Digital Social Hour - Prison to Podcast: A Real Goodfella's Redemption Story | Gene Borrello DSH #997

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Starting point is 00:01:05 Perfect for all you forward thinkers and planning gurus. Reserve your Uber ride up to 90 days in advance. Uber Reserve, see Uber app for details. Damn, tenure. Oh, it could take 10 years. Genevieve's Cam, you gotta be on record. For 10 years, you would be considered. Holy crap.

Starting point is 00:01:20 So, you know, like I said, the mob is much different. That's why we're so organized, and that's why the FBI hated us so much because how organized we are and structured and how we went by the rules. You went with a main man's wife, you die. You've put your hands on a member, you're dead. You know, these rules were very strict

Starting point is 00:01:35 and they had to go by them. And that's how they survived, you know. I don't know. All right guys, Scott, Gene, Borello out here. Thanks for coming out, man. That's going on, man. Thank you for having me. Yeah, we were talking out there. You said you had the first mafia show ever. Yeah. So what happened was um

Starting point is 00:01:51 When I got out in 2020 I didn't know what I was gonna do. I was you know a mob guy in the street my whole life So I didn't know you know, what can I do? I had a family friend in Johnny Elight Johnny Elight was a hitter for the Gambino family. He already was out there doing talking so him and Mike Francis get interviews Just interviews. I mean so when me and Johnny got together he put me on a show on a big podcast Called Vlad TV. Yeah, I came out of Vlad only did ten minutes on there, but everyone know what was I was a modern-day guy They there's no such thing as that, know everyone's old school old school, so Me and Johnny's came up with this idea, and he says what if we started a podcast

Starting point is 00:02:30 like for organized crime so you're down so Long story short we end up doing it and it just blows up and then every other ex-mops It just followed suit you know yeah, and that's exactly how it happened You know and then the government basically took it from me. You know I was still on probation And that's exactly how it happened, you know, and then the government basically took it from me, you know I was still on probation So you got locked up and they had to put a hole well, they kept there They kept violating me for the show because you were traveling to film. No sitting next to an ex-con They were mad that we were putting other cooperators on the show

Starting point is 00:02:57 That was they still want to use one they can put us in the newspaper. The government was going crazy They want them you off so they ended up starting violating me for it. Damn. I ended up doing like 20 months in violations. Jeez. Yeah. Then you had to go to a prison for that? MDC Brooklyn. Holy crap.

Starting point is 00:03:12 Yeah, they kept putting me in out ankle monitors. We saw my probation, they were coming at me. Jeez. Are you fine with free of all that? I'm done, no more probation. No more ankle monitors? Yeah. Jeez.

Starting point is 00:03:20 So you can't even start it again now or? I can, but you know, me and Johnny, he's in Jersey now. I'm over in Florida. So we don't want to do it through or I can but you know me and Johnny he's in then in Jersey now I'm over in Florida, so it's we don't want to do it through zoom So we try to get together, but he's in Europe right now So we had it going back for a little while and then we got demonetized to some things that we were saying got it So we got me yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah not well, but you know, he was good friends of my family and he went to jail But 2003 I was just starting in the street, you know, yeah, but um, yeah, I knew his kids very well Did you know he was a hitman at the time? Of course. I mean, I wouldn't know what he did

Starting point is 00:03:54 Wow, and is that a pack you wanted to follow? Yeah, are you realish? Yeah, I wanted to be like, you know those guys, you know, that's my whole life. That's what I want to what drew you to Specifically the hitman route though, or just saw just I wanted to be an organized crime. Okay No, I want to be a mob guys born into it. My uncle was a captain My cousin was a hitter for the game being those You know, I just had it all around me. Yeah, you know, so and Howard Beach Queens I mean where you from Jersey Central Jersey. All right, so Queens when I'm from Howard Beach is like a mafia soul pop But we have four bosses living in the fight the five. Yeah with hundreds of guys associates

Starting point is 00:04:28 So you walk out your house is just organized crime, you know, and that was your whole life That's your whole life. Holy crap. Yeah any of those guys still around to there? Most of them are dead or doing life or you know cooperating. Yeah, it's the same outcome for all of us Yeah, you know, it's probably not many Michael saying he only knows like one guy. Well, here's the thing for the generation now they'll survive because they're not doing the things that we were doing. There's no more violence. There's no more facing a lot of time. When I was coming up guys are facing life, shootings, murders, this, that. All they're doing now is loan sharking and bookmaking. What are you gonna get? Eight years? No one's cooperating. You know what eight years is? You know what I'm saying? So it's like,

Starting point is 00:05:02 they'll never experience what we had to experience. Yeah, so there's no more violence gone I was gone. No more hits. No, they were gone. There's been a murder in ten years. Holy crap Yeah, that's actually crazy cuz they're known for that. Yeah, that's gone. They took the murder eyes because of the Rico's just scared Yeah, it's just that and it turns makes people cooperate, you know when you face a life in prison and you know The murders is what brought the brought the rocks, you know Do you think it'll ever get to the the peak heyday of like might not set 40s to 80s was the peak yeah 90s was pretty crazy you know it's yeah I mean by these are pretty nuts John Gotti right yeah he was a 70s 80s but 90s was still

Starting point is 00:05:38 really wild you know so I would say if 40s and 90s I would say how's oh no that's when you were in it right now yeah late late late 90s and caught up to a land of yeah, and then they start bringing up Don't get me wrong. We were still nuts like like my circle early 2000s. We were still out of our minds Oh, yeah, we were operating like we were in the 80s. Did you want attention? No, but uh To prosper in that life. We felt like you know money and violence was the way to prosper Right now and that's what I did. Were you trying to climb the ranks? Yeah, you know, but it's not like a gang where your blood and our blood and say Bet MGM is an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League and has your back all season long. From puck drop till the final shot, you're always taken care of with the sportsbook Born

Starting point is 00:06:20 in Vegas. That's a feeling you can only get with Bet MGM. And no matter your team, your favorite skater, or your style, there's something every NHL fan is going to love about BetMGM. Download the app today and discover why BetMGM is your hockey home for the season. Raise your game to the next level this year with BetMGM, a sportsbook worth a celly, and an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League. BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. Must be 19 years of age or older to wager.

Starting point is 00:06:48 Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connex Ontario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Terms and conditions for our different programs and policies apply details at phys.ca. My friend, you're blood now. Don't work like that with us. You gotta be on record with a crew for a certain amount of time. This episode of Digital Social Hour is brought to you by BetterHelp. Making it easy and affordable to access online therapy, give it a try at betterhelp.com slash dsh and get on your way to being your best self. The holidays are a tricky time of the year

Starting point is 00:07:41 for a lot of people and I like to stay cozy and warm at home with my favorite movies and a warm blanket and also some BetterHelp. With a lot of time to reflect during the winter months, therapy is a great way to embrace what's on our mind and find comfort that doesn't leave us even as the holidays fade away. Even if you've never tried therapy or always wondered about its effects, BetterHelp's online therapy option can be a helpful tool to learn about positive coping mechanisms and set boundaries that will aid you in years and events to come.

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Starting point is 00:08:28 with the freedom to switch therapists anytime for no additional charge. Find peace and comfort this December with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com slash dsh today to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L- L P dot com slash D S H. You got to show them that you could do time. We are back then you got to put work in everything to become a member which could take you 10 years. Damn

Starting point is 00:08:54 tenure. Oh it could take 10 years. Genevieve's family you gotta be on record for 10 years you would be considered. Holy crap. So I mean you know like I said the mob is much different that's why we're so organized and that's why the FBI hated us so much because how organized we are and structured and how we went by the rules You went with a made man's wife you die you've put your hands on a member you dead you you know These rules were very strict, and they had to go by them, and that's how they survived you know Did you face any near-death experiences absolutely had five attempts in my life damn five? Yeah, was that after you switched or?

Starting point is 00:09:25 No, before. Oh, before. Street life, living that crazy life. Did they put a hit on you? No, yeah, you know, beefing and then they tried to kill me and they shot my elder friend. It was just a lot of crazy stuff I went through, you know? Holy crap.

Starting point is 00:09:36 My life was moving, you know? That's why I'm getting a TV show pretty much. You know? I've been feared, dad, you're just used to it. I was used to it, you know, they tried to kill me in my house with a machine gun. They'd shoot me from my house with a shotgun. I mean, I've been through it, you know, they tried to kill me in my house with a machine gun, they just shoot me from my house with a shotgun, I mean I've been through it all, man. So.

Starting point is 00:09:49 Holy crap. Yeah. And you had no like warning, it just happened? Yeah. Oh, you don't see it coming, man. We don't operate like that. I was walking in a room and you don't walk in. You don't see it coming, you know.

Starting point is 00:09:58 Any meetings you took where you were like, this might be my... Yeah, so I had stuck up a social club, which is where mob guys hang out me my partner I tell this story a bunch of podcasts, but this is when I thought We got stuck up, but I'll cut to the chase. We did sell more unsupposed So we stuck up a card game and we had to go to the funeral parlor basement Well, that's what I was thankful. Holy crap. I wasn't even gonna go and you talked your way out of it No But it was kind of like situated where we would just get a little beaten from our people and you know

Starting point is 00:10:24 Give the stuff back and then that was it. So going to card games and robbing them was a big thing for you? Depth. It's Depth, pal. So you weren't about to do it? No, we were doing it though. Both do it. Yeah, so you know, but um you definitely get killed all that. There's a scene to die in what's that movie? Good Follas? Where they rob a card game? That was not a different movie. It's Sopran It's a prano. Oh, yeah But yeah, we were sticking up food on our own robberies. That's how I started off with my ponders We do a lot of scores and then um, you know

Starting point is 00:10:52 We went to long shock and sports bat and then now we got recruited by the banana family and then we started to work for them Mmm, were they the biggest family out of the five this there's no bigger family than the other I guess you may kind of say at one time the Gambino's were the biggest But usually they like to keep it equal. Nobody's above anybody in their life. That's how when you learn that out of the five families No one's above anybody. You're on the role equal. You're a member. You're a member. There's no difference You know, okay, what family you from you still get the same respect and they work together, right? The family do yes, but when it comes down to like beef, they'll take you know, there's odds We usually yeah, we're all friends

Starting point is 00:11:23 You know, I have friends that have all the crews and families and we did things together but you got to be careful it's a lot of rules that you can't get a fault in their beefs you know there's a lot of things you know I mean it's a lot of technicality should I say you know were you are in any beefs with certain families any wars at the con um no more with Albanians Albanians we used to fight with them a lot but yeah it was definitely beefs within us you know I? Like crews or people that would be for each other inside the crew. That happens a lot, you know? What happened with Albanians? They didn't like us when they came over.

Starting point is 00:11:53 So they were trying to run all the Italians out of their spots. Yeah. And they weren't having it. Oh, so we got violent. Very violent. They were dragging mob buys out of their restaurants. Whoa. Yeah, it got really crazy in the Bronx, in certain areas. It was getting wild, you know Holy crap. I didn't know that. Yeah, but Italians are the biggest well we were and then we softened up because The generation started getting richer and richer, you know, they weren't hungry no more You know, their grandpas and fathers paved the way for these kids not to do anything no more So why they in the street run around with guns? Yeah, Albinians are coming over starving like we did originally got out. So it it cycles cycles. So right now, where do you think they're up?

Starting point is 00:12:27 Get groceries delivered across the GTA from real Canadian superstore with PC Express Shop online for super prices and super savings try it today and get up to $75 in PC optimum points Is it superstore.ca to get started off? Yeah, it's I am mafia? Yeah. It's dead. It's completely dead. Pretty much dead. It's there. It'll always be there. You'll always have your sports bet and your legal gambling, your extortion, unions, things, but the real organized crime,

Starting point is 00:12:54 the fear of being killed, of shot, you know, that's gone. Yeah. You know. All the movies. That stuff is all gone, yeah. Yeah. Are any of those shows or movies an actor? Yes, Goodfellas is so active.

Starting point is 00:13:04 Oh, really? Yeah, it's my neighborhood, basically. back here. Yes good fellas. It's so I go really Yes, my neighbor basically. That's my favorite one. I worked for the guy who's charged a little tons I worked from personally really Vinny, Isara. Did you have input on movie? No, no, no, I'm saying but he was charged with that La Tansa I worked for him. Oh, wow later on in life. That was my boss. Oh, yeah. What was that? He was psychotic You're fucking that job that he's sour and knows who he is. He's a psychopath, you know, well, he was I got along with him But he was crazy. Okay, what happened? He died in the time in an anti-prison art. No done. Oh shit Yeah, but he was just a psychopath. He had beat that trial not guilty. No charges. Yeah. Yeah, how many times did they try to?

Starting point is 00:13:41 Attrall you I did 13 years total in prison just the first trial guy. No just no I mean in and out I did they try to out trial you? Uh, I did 13 years total in prison. Just the first trial guy? No, just, no, I mean, in and out. I did 13 years to my life. But, you know, I've been through many cases. Geez, you met some interesting people in prison I want to go through so... Oh, yes I have. So I'm a big crypto guy, so when I... you met Sandbaked and Free. I can't say... I looked at a hole for Sandbaked and Free. That's crazy.

Starting point is 00:13:59 Yeah. What was he like? He was weird. It was super weird, but, you know, I mean I mean you know he didn't fit in you know Um I thought he's gonna get life look 50 years He was supposed to um for what I was told the only reason why he didn't get the 50 or 75 years He was opposed to his cuz his victims actually said not to do that to him really the people that were robbed for the money Well, he got like 20 25 though. I had 27. I don't agree with giving him that much time for really my I just don't

Starting point is 00:14:25 What I don't think I know guys that have premeditated murder that get 20 years in the feds. You know, I don't understand, you know killing someone and taking money. You think it's different? It's so different. It does not fit. You're not supposed to get five years. They'll call you to sell money back. You don't belong getting 30 years a hundred years for taking money. I'm sorry. I think they wanted to make an example, because it was so big. No, yeah, that's exactly what it was, but at the end of the day, it don't fit. It don't make sense. I have friends with murders, I'm telling you. Kill people, 30 years, 27 years.

Starting point is 00:14:53 It just doesn't make sense to me. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's right. Was he targeted right away in there? No, yeah, not really, but you could see they were going to me. Yeah, I mean, a... They got money, so they're coming to help. Tons of money, yeah.

Starting point is 00:15:04 So you had a... you got money, so they're... Tons of money....to help and... Tons of money, yeah. Yeah, so you had a... you stepped in there, right? Yeah, I tried to get him. I ended up fighting the kid, getting him, and I went to the hole from the box, so... Geez, how long were you in there? Uh, I did a total on that bit. I did like 90 days in the hole, man.

Starting point is 00:15:18 Dude. Yeah, we just went all crazy. Oh, yeah, I was. You know, but I've done lots of hole times time so I was not used to it but you know, it sucks but you gotta do it. It's not you can do about it. There's nothing you can do. You're there. It's it. You're not going nowhere. You could scream. You could cry. You could take. You're not going nowhere. You got the Bible though, right? You know, you bother yourself. You know what I mean? There's nothing you're doing. Were you reading the Bible? I was. I don't know what I was doing. Right. Pacing. Do you think they should remove the hole? These prisons?

Starting point is 00:15:45 They never will. Actually the state is trying to. The government will put you in the hole for 18 months. Man, I don't even care. The feds is fucked up, man. The state is a lot better now than the feds. The feds is really fucked up right now. So you gotta go to a state president on a... Yeah, feds is really fucked up right now. They'll put your investigation, put you in all the six months. Holy shit. And then tell you the investigation's up and then... So they don't like you, you're five. Well, not that they don't like you, it's just that their punishments are a lot more harsh. Yeah. Which prison was the toughest for you?

Starting point is 00:16:12 Rikers Island. It's probably one of the worst prisons I've ever been to. I don't know. So violent. Oh, really? Chaotic. Level four. It's just beyond that. I mean, it's just chaos. I mean, it's just no structure. It's just five boroughs at war. Oh, all the mob guys are there?

Starting point is 00:16:29 No, all the gang members are there. Oh, no mob guys are there. Oh, shit, so you had no one there? No one there. It's just all gangs. Damn. Just killing each other all day. Holy shit, so you were just on your own in the middle? Oh, yeah. You know, it was just crazy.

Starting point is 00:16:41 Jesus. Yeah, it was a horror show. I just went to Alcatraz. they got rid of that one quick. That's gone. People couldn't handle that one. No. I think when you're on an island, there's just psychologically, you're like.

Starting point is 00:16:50 Yeah, it's still Pelican Bay, right? Is that not Pelican Bay? Is that one of the best I've done in California? I haven't heard about one. Yeah, that's one of the bad ones. I mean, there's still a lot of bad spots in California and stuff like that, but New York, the worst place is Riga Zile.

Starting point is 00:17:04 New York in general, the core system, system 96% of its conviction rate. Yeah. It's like the worst state to vote a court in. Yeah. Yeah. Is that where you did yours? Yeah. All New York. Yeah you're not winning there. No you're not. But I'll tell you one thing. Their federal circuit is better than any other federal circuit. Really? Oh yeah. You go to other circuits their time is way more. Wow. They give a lot more time out in the feds and other states. I wonder why. New York actually is the best place to be sentenced for federal.

Starting point is 00:17:30 I didn't know that. It's just not for state though. State you're getting. State yeah, but if you go to other states like for federal, it's absolutely horrifying. Wow. They give you 20 years for a pound of dope. Holy shit. Holy damn dang it.

Starting point is 00:17:43 It's crazy other states, you know, federal is- And now wheat's legal and cheaper so jail. Well if you cross state. It's crazy. Other states, you know, federal says and now we eat legal and keep our soldier out. Well, if you cross state lines, it's not right. Yeah. Is you ever getting drug game when you were robbing drug dealers? We did a lot of that. There are robbing drug dealers. We did a lot of I've sold drugs, obviously, but we were robbing them. When you were planning these robberies, how intricate was it? I'm much planning went into it or was it on the spot?

Starting point is 00:18:03 No, this is odd. We were doing it professionally. Casing it up. We were doing it professionally, yeah. Yeah, professionally you're doing it. Yeah. We're tracking devices on you. No shit. Yeah, watching you, you know, decoy cars, nice cars, high end cars with different plates on them, you know, different people follow you, you know, kidnap you,

Starting point is 00:18:21 you know, a few before, stuff like that. I didn't know that much when I knew it. Yeah, doing a lot. What was the biggest score? Well, we hit jewelry stores as well. So I mean, I've hit a jewelry store for, well, they said it was 2 million, but it wasn't. It was 1 million, but yeah, I hit 1 million.

Starting point is 00:18:36 You don't got a million buried somewhere? No, no, I wish. Well, they're going to say that for the insurance claim. Yeah, oh, they did, exactly. That was in 2005, we hit it in the middle of it. Damn, 2 million back then. Yeah, we hit it in the middle of it. Damn, two million back then. Yeah, we hit it in 2005, that was. Holy crap.

Starting point is 00:18:48 It was almost 20 years ago. I had the biggest jewelry thief on the show. I'm trying to remember his name, dude. There's a bald guy. But yeah, he said he hit. Jewelry was a good one. Yeah, I was a big guy. I was a big school guy.

Starting point is 00:18:57 I liked the heists, you know? I liked a lot of stuff. He liked the adrenaline. Yeah, I did. I was a stick-up guy, you know? I did a lot of stuff like that. But you know, in general, I was just a ballsy dude. So, you know, I liked a lot of stuff like that But you know in general, I was just a ballsy dude. So, you know, I like the less stuff Yeah, you also met a fatty wopper person. How's my buddy? Yeah, I was a fatty while he's in right now, right?

Starting point is 00:19:11 Yeah, he came six years and that's when you met him recently. Yeah, but I'm in prison. Yeah, he was a cool guy I'm I was shocked when he got busted for drugs. I know well his situation is kind of messed up, but you know, I Could tell you one thing. He's a good person i know him very well i didn't think he was gonna be cool like that he actually was really really yeah cool guy like you were allowed because usually they separate the reason no no we're all together really yeah he was cool he was cool guy okay because i thought the blacks were separate nah no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no Everybody was hanging. Which Christmas was that? Uh, MDC Brooklyn. Okay. Wow. You got your clicks, but everybody was friendly with you, Shelley. Because the movies you just see, like... That's like penitentiary stuff.

Starting point is 00:19:49 I'm just gonna go behind the walls and stuff like that, you know? Yeah. Any attempts on your life in prison or were they all outside? No, mostly outside. But I was in a lot of jail beach, but mostly everything was straight. I feel that. Yeah. But you're completely...

Starting point is 00:20:00 Done. You're done with it? Yeah, I've been done. You know, I go to jail enough for stupid shit. You know, like, not even jail. I just get, uh... Dumb shit. Viol Yeah, I've been done. You know, I go to jail enough for stupid shit. You know, like not even jail. Dumb shit. Violation, probation, stuff with your girl, you know, shit like that.

Starting point is 00:20:11 Bullshit. Nonsense. Nothing that I was known for, because that was the case I've been doing life. How do you fight off those adrenaline urges though? Well, I just know I don't want to die in jail. That's what's going to happen. You know what I mean? You're going to get caught.

Starting point is 00:20:24 Nobody gets away. You get away for mean? You're gonna get caught. Nobody gets away. You get away for only a certain amount of time and then it's the same man that you're gonna tell everybody. Yeah. So reflecting where you're at now and seeing all your peers either gone or in jail, how does that feel?

Starting point is 00:20:34 Everyone's gone or jail or cooperative or whatever I know. Does that make you question like, why did I survive this? Yeah, everyone says that. I don't know how I made it to the 40 years old that I am right now. It's aggressive. I'm not supposed to be. For your the 40 years old that I am right now. You know what I mean? I'm not supposed to be.

Starting point is 00:20:46 For your mouth? For like, oh, you did it. Absolutely. I was, you know, I was on my mind. I think someone's got a plan for you, dude. Yeah, I think so. I really believe that this TV show is going to crack off. I think that's what it's supposed to be.

Starting point is 00:20:57 I think, and my neighborhood really wants that. But it's going to talk about like the five boroughs and the neighborhood and the modern day mafia. And I think everyone's going to really love that shit. What's the premise of the show? So it's basically about modern-day mafia. Everyone always has my friends. He's your hang on, right? Yeah, he's from the 70s the 80s John got all those guys have been 70s the 80s I'm the only guy here with the modern day giving you all the stuff from our day. So, you know, it's something new It's like a modern-day what went on in mafia and our time, right? Did you ever deal with Godi?

Starting point is 00:21:25 The grandkid worked for me. Oh, yeah. Yeah one of his grandsons was my guy. Oh, wow. Yeah So he would tell you stories about him. Well, no, I mean like my uncle's my uncle was above him at one time You know my grandpa knew him, you know, I was like a soap opera. We all know each other, you know I never met him but you know, obviously, you know what all my friends families worked for him and people like that You know, yeah his friends, families worked for him and people like that, you know? Yeah, his downfall was rough. Yeah, he knew it, but you know, I gotta say, he knew what his outcome was and he was okay with it. Oh, he was okay with it? He was okay, he knew he was gonna die in prison. He was the most watched guy in America at one time.

Starting point is 00:21:54 I mean, he knew where he was going. He killed Paul Kasselow in the middle of the fucker street in front of a steakhouse. You know, he knew where he was going, he had the, you know, thousands of people on there, he knew where he was going, he wanted to go people on there. He knew where he was going. He wanted to go out like that. Did you know he killed him right away or did it take... I mean, I was a baby, but obviously everyone blamed him. Yeah, him and Sammy, right?

Starting point is 00:22:14 Yeah, he was the new boss. Have you ever talked to Sammy? Yeah, I was on a show with him. Oh, you were? Yeah, a few times. I was just with him in Beverly Hills. Oh, nice. What was that like? Cool. I like Sammy. Yeah, he's man. His show is awesome. Yeah, he's cool Sammy man, he's got me and my cousin Anthony did it together. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it was cool Yeah, cuz I know he had a lot of a lot of enemies. Oh my god

Starting point is 00:22:33 Kill a lot of people he might have the record right? No, I don't the record. Yeah, but he's got a lot of murders for mafia He's got to be out there. He's up there, but you know, you got guys like Tommy karate Gregory Scarpa grow the Mayo this guy's killed 50 plus people. Holy shit. Yeah, it's a whole new bulking 50 plus Oh easy. Yeah, so back then it was easier to do it Yeah, they do it these guys were serial killers, you know, they were me killing without the mafia. Yeah, that's right I say yeah 50 plus I mean, yeah Tommy karate They claim is who know they say the numbers are cannibal. She's. Yeah, serial killer, murder and fuck, Gregory Scroppa too. Gregory Scroppa goes back to the 50s,

Starting point is 00:23:08 killing people all the way to the 90s. God damn. Yeah. They're finding bodies in the Lake of Vegas. Oh. Every other year. Oh, absolutely. Damn, the mom was big in Vegas, right? Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:23:18 And uh, So that was a few miles, though. That was Chicago, mom. That was a Chicago mom. It doesn't seem like anymore, they're, No, they're all gone. It's all it's all watered down The only thing left is the five boroughs really and it's not really like no nothing really damn Yeah, it's not like what about in Italy is it still big in Italy? Absolutely

Starting point is 00:23:32 So why did it survive there? But not the u.s. Because the laws and the way the world works It's just much different over there You know I mean same reason why Canada is still crazy with the mafia Canada's they have no Rico. Oh So is the Rico that yeah, all right where kind of killing everybody. They kill each other out there all the time. Wow, so that Rico was really effective then. Absolutely. You get life for nothing. Right, and they would get like 20 guys at once. Oh forget it. They created that war to get the people that were the puppet masters. Right. Get the guys in the shadows. You were probably freaking out when that came out. No, I mean I was young. I wasn't even known, but I

Starting point is 00:24:03 know when I got hit with it. I can't tell what it does to you. Yeah, everyone around you, you know what I'm saying? What percentage of people switch when that hits? It depends. You know what I mean? Like, I was a guy facing forever in a day. So most of the time you won't cooperate unless you're facing like, you know, life, 30 years, 40 years.

Starting point is 00:24:21 Most guys I know. You know, most of my friends that cooperated got five murders, three murders, even more than a murder, see what I'm saying? That filthy Casey, I mean, I don't know. You cooperated for about five years, you're a jerk off. You should have never been in the street. You know what I'm saying? You should have never even thought about coming out

Starting point is 00:24:35 of your house and doing anything. You know? So if you didn't cooperate, what would have happened? I became a member and I would be running around these cruel, I'd be in prison right now, actually doing a lot more time. Wow. So you now have the right move. Yep.

Starting point is 00:24:49 And it was probably the toughest decision you've ever made in your life, right? Yes, yeah it was. Cause you lost all your friends. I lost shit. Oh you did? No. People didn't?

Starting point is 00:24:56 People loved me, man. They knew the situation. I was in my cousin wore a wire on me, everyone told on me that my little brother got a gun charge. I was in such a bad position, you know what I'm saying? I got fucked over royally. Oh sure. Um, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, like decent you know I'm saying but I was more of like the violent guy I was a lot of dirty work but at my heart I was making like 40,000 a month plus cause you know I'm saying yeah but you had a second with up too so yeah I was I was about to start making some my boss making 400,000 I'm a holy shit yeah which boss was a Ronnie G Alonzo okay was he on that top 50 list they made no what he should be yeah yeah up here the millions of dollars he lived in a three-million dollar house, you know, he's big money

Starting point is 00:25:49 Which boss do you think have the most money? I would say a ball time Wow, it's a tough one. I mean mine was big Joe Massino had a lot seven million gold balls in his house I mean you have a bunch of these guys It's hard to say but they say Frank Castello was the richest gangster ever So and he was one of the first so yeah, okay. What about recent ones though? Right now There's so much money. I don't know you can't even say you know, there's a loan charting, right? Yeah, you know, you know, they just have so many businesses and so many things you don't even know. Yeah, cuz now they're cleaning it

Starting point is 00:26:20 Right, they're putting in business and means dolls. Let these guys have you know, real estate. Yeah. Yeah, that's crazy Was there any activity in Jersey when you were part of it? I we didn't deal with them you didn't do it Yeah, I really do a Jersey over there You know I mean there is this Cruz branches off in there, but we didn't really deal with them Got it cuz it's a brand knows with Jersey. Yeah, absolutely That's more 80 sopranos based on for guy named something in the ocean and that was like a long time ago You know the 80s. Yeah, how accurate was that show? Pretty accurate. Really? Yeah, okay You never know what these movies and shows. Yeah, it's pretty accurate

Starting point is 00:26:49 You know and then you have consultants on these shows remember that like me on the low But it might have been a mob guy to Jersey and they pay them to give them stories. So that's how they get stories Oh, I feel a hump to see your show man. Why does that job? Well, we know work on it right now You know, he's had a nice meeting yesterday, we're trying to get this thing rolling. Oh God. Cool. Anything else you're working on? Um, so I might come out with a podcast again.

Starting point is 00:27:11 I was thinking about it. Uh, you know, I was doing it again with John Eli, but, um, I'm thinking about doing a solo and trying to go onto like my own platform. I was, I was thinking about it, you know, but I got a lot of things going on. I really want to focus on that TV show because that's what I really want. You know, that's, that's my goal. Yeah, we'll link your stuff below man. And if you do start a pod, I'll help you out. I'll get you a rumble. See you.

Starting point is 00:27:30 Get demonetized. That's cool man. Thank god. Thanks for coming out. Yeah, absolutely man. Yeah, thanks for watching guys. See you tomorrow.

Digital Social Hour - Prison to Podcast: A Real Goodfella's Redemption Story | Gene Borrello DSH #997

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