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Retired agent Joe Pistone reviews his assignment infiltrating one of the New York mafia families as Donnie Brasco, his undercover alter ego. The six years he spent on the mission were so sensitive only a handful of agents knew what he was doing and where he was, as he secretly gathered vital intelligence on the mafia and its criminal ways.
The work Joe Pistone did was so incredibly dangerous that it has been documented in numerous books, documentaries, television shows, and the 1997 feature film Donnie Brasco, starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.
Joe Pistone served in the FBI for nearly 27 years.
Once the undercover assignment was closed down, Joe spent the remainder of his Bureau career testifying in federal court all around the country for mob related trials and at the FBI Academy helping to establish the FBI’s undercover program and training courses. Joe continues to travel overseas lecturing and training law enforcement officers how to “go undercover.”
Special Agent (Retired)
Joseph Pistone
7/7/1969 – 2/28/1996
Numerous documentaries, movies and books have been made about Joe Pistone’s undercover adventures being Donnie Brasco. In addition, Pistone has penned several non-fiction books about infiltrating the New York mob and four crime novels.
Here’s a short list of additional information, and the books he has authored:
FBI Overview: Joe Pistone, Undercover Agent
Inside the American – Operation Donnie Brasco (VIDEO)
Non-Fiction
Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia
Crime Fiction
The Good Guys by Bill Bonanno, Joe Pistone, David Fisher
That picture of Joe and the other guys is not on the ABSCAM boat. That photo was taken in the 90s. I can tell by the Cleveland Indians logo on the gentleman’s baseball cap.
I think Joe was just saying it was a boat used or confiscated during the ABSCAM investigation. I don’t recall him saying he worked on the case.
What was the name of Mr. Pistone’s TVV program and on what channel?
What a coincidence. I highlighted Joe’s show in my November reader team email about the FBI in books, TV and movies. Please consider joining. Here’s what I wrote: Writer and producer Joe Pistone, the real “Donnie Brasco,” has a true crimes series –Deep Undercover– on the Escape TV Network. Each episode features a different undercover operation from the perspective of the undercover officers involved.
Unfortunately, my cable provider package doesn’t include the Escape TV Network.
Update: Deep Undercover is now streaming on Netflix.
I’m trusting that my good friend Cary L Thornton had a few kind words for me! John Smallman FBI SA 1982-1989.
my fav episode by jerri and joe, love mob and fbi chasing them stories
I know I shouldn’t admit that I have favorites, but my interview with Joe was one of my favorites too. Don’t tell the others.