10 Things the Mob Didn't Know About Rev. Al



The Smoking Gun has compiled a lengthy report based on documents and interviews to tell the story of how Rev. Al Sharpton, beginning in the 1980s, worked as a mob informant for an organized crime task force of FBI agents and NYPD detectives (some of whom reportedly gave Sharpton up to the Smoking Gun).

We've put together a list of 10 things we believe the mob would love to know about Rev. Al.





  • Sharpton was pressured to cooperate after getting caught in a drug sting;
  • Sharpton used a specially equipped Hartman briefcase to record conversations;
  • Because of Sharpton’s undercover work, bugs were planted in two crime-family social clubs, including Gigante’s Village headquarters; three cars used by Mafiosi; and more than a dozen phone lines;
  • One case targeted Federico "Fritzy" Giovanelli, a Genovese soldier who drew a 20-year sentence for racketeering;



  • One of Sharpton’s main sources was Gambino soldier Joseph “Joe Bana’’ Buonanno. During 10 face-to-face chats, “Joe Bana just gave him a whole insight into how ‘Chin’ and [music-industry honcho] Morris [Levy] operated,’’ said an NYPD source with the joint FBI-Police Department Genovese Squad. Buonanno expounded on the mob’s past extortions and death threats and offered some details about Gigante, including the fact that the Oddfather was purportedly illiterate and “hates everyone not Italian";
  • Sharpton was considered the perfect mole for the FBI’s Mafia unit because of his existing connections to the underworld -- namely, through Genovese soldier Joseph Pagano, who was involved in entertainment-industry schemes for decades;
  • Sharpton allegedly told the feds he had an in with Pagano because he’d introduced him to boxer Muhammad Ali and his reps.

Sharpton currently hosts MSNBC’s "PoliticsNation."

He denied being paid to snitch and said he never carried a briefcase with a listening device.

He told the New York Post: “The article is embellished. The real story is I told the FBI about being threatened because I was a civil-rights leader helping black concert promoters,” Sharpton said.

Comments

  1. Do they do the slightest of research before they publish these articles? Gambino soldier Joe Bana's boss Vincent Gigante?

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    1. That was not a research issue it was a copy editing mistake. You think I don't know which family had the Chin as the boss? There is no "they" here; there is me. I operate this blog 100 percent alone. Comments like yours have me wondering if a competitor is systematically trying to.destroy my credibility.

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    2. I doubt it, I'm just an stickler for things like that. Fear not.

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    3. Enjoyed the article. I think most people realize it was just a simple editing error however it never fails to amuse me why people would take the time to leave negative feedback (under anonymous of course). -kj

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  2. I read the article in the NY Post. 1st thing he does as always "Plays the race card" saying calling him a Rat in the equivalent of using the N word just because he is black. SMH. I am sorry but a Rat is a Rat white or black purple green or orange. Anyone care to comment PLZ do because this is wrong on so many levels

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  3. love this site ED !!! man i wish the chin was still around to hear this about the race baiting RAT rev maybe he the rev would drop out of sight.

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  4. I loved Bo Dietl's claim that the NYPD referred to Rev Al as the "Fat Rat" back in the day. Hilarious.

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