Just finished watching Mafia's Greatest Hits: Donnie Brasco. The movie was a lot better than this waste of time that I will never get back. Regardless, when I first rented the vhs when it came out I liked the movie. I was only 13 or 14 years old. My grandfather picked the book up for me in a garage sale. I never finished it. But I did some research a few years ago and found out that the Kings court was in Holiday, FL. I was raised in New Port Richey which is minutes away. According to an article I read, one of the corrupt cops down here ended up killing himself after the big bust. I always wondered how the hell the wiseguys ended up in 1980's Pasco County. Granted Santo ran Tampa, Pasco to this day is still a hick town. Did any members on this forum ever attend Kings Court? I always wondered how big of an operation it was. I just don't understand how Holiday FL would be a spot of interest for a capo in the LCN. Thirty minutes south is Clearwater which was a lot nicer than Holiday. Ten minutes south of Holiday is Tarpon Springs which the Greeks control still to today. One final question, did Pistone really do that much damage to LCN or was it a waste of resources? Six years undercover probably wasn't cheap for the taxpayers. Any time I see that guy, I get sick and feel like I'm listening to a liar justifying their actions by repeatedly telling the same lie to make themselves believe their own story.

1. Holiday Florida aka Kings Court was of interest to a LCN capo for one reason only. The most common reason of all. Money.

2. Pistone can be derided for exaggeration (bounty etc) but not for accomplishment. The 'Donnie Brasco' undercover case was revolutionary for LE, factually debilitated LCN and in terms of publicity and promotion was a truly significant blow to US LCN.
These points are undisputed.
Pistone may be disliked, but his accomplishments are not disputed by informed parties.

Pistone did little direct damage to the Bonannos. You could count on one hand the number of mobsters sent to prison directly due to Pistone. The FBI got more and better infornation from their dry snitches and it was much cheaper. Basically it was a propaganda victory.

I believe sonny blackstein said a moment ago ..basically ,case closed!,,

Agreed Mulberry. I love when you hear the exagerated numbers of Mobsters that Pistone supposely put away. They range from 250-300. Yet no one can name more than 10? Pistone was used as Scars, Sammy the bull and the other cooperators are used, as an Mob expert witness, he estified about the Mob and it's structure and rules. He then gave himself credit when they were convicted.

I think both you and Sonny are right. Major propaganda victory, which matters.

Yup, "Expert Mob Witness." Same as Bruce Mouw, except Pistone was actually on the street so you have to credit him for that.

Well when you think about it though, the street got justice on those that mingled with Donnie so in a way he did do some damage. Not as much as they thought though.

Massino claimed Sonny Black was not killed due to Brasco. Mirra was killed but is anyone sure of the reason?

Anyway, nobody is doubting Pistone had some balls. I'm doubting the claims he took down the entire Bonanno family and Commission by himself and there's a contract on his head

There might be a shadow of a doubt as to Mirra but Massino claiming SB was hit for any other reason is laughable.

According to this video the King's Court building is now a church and in a different location from where it was in the 1980's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5L1Be_I4u4

Agreed. Wasn't Rusty still considered boss when SB was hit? I don't think he would have approved it for what Massino claimed to be "power moves" that SB was making in the family. So the only other reason would be Donnie Brasco.

Me, three. He was going, no matter what. And so was Lefty. The Feds did him a favor. By the time he came home he was too sick and no one who really gave a shit was left.

funny story about lefty when he got out in 1992 first thing he did he went to joey massimo and asked his permission to kill donnie brasco well the feds as they always do found out about it the feds visted lefty who obviously denied and massimo laughed and told the feds not to worry no one is going to kill donnie

lefty only cared about killing brasco at the end

Massino said on the stand mirra died cause people thought he was a dea informant and drugs in general and Sonny black was trying to take over the family like the 3 capos before.

massimo failed a lie detector test twice i do wonder how much truth there is to what he says

Sonny Black definitely died as a result of Brasco. And he went to his death knowing it. After he'd nominated Pistone for induction into the Bonanno's, he began taking him around, meeting others and introducing him as a "friend of ours". Which was a big no-no, especially when it was revealed he was a fed. That's the reason his hands were cut off after they killed him. This was confirmed during Massino's trial in '03. He was killed 17 days after the agents showed up to The Motion Lounge and showed him the pictures of Pistone in uniform. His girlfriend had even called Pistone, according to him, when Napilitano was declared missing.

How do you think Pistone felt after Sonny got killed? From what I read they were actually decent friends, and knowing that he was killed because of him must be fucking horrible

Pistone was more concerned about book deals and doing the talk show circuit. Contract my ass.