Cosa Nostra News

Nick Christophers, who contributes articles to this site and has written several mob-related books, is in talks to make a big-screen version of  his novel Destinies. Nick also recently appeared in an episode for the new MobTV, a free, ad-supported streaming channel (think of a Netflix that shows mob-based films and television shows only). Poster for Destinies, based on novel by Nick Christophers. Nick will appear on MobTV with former Colombo mobster Larry Mazza  (who discusses MobTV in the podcast below). MobTV is the brainchild of Infamous Media, an independent company owned by Soprano’s writer and producer Terence Winter, the creator of Boardwalk Empire and executive producer of The Sopranos. Winter co-founded MobTV with Joe Poletto, a former HBO executive.  As per a Hollywood Reporter story published in December, "Infamous Media’s streaming offering will have free, ad-supported channels available to users; one of the first channels will be focused on mafia and other m...

The following by Nick Christophers tells the story of the relationship between William (Wild Bill) Cutolo and his son (and a wiseguy-in-progress)--as well as the the larger (and fatally consequential) story of the relationship between the two Cutolos and the Colombo crime family. William (Wild Bill) Cutolo Wild Bill was the underboss of the Colombo crime family. He was also a labor racketeer, among other things--including a father and husband who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. He was last seen near Shore Road and 92nd Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on May 26, 1999. He was 49. Cutolo's whereabouts remained unknown for nearly a decade, until 2008, when an informant tipped off Federal agents about where he was buried.   We've detailed the story of Wild Bill multiple times -- now, we'll let Nick tell it ..... Nick's story is jampacked with vivid detail that poignantly depicts, among other things, how Bill Jr. slowly came to the realization that something truly ...

Disqus, the comment platform, has been acting funny the past couple of days. This is a Disqus problem that will likely be addressed soon. (We hope.)  The Mob Museum  recently debuted a virtual book series to highlight recent and upcoming mob books, including by top authors in the genre. All events in the series are free and can be accessed via the web. (We include all pertinent links in the story below.) Cosa Nostra News' s own  Nick Christophers has signed on to participate in the event  and, on May 26, will discuss the history of the Greek mob in America, a topic that deserves more attention (in our humble opinion).  Nick will discuss and take questions regarding his recent  Mafia Ties: The Greek Syndicates.  (The book is currently in contract to be republished under the Canadian-based Coastal West Publishing imprint.)  Mafia Ties, which we read and heartily recommend, details the history of these wily Greek criminals who deftly fashioned c...

Photo is of Nicky Slick, on left, and Bonanno wiseguy Tommy Karate Pitera....  By Nick Christophers In a time where almost anything goes, wrongly incarcerated wiseguy Nicky (Nicky Slick) DiPietro may have a small chance of getting sprung after spending 18 years in prison for a crime some believe he did not do. LIFERS: Nicky Slick, left, Tommy Karate Pitera In 2000, Nicky and three other men were club hopping in South Philly. It was a night that would alter his life. One of the men with Nicky Slick that night we refer to as Blondie. They arrived at the venue Club Deco and were about to enter. The front door had a metal detector, but the back entrance did not. Nicky and one of the men entered through the front and “Blondie” and the other man went the back way. Once they were inside and mingled for a while a dispute arose near the dance floor. The dispute involved Blondie and another man, later known as Tad Green. Tad Green was a local drug dealer. Green supposedly owed Blondie money...

By Nick Christophers  I had the pleasure of visiting the Mob Museum not long ago and was floored by what it had to offer. As a mob historian the Museum offered me a journey that I will not soon forget.... The Las Vegas Mob Museum displays the bullet-riddled wall from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, among other things. Each floor offered a different layer of mob history that was exciting with surprising artifacts that only they could offer. From the bullet riddled wall of the St. Valentines Day Massacre to letters from Pablo Escobar it was wild to see. Of course, all the items go through a rigorous authentication process.  Geoff Schumacher the Museum’s vice president of exhibits and programs , plays a huge role in offering a memorable tour for the many visitors to the Museum.  Geoff first came to the Museum in 2014 only two years after it opened its doors. When he arrived, he worked on building the Museum’s internet presence (via social media platforms) and artifact ac...

UPDATED Bill Cutolo, former Mob Candy editor Nick Christophers, and John DeSalvo have launched a new podcast called Wise Guys Inc . The podcast available now features special guest Ronnie Kerner, "a bad ass mobster who was under mob boss Sonny Franzese of the Colombo family," according to the podcast's webpage on Soundcloud. See the Wise Guys Inc. Facebook page . Nick Christophers was the editor of Mob Candy magazine. He has authored several books, including the novels  Destinies Vol II - No Honor Among Thieves  and  Destinies , and the non-fiction works,  Mafia Ties - The Greek Syndicates , and Prison Rules  (with John Alite). John DeSalvo is a former University Professor and Dean, an author, and a TV and radio personality. Billy Cutolo is the son of former Colombo underboss William (Wild Bill) Cutolo. Wild Bill had been promoted to underboss of the Colombo crime family following the third Colombo war. In 1999, Cutolo was last seen en route to that meeting (ir...

CAPONE, formerly FONZO, directed by Josh Trank, will be released via streaming services on May 12 ( see trailer below; it's there now ), centers on late-period Alphonse Capone, who's no longer the untouchable crime boss. In failing health, the former lord of the Chicago Outfit is haunted by the violence that made him public enemy number one. Tom Hardy plays titular character in Capone. Nick Christophers -- who has several books out, including Prison Rules with John Alite -- wrote the following, which stars Tom Hardy as the titular character. Ever since we saw him as Bob Saginowski in The Drop (2014), we knew Tom Hardy could play a realistic street guy. Now Hardy -- looking legitimately menacing -- is playing one of the wealthiest, most powerful mobsters of all time. Nick spoke with Kathrine Narducci (who plays sister Rosie Capone) and Al Sapienza (who plays Big Al's brother Ralphie Capone). Sapienza and Narducci are both veterans of The Sopranos ... Narducci, who ...

We recently spoke with Nick Christophers and John Alite about their new book, Prison Rules , which was written to tell first-time offenders what they can expect inside the joint. Nick Christophers, left, and John Alite, authors of Prison Rules .  " John Alite is candid and genuine ," Nick said in a recent interview. (Nick occasionally writes for Cosa Nostra News , and we've been trying to get him to write some more. He's currently shopping what we think is the definitive book about the Greek Mafia .) It's been years since we first wrote about former Gambino associate John Alite . That first story, John Alite Blasts Mob Hypocrisy , was published in Jauary 2015. ( We've always been in awe of his ability to woo some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful women we've quite literally ever seen.) Prison Rules is John's third book -- after Gotti's Rules: The Story of John Alite, Junior Gotti, and the Demise of the American Mafia , and D...