Between podcasts, books, interviews, etc. I'm curious to hear from you guys who you think is the most credible of the guys who have left the life?

Because IMO a lot of these guys are either full of bs or out for their own gain.

It doesn't necessarily have to be made guys, but they usually have the most access.

I feel like Podcast shows and YouTube interviews have been pretty steady on this topic so I'm interested to hear what you guys have to say on all this.......

find someone who don't blame everyone for them flipping,

Al D'Arco for me, IMO, was the single most honest guy about his life in the mob, both good and bad. He NEVER lied, and he was in the thick of things for years

going back in time, without a doubt it was Joe Valachi


Most of these other guys are self-serving POS. Not that D'Arco and Valachi were choir boys because they had an agenda as well (obviously)

But they were the most sincere for me. 100%

I think valachi without question. The first to lay it all out, the rituals, the structure, the terms and lingo, the families and hundreds of names. No one can match his exposure of the mafia

Tommaso Buscetta, they killed his family and then he even tried to kill himself to avoid testifying. Exposed alot of the international pipelines.

Without question, Ralph Natale.

Thats another good pick IMO

IMO Natale gave some decent intel, but he was also a major bullshitter.... grossly exaggerated a lot

Alite, or Natale.

Jimmy Fratianno and Nicholas Caramandi.

2 good choices

Besides those mentioned, Sal Vitale

Leonetti? Massino?

The names that come to mind for me is Leonetti and Buscetta because internationally he had some great insight and lived to tell about it.

When I watched/listened to Leonetti on Valuetainment I was quite impressed.

What about Gravano? Any takers?

Al Darco....Wasnt under indictment or facing life in prison.....called up the fbi in the middle of the night and agreed to cooperate...Had alot of lineage behind him...His uncle was Sisca who was the Consigliere of the Pittsburgh family in the 80s and his roots extended back to before Paul Vario became capo of his crew in the lucchese family and to around the turn of the century...

Just saw this and I agree 100%

When I think of the literally 100-150 "made" guys who have flipped in recent years (that we know of), and another couple hundred associates of various value, any self-respecting mafioso or dyed-in-the-wool "true" street guy has gotta throw up today when he thinks of it.... even legitimate people should throw up, because I think it speaks of more than just "the mob" per se, but the larger viewpoint and position of society as a whole.

Fucking Rats!!!

What a world this has become! Disgusting!

Whether you're a legit guy, or a hoodlum, have some FUCKING honor! .... For something, anything for goodness sakes! Have some fucking integrity! To WHATEVER you vowed to. But to just "flip" and betray your vows, your swore oath, your own "face" and your own"integrity"

But today? Nowadays? .... the vast majority of people (legit or ill-legit) run for the hills when the going gets tough. The old-fashioned values, for whatever subject matter you care to discuss, is generally not adhered to any longer........in the mob, and in larger society in general.

And I find that repugnant

But enough of my rant!! LOL

Agreed on Al D'Arco, Phil Leonetti and one name not previously mentioned - Michael di Leonardo.

D'Arco and Leonetti can both legitimately say that they had good reason to fear for their very lives. Amuso and Scarfo were both violent psychopaths leaving a trail of bodies, many of whom did not deserve to be whacked. Even a hardened believer in LCN can understand why they'd do what they did. Leonetti was probably more suspect and self-serving as he waited until after his trial to flip -but on the other hand, nor was he promised anything for flipping and he did it anyway.

DiLeonardo probably didn't have to worry about being killed but in his defence the Gambino borgata at that time was in total disarray. Facing life and being cut off from his earnings, his actions are also understandable and he has been a credible witness. In the Trevor McDonald documentary he likewise, like Caramandi and other rats, seems almost to have regretted flipping. Strikes me as a highly intelligent, complicated man living a life full of sadness and regret. A tragic figure.

I'd have to agree with your assessment across the board on all those guys. Many Rats, Most Rats, are lying sacks of shit who just didn't wanna man up and go do the time. They plead all kinds of weak reasons to go bad.

But D'Arco especially had very reason to go bad. Nowadays many of these guys get their backs pushed to the wall. WTF are they supposed to do? Either run away, or go bad.

It's def NOT an excuse because I hate rats, but its the true reason! Many of these bosses should have gotten shot in the head instead. It might have saved everybody else a ton of grief. And prohibited a lot of other guys from ratting

Look at Sonny Black.He could have flipped.I am pretty sure they knocked on his door and tried to get him to team fed.There aint no more out there like this man.His choice was to die or flip.he chose to die.What a tough s.o.b