Mafia's Greatest Hits (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Vincent Gigante - full transcript
Under the disguise of mental illness Vincent Gigante evaded the authorities and rose to become the most powerful mobster in New York. When FBI realised their mistake they would stop at ...
[ CLICKS ]
*
Narrator: WHEN THE AUTHORITIES
PULLED OFF
THE TAKEDOWN OF THE CENTURY...
[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]
...THEY BROUGHT THE AMERICAN
MAFIA TO ITS KNEES,
BUT MISSED THE BIGGEST
PRIZE OF ALL.
Raab: VINCENT "CHIN" GIGANTE
WAS UNQUESTIONABLY
THE MOST POWERFUL,
MOST INTRIGUING
AND WEALTHIEST MOB BOSS
OF THE LATE 20th CENTURY.
HE WAS THE CAPO DI TUTTI CAPI,
THE ONE THEY ALL
HAD TO ANSWER TO.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: FOR DECADES,
GIGANTE CARRIES OUT
THE MOST STUNNING
ACT OF DECEPTION
IN THE HISTORY OF THE MAFIA.
FAKING MENTAL DISABILITY,
HE QUIETLY BECOMES
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
MOB BOSSES OF ALL TIME.
VINCENT GIGANTE WAS DUBBED
IN THE TABLOID PRESS
AS THE "ODDFATHER."
HE WOULD SLIP INTO CHARACTER TO
CREATE A PERSONA FOR THE WORLD
TO SEE THAT HE WAS
A DODDERING OLD MAN
AND NOT A MURDEROUS MOB BOSS.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THE FBI
REALIZE THEIR MISTAKE,
THEY USE ALL THEIR
RESOURCES TO EXPOSE HIM.
BUT WILL THE MASTER MAGICIAN
GET AWAY ONE LAST TIME?
*
[ CLICKING ]
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ GUNSHOTS ]
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
*
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
*
Narrator: BY THE MID-1980s,
FIVE MAFIA FAMILIES RUN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
THROUGH THEIR CONTROL OVER
CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORTATION
AND THE LABOR UNIONS,
THEY USE EXTORTION AND VIOLENCE
TO DOMINATE THE CITY'S ECONOMY.
FOR YEARS, THE AUTHORITIES
HAVE BATTLED AGAINST THEM
WITH LIMITED SUCCESS.
*
BUT NOW, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
PREPARE TO DELIVER
WHAT THEY HOPE
WILL BE A DEATH BLOW.
*
THE PLAN IS BOLD BUT SIMPLE --
TO CUT OFF THE HEAD
OF THE MAFIA SNAKE
BY TAKING DIRECT AIM
AT THE MEN WHO RULE NEW YORK...
[ BEEPING ]
*
MEN LIKE THE COLOMBO
FAMILY BOSS,
CARMINE PERSICO.
HEAD OF THE GAMBINO
CRIME FAMILY,
PAUL CASTELLANO.
LUCCHESE GODFATHER,
ANTONIO "DUCKS" CORALLO.
AND "FAT TONY" SALERNO,
LEADER OF THE POWERFUL
GENOVESE FAMILY.
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
TOGETHER THEY FORM
THE GOVERNING BODY
FOR THE ENTIRE U.S. MAFIA...
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
...KNOWN AS THE COMMISSION.
*
THE TASK OF SENDING
THESE MEN DOWN
FALLS TO ATTORNEY
RUDOLPH GIULIANI,
THE MAN WHO WOULD ONE DAY
BECOME MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK ]
GIULIANI BELIEVES THAT
TAKING OUT THE BOSSES
WILL EFFECTIVELY DESTROY
ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE CITY.
McShane: GIULIANI
INDICTED THE HEADS
OF ALL FIVE NEW YORK CITY
CRIME FAMILIES,
WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY
UNPRECEDENTED AND UNHEARD OF.
Narrator: GIULIANI AND HIS TEAM
ORDER THE FIVE MAFIA BOSSES
TO BE BROUGHT IN.
[ REPORTERS CLAMORING ]
IT'S THE BOLDEST MOVE EVER
TAKEN AGAINST THE U.S. MAFIA.
ONCE AND FOR ALL,
THE GOVERNMENT WAS SAYING
THAT IN NEW YORK CITY,
ORGANIZED CRIME EXISTS
AND THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE
FIVE ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILIES,
SO THE PROSECUTION
WAS SIGNIFICANT
AND GARNERED A LOT OF PUBLICITY
AND PRESS AT THE TIME.
Narrator:
AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR
COURTROOM SHOWDOWN WITH THE MOB,
THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT
THE STAKES COULDN'T BE HIGHER.
HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK.
*
UNTIL THEN, VIRTUALLY
MOST MOB BOSSES
WERE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION.
THE HIGHER-UPS DIDN'T
DO ANY REAL ACTS.
THEY DIDN'T PULL A TRIGGER.
THEY DIDN'T STAB ANYBODY.
THEY DIDN'T SHAKE ANYBODY DOWN.
*
Narrator: GIULIANI'S CHALLENGE
NOW IS TO MAKE SURE
HE SECURES HIS CONVICTIONS.
HE HAS A POWERFUL
WEAPON ON HIS SIDE --
THE 1972 RACKETEER INFLUENCED
AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ACT,
KNOWN AS RICO.
RICO IS KEY LEGISLATION DESIGNED
TO CATCH THE BIG FISH THAT,
UNTIL NOW, HAVE ALWAYS
MANAGED TO WRIGGLE FREE.
BUT THE KEY TO THE RICO LAW WAS,
IF YOU WERE A MEMBER
OF AN ENTERPRISE
AND A LEADER OF AN ENTERPRISE,
YOU COULD BE CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED TO 30 TO 50 YEARS.
Narrator: BY USING THE RICO ACT,
THE GOVERNMENT NO LONGER NEED
TO PROVE THESE TOP MOBSTERS
ARE GUILTY OF A SPECIFIC CRIME.
JUST PROVING THEY'RE
IN CHARGE OF THE MAFIA
WILL BE ENOUGH TO SEND THEM DOWN
AS PART OF A MASS
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
GIULIANI AND HIS TEAM USE YEARS
OF FBI SURVEILLANCE
AND WITNESS TESTIMONY
AS EVIDENCE AGAINST THE BOSSES,
AND EVENTUALLY
THEIR STRATEGY PAYS OFF.
*
ON NOVEMBER 19, 1986,
A JURY FINDS THE BOSSES GUILTY
OF MASS CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
THIS IS A GREAT DAY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BUT THIS IS A BAD DAY, PROBABLY
THE WORST, FOR THE MAFIA.
Narrator: IN A STUNNING VICTORY
FOR THE GOVERNMENT,
THE BOSSES ARE EACH SENTENCED
TO 100 YEARS BEHIND BARS.
IT PROVED THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF THE RICO LAW.
McShane:
THIS WAS A BIG PROSECUTION
WHERE EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO DO
A BIG AMOUNT OF JAIL TIME
AND THE GOVERNMENT
SCORED A CLEAN SWEEP.
[ PRISONS CHATTERING ]
Narrator:
WITH ONE BOLD MOVE,
THE AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN OUT
THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP
OF THE NEW YORK MAFIA...
*
...OR SO THEY THINK.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
LEADING THE CELEBRATIONS
ARE THE SQUADS
OF THE FBI's SPECIAL
MAFIA TASK FORCE.
THESE FIVE SQUADS HAVE BEEN
ON THE FRONT LINE
IN THE WAR AGAINST
ORGANIZED CRIME.
ONE OF ITS KEY AGENTS
IS JOHN PRITCHARD.
EACH SQUAD WOULD GO
AFTER A PARTICULAR FAMILY.
THE FAMILY THAT I WAS ASSIGNED
TO SUPERVISE
THE INVESTIGATION OF WAS IN FACT
THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
Narrator:
THE GENOVESE SQUAD'S TARGET
HAD BEEN THE STAR DEFENDANT
IN THE COMMISSION TRIAL,
FAT TONY SALERNO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
DESPITE THE APPARENT SUCCESS
OF THE FBI's GENOVESE SQUAD,
PRITCHARD ISN'T IN THE MOOD
TO CELEBRATE.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMMISSION
TRIAL IS TROUBLING HIM.
HE HAS LONG HARBORED DOUBTS
ABOUT SALERNO'S ABILITY
TO HEAD UP THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
FAT TONY SALERNO WAS VIEWED
AND BELIEVED TO BE THE HEAD
OF THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY.
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
AT THAT POINT,
IT WAS JUST THEORY.
Narrator: TO PRITCHARD,
THE COMICAL-LOOKING SALERNO
NEVER SEEMED TO DISPLAY
ANY OF THE ATTRIBUTES
OF A TOP MAFIA BOSS.
AND HE'S STARTING TO SUSPECT
THAT THE GENOVESE SQUAD
MAY HAVE JUST SENT DOWN
THE WRONG MAN.
IT'S A REMARKABLE SUSPICION.
IF PRITCHARD IS RIGHT,
THAT MEANS THE REAL GENOVESE
BOSS IS STILL AT LARGE.
*
AS LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES
TO CELEBRATE THEIR VICTORY
OVER THE MAFIA,
INTELLIGENCE COMES IN WHICH
ADDS TO PRITCHARD'S SUSPICION
THAT FAT TONY SALERNO
IS THE WRONG GUY.
*
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
*
ACROSS TOWN, VINCENT CAFARO,
TONY SALERNO'S SUPPOSED
RIGHT-HAND MAN,
IS FACING A RACKETEERING CHARGE.
*
IN AN ATTEMPT TO STRIKE A DEAL
WITH HIS INTERROGATORS,
CAFARO DECIDES TO REVEAL
SOME REMARKABLE INFORMATION.
HE DRAMATICALLY CONFESSES
TO INVESTIGATORS
THAT FAT TONY SALERNO
WAS NEVER THE BOSS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
*
ACCORDING TO CAFARO,
SALERNO WAS NEVER ANYTHING
MORE THAN A STOOGE.
THAT WAS A RUSE TO THROW US OFF
THE TRACK OF ULTIMATELY
WHO WAS IN FACT
THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY.
Narrator: SO JUST WHO IS
THE REAL BOSS?
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THE PERSON CAFARO NOW NAMES
TAKES THE INVESTIGATORS
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
IT'S SOMEONE THEY WOULD
NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED.
HE TOLD THEM THAT THE REAL
LEADER OF THE FAMILY,
AND HAD BEEN LEADER FOR YEARS,
WAS VINCENT GIGANTE.
*
Narrator: BUT FOR YEARS, THE FBI
HAD VIEWED VINCENT GIGANTE
AS A BUMBLING MADMAN.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
HE WANDERED AROUND THE CITY
IN HIS PAJAMAS SOMETIMES,
ACTING STRANGELY AND BIZARRELY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
HE WOULD DO THINGS LIKE SPEAK
WITH THE PARKING METERS,
URINATE IN PUBLIC.
[ URINATING ]
HOW COULD ANYONE THINK THAT
THIS PERSON WOULD BE THE HEAD
OF THE MOST POWERFUL
MOBSTER FAMILY IN AMERICA?
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
AGENT PRITCHARD WONDERS
WHETHER GIGANTE
COULD ACTUALLY HAVE HOAXED
THE ENTIRE BUREAU.
IF TRUE, THE SQUAD'S BIGGEST
SUCCESS
AGAINST THE GENOVESE FAMILY
IN CONVICTING TONY SALERNO
COULD NOW BE THEIR
GREATEST HUMILIATION.
IF TRUE, GIGANTE IS NOW THE MOST
POWERFUL MOB BOSS IN AMERICA.
COULD THIS SHUFFLING MADMAN
REALLY HAVE
PLAYED THEM ALL FOR FOOLS?
FOR AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD,
ONE THING IS CLEAR --
IF HE'S GOING TO SET
THE RECORD STRAIGHT,
HE HAS A MASSIVE TASK
BEFORE HIM.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE
THE ENTIRE CITY
THAT THIS MADMAN IS IN FACT
A RUTHLESS MOB BOSS.
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
Narrator:
FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT,
THE MAFIA COMMISSION TRIAL
HAS BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
THE FIVE HEADS OF
NEW YORK'S MAFIA
HAVE BEEN GIVEN LIFELONG
SENTENCES FOR RACKETEERING.
BUT WHEN AN INFORMANT REVEALS
IN A SHOCKING TWIST
THAT THEIR BIGGEST CATCH,
GENOVESE BOSS FAT TONY SALERNO
IS JUST A FRONT,
THEY START TO WONDER
IF THE MASTERMIND BEHIND
THE GENOVESE FAMILY
MIGHT STILL BE AT LARGE.
COULD THE BOSS REALLY BE
VINCENT GIGANTE,
A SHUFFLING LUNATIC BELIEVED
TO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS?
WHILE MANY IN THE FBI
FIND THE IDEA RIDICULOUS,
AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
IS FAR LESS SURPRISED.
I BELIEVED THAT GIGANTE WAS
FAR MORE POWERFUL
THAN NECESSARILY --
THAN HE HAD BEEN
GIVEN CREDIT FOR.
*
Narrator: NOW, AN INSIDER CLAIMS
THAT THIS BUMBLING MADMAN
COULD HAVE PULLED OFF
ONE OF THE GREATEST SCAMS
IN CRIMINAL HISTORY.
TO EXPOSE IT, AGENT PRITCHARD
REALIZES HE AND HIS TEAM
WILL HAVE TO START
BY RE-EXAMINING
EVERY PIECE OF INTELLIGENCE
THE BUREAU HOLDS ON GIGANTE.
Pritchard: THAT HISTORICAL
INFORMATION, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS USED AS --
TO BRING PEOPLE UP TO SPEED
IN TERMS OF WHO
THIS GUY REALLY WAS.
*
Narrator: PRITCHARD DISCOVERS
THAT GIGANTE
FIRST CAME TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE FBI IN 1957.
ONLY IN HIS 20s,
HE WAS GIVEN THE CONTRACT
TO KILL RIVAL CRIME BOSS
FRANK COSTELLO,
HEAD OF THE LUCCHESE FAMILY.
[ GUNSHOT ]
BUT GIGANTE'S ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT FAILED.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT KIND
OF KIND OF HIGH-PROFILE FAILURE
WOULD DOOM YOUR CAREER,
BUT IN GIGANTE'S CASE IT REALLY
DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT EFFECT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: GIGANTE QUICKLY ROSE
THROUGH THE RANKS
OF THE NEW GENOVESE FAMILY,
AND BY THE EARLY '60s
HAD REACHED THE RANK OF CAPO.
THIS WAS A SENIOR POSITION
WITHIN THE FAMILY,
PUTTING HIM IN COMMAND
OF HIS OWN CREW.
IN THE MID-60s, JUST AS GIGANTE
BECAME A CONTENDER
FOR A SENIOR POSITION
IN THE FAMILY,
HE MYSTERIOUSLY
FALLS OFF THE RADAR.
McShane: THEY HAD REALLY NO FILE
ON GIGANTE FROM, LIKE, '66,
WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY
WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THAT EVEN AT THAT POINT,
HE WAS A WELL-KNOWN GUY.
Narrator: FOR SOME REASON,
THE FBI's ATTENTION
SHIFTED TO FAT TONY SALERNO.
SOMETHING DRAMATIC
HAD HAPPENED, BUT WHAT?
*
*
WHEN PRITCHARD EXAMINES
THE FBI's
EARLIER INVESTIGATION
INTO THE GENOVESE MOB,
HE DISCOVERS A REPORT
THAT COULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
BACK IN 1981, THE FBI DECIDED
TO USE GIGANTE
AS THE UNWITTING BAIT
FOR A TACTIC CALLED
"TICKLING THE WIRES."
*
"TICKLING" MEANS PROVOKING
THE MOB, AND THEN LISTENING OUT
FOR CHATTER
THAT MIGHT INCRIMINATE THEM.
AND ONE OF THE MOBSTERS
THE SQUAD TARGETED
WAS VINCENT GIGANTE.
THEY DECIDE TO ISSUE HIM
A SUBPOENA TO SEE
HOW OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY REACT.
WHEN THE AGENTS TURN UP
AT GIGANTE'S HOME,
THE INVESTIGATION
STOPS IN ITS TRACKS.
THE AGENTS GET INSIDE.
THEY GO THROUGH THE APARTMENT
AND THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM,
WHERE THEY HEAR
THE SHOWER RUNNING,
AND THEY OPEN THE DOOR,
AND THERE'S VINCENT GIGANTE...
[ WATER RUNNING ]
NUDE, UNDER THE SHOWER,
HOLDING AN UMBRELLA.
[ WATER RUNNING ]
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT...
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT STORY WENT AROUND
THE NEW YORK OFFICE QUITE A BIT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY HUMOROUS.
*
Narrator: IT'S SUDDENLY CLEAR
TO AGENT PRITCHARD
WHY GIGANTE DROPPED OFF
THE BUREAU'S RADAR.
FOR THE MOST PART, THE CONCEPT
OR THE THEORY THE FBI HAD,
THAT HE WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF A DAFFY GUY,
BUT HE WAS REALLY
NOT THAT IMPORTANT.
Narrator:
AFTER THE SHOWER INCIDENT,
THE FBI STOPS PURSUING GIGANTE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
COULD THE HEAD OF THE GENOVESE
FAMILY HAVE BEEN FAKING?
AGENT PRITCHARD WORRIES
THAT GIGANTE MAY HAVE
BEEN MISDIRECTING
THE FBI FOR YEARS.
PRITCHARD TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO FBI SURVEILLANCE REPORTS,
AND THE UNOFFICIAL GENOVESE HQ,
THE TRIANGLE SOCIAL CLUB
IN LOWER MANHATTAN.
Pritchard: THE GENOVESE FAMILY
WOULD CONGREGATE THERE
PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY
AND PLAY CARDS
AND APPEAR TO BE SOCIALIZING.
[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]
McShane: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THEY WERE TRYING TO DO
IS IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE IN THE
GENOVESE FAMILY AND WHO WAS WHO.
*
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
THE SQUAD EMPLOYED
A VARIETY OF METHODS
TO PUT PRESSURE
ON THE GENOVESE MOBSTERS
TO BREAK COVER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
AGENTS OPENLY PATROLLED
OUTSIDE THE TRIANGLE CLUB,
WRITING DOWN THE LICENSE
PLATES OF EVERY CAR,
AND IN FULL VIEW
OF THE MOBSTERS,
PUT THE BAR UNDER
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE.
AND THEY WOULD JUST HAVE
SOMEONE THERE WITH A CAMERA,
TAKING PICTURES
OF WHO CAME IN AND OUT.
AND BY DOING THAT,
THEY COULD FIGURE OUT
WHO THE HIERARCHY WAS.
*
Narrator: AND THROUGHOUT
THE FBI's SURVEILLANCE,
AGENT PRITCHARD DISCOVERS
THAT VINCENT GIGANTE
STUCK TO THE SAME ROUTINE.
IF YOU'RE DOING
FBI SURVEILLANCE,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE EVERY DAY
ON SULLIVAN STREET
VINCENT GIGANTE GOING FROM HIS
APARTMENT TO THE SOCIAL CLUB.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
ONCE HE GETS THERE, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE A PROCESSION
OF THE FAMILY'S
TOP CAPOS COMING IN
AND GOING OUT, BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: AND ALTHOUGH
THE SO-CALLED LUNATIC
WAS FREQUENTLY OBSERVED
WANDERING THE STREETS
AROUND THE CLUB WITH
HIGH-RANKING MOBSTERS,
DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS,
THE FBI FAILED TO RECORD
ANY CONVERSATIONS.
THE GENOVESE GUYS,
THEY'RE A VERY CLOSE-KNIT
AND CLOSED-MOUTH GROUP,
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE
A LOT OF SUCCESS.
*
Narrator: THE SQUAD'S
SURVEILLANCE TEAMS CONCLUDED
THAT GIGANTE WAS HARMLESS,
A RELIC FROM A PREVIOUS ERA
TOLERATED BY THE REAL BOSSES.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
EVERYTHING
PRITCHARD READS SUGGESTS
THE FBI IGNORED GIGANTE,
BELIEVING HE WAS LITTLE MORE
THAN AN EX-MOBSTER
WITH DEMENTIA.
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES,
HE APPEARS TO BE MENTALLY ILL,
INCAPABLE OF CROSSING THE ROAD,
LET ALONE RUNNING A
MILLION-DOLLAR CRIMINAL EMPIRE.
BUT PRITCHARD CAN'T LET GO
OF HIS HUNCH.
WHAT IF GIGANTE
IS THE PROVERBIAL
WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING?
THE VERY FACT THAT HE CONTINUED
TO MOVE IN MOB CIRCLES
WAS SURELY SUSPICIOUS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN THE MAFIA
AND YOU'RE CRAZY, REALLY CRAZY,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LAST
IN THE MAFIA, NOT AT ALL.
*
Narrator:
AGENT PRITCHARD DECIDES TO GO
BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
IT'S TIME TO START
SURVEILLANCE OF HIS OWN.
FOR DECADES, GIGANTE HAS BEEN
THOUGHT OF AS A BIT PLAYER,
BUT NOW PRITCHARD
DECIDES TO GIVE HIM
THE ATTENTION HE DESERVES.
THEY WERE VERY INTENT ON DOING
WHAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE
IN A LONG TIME,
WHICH WAS TO GET VINCENT GIGANTE
INDICTED AND IN A COURTROOM.
*
Narrator: THIS TIME, THE SQUAD
KEEPS THEIR PRESENCE DISCREET,
SECRETLY SETTING UP
ROUND-THE-CLOCK SURVEILLANCE
OF THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE
AGENT PRITCHARD SEES EVIDENCE
THAT HIS HUNCH
ABOUT GIGANTE IS RIGHT.
Pritchard: I WAS PARTICIPATING
IN A SURVEILLANCE ONE NIGHT
AND SAW HIM WITH THE USUAL
RATTY BATHROBE THAT HE WORE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE HAD TAKEN OFF THE BATHROBE...
AND HE HAD A VERY WELL-TAILORED
SHARKSKIN SUIT ON.
IT JUST FURTHER CEMENTED FOR HIM
THAT THEY WERE
AFTER THE RIGHT GUY.
BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWED ME,
OR CONVINCED ME,
THAT WHOLE THING WAS AN ACT.
Narrator: IT'S THE MOMENT
PRITCHARD HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.
NOW HE PRESSES THE BUTTON
ON A NEW INVESTIGATION
INTO GIGANTE.
*
Narrator: IN 1987, AFTER
THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE OPERATION
IN THE HISTORY
OF ORGANIZED CRIME,
THE HEADS OF NEW YORK'S
FIVE MAFIA FAMILIES
ARE NOW BEHIND BARS.
*
BUT FBI AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
IS CONVINCED THAT ONE OF THEM,
FAT TONY SALERNO,
IS JUST A FALL GUY.
HE HAS MOUNTING EVIDENCE
THAT THE REAL BOSS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY
IS VINCENT GIGANTE,
A LONG-FORGOTTEN GENOVESE CAPO
BELIEVED TO BE SUFFERING
FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
*
AND AFTER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE,
PRITCHARD DISCOVERS HINTS
THAT GIGANTE'S ILLNESS
IS JUST A CLEVER ACT
PERFECTED OVER MANY YEARS.
HE HAD THIS GREAT FEAR OF GOING
TO JAIL, OF BEING PROSECUTED.
*
Narrator: BUT PRITCHARD NEEDS
MORE THAN A HUNCH.
HE HAS TO PROVE GIGANTE'S
MENTAL ILLNESS IS A DECEPTION.
HE RETURNS TO THE CASE FILES.
HE EVENTUALLY COMES ACROSS
A REPORT FROM 1970.
IT REVEALS THE VERY MOMENT
THAT GIGANTE CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA
FOR HIS PERFECT COVER.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF BRIBING --
[ CHUCKLES ] IT SOUNDS CRAZY,
BUT BRIBING THE ENTIRE
POLICE FORCE
OF A NEW JERSEY TOWN
THAT HE LIVED IN.
*
WHICH, YOU KNOW,
HE DIDN'T CONSIDER
TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN KIND OF
A GESTURE OF GOODWILL.
Narrator:
BUT LOCAL PROSECUTORS DECIDE
TO MAKE A CASE AGAINST HIM,
AND TRAPPED IN A CORNER, GIGANTE
TRIES SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.
*
HE CHECKS HIMSELF
INTO A HOSPITAL
AND CONVINCES PSYCHIATRISTS
HE IS SCHIZOPHRENIC.
McShane: HIS LAWYER
CAME TO COURT AND SAID,
"MY CLIENT IS MENTALLY UNWELL
AND HE'S ACTUALLY
IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL."
THIS IS 1969, 1970.
THE IDEA OF AN INSANITY DEFENSE
REALLY HADN'T BEEN
BROACHED ANYWHERE.
HE WAS CUNNING
AND HE SAW A DODGE THAT HE TOOK,
OR ATTEMPTED TO TAKE,
TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE THUMB.
*
Narrator:
GIGANTE'S STRATEGY WORKS.
AT TRIAL, HE'S ACQUITTED
OF ALL CHARGES,
AND OVER THE NEXT DECADE,
GIGANTE METICULOUSLY
EMBELLISHES HIS ROLE,
BUILDING A CONVINCING PICTURE
OF A MENTALLY DISTURBED MAN,
A TACTIC THAT WAS
PAYING DIVIDENDS.
THERE'S A DEVELOPING
SENSE THAT,
"HEY, THIS IS NOT A BAD WAY
TO APPROACH THESE THINGS,"
AND HE DECIDED
TO GO BIG WITH IT.
EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS
HE WOULD GO IN
FOR WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A TUNE-UP.
HE WOULD ACTUALLY CHECK
INTO A MENTAL CLINIC.
McShane: IT BECAME
ALMOST LIKE A VACATION,
LIKE IF I WOULD GO
TO DISNEY WORLD.
HE WOULD GO TO THE ST. VINCENT'S
MENTAL HOSPITAL.
*
Narrator: THE ORCHESTRATED
VISITS GIVE GIGANTE
VIRTUAL IMMUNITY
FROM PROSECUTION,
SO HE TAKES THE IDEA FURTHER.
TAKING THE CHARADE OUT
ONTO THE STREETS,
IT TAKES HIM OUT
OF THE FBI's FIRING LINE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
GIGANTE PLAYS
THE HARMLESS OLD MAN
AMONG A FAMILY OF KILLERS.
AND FOR DECADES,
THE SHUFFLING OLD MAN ACT
APPEARS TO DUPE THE FBI.
*
BUT NOW, AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
HAS TO FIND A WAY
TO EXPOSE GIGANTE
AS THE FRAUD HE SUSPECTS HE IS.
FIRST, HE HAS TO BLOW
THE CRAZY ACT WIDE OPEN,
AND THEN PROVE
HE'S THE REAL BOSS
OF THE MURDEROUS
GENOVESE FAMILY.
PRITCHARD POURS MORE RESOURCES
INTO HIS INVESTIGATION.
HE INCREASES SURVEILLANCE
ON GIGANTE
AND TARGETS
HIS KNOWN ASSOCIATES.
IT ONLY NEEDS ONE CONVERSATION
TO REVEAL HIM AS THE REAL BOSS,
AND HE IMMEDIATELY
BECOMES RESPONSIBLE
FOR EVERY CRIME CARRIED OUT
BY HIS ORGANIZATION.
*
WE WERE GOING AFTER PEOPLE
THAT WE FELT COULD DRAW GIGANTE
INTO A CONSPIRACY
INVOLVING A RICO CASE,
AND IN FACT,
THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS.
WE KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY,
IF WE KEPT AFTER HIM,
THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO SHOW THAT HE IN FACT
WAS THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE FAMILY.
[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]
*
Narrator: THE SQUAD NOW
HAS GROWING EVIDENCE
THAT BEHIND HIS ACT,
GIGANTE IS SANE.
BUT LACKING ANYTHING CONCRETE,
THE TEAM ARE IN DANGER
OF LOSING MOMENTUM.
*
BUT IF HE EVER
NEEDED CONVINCING,
PRITCHARD DISCOVERS JUST HOW
IMPORTANT HIS INVESTIGATION WAS.
IN JANUARY 1986,
TWO OF HIS DETECTIVES,
ANTHONY VENDITTI
AND KATHY BURKE,
WERE ON A ROUTINE
SURVEILLANCE OPERATION.
*
THEY'RE WATCHING ONE
OF GIGANTE'S MOBSTERS.
Pritchard: A FELLOW BY THE NAME
OF FRITZY GIOVANELLI.
FRITZY WAS A CAPO
THAT ANSWERED TO GIGANTE.
IT WAS A ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE
AND IT WASN'T ONE THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK
WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.
*
Narrator: WHEN THEIR SHIFT ENDS,
THE DETECTIVES HEAD HOME.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN SPOTTED
BY THEIR MARK.
*
AND UNKNOWN TO THEM,
THEY'RE NOW BEING FOLLOWED.
THE DETECTIVES DECIDE
TO STOP FOR A COFFEE.
[ HORNS HONK ]
VENDITTI HEADS INTO THE DINER
WHILE BURKE WAITS
FOR HIM IN THE CAR.
GIOVANELLI AND HIS CREW
DECIDE TO STRIKE.
*
BURKE SPOTS THE DANGER
AND TRIES TO STOP THEM.
*
[ GUNSHOTS ]
BUT SHE'S NOT QUICK ENOUGH.
THE MOBSTERS SHOOT HER.
[ GUNSHOTS CONTINUE ]
THEN VENDITTI.
*
BURKE IS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED,
AND TRAGICALLY,
TONY VENDITTI LIES DEAD.
*
IT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME
BECAUSE I HAD LOST A FRIEND,
A DETECTIVE THAT WORKED
FOR ME ON THE SQUAD.
Narrator: AGENT PRITCHARD'S
INVESTIGATION JUST GOT PERSONAL,
AND HE DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO ENTER THE LION'S DEN.
*
Narrator: AFTER A MURDEROUS
ATTACK ON HIS DETECTIVES,
AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
DECIDES TO CONFRONT
THE GENOVESE BOSS FACE TO FACE.
KNOWING THAT GIGANTE
WAS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY,
HE TOOK ON FAR MORE IMPORTANCE
BECAUSE OF THAT SHOOTING.
MYSELF AND ANOTHER AGENT
WENT TO INTERVIEW HIM
AT THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
Narrator: GIGANTE IS ORDERED
TO STEP OUTSIDE,
AND ACCORDING TO PRITCHARD,
WHEN CONFRONTED
ABOUT THE SHOOTING,
COMPLETELY DROPS HIS ACT.
*
Pritchard: HE SAW THAT WE WERE
SERIOUS, AND HE WAS VERY LUCID.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND,
HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION WITH HIM,
THAT HE WAS AS SANE AS I AM.
*
Narrator:
BACK AT THE SQUAD'S HQ,
PRITCHARD GATHERS HIS TEAM.
*
THE SHOOTING MEANS
BRINGING GIGANTE TO JUSTICE
IS MORE URGENT THAN EVER.
IT'S NOW CLEAR THEIR
TARGET ISN'T JUST SANE.
HE'S DANGEROUS.
[ CLICK ]
SO FAR, THOUGH,
THE SQUAD HAS FAILED
TO GET ANY TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE AGAINST GIGANTE,
AND NOW HE'S BEEN INSIDE
THE TRIANGLE CLUB,
PRITCHARD KNOWS WHY.
I'M PROBABLY ONE OF
THE FEW AGENTS
THAT HAD BEEN INSIDE
THE TRIANGLE SOCIAL CLUB.
THERE WAS A SIGN UP ON THE WALL
OVER THE PAY PHONE,
THAT, "THIS LOCATION IS BUGGED."
YOU KNOW, "DON'T SAY ANYTHING
IN HERE THAT'S CRIMINAL."
THEY ACTUALLY HAD THAT
WRITTEN ON THE WALL.
Narrator:
IT'S CLEAR THAT WHEREVER GIGANTE
IS DOING HIS BUSINESS,
IT ISN'T AT THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
THE BOSS MUST HAVE
ANOTHER SECRET HQ.
*
THE SQUAD DECIDE TO ESCALATE
THEIR SURVEILLANCE...
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
AND EVENTUALLY,
THEY GET A BREAK.
*
AS THE FBI INCREASED
ITS SURVEILLANCE OF THE CHIN,
THEY CAME TO REALIZE THAT
SULLIVAN STREET WAS NOT
THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL
OF KIND OF HIS EXISTENCE,
AS THEY INITIALLY THOUGHT.
*
Narrator: EVERY EVENING
AT THE SAME TIME,
GIGANTE IS PICKED UP BY A DRIVER
FROM HIS MOTHER'S
APARTMENT BUILDING
ON SULLIVAN STREET...
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
*
AND HE DOESN'T REAPPEAR
UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.
SO WHERE DOES HE GO?
*
PRITCHARD'S TEAM FOCUS
THEIR EFFORTS
ON FOLLOWING GIGANTE'S CAR.
*
TAILING HIM IS EASIER
SAID THAN DONE,
BECAUSE WHEREVER HE'S GOING,
HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOLLOWED.
*
FOR WEEKS, GIGANTE'S DRIVERS
EXPERTLY NAVIGATE
THE CITY'S STREETS,
SHAKING OFF ANY FBI TAILS.
THE SQUAD DON'T GIVE UP,
AND EVENTUALLY THEY DISCOVER
WHERE GIGANTE HAS BEEN HIDING.
THE FINALLY TRACED HIM
TO A HOME ON THE EAST SIDE.
WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS BEING
USED AS A PLACE FOR HIM
TO HANG HIS HAT, IF YOU WILL.
Narrator: THE APARTMENT BELONGS
TO GIGANTE'S MISTRESS,
OLYMPIA ESPOSITO.
IT'S A WELL-CHOSEN LOCATION,
MAKING A CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT
FOR PRITCHARD'S SURVEILLANCE
TEAMS DIFFICULT.
*
BUT THEY FIND A SAFE POSITION
ON THE ROOF OF A LOCAL SCHOOL.
*
Pritchard: ONE OF THE AGENTS
ON THE SQUAD
REALLY DID A HERCULEAN JOB
IN TERMS OF, AT NIGHT,
ALL SORTS OF WEATHER,
CRAWLING OUT ON THIS LEDGE
TO OBSERVE
WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITHIN GIGANTE'S RESIDENCE.
*
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS,
THE AGENT PAINSTAKINGLY
RECORDS GIGANTE'S BEHAVIOR
INSIDE THE APARTMENT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
*
AND AT LAST, THEY HAVE VISUAL
EVIDENCE THAT GIGANTE ISN'T MAD.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THEY COULD SEE
HOW WELL-DRESSED HE WAS,
HOW HE ACTED NORMALLY,
HOW PEOPLE CAME.
HE HAD CONFERENCES.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Pritchard: HE ACTUALLY HAD
PEOPLE THERE FOR MEETINGS.
WE SAW HIM IN CONVERSATION
AT THE TABLE.
WE OBSERVED HIM, YOU KNOW,
COUNTING MONEY
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
WHAT THE FBI SAW CONFIRMED
EVERYTHING THAT
THEY HAD BELIEVED --
THAT THIS WAS A MOB BOSS,
HE WAS NOT A MENTAL PATIENT.
*
Narrator: TO PROVE GIGANTE
IS THE GENOVESE BOSS
IN A COURTROOM,
THEY NEED HIM ON TAPE.
SO FAR, THE MOBSTER HAS NO IDEA
THE SQUAD ARE ON TO HIM.
PRITCHARD NOW KNOWS JUST
HOW PARANOID GIGANTE IS.
ANY MISTAKE THEY MAKE COULD
BLOW THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION,
AND MONTHS OF WORK
WILL GO DOWN THE DRAIN.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DISCOVERY,
PRITCHARD DECIDES TO USE
SOME EXPERT HELP.
*
McShane: IT WAS A REALLY RARE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FBI
TO HAVE RECORDINGS OF THIS GUY,
AND THEY BROUGHT IN
AN FBI SPECIALIST
WHO HAD THIS SPECIAL DRILL,
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO...
[ WHIRRING ]
...JUST SO FAR INTO THE WALL
AND THEN IT WOULD SENSE WHERE
THE OTHER SIDE WAS AND STOP.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE INSTALLATION
OF THE DEVICE
DIDN'T GO PARTICULARLY WELL,
AND, IN FACT, IT WAS DISCOVERED.
WE TRIED THINGS
THAT WERE UNIQUE,
AND SOMETIMES THEY WORKED
AND SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T.
*
Narrator: THE BOTCHED ATTEMPT
TO INSTALL THE BUG
TIPS OFF GIGANTE.
*
HE IMMEDIATELY RESORTS TO HIS
TRIED AND TESTED FALLBACK PLAN
AND BOOKS HIMSELF
INTO A MENTAL INSTITUTION.
*
WITH GIGANTE'S DECEPTION
SUCCESSFULLY RESURRECTED,
THE "ODDFATHER"
BELIEVES HE IS SAFE.
BUT PRITCHARD'S INVESTIGATION
WILL YET COME BACK
TO HAUNT THE GREAT ILLUSIONIST.
*
*
Narrator: AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
HAS NOW COME CLOSER
THAN ANYONE TO GETTING
VINCENT GIGANTE IN COURT,
THE MAN HE NOW BELIEVES
IS THE TRUE MAFIA BOSS
AND HAS BEEN DUPING
LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR DECADES.
BUT HIS SQUADS FAIL TO SECURE
ANY TAPED EVIDENCE.
IT'S CRITICAL TO
BRINGING TO JUSTICE
THE MAN KNOWN AS
"THE ODDFATHER."
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
WITH THE INVESTIGATION STALLED,
GIGANTE REMAINS FREE.
IT'S A PERSONAL BLOW
FOR PRITCHARD.
HIS ONLY HOPE NOW IS THAT
SOMEONE ELSE PICKS UP THE CHASE.
LOT OF STUFF THAT WAS DEVELOPED
OVER THE YEARS JUST DOESN'T DIE.
IT SITS THERE AS EVIDENCE.
SO EVENTUALLY, SOME PROSECUTOR
OR SOME AGENT DOWN THE ROAD
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE
THAT EARLIER EVIDENCE.
*
Narrator: TWO YEARS LATER,
LAWYER GREG O'CONNELL
PICKS UP WHERE
PRITCHARD LEFT OFF.
HIS CHALLENGE IS TO PROVE ON
THE RECORD THAT GIGANTE IS SANE
AND IN CHARGE.
BUT O'CONNELL HAS FOUND
A WAY TO SUCCEED
WHERE PRITCHARD'S
SQUAD HAD FAILED.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
HE'S MANAGED TO GET A GENOVESE
ASSOCIATE TO COOPERATE
WITH HIS INVESTIGATION
AND TESTIFY THAT VINCENT GIGANTE
IS THE GENOVESE BOSS.
HIS INFORMER'S NAME
IS PETER SAVINO.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
I WOULD LOOK AT THAT
AS THE MILESTONE EVENT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
PETER SAVINO WORKED DIRECTLY
ON RECORD WITH VINCENT GIGANTE.
HE HAD MET WITH GIGANTE ON
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OCCASIONS.
SO SAVINO WAS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL TO OUR INVESTIGATION.
*
WE HAD HIM WIRED UP
AGAINST NUMEROUS
ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES
IN NEW YORK
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
*
Narrator: THE RICO ACT MEANS
O'CONNELL DOESN'T NEED
DIRECT EVIDENCE
TO PUT GIGANTE AWAY.
HE ONLY NEEDS TO LINK HIM
TO A CONSPIRACY,
AND THANKS TO SAVINO,
HE THINKS HE'S FOUND A WAY.
THROUGHOUT THE 1980s, THE FIVE
MAFIA FAMILIES FORMED A CARTEL
TO MUSCLE IN ON
ONE OF NEW YORK'S
BIGGEST MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
REPLACING WINDOWS IN THE CITY'S
HOUSING PROJECTS
GENERATES OVER
$170 MILLION FOR THE MAFIA.
AND THE MAN CHOSEN BY GIGANTE
TO REPRESENT THE GENOVESE
FAMILY'S INTERESTS
IS PETER SAVINO.
PETER SAVINO WAS A MAJOR EARNER
FOR THE CRIME FAMILY.
HE WAS A GUY THAT KNEW
HOW TO MAKE MONEY.
BUT BECAUSE SAVINO WAS
THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE WINDOW
REPLACEMENT BUSINESS,
THAT GAVE US A FOCUS
FOR OUR EXTORTION CHARGES.
Narrator: SAVINO AGREES TO
TESTIFY THAT GIGANTE
IS A KEY MEMBER
OF THE WINDOWS CARTEL,
PROVING BEYOND DOUBT
THAT GIGANTE IS CAPABLE
OF RUNNING A COMPLICATED
CRIMINAL SCAM.
O'CONNELL FEELS THIS CASE
IS SOLID ENOUGH
TO PUT GIGANTE
IN FRONT OF A JURY.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
ON MAY THE 30th, 1990,
THE AUTHORITIES MAKE THEIR MOVE.
GIGANTE IS ARRESTED.
AS HE'S LED INTO COURT,
PROSECUTORS KNOW
HE WILL PLAY THE INSANITY CARD
FOR EVERYTHING IT'S WORTH.
*
BUT STALLING THE TRIAL IS
SOMETHING O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM
CAN'T AFFORD.
THE REAL KEY TO IT
WAS PETER SAVINO.
AND SAVINO, BY THIS TIME,
WAS DYING OF CANCER.
Narrator: IF SAVINO DIES BEFORE
HE HAS A CHANCE TO TESTIFY,
THE CASE AGAINST
GIGANTE CRUMBLES.
[ TICKING ]
GIGANTE KEPT UP HIS USUAL RUSE,
MUTTERING TO HIMSELF,
SOMETIMES LOOKING WITH
HIS HEAD DOWN AS A HANGDOG,
LOOKING AROUND, PAYING NO
ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Narrator: GIGANTE TRIES TO
CONVINCE THE COURT
THAT HE'S SCHIZOPHRENIC
AND UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.
IT WORKS.
*
THE CASE IS ON
THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE,
BUT THIS TIME,
THEY'RE PREPARED.
THEY'VE GOT A SECOND WITNESS
TO TESTIFY TO GIGANTE'S SANITY.
*
AND NOW THEY PLAY
THEIR TRUMP CARD --
A SECRET STAR WITNESS,
SAMMY "THE BULL" GRAVANO.
AS FORMER UNDERBOSS
OF THE GAMBINO FAMILY,
GRAVANO HAD MEETINGS
WITH GIGANTE.
AND IN MARCH 1996, HE TESTIFIES
THAT ON THOSE OCCASIONS,
THE GENOVESE CRIME BOSS
HAD BEEN PERFECTLY LUCID.
HE WAS ABLE TO DESCRIBE
IN A VERY MEANINGFUL
AND IMPACTFUL WAY
THE ROLE THAT GIGANTE PLAYED IN
HIS OWN ORGANIZED CRIME LIFE.
*
Narrator:
GIGANTE IS DECLARED COMPETENT
TO STAND TRIAL BY THE JUDGE,
AND O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM
HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT
TO PRESENT THEIR CASE.
IT INCLUDES MORE
THAN 250 EXHIBITS,
INCLUDING MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE
FROM PRITCHARD'S INVESTIGATION.
*
McShane: HAVING AN FBI AGENT
SIT ON THE WITNESS STAND
AND TESTIFY IN GREAT DETAIL
ABOUT THE NORMAL NATURE
OF HIS SECOND LIFE
WAS REALLY CRIPPLING
TO THE DEFENSE.
*
Narrator: IT'S NOW TIME
FOR PETER SAVINO
TO PUT THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
TERMINALLY ILL WITH CANCER,
SAVINO IS UNABLE TO ATTEND
THE TRIAL IN PERSON,
SO HE TESTIFIES VIA CCTV
FROM HIS SECRET LOCATION
ON THE WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM.
IT'S A DEVASTATING BLOW
FOR GIGANTE'S LAWYERS.
[ BEEPING ]
IF A DEFENSE ATTORNEY
COULD PICK THE MOST
DIFFICULT PERSON
TO CHALLENGE
IN TERMS OF CREDIBILITY,
IT WOULD BE SOMEBODY
DYING OF CANCER
FROM TESTIFYING
FROM HIS DEATHBED.
Narrator: DESPITE HIS PAIN,
SAVINO MAKES IT THROUGH
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION.
AND ON JULY 25th, 1997,
GIGANTE IS FOUND GUILTY
ON EIGHT COUNTS OF
RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY...
[ GAVEL POUNDS ]
AND BEING GODFATHER
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
GIGANTE WOULD HAVE DIED
IN HIS OWN BED
IF IT HADN'T BEEN
FOR PETER SAVINO.
HIS EVIDENCE WAS DEVASTATING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
Narrator: SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS
BEHIND BARS,
GIGANTE'S HEALTH STARTS
TO DECLINE, THIS TIME FOR REAL.
WITH THE WRITING ON THE WALL,
HE FINALLY DROPS HIS GUARD.
HE DECIDED TO LIGHTEN UP,
AND HE WAS CHIT-CHATTING
WITH THE NURSES,
ACTING NORMALLY AND LOOKING
TO ENJOY HIS REMAINING DAYS,
AND WHEN NEWS OF THIS CAME OUT,
THAT HE HAD SHED HIS ACT,
THE EASTERN DISTRICT
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
DECIDED TO INDICT HIM AGAIN
ON OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
Narrator:
ON DECEMBER THE 19th, 2005,
VINCENT GIGANTE DIES, AGE 77.
FOR OVER TWO DECADES,
HIS CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME
WITH THE AUTHORITIES KEPT HIM
ONE STEP AHEAD OF JUSTICE,
ALLOWING HIM TO RETAIN ABSOLUTE
POWER OVER THE NEW YORK MAFIA,
AND GOVERN HIS CRIMINAL
EMPIRE WITH IMPUNITY.
INSIDE THE MAFIA,
THE MOST RESPECTED, FEARED,
CUNNING AND TYRANNICAL LEADER
WAS VINCENT "CHIN" GIGANTE,
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Narrator: GIGANTE'S ELABORATE
CHARADE FAILED TO LAST,
AND THANKS TO
THE STUBBORN PURSUIT
OF INVESTIGATORS
LIKE JOHN PRITCHARD,
THE "ODDFATHER" OF ORGANIZED
CRIME IS FINALLY TAKEN DOWN.
THERE ARE TWO DECADES OF EFFORTS
BY SOME OF THE BEST
FBI AGENTS THAT WE HAD
THAT ULTIMATELY SUCCEEDED IN
TAKING HIM DOWN OFF HIS THRONE.
HE ENGENDERED
SO MUCH FEAR IN PEOPLE
BECAUSE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE,
THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH
FOR HIM TO ELIMINATE YOU.
I FEEL PERSONALLY GOOD
THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO TAKE GIGANTE
AND TAKE HIM DOWN.
*
*
Narrator: WHEN THE AUTHORITIES
PULLED OFF
THE TAKEDOWN OF THE CENTURY...
[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]
...THEY BROUGHT THE AMERICAN
MAFIA TO ITS KNEES,
BUT MISSED THE BIGGEST
PRIZE OF ALL.
Raab: VINCENT "CHIN" GIGANTE
WAS UNQUESTIONABLY
THE MOST POWERFUL,
MOST INTRIGUING
AND WEALTHIEST MOB BOSS
OF THE LATE 20th CENTURY.
HE WAS THE CAPO DI TUTTI CAPI,
THE ONE THEY ALL
HAD TO ANSWER TO.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: FOR DECADES,
GIGANTE CARRIES OUT
THE MOST STUNNING
ACT OF DECEPTION
IN THE HISTORY OF THE MAFIA.
FAKING MENTAL DISABILITY,
HE QUIETLY BECOMES
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
MOB BOSSES OF ALL TIME.
VINCENT GIGANTE WAS DUBBED
IN THE TABLOID PRESS
AS THE "ODDFATHER."
HE WOULD SLIP INTO CHARACTER TO
CREATE A PERSONA FOR THE WORLD
TO SEE THAT HE WAS
A DODDERING OLD MAN
AND NOT A MURDEROUS MOB BOSS.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THE FBI
REALIZE THEIR MISTAKE,
THEY USE ALL THEIR
RESOURCES TO EXPOSE HIM.
BUT WILL THE MASTER MAGICIAN
GET AWAY ONE LAST TIME?
*
[ CLICKING ]
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
[ GUNSHOTS ]
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
*
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
*
Narrator: BY THE MID-1980s,
FIVE MAFIA FAMILIES RUN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
THROUGH THEIR CONTROL OVER
CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORTATION
AND THE LABOR UNIONS,
THEY USE EXTORTION AND VIOLENCE
TO DOMINATE THE CITY'S ECONOMY.
FOR YEARS, THE AUTHORITIES
HAVE BATTLED AGAINST THEM
WITH LIMITED SUCCESS.
*
BUT NOW, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
PREPARE TO DELIVER
WHAT THEY HOPE
WILL BE A DEATH BLOW.
*
THE PLAN IS BOLD BUT SIMPLE --
TO CUT OFF THE HEAD
OF THE MAFIA SNAKE
BY TAKING DIRECT AIM
AT THE MEN WHO RULE NEW YORK...
[ BEEPING ]
*
MEN LIKE THE COLOMBO
FAMILY BOSS,
CARMINE PERSICO.
HEAD OF THE GAMBINO
CRIME FAMILY,
PAUL CASTELLANO.
LUCCHESE GODFATHER,
ANTONIO "DUCKS" CORALLO.
AND "FAT TONY" SALERNO,
LEADER OF THE POWERFUL
GENOVESE FAMILY.
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
TOGETHER THEY FORM
THE GOVERNING BODY
FOR THE ENTIRE U.S. MAFIA...
[ CAMERA CLICKS ]
...KNOWN AS THE COMMISSION.
*
THE TASK OF SENDING
THESE MEN DOWN
FALLS TO ATTORNEY
RUDOLPH GIULIANI,
THE MAN WHO WOULD ONE DAY
BECOME MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK ]
GIULIANI BELIEVES THAT
TAKING OUT THE BOSSES
WILL EFFECTIVELY DESTROY
ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE CITY.
McShane: GIULIANI
INDICTED THE HEADS
OF ALL FIVE NEW YORK CITY
CRIME FAMILIES,
WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY
UNPRECEDENTED AND UNHEARD OF.
Narrator: GIULIANI AND HIS TEAM
ORDER THE FIVE MAFIA BOSSES
TO BE BROUGHT IN.
[ REPORTERS CLAMORING ]
IT'S THE BOLDEST MOVE EVER
TAKEN AGAINST THE U.S. MAFIA.
ONCE AND FOR ALL,
THE GOVERNMENT WAS SAYING
THAT IN NEW YORK CITY,
ORGANIZED CRIME EXISTS
AND THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE
FIVE ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILIES,
SO THE PROSECUTION
WAS SIGNIFICANT
AND GARNERED A LOT OF PUBLICITY
AND PRESS AT THE TIME.
Narrator:
AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR
COURTROOM SHOWDOWN WITH THE MOB,
THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT
THE STAKES COULDN'T BE HIGHER.
HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK.
*
UNTIL THEN, VIRTUALLY
MOST MOB BOSSES
WERE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION.
THE HIGHER-UPS DIDN'T
DO ANY REAL ACTS.
THEY DIDN'T PULL A TRIGGER.
THEY DIDN'T STAB ANYBODY.
THEY DIDN'T SHAKE ANYBODY DOWN.
*
Narrator: GIULIANI'S CHALLENGE
NOW IS TO MAKE SURE
HE SECURES HIS CONVICTIONS.
HE HAS A POWERFUL
WEAPON ON HIS SIDE --
THE 1972 RACKETEER INFLUENCED
AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS ACT,
KNOWN AS RICO.
RICO IS KEY LEGISLATION DESIGNED
TO CATCH THE BIG FISH THAT,
UNTIL NOW, HAVE ALWAYS
MANAGED TO WRIGGLE FREE.
BUT THE KEY TO THE RICO LAW WAS,
IF YOU WERE A MEMBER
OF AN ENTERPRISE
AND A LEADER OF AN ENTERPRISE,
YOU COULD BE CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED TO 30 TO 50 YEARS.
Narrator: BY USING THE RICO ACT,
THE GOVERNMENT NO LONGER NEED
TO PROVE THESE TOP MOBSTERS
ARE GUILTY OF A SPECIFIC CRIME.
JUST PROVING THEY'RE
IN CHARGE OF THE MAFIA
WILL BE ENOUGH TO SEND THEM DOWN
AS PART OF A MASS
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
GIULIANI AND HIS TEAM USE YEARS
OF FBI SURVEILLANCE
AND WITNESS TESTIMONY
AS EVIDENCE AGAINST THE BOSSES,
AND EVENTUALLY
THEIR STRATEGY PAYS OFF.
*
ON NOVEMBER 19, 1986,
A JURY FINDS THE BOSSES GUILTY
OF MASS CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
THIS IS A GREAT DAY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BUT THIS IS A BAD DAY, PROBABLY
THE WORST, FOR THE MAFIA.
Narrator: IN A STUNNING VICTORY
FOR THE GOVERNMENT,
THE BOSSES ARE EACH SENTENCED
TO 100 YEARS BEHIND BARS.
IT PROVED THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF THE RICO LAW.
McShane:
THIS WAS A BIG PROSECUTION
WHERE EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO DO
A BIG AMOUNT OF JAIL TIME
AND THE GOVERNMENT
SCORED A CLEAN SWEEP.
[ PRISONS CHATTERING ]
Narrator:
WITH ONE BOLD MOVE,
THE AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN OUT
THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP
OF THE NEW YORK MAFIA...
*
...OR SO THEY THINK.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
LEADING THE CELEBRATIONS
ARE THE SQUADS
OF THE FBI's SPECIAL
MAFIA TASK FORCE.
THESE FIVE SQUADS HAVE BEEN
ON THE FRONT LINE
IN THE WAR AGAINST
ORGANIZED CRIME.
ONE OF ITS KEY AGENTS
IS JOHN PRITCHARD.
EACH SQUAD WOULD GO
AFTER A PARTICULAR FAMILY.
THE FAMILY THAT I WAS ASSIGNED
TO SUPERVISE
THE INVESTIGATION OF WAS IN FACT
THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
Narrator:
THE GENOVESE SQUAD'S TARGET
HAD BEEN THE STAR DEFENDANT
IN THE COMMISSION TRIAL,
FAT TONY SALERNO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
DESPITE THE APPARENT SUCCESS
OF THE FBI's GENOVESE SQUAD,
PRITCHARD ISN'T IN THE MOOD
TO CELEBRATE.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMMISSION
TRIAL IS TROUBLING HIM.
HE HAS LONG HARBORED DOUBTS
ABOUT SALERNO'S ABILITY
TO HEAD UP THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
FAT TONY SALERNO WAS VIEWED
AND BELIEVED TO BE THE HEAD
OF THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY.
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
AT THAT POINT,
IT WAS JUST THEORY.
Narrator: TO PRITCHARD,
THE COMICAL-LOOKING SALERNO
NEVER SEEMED TO DISPLAY
ANY OF THE ATTRIBUTES
OF A TOP MAFIA BOSS.
AND HE'S STARTING TO SUSPECT
THAT THE GENOVESE SQUAD
MAY HAVE JUST SENT DOWN
THE WRONG MAN.
IT'S A REMARKABLE SUSPICION.
IF PRITCHARD IS RIGHT,
THAT MEANS THE REAL GENOVESE
BOSS IS STILL AT LARGE.
*
AS LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES
TO CELEBRATE THEIR VICTORY
OVER THE MAFIA,
INTELLIGENCE COMES IN WHICH
ADDS TO PRITCHARD'S SUSPICION
THAT FAT TONY SALERNO
IS THE WRONG GUY.
*
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
*
ACROSS TOWN, VINCENT CAFARO,
TONY SALERNO'S SUPPOSED
RIGHT-HAND MAN,
IS FACING A RACKETEERING CHARGE.
*
IN AN ATTEMPT TO STRIKE A DEAL
WITH HIS INTERROGATORS,
CAFARO DECIDES TO REVEAL
SOME REMARKABLE INFORMATION.
HE DRAMATICALLY CONFESSES
TO INVESTIGATORS
THAT FAT TONY SALERNO
WAS NEVER THE BOSS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
*
ACCORDING TO CAFARO,
SALERNO WAS NEVER ANYTHING
MORE THAN A STOOGE.
THAT WAS A RUSE TO THROW US OFF
THE TRACK OF ULTIMATELY
WHO WAS IN FACT
THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY.
Narrator: SO JUST WHO IS
THE REAL BOSS?
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THE PERSON CAFARO NOW NAMES
TAKES THE INVESTIGATORS
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
IT'S SOMEONE THEY WOULD
NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED.
HE TOLD THEM THAT THE REAL
LEADER OF THE FAMILY,
AND HAD BEEN LEADER FOR YEARS,
WAS VINCENT GIGANTE.
*
Narrator: BUT FOR YEARS, THE FBI
HAD VIEWED VINCENT GIGANTE
AS A BUMBLING MADMAN.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
HE WANDERED AROUND THE CITY
IN HIS PAJAMAS SOMETIMES,
ACTING STRANGELY AND BIZARRELY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
HE WOULD DO THINGS LIKE SPEAK
WITH THE PARKING METERS,
URINATE IN PUBLIC.
[ URINATING ]
HOW COULD ANYONE THINK THAT
THIS PERSON WOULD BE THE HEAD
OF THE MOST POWERFUL
MOBSTER FAMILY IN AMERICA?
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
AGENT PRITCHARD WONDERS
WHETHER GIGANTE
COULD ACTUALLY HAVE HOAXED
THE ENTIRE BUREAU.
IF TRUE, THE SQUAD'S BIGGEST
SUCCESS
AGAINST THE GENOVESE FAMILY
IN CONVICTING TONY SALERNO
COULD NOW BE THEIR
GREATEST HUMILIATION.
IF TRUE, GIGANTE IS NOW THE MOST
POWERFUL MOB BOSS IN AMERICA.
COULD THIS SHUFFLING MADMAN
REALLY HAVE
PLAYED THEM ALL FOR FOOLS?
FOR AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD,
ONE THING IS CLEAR --
IF HE'S GOING TO SET
THE RECORD STRAIGHT,
HE HAS A MASSIVE TASK
BEFORE HIM.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE
THE ENTIRE CITY
THAT THIS MADMAN IS IN FACT
A RUTHLESS MOB BOSS.
*
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
Narrator:
FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT,
THE MAFIA COMMISSION TRIAL
HAS BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
THE FIVE HEADS OF
NEW YORK'S MAFIA
HAVE BEEN GIVEN LIFELONG
SENTENCES FOR RACKETEERING.
BUT WHEN AN INFORMANT REVEALS
IN A SHOCKING TWIST
THAT THEIR BIGGEST CATCH,
GENOVESE BOSS FAT TONY SALERNO
IS JUST A FRONT,
THEY START TO WONDER
IF THE MASTERMIND BEHIND
THE GENOVESE FAMILY
MIGHT STILL BE AT LARGE.
COULD THE BOSS REALLY BE
VINCENT GIGANTE,
A SHUFFLING LUNATIC BELIEVED
TO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS?
WHILE MANY IN THE FBI
FIND THE IDEA RIDICULOUS,
AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
IS FAR LESS SURPRISED.
I BELIEVED THAT GIGANTE WAS
FAR MORE POWERFUL
THAN NECESSARILY --
THAN HE HAD BEEN
GIVEN CREDIT FOR.
*
Narrator: NOW, AN INSIDER CLAIMS
THAT THIS BUMBLING MADMAN
COULD HAVE PULLED OFF
ONE OF THE GREATEST SCAMS
IN CRIMINAL HISTORY.
TO EXPOSE IT, AGENT PRITCHARD
REALIZES HE AND HIS TEAM
WILL HAVE TO START
BY RE-EXAMINING
EVERY PIECE OF INTELLIGENCE
THE BUREAU HOLDS ON GIGANTE.
Pritchard: THAT HISTORICAL
INFORMATION, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS USED AS --
TO BRING PEOPLE UP TO SPEED
IN TERMS OF WHO
THIS GUY REALLY WAS.
*
Narrator: PRITCHARD DISCOVERS
THAT GIGANTE
FIRST CAME TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE FBI IN 1957.
ONLY IN HIS 20s,
HE WAS GIVEN THE CONTRACT
TO KILL RIVAL CRIME BOSS
FRANK COSTELLO,
HEAD OF THE LUCCHESE FAMILY.
[ GUNSHOT ]
BUT GIGANTE'S ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT FAILED.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT KIND
OF KIND OF HIGH-PROFILE FAILURE
WOULD DOOM YOUR CAREER,
BUT IN GIGANTE'S CASE IT REALLY
DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT EFFECT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: GIGANTE QUICKLY ROSE
THROUGH THE RANKS
OF THE NEW GENOVESE FAMILY,
AND BY THE EARLY '60s
HAD REACHED THE RANK OF CAPO.
THIS WAS A SENIOR POSITION
WITHIN THE FAMILY,
PUTTING HIM IN COMMAND
OF HIS OWN CREW.
IN THE MID-60s, JUST AS GIGANTE
BECAME A CONTENDER
FOR A SENIOR POSITION
IN THE FAMILY,
HE MYSTERIOUSLY
FALLS OFF THE RADAR.
McShane: THEY HAD REALLY NO FILE
ON GIGANTE FROM, LIKE, '66,
WHICH IS KIND OF CRAZY
WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THAT EVEN AT THAT POINT,
HE WAS A WELL-KNOWN GUY.
Narrator: FOR SOME REASON,
THE FBI's ATTENTION
SHIFTED TO FAT TONY SALERNO.
SOMETHING DRAMATIC
HAD HAPPENED, BUT WHAT?
*
*
WHEN PRITCHARD EXAMINES
THE FBI's
EARLIER INVESTIGATION
INTO THE GENOVESE MOB,
HE DISCOVERS A REPORT
THAT COULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
BACK IN 1981, THE FBI DECIDED
TO USE GIGANTE
AS THE UNWITTING BAIT
FOR A TACTIC CALLED
"TICKLING THE WIRES."
*
"TICKLING" MEANS PROVOKING
THE MOB, AND THEN LISTENING OUT
FOR CHATTER
THAT MIGHT INCRIMINATE THEM.
AND ONE OF THE MOBSTERS
THE SQUAD TARGETED
WAS VINCENT GIGANTE.
THEY DECIDE TO ISSUE HIM
A SUBPOENA TO SEE
HOW OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY REACT.
WHEN THE AGENTS TURN UP
AT GIGANTE'S HOME,
THE INVESTIGATION
STOPS IN ITS TRACKS.
THE AGENTS GET INSIDE.
THEY GO THROUGH THE APARTMENT
AND THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM,
WHERE THEY HEAR
THE SHOWER RUNNING,
AND THEY OPEN THE DOOR,
AND THERE'S VINCENT GIGANTE...
[ WATER RUNNING ]
NUDE, UNDER THE SHOWER,
HOLDING AN UMBRELLA.
[ WATER RUNNING ]
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT...
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT STORY WENT AROUND
THE NEW YORK OFFICE QUITE A BIT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY HUMOROUS.
*
Narrator: IT'S SUDDENLY CLEAR
TO AGENT PRITCHARD
WHY GIGANTE DROPPED OFF
THE BUREAU'S RADAR.
FOR THE MOST PART, THE CONCEPT
OR THE THEORY THE FBI HAD,
THAT HE WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF A DAFFY GUY,
BUT HE WAS REALLY
NOT THAT IMPORTANT.
Narrator:
AFTER THE SHOWER INCIDENT,
THE FBI STOPS PURSUING GIGANTE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
COULD THE HEAD OF THE GENOVESE
FAMILY HAVE BEEN FAKING?
AGENT PRITCHARD WORRIES
THAT GIGANTE MAY HAVE
BEEN MISDIRECTING
THE FBI FOR YEARS.
PRITCHARD TURNS HIS ATTENTION
TO FBI SURVEILLANCE REPORTS,
AND THE UNOFFICIAL GENOVESE HQ,
THE TRIANGLE SOCIAL CLUB
IN LOWER MANHATTAN.
Pritchard: THE GENOVESE FAMILY
WOULD CONGREGATE THERE
PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY
AND PLAY CARDS
AND APPEAR TO BE SOCIALIZING.
[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]
McShane: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THEY WERE TRYING TO DO
IS IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE IN THE
GENOVESE FAMILY AND WHO WAS WHO.
*
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
THE SQUAD EMPLOYED
A VARIETY OF METHODS
TO PUT PRESSURE
ON THE GENOVESE MOBSTERS
TO BREAK COVER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
AGENTS OPENLY PATROLLED
OUTSIDE THE TRIANGLE CLUB,
WRITING DOWN THE LICENSE
PLATES OF EVERY CAR,
AND IN FULL VIEW
OF THE MOBSTERS,
PUT THE BAR UNDER
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE.
AND THEY WOULD JUST HAVE
SOMEONE THERE WITH A CAMERA,
TAKING PICTURES
OF WHO CAME IN AND OUT.
AND BY DOING THAT,
THEY COULD FIGURE OUT
WHO THE HIERARCHY WAS.
*
Narrator: AND THROUGHOUT
THE FBI's SURVEILLANCE,
AGENT PRITCHARD DISCOVERS
THAT VINCENT GIGANTE
STUCK TO THE SAME ROUTINE.
IF YOU'RE DOING
FBI SURVEILLANCE,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE EVERY DAY
ON SULLIVAN STREET
VINCENT GIGANTE GOING FROM HIS
APARTMENT TO THE SOCIAL CLUB.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
ONCE HE GETS THERE, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE A PROCESSION
OF THE FAMILY'S
TOP CAPOS COMING IN
AND GOING OUT, BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: AND ALTHOUGH
THE SO-CALLED LUNATIC
WAS FREQUENTLY OBSERVED
WANDERING THE STREETS
AROUND THE CLUB WITH
HIGH-RANKING MOBSTERS,
DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS,
THE FBI FAILED TO RECORD
ANY CONVERSATIONS.
THE GENOVESE GUYS,
THEY'RE A VERY CLOSE-KNIT
AND CLOSED-MOUTH GROUP,
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE
A LOT OF SUCCESS.
*
Narrator: THE SQUAD'S
SURVEILLANCE TEAMS CONCLUDED
THAT GIGANTE WAS HARMLESS,
A RELIC FROM A PREVIOUS ERA
TOLERATED BY THE REAL BOSSES.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
EVERYTHING
PRITCHARD READS SUGGESTS
THE FBI IGNORED GIGANTE,
BELIEVING HE WAS LITTLE MORE
THAN AN EX-MOBSTER
WITH DEMENTIA.
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES,
HE APPEARS TO BE MENTALLY ILL,
INCAPABLE OF CROSSING THE ROAD,
LET ALONE RUNNING A
MILLION-DOLLAR CRIMINAL EMPIRE.
BUT PRITCHARD CAN'T LET GO
OF HIS HUNCH.
WHAT IF GIGANTE
IS THE PROVERBIAL
WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING?
THE VERY FACT THAT HE CONTINUED
TO MOVE IN MOB CIRCLES
WAS SURELY SUSPICIOUS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN THE MAFIA
AND YOU'RE CRAZY, REALLY CRAZY,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LAST
IN THE MAFIA, NOT AT ALL.
*
Narrator:
AGENT PRITCHARD DECIDES TO GO
BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
IT'S TIME TO START
SURVEILLANCE OF HIS OWN.
FOR DECADES, GIGANTE HAS BEEN
THOUGHT OF AS A BIT PLAYER,
BUT NOW PRITCHARD
DECIDES TO GIVE HIM
THE ATTENTION HE DESERVES.
THEY WERE VERY INTENT ON DOING
WHAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE
IN A LONG TIME,
WHICH WAS TO GET VINCENT GIGANTE
INDICTED AND IN A COURTROOM.
*
Narrator: THIS TIME, THE SQUAD
KEEPS THEIR PRESENCE DISCREET,
SECRETLY SETTING UP
ROUND-THE-CLOCK SURVEILLANCE
OF THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE
AGENT PRITCHARD SEES EVIDENCE
THAT HIS HUNCH
ABOUT GIGANTE IS RIGHT.
Pritchard: I WAS PARTICIPATING
IN A SURVEILLANCE ONE NIGHT
AND SAW HIM WITH THE USUAL
RATTY BATHROBE THAT HE WORE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE HAD TAKEN OFF THE BATHROBE...
AND HE HAD A VERY WELL-TAILORED
SHARKSKIN SUIT ON.
IT JUST FURTHER CEMENTED FOR HIM
THAT THEY WERE
AFTER THE RIGHT GUY.
BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWED ME,
OR CONVINCED ME,
THAT WHOLE THING WAS AN ACT.
Narrator: IT'S THE MOMENT
PRITCHARD HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.
NOW HE PRESSES THE BUTTON
ON A NEW INVESTIGATION
INTO GIGANTE.
*
Narrator: IN 1987, AFTER
THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE OPERATION
IN THE HISTORY
OF ORGANIZED CRIME,
THE HEADS OF NEW YORK'S
FIVE MAFIA FAMILIES
ARE NOW BEHIND BARS.
*
BUT FBI AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
IS CONVINCED THAT ONE OF THEM,
FAT TONY SALERNO,
IS JUST A FALL GUY.
HE HAS MOUNTING EVIDENCE
THAT THE REAL BOSS
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY
IS VINCENT GIGANTE,
A LONG-FORGOTTEN GENOVESE CAPO
BELIEVED TO BE SUFFERING
FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
*
AND AFTER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE,
PRITCHARD DISCOVERS HINTS
THAT GIGANTE'S ILLNESS
IS JUST A CLEVER ACT
PERFECTED OVER MANY YEARS.
HE HAD THIS GREAT FEAR OF GOING
TO JAIL, OF BEING PROSECUTED.
*
Narrator: BUT PRITCHARD NEEDS
MORE THAN A HUNCH.
HE HAS TO PROVE GIGANTE'S
MENTAL ILLNESS IS A DECEPTION.
HE RETURNS TO THE CASE FILES.
HE EVENTUALLY COMES ACROSS
A REPORT FROM 1970.
IT REVEALS THE VERY MOMENT
THAT GIGANTE CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA
FOR HIS PERFECT COVER.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF BRIBING --
[ CHUCKLES ] IT SOUNDS CRAZY,
BUT BRIBING THE ENTIRE
POLICE FORCE
OF A NEW JERSEY TOWN
THAT HE LIVED IN.
*
WHICH, YOU KNOW,
HE DIDN'T CONSIDER
TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN KIND OF
A GESTURE OF GOODWILL.
Narrator:
BUT LOCAL PROSECUTORS DECIDE
TO MAKE A CASE AGAINST HIM,
AND TRAPPED IN A CORNER, GIGANTE
TRIES SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.
*
HE CHECKS HIMSELF
INTO A HOSPITAL
AND CONVINCES PSYCHIATRISTS
HE IS SCHIZOPHRENIC.
McShane: HIS LAWYER
CAME TO COURT AND SAID,
"MY CLIENT IS MENTALLY UNWELL
AND HE'S ACTUALLY
IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL."
THIS IS 1969, 1970.
THE IDEA OF AN INSANITY DEFENSE
REALLY HADN'T BEEN
BROACHED ANYWHERE.
HE WAS CUNNING
AND HE SAW A DODGE THAT HE TOOK,
OR ATTEMPTED TO TAKE,
TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE THUMB.
*
Narrator:
GIGANTE'S STRATEGY WORKS.
AT TRIAL, HE'S ACQUITTED
OF ALL CHARGES,
AND OVER THE NEXT DECADE,
GIGANTE METICULOUSLY
EMBELLISHES HIS ROLE,
BUILDING A CONVINCING PICTURE
OF A MENTALLY DISTURBED MAN,
A TACTIC THAT WAS
PAYING DIVIDENDS.
THERE'S A DEVELOPING
SENSE THAT,
"HEY, THIS IS NOT A BAD WAY
TO APPROACH THESE THINGS,"
AND HE DECIDED
TO GO BIG WITH IT.
EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS
HE WOULD GO IN
FOR WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A TUNE-UP.
HE WOULD ACTUALLY CHECK
INTO A MENTAL CLINIC.
McShane: IT BECAME
ALMOST LIKE A VACATION,
LIKE IF I WOULD GO
TO DISNEY WORLD.
HE WOULD GO TO THE ST. VINCENT'S
MENTAL HOSPITAL.
*
Narrator: THE ORCHESTRATED
VISITS GIVE GIGANTE
VIRTUAL IMMUNITY
FROM PROSECUTION,
SO HE TAKES THE IDEA FURTHER.
TAKING THE CHARADE OUT
ONTO THE STREETS,
IT TAKES HIM OUT
OF THE FBI's FIRING LINE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
GIGANTE PLAYS
THE HARMLESS OLD MAN
AMONG A FAMILY OF KILLERS.
AND FOR DECADES,
THE SHUFFLING OLD MAN ACT
APPEARS TO DUPE THE FBI.
*
BUT NOW, AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
HAS TO FIND A WAY
TO EXPOSE GIGANTE
AS THE FRAUD HE SUSPECTS HE IS.
FIRST, HE HAS TO BLOW
THE CRAZY ACT WIDE OPEN,
AND THEN PROVE
HE'S THE REAL BOSS
OF THE MURDEROUS
GENOVESE FAMILY.
PRITCHARD POURS MORE RESOURCES
INTO HIS INVESTIGATION.
HE INCREASES SURVEILLANCE
ON GIGANTE
AND TARGETS
HIS KNOWN ASSOCIATES.
IT ONLY NEEDS ONE CONVERSATION
TO REVEAL HIM AS THE REAL BOSS,
AND HE IMMEDIATELY
BECOMES RESPONSIBLE
FOR EVERY CRIME CARRIED OUT
BY HIS ORGANIZATION.
*
WE WERE GOING AFTER PEOPLE
THAT WE FELT COULD DRAW GIGANTE
INTO A CONSPIRACY
INVOLVING A RICO CASE,
AND IN FACT,
THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS.
WE KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY,
IF WE KEPT AFTER HIM,
THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO SHOW THAT HE IN FACT
WAS THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE FAMILY.
[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]
*
Narrator: THE SQUAD NOW
HAS GROWING EVIDENCE
THAT BEHIND HIS ACT,
GIGANTE IS SANE.
BUT LACKING ANYTHING CONCRETE,
THE TEAM ARE IN DANGER
OF LOSING MOMENTUM.
*
BUT IF HE EVER
NEEDED CONVINCING,
PRITCHARD DISCOVERS JUST HOW
IMPORTANT HIS INVESTIGATION WAS.
IN JANUARY 1986,
TWO OF HIS DETECTIVES,
ANTHONY VENDITTI
AND KATHY BURKE,
WERE ON A ROUTINE
SURVEILLANCE OPERATION.
*
THEY'RE WATCHING ONE
OF GIGANTE'S MOBSTERS.
Pritchard: A FELLOW BY THE NAME
OF FRITZY GIOVANELLI.
FRITZY WAS A CAPO
THAT ANSWERED TO GIGANTE.
IT WAS A ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE
AND IT WASN'T ONE THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK
WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.
*
Narrator: WHEN THEIR SHIFT ENDS,
THE DETECTIVES HEAD HOME.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN SPOTTED
BY THEIR MARK.
*
AND UNKNOWN TO THEM,
THEY'RE NOW BEING FOLLOWED.
THE DETECTIVES DECIDE
TO STOP FOR A COFFEE.
[ HORNS HONK ]
VENDITTI HEADS INTO THE DINER
WHILE BURKE WAITS
FOR HIM IN THE CAR.
GIOVANELLI AND HIS CREW
DECIDE TO STRIKE.
*
BURKE SPOTS THE DANGER
AND TRIES TO STOP THEM.
*
[ GUNSHOTS ]
BUT SHE'S NOT QUICK ENOUGH.
THE MOBSTERS SHOOT HER.
[ GUNSHOTS CONTINUE ]
THEN VENDITTI.
*
BURKE IS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED,
AND TRAGICALLY,
TONY VENDITTI LIES DEAD.
*
IT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME
BECAUSE I HAD LOST A FRIEND,
A DETECTIVE THAT WORKED
FOR ME ON THE SQUAD.
Narrator: AGENT PRITCHARD'S
INVESTIGATION JUST GOT PERSONAL,
AND HE DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO ENTER THE LION'S DEN.
*
Narrator: AFTER A MURDEROUS
ATTACK ON HIS DETECTIVES,
AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
DECIDES TO CONFRONT
THE GENOVESE BOSS FACE TO FACE.
KNOWING THAT GIGANTE
WAS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY,
HE TOOK ON FAR MORE IMPORTANCE
BECAUSE OF THAT SHOOTING.
MYSELF AND ANOTHER AGENT
WENT TO INTERVIEW HIM
AT THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
Narrator: GIGANTE IS ORDERED
TO STEP OUTSIDE,
AND ACCORDING TO PRITCHARD,
WHEN CONFRONTED
ABOUT THE SHOOTING,
COMPLETELY DROPS HIS ACT.
*
Pritchard: HE SAW THAT WE WERE
SERIOUS, AND HE WAS VERY LUCID.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND,
HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION WITH HIM,
THAT HE WAS AS SANE AS I AM.
*
Narrator:
BACK AT THE SQUAD'S HQ,
PRITCHARD GATHERS HIS TEAM.
*
THE SHOOTING MEANS
BRINGING GIGANTE TO JUSTICE
IS MORE URGENT THAN EVER.
IT'S NOW CLEAR THEIR
TARGET ISN'T JUST SANE.
HE'S DANGEROUS.
[ CLICK ]
SO FAR, THOUGH,
THE SQUAD HAS FAILED
TO GET ANY TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE AGAINST GIGANTE,
AND NOW HE'S BEEN INSIDE
THE TRIANGLE CLUB,
PRITCHARD KNOWS WHY.
I'M PROBABLY ONE OF
THE FEW AGENTS
THAT HAD BEEN INSIDE
THE TRIANGLE SOCIAL CLUB.
THERE WAS A SIGN UP ON THE WALL
OVER THE PAY PHONE,
THAT, "THIS LOCATION IS BUGGED."
YOU KNOW, "DON'T SAY ANYTHING
IN HERE THAT'S CRIMINAL."
THEY ACTUALLY HAD THAT
WRITTEN ON THE WALL.
Narrator:
IT'S CLEAR THAT WHEREVER GIGANTE
IS DOING HIS BUSINESS,
IT ISN'T AT THE TRIANGLE CLUB.
THE BOSS MUST HAVE
ANOTHER SECRET HQ.
*
THE SQUAD DECIDE TO ESCALATE
THEIR SURVEILLANCE...
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
AND EVENTUALLY,
THEY GET A BREAK.
*
AS THE FBI INCREASED
ITS SURVEILLANCE OF THE CHIN,
THEY CAME TO REALIZE THAT
SULLIVAN STREET WAS NOT
THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL
OF KIND OF HIS EXISTENCE,
AS THEY INITIALLY THOUGHT.
*
Narrator: EVERY EVENING
AT THE SAME TIME,
GIGANTE IS PICKED UP BY A DRIVER
FROM HIS MOTHER'S
APARTMENT BUILDING
ON SULLIVAN STREET...
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
*
AND HE DOESN'T REAPPEAR
UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.
SO WHERE DOES HE GO?
*
PRITCHARD'S TEAM FOCUS
THEIR EFFORTS
ON FOLLOWING GIGANTE'S CAR.
*
TAILING HIM IS EASIER
SAID THAN DONE,
BECAUSE WHEREVER HE'S GOING,
HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOLLOWED.
*
FOR WEEKS, GIGANTE'S DRIVERS
EXPERTLY NAVIGATE
THE CITY'S STREETS,
SHAKING OFF ANY FBI TAILS.
THE SQUAD DON'T GIVE UP,
AND EVENTUALLY THEY DISCOVER
WHERE GIGANTE HAS BEEN HIDING.
THE FINALLY TRACED HIM
TO A HOME ON THE EAST SIDE.
WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS BEING
USED AS A PLACE FOR HIM
TO HANG HIS HAT, IF YOU WILL.
Narrator: THE APARTMENT BELONGS
TO GIGANTE'S MISTRESS,
OLYMPIA ESPOSITO.
IT'S A WELL-CHOSEN LOCATION,
MAKING A CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT
FOR PRITCHARD'S SURVEILLANCE
TEAMS DIFFICULT.
*
BUT THEY FIND A SAFE POSITION
ON THE ROOF OF A LOCAL SCHOOL.
*
Pritchard: ONE OF THE AGENTS
ON THE SQUAD
REALLY DID A HERCULEAN JOB
IN TERMS OF, AT NIGHT,
ALL SORTS OF WEATHER,
CRAWLING OUT ON THIS LEDGE
TO OBSERVE
WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITHIN GIGANTE'S RESIDENCE.
*
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS,
THE AGENT PAINSTAKINGLY
RECORDS GIGANTE'S BEHAVIOR
INSIDE THE APARTMENT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
*
AND AT LAST, THEY HAVE VISUAL
EVIDENCE THAT GIGANTE ISN'T MAD.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THEY COULD SEE
HOW WELL-DRESSED HE WAS,
HOW HE ACTED NORMALLY,
HOW PEOPLE CAME.
HE HAD CONFERENCES.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Pritchard: HE ACTUALLY HAD
PEOPLE THERE FOR MEETINGS.
WE SAW HIM IN CONVERSATION
AT THE TABLE.
WE OBSERVED HIM, YOU KNOW,
COUNTING MONEY
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
WHAT THE FBI SAW CONFIRMED
EVERYTHING THAT
THEY HAD BELIEVED --
THAT THIS WAS A MOB BOSS,
HE WAS NOT A MENTAL PATIENT.
*
Narrator: TO PROVE GIGANTE
IS THE GENOVESE BOSS
IN A COURTROOM,
THEY NEED HIM ON TAPE.
SO FAR, THE MOBSTER HAS NO IDEA
THE SQUAD ARE ON TO HIM.
PRITCHARD NOW KNOWS JUST
HOW PARANOID GIGANTE IS.
ANY MISTAKE THEY MAKE COULD
BLOW THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION,
AND MONTHS OF WORK
WILL GO DOWN THE DRAIN.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DISCOVERY,
PRITCHARD DECIDES TO USE
SOME EXPERT HELP.
*
McShane: IT WAS A REALLY RARE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FBI
TO HAVE RECORDINGS OF THIS GUY,
AND THEY BROUGHT IN
AN FBI SPECIALIST
WHO HAD THIS SPECIAL DRILL,
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO...
[ WHIRRING ]
...JUST SO FAR INTO THE WALL
AND THEN IT WOULD SENSE WHERE
THE OTHER SIDE WAS AND STOP.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE INSTALLATION
OF THE DEVICE
DIDN'T GO PARTICULARLY WELL,
AND, IN FACT, IT WAS DISCOVERED.
WE TRIED THINGS
THAT WERE UNIQUE,
AND SOMETIMES THEY WORKED
AND SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T.
*
Narrator: THE BOTCHED ATTEMPT
TO INSTALL THE BUG
TIPS OFF GIGANTE.
*
HE IMMEDIATELY RESORTS TO HIS
TRIED AND TESTED FALLBACK PLAN
AND BOOKS HIMSELF
INTO A MENTAL INSTITUTION.
*
WITH GIGANTE'S DECEPTION
SUCCESSFULLY RESURRECTED,
THE "ODDFATHER"
BELIEVES HE IS SAFE.
BUT PRITCHARD'S INVESTIGATION
WILL YET COME BACK
TO HAUNT THE GREAT ILLUSIONIST.
*
*
Narrator: AGENT JOHN PRITCHARD
HAS NOW COME CLOSER
THAN ANYONE TO GETTING
VINCENT GIGANTE IN COURT,
THE MAN HE NOW BELIEVES
IS THE TRUE MAFIA BOSS
AND HAS BEEN DUPING
LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR DECADES.
BUT HIS SQUADS FAIL TO SECURE
ANY TAPED EVIDENCE.
IT'S CRITICAL TO
BRINGING TO JUSTICE
THE MAN KNOWN AS
"THE ODDFATHER."
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
*
WITH THE INVESTIGATION STALLED,
GIGANTE REMAINS FREE.
IT'S A PERSONAL BLOW
FOR PRITCHARD.
HIS ONLY HOPE NOW IS THAT
SOMEONE ELSE PICKS UP THE CHASE.
LOT OF STUFF THAT WAS DEVELOPED
OVER THE YEARS JUST DOESN'T DIE.
IT SITS THERE AS EVIDENCE.
SO EVENTUALLY, SOME PROSECUTOR
OR SOME AGENT DOWN THE ROAD
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE
THAT EARLIER EVIDENCE.
*
Narrator: TWO YEARS LATER,
LAWYER GREG O'CONNELL
PICKS UP WHERE
PRITCHARD LEFT OFF.
HIS CHALLENGE IS TO PROVE ON
THE RECORD THAT GIGANTE IS SANE
AND IN CHARGE.
BUT O'CONNELL HAS FOUND
A WAY TO SUCCEED
WHERE PRITCHARD'S
SQUAD HAD FAILED.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
HE'S MANAGED TO GET A GENOVESE
ASSOCIATE TO COOPERATE
WITH HIS INVESTIGATION
AND TESTIFY THAT VINCENT GIGANTE
IS THE GENOVESE BOSS.
HIS INFORMER'S NAME
IS PETER SAVINO.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
I WOULD LOOK AT THAT
AS THE MILESTONE EVENT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
PETER SAVINO WORKED DIRECTLY
ON RECORD WITH VINCENT GIGANTE.
HE HAD MET WITH GIGANTE ON
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OCCASIONS.
SO SAVINO WAS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL TO OUR INVESTIGATION.
*
WE HAD HIM WIRED UP
AGAINST NUMEROUS
ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES
IN NEW YORK
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
*
Narrator: THE RICO ACT MEANS
O'CONNELL DOESN'T NEED
DIRECT EVIDENCE
TO PUT GIGANTE AWAY.
HE ONLY NEEDS TO LINK HIM
TO A CONSPIRACY,
AND THANKS TO SAVINO,
HE THINKS HE'S FOUND A WAY.
THROUGHOUT THE 1980s, THE FIVE
MAFIA FAMILIES FORMED A CARTEL
TO MUSCLE IN ON
ONE OF NEW YORK'S
BIGGEST MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
REPLACING WINDOWS IN THE CITY'S
HOUSING PROJECTS
GENERATES OVER
$170 MILLION FOR THE MAFIA.
AND THE MAN CHOSEN BY GIGANTE
TO REPRESENT THE GENOVESE
FAMILY'S INTERESTS
IS PETER SAVINO.
PETER SAVINO WAS A MAJOR EARNER
FOR THE CRIME FAMILY.
HE WAS A GUY THAT KNEW
HOW TO MAKE MONEY.
BUT BECAUSE SAVINO WAS
THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE WINDOW
REPLACEMENT BUSINESS,
THAT GAVE US A FOCUS
FOR OUR EXTORTION CHARGES.
Narrator: SAVINO AGREES TO
TESTIFY THAT GIGANTE
IS A KEY MEMBER
OF THE WINDOWS CARTEL,
PROVING BEYOND DOUBT
THAT GIGANTE IS CAPABLE
OF RUNNING A COMPLICATED
CRIMINAL SCAM.
O'CONNELL FEELS THIS CASE
IS SOLID ENOUGH
TO PUT GIGANTE
IN FRONT OF A JURY.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
ON MAY THE 30th, 1990,
THE AUTHORITIES MAKE THEIR MOVE.
GIGANTE IS ARRESTED.
AS HE'S LED INTO COURT,
PROSECUTORS KNOW
HE WILL PLAY THE INSANITY CARD
FOR EVERYTHING IT'S WORTH.
*
BUT STALLING THE TRIAL IS
SOMETHING O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM
CAN'T AFFORD.
THE REAL KEY TO IT
WAS PETER SAVINO.
AND SAVINO, BY THIS TIME,
WAS DYING OF CANCER.
Narrator: IF SAVINO DIES BEFORE
HE HAS A CHANCE TO TESTIFY,
THE CASE AGAINST
GIGANTE CRUMBLES.
[ TICKING ]
GIGANTE KEPT UP HIS USUAL RUSE,
MUTTERING TO HIMSELF,
SOMETIMES LOOKING WITH
HIS HEAD DOWN AS A HANGDOG,
LOOKING AROUND, PAYING NO
ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Narrator: GIGANTE TRIES TO
CONVINCE THE COURT
THAT HE'S SCHIZOPHRENIC
AND UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.
IT WORKS.
*
THE CASE IS ON
THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE,
BUT THIS TIME,
THEY'RE PREPARED.
THEY'VE GOT A SECOND WITNESS
TO TESTIFY TO GIGANTE'S SANITY.
*
AND NOW THEY PLAY
THEIR TRUMP CARD --
A SECRET STAR WITNESS,
SAMMY "THE BULL" GRAVANO.
AS FORMER UNDERBOSS
OF THE GAMBINO FAMILY,
GRAVANO HAD MEETINGS
WITH GIGANTE.
AND IN MARCH 1996, HE TESTIFIES
THAT ON THOSE OCCASIONS,
THE GENOVESE CRIME BOSS
HAD BEEN PERFECTLY LUCID.
HE WAS ABLE TO DESCRIBE
IN A VERY MEANINGFUL
AND IMPACTFUL WAY
THE ROLE THAT GIGANTE PLAYED IN
HIS OWN ORGANIZED CRIME LIFE.
*
Narrator:
GIGANTE IS DECLARED COMPETENT
TO STAND TRIAL BY THE JUDGE,
AND O'CONNELL AND HIS TEAM
HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT
TO PRESENT THEIR CASE.
IT INCLUDES MORE
THAN 250 EXHIBITS,
INCLUDING MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE
FROM PRITCHARD'S INVESTIGATION.
*
McShane: HAVING AN FBI AGENT
SIT ON THE WITNESS STAND
AND TESTIFY IN GREAT DETAIL
ABOUT THE NORMAL NATURE
OF HIS SECOND LIFE
WAS REALLY CRIPPLING
TO THE DEFENSE.
*
Narrator: IT'S NOW TIME
FOR PETER SAVINO
TO PUT THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
TERMINALLY ILL WITH CANCER,
SAVINO IS UNABLE TO ATTEND
THE TRIAL IN PERSON,
SO HE TESTIFIES VIA CCTV
FROM HIS SECRET LOCATION
ON THE WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM.
IT'S A DEVASTATING BLOW
FOR GIGANTE'S LAWYERS.
[ BEEPING ]
IF A DEFENSE ATTORNEY
COULD PICK THE MOST
DIFFICULT PERSON
TO CHALLENGE
IN TERMS OF CREDIBILITY,
IT WOULD BE SOMEBODY
DYING OF CANCER
FROM TESTIFYING
FROM HIS DEATHBED.
Narrator: DESPITE HIS PAIN,
SAVINO MAKES IT THROUGH
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION.
AND ON JULY 25th, 1997,
GIGANTE IS FOUND GUILTY
ON EIGHT COUNTS OF
RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY...
[ GAVEL POUNDS ]
AND BEING GODFATHER
OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY.
GIGANTE WOULD HAVE DIED
IN HIS OWN BED
IF IT HADN'T BEEN
FOR PETER SAVINO.
HIS EVIDENCE WAS DEVASTATING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]
Narrator: SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS
BEHIND BARS,
GIGANTE'S HEALTH STARTS
TO DECLINE, THIS TIME FOR REAL.
WITH THE WRITING ON THE WALL,
HE FINALLY DROPS HIS GUARD.
HE DECIDED TO LIGHTEN UP,
AND HE WAS CHIT-CHATTING
WITH THE NURSES,
ACTING NORMALLY AND LOOKING
TO ENJOY HIS REMAINING DAYS,
AND WHEN NEWS OF THIS CAME OUT,
THAT HE HAD SHED HIS ACT,
THE EASTERN DISTRICT
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
DECIDED TO INDICT HIM AGAIN
ON OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
Narrator:
ON DECEMBER THE 19th, 2005,
VINCENT GIGANTE DIES, AGE 77.
FOR OVER TWO DECADES,
HIS CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME
WITH THE AUTHORITIES KEPT HIM
ONE STEP AHEAD OF JUSTICE,
ALLOWING HIM TO RETAIN ABSOLUTE
POWER OVER THE NEW YORK MAFIA,
AND GOVERN HIS CRIMINAL
EMPIRE WITH IMPUNITY.
INSIDE THE MAFIA,
THE MOST RESPECTED, FEARED,
CUNNING AND TYRANNICAL LEADER
WAS VINCENT "CHIN" GIGANTE,
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Narrator: GIGANTE'S ELABORATE
CHARADE FAILED TO LAST,
AND THANKS TO
THE STUBBORN PURSUIT
OF INVESTIGATORS
LIKE JOHN PRITCHARD,
THE "ODDFATHER" OF ORGANIZED
CRIME IS FINALLY TAKEN DOWN.
THERE ARE TWO DECADES OF EFFORTS
BY SOME OF THE BEST
FBI AGENTS THAT WE HAD
THAT ULTIMATELY SUCCEEDED IN
TAKING HIM DOWN OFF HIS THRONE.
HE ENGENDERED
SO MUCH FEAR IN PEOPLE
BECAUSE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE,
THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH
FOR HIM TO ELIMINATE YOU.
I FEEL PERSONALLY GOOD
THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO TAKE GIGANTE
AND TAKE HIM DOWN.
*