I think this is a great documentary on YouTube - lots of good info (bad disguises though!) but at one point, Leonetti explains that he doesn't feel guilty about his killings as he, at least, knew his victims were "bad men"...whereas, in a real war, like Vietnam etc, you can't know that to be the case.

Has he got a point? At the end of the day, when a sane person kills another person, they obviously search for a reason as to why they did it - Ive read and heard lots of reports of military soldiers finding it difficult in dealing with having killed their enemy, just because they don't have the reason Leonetti has.

what's the thought on Leonetti's excuse?

Full version here...

https://youtu.be/w3wFfDaQznU

Heres the thing with Leonetti. I do believe him when he said that once he got out of mob life he was happier and has never got in trouble since. However he does downplay the things he did. Whether or not Louid Dimarco,Vince Falcone,and others were "bad men," he still murdered them. Plus I think back to enrico riccobene who was a legitimate jeweler. Even though they didnt technically murder him they obviously took pride in their presence alone made him kill himself.

Load of bs in my opinion - the guy married one of his murder victims girl.. complete sociopath movements

and I don’t believe he’s happier out of the life.

Great book though.

well I agree about marrying falcones girlfriend but I still dont think he is unhappy being out of the life. Look at Sammy Gravano. He got the deal of the century but he obviously NEEDED to be involved in crime. Phil has kept very quiet except for a couple of interviews. Im not saying he is a good guy he hasnt gotten in any sort of trouble despite being raised in the life

I agree w/ u Crusher

The book was great, but it has always felt like Leonetti's M.O. was to play some sort of victim who was taken advantage of by his "evil Uncle" and the mafia. He could have walked away and ratted long before he did.

This is also true.

oh I agree. Phil definetly played the victim card. Although scarfo was definitely a psychopath so im sure fear was there. However you are right he could of did what Scarfos son did and not get involved. He could of went to the feds earlier too

I do remember him getting brusque with the interviewer's line of questioning at one stage, showing his true colors when challenged on certain things.

You can compliment the fact he's stayed out of trouble but it's not like he worked hard to rebuild his life and atone for past sins. He had a nest egg, money saved from ill-gotten gains and he maintained his life of comfort that way.

His is not some rags for riches story. He chickened out when faced with the same scenario as his uncle, betrayed his oath, sold out his peers, got an extremely soft sentence and recommenced his life with blood money.

He (ab)used the status and trust his uncle gave him to screw over everybody and avoid the punishment he deserved.

Agreed moe

He didn't turn rat until after he was found guilty, so obviously he was hoping to beat the case and go back to business as usual....Everything else he claims is a lie..Without Scarfo he's shit...Or a pretty boy according to Gotti !!

Sure Leonetti thought he was gonna walk.First,he even says Scarfo came up to him after they beat the Salvie murder and told him he may be able to get bail.Leonetti says he had the g on the run.He was 4 for 4 in court and then the Jersey Lucchese win.So,its pretty clear if he had won the big trial he would have went right back to running the family for Scarfo.

Exactly dilorenzo and Memphis. The guy always says - “I didn’t care what the government done for me after flipping I just wanted to save my son. Even if they didn’t take any time off.” Huge bs otherwise he would’ve flipped before the 45 years came down. Friggin weasel.

As rats go Leonetti is one I really don’t like as he always try’s justifying it as if it weee something different. “My uncle evil and it all his fault, save my son from the life, wasn’t to get off sentence, i dint want to kill Sal, I sent word to Merlino I’m coming back in the area (bs) - all of it horsesh*t.

Rest of the book was great, you just have to take a lot of the stuff about Phil with a pinch of salt. 2nd favourite Philly book behind caramandis. Caramandis book is my favourite mob book period actually.

Any recent photos of Phil?

No way does he have to go full disguise like Pistone but come on. Gravano is in plain site for ratting on the Gambino boss.

Who seriously would risk jail for life for Leonetti? Maybe, MAYBE Scarfo Jr.

Yeah, and Gravano gave up all 5 families and has more balls !!

Yeah but it’s not like he told about her , he knew her before that she lived on Artic abs two doors from Angeloni’s For years then she was with Vince she and her family moved around the corner (Georgia ave) behind the pharmacy about 200 feet from where she live before her sisters and brothers were always around not like Phil tells it in his book that was for show !


There are many things embellished for hype or better read who knows but I could tell the real story but it would involve some siblings and many non-mob members but trust me she was not Vince’s girl she was a girl that dated, Vince just would come and go never around and had a wife (if I am remembering right) and other girls it was far from his girl.

Nick was not right in the head we all know this but if you go back to the 60’s and prior his behavior and actions in that life was normal.

He could not of picked a better life for himself to legitimize his disorders .

Not really. He was was obviously scared of jail because he turned as quick as he could. He was also a dumbass because he got probably the sweetest deal of any guy who turned yet he still fucked it up. I don’t like Phil AT ALL but he waited until after he was sentenced which mean there was no obligation to shorten his sentence. He has also stayed out of trouble. Not defending Phil but being honest