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Retired agent Joe Pistone served in the FBI for nearly 27 years. However, he is primarily known world-wide for the six years he spent infiltrating one of the New York mafia families as Donnie Brasco, his undercover alter ego. In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, he reviews his assignment, a mission so secret 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. 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 a short list of additional information, along with his all of 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



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.