Welcome to part one of my interview with a former member of the Gambino Crime Family, now International Bestselling Author, Television Producer, and Director Louis Ferrante.
Mr. Ferrante grew up in New York City and became entangled in the Gambino crime family. He was eventually arrested and served almost ten years in prison. While he was incarcerated, he taught himself to write, and he fell in love with books. He promised himself that he would someday become an international bestselling author, and he did!
Lou also created, wrote, produced, and hosted, Inside The Gangster Code series for Discovery Channel about maximum security prisons and gang culture around the world.
As a special treat to everyone, I’m bringing back my friend and colleague, Podcaster, Author, and Retired NYPD Detective Vic Ferrari. Vic spent most of his life in New York City and was assigned to the NYPD’s organized crime unit and specialized in stolen cars, the same area of criminal expertise that was Lou’s, just on the other side of the law.
In today’s episode we discuss:
· Why do you think we are fascinated with criminals, more specifically gangsters? Some examples are The Sopranos, Scarface, Sons of Anarchy, etc.…?
· How do you keep these stories of the mob “the old days” fresh for today’s audience?
· What parallels are there with the mob and the street gangs of today?
· What was life in a maximum-security prison really like? What keeps someone who will never leave alive in line?
· What is the attraction to being in a gang or mafia?
· Is there a mafia today? If yes, where do they operate?
· How did you go from stealing cars and joyriding to making money chopping a car and later being involved in armed highjackings?
· How did the mob get interested in you?
· Eventually you got arrested. What were the circumstances? By what agency? Did you get offered a deal to be a rat? What was the offer?
· Is there a code of honor in the mafia and how that has changed over the years?
Check out Lou's newest book, Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (Borgata Trilogy)
Visit Lou on his website.
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/