Oct. 12, 2008

60 Minutes: FBI Wiseguy Fooled The Mob

Cuban-American Is Only Second FBI Agent In History To Be Offered Mafia Membership

  • Play CBS Video Video The FBI's Wiseguy

    The FBI undercover agent who brought down high-level mobsters tells how he infiltrated the Gambino family and shows his face for the first time, undeterred by the Mafia's penchant for revenge. Armen Keteyian reports.

  • Video The Executioner

    In his first interview, infamous Boston mob triggerman John Martorano coolly explains why and how he murdered 20 people to protect his friends, family and his gang's business. Steve Kroft reports.

  • Video Phantom Of Corleone

    The law finally caught up with Bernardo Provenzano after decades on the run. His capture, however, will probably do little to curb the ubiquitous influence of the Italian Mafia. Steve Kroft reports.

  • Joaquin

    Joaquin "Jack" Garcia, a.k.a. "Jack Falcone."  (CBS)

  • Interactive Mobster Madness

    In real life and on the screen, Americans are fascinated by the Mob. Find out more about actual dons and their fictional counterparts.

(CBS)  Garcia left nothing to chance, out of respect and fear for the man at the center of his investigation: Gambino capo Greg DePalma, head of the family’s operations in New York's affluent Westchester County. At 72, DePalma had a reputation as an old-school mobster with a hair-trigger temper.

"Greg DePalma, I would best describe him as the devil incarnate. A very evil man, very evil man," Garcia says.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, who once used a power tool…on someone's head…who he thought was stealing from him?" Keteyian asks.

"Yes," Garcia says.

Garcia says the mafia was DePalma's life. "And he took his oath and he real lived by it, where the family came first. That if your child was dying, laying in bed with few minutes to live, or seconds, and the boss calls you, you better leave that child and go see the boss. Because that's your real family."

Before long, Jack Falcone won over DePalma, first by giving him cartons of counterfeit cigarettes for his birthday, and then by offering him what became an endless stream of luxury goods, all supplied to Jack by the FBI.

"I start bringing him jewelry. Then I bring him a television. Then iPods. Then all this stolen merchandise. I was the goose that laid the golden egg, and the greed kicked right in," Garcia remembers.

Garcia was the kind of guy the Mafia called an "earner."

"Being an earner is a very important thing. An earner is a kind of guy who makes money, not only for himself and his skipper, but also for the family. And Greg DePalma saw me as an earner," he says.

For two years, Falcone wore a wire taped to his chest, and for good measure, gave DePalma a cell phone, with a bugging device that allowed the FBI to track DePalma's location and listen in on his conversations, even when the phone was turned off.

Falcone became like a son to DePalma, at his side while he and other mobsters concocted schemes to extort businesses, sell fake sales sports memorabilia, and collect a tax on nearly every union construction site in New York.

Garcia says DePalma told him that in New York City, two percent of all construction went to the mob, a sort of "mob tax."

Continued



Produced by Pat Milton and Michael Radutzky
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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by joenikk October 14, 2008 12:50 PM EDT
What an ugly, fat, stupid government this country has.

You can be certain hes juggling the books with the other local cops. "Hey Vinnie, I just heard, if we invent some stuff, they''ll give us our own budget, and I''ll put you charge a the books". Blank confession forms book: eight bucks. Unlimited budget: still being spent. Police: How? No cops ever been convicted, for any thing. Cop invented hypothetical criminal conspeiracy theory: Priceless as allways
Reply to this comment
by norepubs October 14, 2008 9:34 AM EDT
When will you trailer trash repubs start thinking about what is best for the country? Your fascist campaign of LIES about Obama have worn thin,and any American with 1/4 of a brain can see right through it.
Nazi''s like Karl Rove ( and you, for that matter) should work for Russia,or North Korea since they are such pros at speading campaigns of misinformation like cow manure....




Nobama...and the democratic liberael elitists have set the tone in this country...think about it... you have well spoken individuals like PAM ANDERSON who have told the VP candidate to suck it...

America is the result of left wing -*** driven- money making-propoganda.. Just ask Rosie O''''donnell "IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB"

Posted by bluecollar81 at 06:30 PM
Reply to this comment
by trivia-nut October 13, 2008 10:41 PM EDT
The watch described as a Rolex President about 2 minutes into the video is NOT a President. The watch shown is a Rolex Datejust with a Jubilee bracelet in Stainless and Gold. A Rolex President (actually Day-Date) has the day of the week spelled out and is available in solid 18kt gold, white gold, or platinum. The Datejust shown is a nice watch on the lower price end of the Rolex line.

Where was the 60 Minutes fact checker? Surely, someone in NYC would loan you a President to film for the nice piece you did on the mob infiltration.
Reply to this comment
by bluecollar81 October 13, 2008 9:30 PM EDT
Nobama...and the democratic liberael elitists have set the tone in this country...think about it... you have well spoken individuals like PAM ANDERSON who have told the VP candidate to suck it...

America is the result of left wing -*** driven- money making-propoganda.. Just ask Rosie O''donnell "IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB"
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 October 13, 2008 9:14 PM EDT
Would you put street gangs like the Bloods, the Crips, & MS13 in the same group?
Posted by Questionnews at 04:17 PM : Oct 13, 2008

No, of course not. At least in the old days the mob had some honour and would try to minimize collateral damage when someone hadda get whacked. The Bloods, Crips and M13 should be treated like the illiterate, amoral, rabid vermin they are - I think a few tactical nukes in select LA neighborhoods might be a good place to start.
Reply to this comment
by questionnews October 13, 2008 7:17 PM EDT
The Mafia should be completely wiped off the globe. There should be no tolerance for this kind of thing. Just as suspected Muslim terrorists, they should be expelled from the country, family and all, and put on desert islands to fend for themselves.

Posted by rudy654 at 04:02 PM : Oct 13, 2008


Would you put street gangs like the Bloods, the Crips, & MS13 in the same group?
Reply to this comment
by rudy654-2009 October 13, 2008 7:02 PM EDT
The Mafia should be completely wiped off the globe. There should be no tolerance for this kind of thing. Just as suspected Muslim terrorists, they should be expelled from the country, family and all, and put on desert islands to fend for themselves.
Reply to this comment
by questionnews October 13, 2008 6:13 PM EDT
So what did this guy have do to get so deep into the mob to gain his status??

Did he have to whack a guy?
Off a guy?
Whack off a guy?

Because he looks straight!
Reply to this comment
by nothappyatall October 13, 2008 4:46 PM EDT
If I hide myself from the camera, walk around with silly glasses and a hat and blot out face - you know what? I''m afraid of them? I''m not the bad guy here. I''m the good guy."

Being the head honcho only got 12 years- prolly out in SIX and this FBI dude''s name and photos are all over the place, he will be the one they come looking for.
Reply to this comment
by vinzenzo-2009 October 13, 2008 4:32 PM EDT

This will tell you more about Falcone/Garcia
http://cbs4.com/video/?id=63863@wfor.dayport.com
Reply to this comment
by easeup-2009 October 13, 2008 3:58 PM EDT
Hey nice ta see you, Jimmy! How''''s Paulie?

Posted by rational_1 at 12:56 PM : Oct 13, 2008

You''re a funny guy!
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 October 13, 2008 3:56 PM EDT
I''''m gonna get the paper, get the paper.
Posted by easeup at 12:37 PM : Oct 13, 2008

Hey nice ta see you, Jimmy! How''s Paulie?
Reply to this comment
by easeup-2009 October 13, 2008 3:37 PM EDT
I''m gonna get the paper, get the paper.
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by volleymom3 October 13, 2008 3:33 PM EDT
Coming out like this must be a risk on your safety. I hope you are well protected.
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by briansgirl2 October 13, 2008 3:04 PM EDT
Good going Mr. Garcia. As one who is totally fascinated by the Mob, I fear for your safety. I noticed that you don''t talk about whether or not you have family (wife and kids). I hope not for theie safety. Please, please be careful though. I totally admired John Gotti. I know, call me crazy, but I sent him cards and letters while he was in prison. What he did was totally wrong, and there was no excuse for it. However, it was a "business", and he was an excellent businessman.
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by ajaxtheleast October 13, 2008 3:01 PM EDT
Fooled ??,,,,Hardly.

You''ve seen the mob.

Looking like that you too would
prefer standing next to a man
of JG''s physical attributes as you
try hitting on some broad,,,,,

,,or taking in a night at the opera getting
in touch with your cultural self looking
looking like Brad Pitts by comparison,,,,

or attending the Policemens'' Ball
looking debonair standing next to JG
as you impress your many friends.

But "fooled" ??,,,No way
Reply to this comment
by newsjunky5 October 13, 2008 2:35 PM EDT
Forget about the Mafia, the Cuban sandwiches are gonna get him first.
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by aerodog October 13, 2008 1:50 PM EDT
I don''t care how long it''s been since this guy was ''underground'' acting like a mafia guy, he shouldn''t have let this story out. way too dangerous. If i were a close relative of his, I''d be very afraid.
Reply to this comment
by wardoglrs October 13, 2008 1:48 PM EDT
60 Minutes: FBI Wiseguy Fooled The Mob:

Hmmm I do believe that the FBI is the mob. Didnt fool us :]
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by garciagar October 13, 2008 1:17 PM EDT

This guy is full of it. Get him on diet.
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