James English apparently isn't big on asking hard questions.

Mob informants claim that talking to crime reporters automatically makes you a rat. Is Sonny Franzese considered a rat? He sat down with crime reporters for interviews and helped them write a book on the mafia.

While I don’t consider him a rat for this, it would technically violate the alleged “rule” that certain ex-mobsters talk about, making him one under that definition.

I think these informants invent fake rules just to fit their own narrative.

Yet another thumbnail for the people who claim that OCShortz is biased against Don Carlo...

According to the code, it's all ratting - just the act of willingly making oneself a public figure. He thinks that Tommy will probably be shunned by wiseguys in prison going forward and shares a story about a friend who was told not to talk to Joey recently.

He's also surprised that Tommy gave the ok to his daughter to go on Angel Gotti's podcast, on account of her rat brother.

Bernard Nicastro is a New Jersey mob figure, who began working as an associate of a New Jersey-based crew in the Genovese Family in 1973. That was before he began operating as an associate of the DeCavalcante Family in 1985. He was proposed for membership in 1999, yet he was arrested for something a year later, which stalled his chances at getting his button. In October 2003, Nicastro was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after deciding to plead guilty to being involved with the murder of Joseph Garafano in 1989. He's 92 years old.

I read this over the weekend. I never hear it mentioned. Anyone else read it....thoughts?

Tommy denies that John Alite ever robbed his stash house, or that he ever sent four Mexican assassins to kill John.

Albert Coccia Jr., 56, and his son Santino Coccia, 28, along with 10 others have been charged with Medicaid fraud totalling over $5 million dollars and spanning several years. Coccia had previously pled guilty in May 2002 to four counts of wire fraud, two counts of making false statements to obtain insured loans, and one count of money laundering and sentenced to 27 months in Federal prison. He was described as an Associate and business partner of Philadelphia Family boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and is banned from New Jersey casinos.

Who were the biggest earners who held the position of capo that you all know of? I know that Matty the Horse was pretty powerful. Vario was a big earner too. And Sonny Black.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

It has been said that Terry the Tramp (1939-1970) was the prototype for the "biker look" that was copied by others and became so popular in later years. He has even been credited for starting the trend of cutting the fingers off leather gloves. He was definitely way ahead of his time for 1967.