The real Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. The film is based on the true story of Joseph D. Pistone (Depp), an FBI undercover agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in New York during the 1970s, under the alias Donnie Brasco.

In September 1976 Joe Pistone walked out of the FBI office and did not return for the next six years. The FBI erased Pistone's history. Officially, he never existed. Pistone became an associate in Jilly Greca's crew from the Colombo family. He later moved to the Bonanno family and became close to Anthony Mirra and Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano. He was tutored by Bonanno soldier Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero.

The evidence collected by Pistone led to over 200 indictments and over 100 convictions of Mafia members.

After Pistone had spent six years undercover, he was ordered to end his operation. After Pistone departed, FBI agents informed Napolitano and Ruggiero that their associate was an FBI agent. Shortly after Napolitano was murdered for having allowed an FBI agent to infiltrate the family; he was shot dead and his hands were cut off. Anthony Mirra, who initially brought Pistone to the family, was also killed. Ruggiero was to be killed as well, but was arrested by the FBI while on his way to a meeting in order to prevent his murder. The Mafia put out a $500k contract on Pistone and kicked the Bonanno family off the Commission. FBI agents visited Mafia bosses in New York and told them not to bother with the contract. It was dropped by Paul Castellano who headed the Commission.

Benjamin Ruggiero died of lung cancer at the age of 68 in 1994. Ruggiero murdered 26 people. He refused to break omertà.

Anthony Mirra Dominick Napolitano A judge rejected Bonanno associate Ronald (Monkey Man) Filocomo’s bid for compassionate release from prison. Filocomo admitted killing capo Dominick (Sonny Black) Napolitano in 1981. He was sentenced to 20 years in 2004.

Mobster Sonny Black.

Pistone is now 81. “There are certain rules … one of the rules is that you don’t embarrass a made guy in front of other people, you do not put your hands on a made guy,” Pistone said. “Breaking these two rules will get you killed.” But it’s grifting … that’s why these guys get killed… more guys get killed after a big score because of greed.”

“You have to kick up to the capo then up to the top. If your score is $1 million and the capo wants $700,000 there’s nothing you can do about it.” He added: “And if they find out you’re holding back, you’re going to get killed.