she lost everything the day he was taken to prison. She has moved 11 times in 13 years, like a gypsy. And now he tells her he may be in prison another 2 or 3 years like it’s nothing! She says is so used to being along that maybe she wants to be alone now. I would agree with her, and maybe if the show remains successful, she can go it alone.

Back at Karen’s apartment, Karen is talking to her writing coach, Carmela, who gives her two assignments. First, she has to write about her feelings in a journal and second she needs to visit her old home, her father’s old office, and try to recapture her feelings from the past. Karen tells Carmela that being in that lifestyle taught her that being bad equals respect. So, after her father became an informant, she became gangster and got involved with his ecstasy trafficking ring in Arizona. She dodged a “bullet” that time because she only got probation.

Renee is stressed out so she decides to go fur shopping. She is mad at “Junior” for not doing his share of the parenting. She mentions her first fur, a white fox, that she got when she was seven years old. She tries on several furs, one of which costs $5,995. She doesn’t bat an eye at the price. She leaves the store with a new fur…furs make her feel “womanly.” Personally, I never knew a woman who was able to buy herself a fur coat because she was frustrated, especially a struggling, single mom. Remember what Jenn said at the start of the series? Jenn Graziano : “I want everyone to know that these women are just like anyone else, like any other single mom out there. The show to me is really about the struggles, trials and tribulations these women go through and hopefully conquer throughout the season.” Maybe they should leave fur shopping out?

Karen goes to visit Sammy “The Bull’s” office in Brooklyn. She needs to put herself back in that mind frame. Seeing her father’s old construction office brings her back to 1985 all over again. She reveals half the men who worked there are dead or in prison. Karen’s old house is in Staten Island. She tells a story of how she was trying to sneak out one night, from the bathroom window, and her father was there ready to shoot her in the head, thinking someone was breaking in. Sammy bought the house purposely near a highway so the Feds could not do any type of surveillance near the property. Good thinking!

Renee is at her house peeling an orange. She says she separated from “Junior” when AJ was four and divorced when he was six. She tells AJ his father wasn’t there for him. Renee seems more upset about it than AJ does. She is going on and on about it. She feels AJ is hiding his feelings and anything that hurts him, kills her. He tells his mother he is sixteen and has it under control. She wants to protect him. AJ seems to reluctantly give his mom a hug to “shut her up;” my kids do that too.

Aleeya and Drita are making a scrapbook for Lee. Aleeya thinks her father may be coming home soon. Drita doesn’t have the heart to tell her it may be years before he is released. They talk about going to visit Lee at prison. Aleeya says she doesn’t want to drive the six hours, but Drita thinks it’s just an excuse because it upsets her to go there. Aleeya sheds a few tears which causes Drita to shed a few too. Seeing that her daughter is hurt is more than she can bare. I didn’t think the prison visit was a good idea myself. In my opinion, Drita needs to tell her daughter the truth, especially with the show airing details of their personal lives. I would want my kids to hear things from me, not friends, neighbors, the internet or television.

MOB BUST! The largest single mob bust in the history of the FBI takes place. More than 100 organized crime members are arrested. Renee yells at AJ to turn on the news. Renee learns of it when her phone rang at 5:30 am and Junior’s girlfriend tells her about his arrest and how the FBI ransacked the house. Renee starts asking the girlfriend questions, she needs the information to pass on to the lawyer. Renee is afraid Junior will not be able to get out because he was still on probation. Renee is emotional and freaking out. She doesn’t know what to do so she calls her dear friend, Carla. She tells Carla what happened and how no one had a heads up about it. Renee expects Carla to come over. Carla tells her to call the lawyer and that she is going to the gym. Renee is disappointed to say the least.

Drita talks to Renee, she is concerned and wants to see if Renee is okay. But, Drita is not concerned enough to go running over there to support her. Instead she answers her door and Carla is there. Carla left the gym and went straight to Drita’s. Somehow my skepticism radar is up, especially by what happens next.

Renee’s doorbell rings. OMG it’s Karen Gravano! She came to see Renee after hearing about Junior’s arrest. She wants to put what was said at the party aside for now. This is about being there for Renee, mother to mother. Renee is shocked, but softens up towards Karen. Of all her friends, Karen is the one who showed up. Renee thanks her for coming. I was surprised too. I am getting the feeling that Carla and Drita were told to stay home and Karen was told to show up for dramatic effect. As Renee says, it’s all about loyalty and if it was her, she would have been at their houses immediately.

Drita and Carla talk about going over to Renee’s, so they call. Renee says she is mentally exhausted, but she is actually mad at both of them for not going to see her when they heard the news. She tells them Karen was just there to show her “complete support.” Every Italian knows that was a “guilt bomb” she dropped right there! It must have gotten Drita thinking that they should have been the ones to be there supporting Renee all morning. Gee ya think? Drita gets the prize for picking up on Renee’s passive-aggressive dig.

Karen calls her brother Gerard to ask about her daughter, Karina. She has started writing her book and wants to bounce a few ideas off him. So far, from what she read aloud, I have to give her kudos because what she has written sounds pretty good. She says that between visiting her old haunts and the FBI bust, she feels like she is back in 1990. I almost feel sorry for her at times, but the feeling passes in a few seconds.

Renee laments that her friends aren’t there for her, AJ is not there for her, Junior is not there either, so she heads over to her therapist to talk and cry. She cries because AJ’s world is shattered again and she crumbles. At first she wanted AJ to follow in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps in the mob, but now she is thinking about leaving this lifestyle. She feels like a lost child who never grew up and has no identity. “You were told who you are.” She explains she was playing the role of a mafia princess who could never be touched.

Basically, the episode was uneventful except for the FBI bust. They showed footage of the news of the day. I think they owe the FBI a few dollars for unexpectedly spicing up their series with a real, newsworthy, mafia story and adding a little excitement. If you are interested, and haven’t seen the news footage, you can find it online. That’s my take on things! I’d be interested to know yours.

P.S. I hear, from Jenn herself, that she has just finished editing episode six and it’s going to be a good one. I hope so, the last two didn’t really get me excited.