Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family
Manufacturer: Touchstone
Average Rating: 4.5
List Price: $24.95
Offer Price: $12.46
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Product Description
Product Description
"Petey Chops wasn't kicking up. And if he didn't start soon, he was going to get whacked." So begins Making Jack Falcone, the extraordinary true story of an undercover FBI agent's years-long investigation of the Gambinos, which resulted in a string of arrests that crippled the organized crime family.
But long before Joaquin "Jack" Garcia found himself wearing a wire with some of the Mafia's top capos, he was one of the FBI's unlikeliest recruits. A Cuban-born American, Jack graduated from Quantico standing six-foot-four and weighing 300 pounds -- not your typical G-man. Jack's stature soon proved an asset as the FBI looked to place agents undercover with drug smugglers, counterfeiters, and even killers. Jack became one of the few FBI agents dedicated solely to undercover work.
Using a series of carefully created aliases, Jack insinuated himself in the criminal world, from the Badlands of Philadelphia, where he was a gregarious money launderer, to the streets of Miami, where an undercover Garcia moved stolen and illicit goods and brought down dirty cops. Jack jumped at the opportunity to infiltrate the shadowy world of La Cosa Nostra, but how would the Cuban-American convince wiseguys that he was one of their own, a Sicilian capable of "earning his button" -- getting made in the Mafia? For the first time, the FBI created a special "mob school" for Jack, teaching him how to eat, talk, and think like a wiseguy. And it wasn't long before the freshly minted Jack Falcone found himself under the wing of one of the Gambinos' old school capos, Greg DePalma. DePalma, who cared for an ailing John Gotti in prison, introduced Falcone to his world of shakedowns, beatings, and envelopes of cash, never suspecting that one of his trusted crew members was a federal agent.
A page-turning account of the struggle between law enforcement and organized crime that will rank with such classic stories as Donnie Brasco, Serpico, and Wiseguy, Making Jack Falcone is an unforgettable trip into America's underworld through the eyes of a highly decorated FBI veteran.
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Customer Reviews
Wow!
Rating: 5 (2008-12-02)
One word, Wow! I Could not put this book down. Read it in two days. How this Cuban born FBI Agent prepared for his role as a Sicilian and was able to infiltrate the Mob posing as one of their own, while working other undercover investigations, was simply AMAZING! It walks you through the other cases that he was assigned to and describes the many different roles that he played and how he was able to pull them all off so convincingly and without any suspicion. This book was so good I can not wait to read it again. Unlike other books where the undercover Agent or Detectives does not thank others who played a role in the success of their cases Agent Garcia can not stop acknowledging them. He also exposes a few of them for their inexperience in handling big cases. Those are great chapters because you really feel his frustration and disappointment with their management decisions.I will highly recommens this book to all.
Liked It
Rating: 5 (2008-12-02)
Took me four days to read this and it was great. This guy is a true hero and I'm proud that there are people like this out there fighting against drug dealers, crooked cops, counterfeiters, and terrorists. I can't wait to see the movie but there's no way they'll be able to cram in all the interesting stories he shared in the book.
I was most impressed by how the author did his job perfectly even when the FBI treated him unfairly. He kept in perspective that the people he was dealing with daily were the "bad guys" and he never succumbed to the temptations of their fast lives and skewed views.
The book mostly reads like a conversation which made it seemed like I was hearing these stories first hand. I recommend this book to readers of all interests.
good undercover story
Rating: 5 (2008-12-01)
this is a really good book detailing this detective's undercover work against some really bad people. I just read the steven sonderbourgh just opted to make this a movie as well.
Incredible Story
Rating: 5 (2008-11-30)
The Making of Jack Falcone is a riveting story that is portrayed perfectly! He is able to reach way into the minds of the criminals and at times has one believing they are the protagonist, only to quickly convince you of just how shocking and dire these people can be. This book is sure to win one over by the fabulous performance (If FBI agents could win academy awards this man would have cases and cases filled) as he juggles several different jobs and alias'. He is truly an individual to admire as he goes above and beyond the call of duty in his undercover work always mentioning and paying tribute to all those special FBI agents that put so much on the line each day. This modern day Donnie Brasco will defiantly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Amazing Tale of Heroism
Rating: 5 (2008-11-28)
This is truly an amazing story! I first saw this "larger than life" man on 60 minutes and then decided to read all about him on the internet. The next day I ordered his book and when I finished reading it, I was simply blown away and in awe of his many accomplishments. This man was the FBI's "wrecking machine" against the Mafia, Dope Dealers, Terrorist, and all types of criminals. He is a true Hero and Patriot. The FBI must be so proud of him. It's unfortunate that a few "incompetent managers" did not let him get "made" because of their political agenda and incompetence. If you enjoyed Wiseguy and Serpico then this book is for you. The book does not pull any punches and it was one that you just can not put down.