Who is John Pennisi from New York City?
NYC’s John Pennisi is a reformed criminal who speaks freely about his former life. He has a blog and recently hooked up with New Jersey media professional Tom La Vecchia.
Who is John Pennisi and why did he leave the mob?
John Pennisi was an associate in the Gambino family at the age of 15. Pennisi became a 'made member' of the Lucchese crime family in 2013. Pennisi left the mob in 2018 after feeling betrayed by his fellow crew members.
How did Giuseppe Pennisi become a made man?
The induction ceremony to become a made man was serious. The men in the room locked arms, promising allegiance to one another and the borgata (family). As a Lucchese made member, Pennisi was involved in bookmaking, extortion and more. The real money was in loansharking. He operated mostly in Queens and Staten Island.
Did law enforcement force Joe Pennisi to take down his blog?
In a recent telephone interview with the Mob Museum, Pennisi said no one from law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office has ever directed him to take down the blog or podcast.
John Pennisi from Wit Sec - Gangland Wire
Mobster John Pennisi said spirit of his grandparents told him to turn rat
What did Joe Pennisi say about the FBI?
Just at that moment, Pennisi says, he heard a sudden loud rattling of dishes and glasses. “Everything was shaking in the house,” Pennisi told podcaster Gary Jenkins. That was the sign, Pennisi said, that convinced him to turn himself in to the FBI in October 2018. In the three trials where he has testified since becoming a government witness, ...
Why was John Pennisi a rat?
On the witness stand, Pennisi testified that John “Big John” Castellucci made up the claim Pennisi was a “rat” to protect Castelle from being ostracized or worse for violating mob protocol and sleeping with Pennisi’s girlfriend. “With the recent spate of videos of UFO sightings that the Air Force and government are saying are ...
Did Pennisi write down the FBI?
But his son suggested they “write down the pros and cons” of the options he faced. “As a last resort,” said Pennisi, they wrote down the FBI. “That was the other option. It was the first time that I even thought of the government or the FBI.
Who is the host of the Pennisi podcast?
Pennisi and marketing professional Tom La Vecchia co-host the podcast. La Vecchia, the MBA of the podcast’s title, and Pennisi often delve into the business side of organized crime. Courtesy of Tom La Vecchia. Over the telephone, Pennisi said he is not bothered by the name-calling.
What happened to John Pennisi?
Courtesy of John Pennisi. When he was 20 years old, John Pennisi shot a man to death in a dispute over a girlfriend. “The significance of what I did was 100 percent lost on me then,” Pennisi, 51, said in a recent telephone interview. Pennisi now is trying to make sense of his previous life as a mobster and to shine a light on what he says is ...
How old is Pennisi's daughter?
One daughter is 25, the other is 10. His son is 32. After being paroled, Pennisi eventually became a made member of the Lucchese crime family, which is one of New York’s longstanding Five Families, all of which are still active to some extent today. The induction ceremony to become a made man was serious.
What was Pennisi involved in?
As a Lucchese made member, Pennisi was involved in bookmaking, extortion and more. The real money was in loansharking. He operated mostly in Queens and Staten Island. Pennisi said he doesn’t know how much money he made during this period. He was not a big earner.
What did Pennisi say when society came up with a name for all these rule breakers in general?
When society comes up with a name for all these rule breakers in general, Pennisi said, “then I would accept that name.”. The former made man said people worldwide are getting fed up with the Mafia’s strong-arm tactics and bullying behavior.
What was Pennisi's job?
Being a made member of the Lucchese crime family inspired fear on its own. Pennisi also worked a legitimate job in construction. The legitimate job kept him off law enforcement’s radar. Staying out of his crime family’s crosshairs was another matter.
Is John Pennisi a rat?
Ex-Lucchese made man John Pennisi has been called a rat, but with his podcast, he sees himself as a truth-teller. Former Lucchese crime family made man John Pennisi co-hosts a podcast called “The MBA and the Button Man,” during which he provides insights into the Mafia life he left behind. Courtesy of John Pennisi.
Putting together a podcast
Men’s Journal: So, a capo of the Lucchese Crime family has a podcast. How did that come about? TOM LA VECCHIA: I started The New Theory Podcast about three years ago. I’d had a moderate level of success. Organized crime is sort of my personal interest.
Changing direction
Right, but how were you able to leave the life without repercussions from the mob or the law? PENNISI: What had happened was, I was falsely accused of becoming a rat, or an informant, or whatever way you want to phrase it. And the mob will do their homework. And when they did their homework and realized it was a mistake, it was too late.
Fighting and embracing stereotypes
All races and ethnicities in this country have historically worked to separate themselves from certain stereotypes. But the mob thing doesn’t seem to hurt Italian-Americans as much.
Made men named Sideburns, Frog Eyes, and Quack Quack
One thing we love when we read your blog or listen to the podcast is the nicknames. LA VECCHIA: I like Johnny Sideburns.
The Mafia in media
I’m sure you guys have seen all the mafia movies and TV shows. There’s a lot of Hollywood element. But if you had to pick one, which is the most accurate portrayal? PENNISI: It’s hard. TV and the movies are very different than that life.
Food culture
Food is a very specific part if this culture. What’s your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant? PENNISI: I would have to say most of the food at Rao’s in Harlem. Everything is very good there, especially the seafood salad. Rao’s is a good spot.
Leading a Reformed Life
John, you’ve mentioned that you’re a changed person, leading a new life. Why don’t you give me a little bit of that reformed worldview? PENNISI: From when you’re inside that fishbowl, you see things differently. A lot of people look at it like it was such an honor. In the street, it was the highest achievement to be a made capo.
Who is John Pennisi?
Star wiseguy witness John Pennisi, who testified at three major trials last year, has launched a blog that pulls back the curtain on his Lucchese crime family “friends” — and has infuriated his federal handlers, Jerry Capeci writes in a report on Ganglandnews.com.
When was Joe Pennisi inducted into the Lucchese family?
Pennisi, who was inducted into the Lucchese crime family in 2013, according to Gang Land, started cooperating with the FBI about two years ago after a series of incidents convinced him the Luccheses had him wrongly pegged as a stoolie and marked for death, he testified in federal court last year.
Who said the hunters will no longer be glorified when the lion becomes the author?
But if anyone thinks the renegade mobster has gone all goombah-ya, he roars in bold print on the site, “The hunters will no longer be glorified when the lion becomes the author — John Pennisi.”. The blog is the latest sign that mobsters seek to be “connected” — to their fans.
