Customer Reviews

The Boys from New Jersey: How the Mob Beat the Feds

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forget about "The Sopranos" - this is the real thing -- The New Jersey mob at its gritty and funny best. I've read a lot of "true" crime stories, but this one had me turning pages with all the anticipation of a suspense novel -- while laughing at the real-life antics of "The Boys." It's a treat to read.

Certainly worth the read, slow to start but when the story speeds up its pretty hard to put the book down.
In a nutshell, the Feds put together what they think is a watertight case against Lucchese capo Anthony Acceturo's New Jersey crew, but get more than they bargain for when the case reaches the courtroom, due in no small part to Martin Taccetta's attorney, one Michael Crithley.(Taccetta being Acceturo's protege and successor).
In a case that made history in the US, droning on for almost 2 years, the Feds roll out ex cons who have been planted in the Witness protection programm to put an end to thier one time partners in crime, only for Crithley to shoot them all down in flames, questioning the governments double standards in letting off convicted murderers and drug dealers,if they cut a deal with them,which sometimes might make you think that its the Feds on trial and not the Mob.
One of the main characters in an out of sorts thug called Jackie Dinorsico, who represents himself in the trial, and somehow stumbles his way through the trial,upsetting anyone that stands in his path.(the Judge and fellow defense attorneys included),and quite often humouring them.
Not your typical Mob read but definetly worth it, just to find out how 20+ mafia members and hangers on somehow managed to convince 12 weary srangers that it was the US government and not themselves were the bad guys after all.

This book nicely illustrates the powerful ways in which the modern mafia operates. It is an accurate account of how such an omnipotent organization avoids confrontations with the Feds, as well as ultimate prosecution. It is a gratifying, realistic and at times humorous book. It makes us come to the realization that the world is not what many have idealized it to be. With power, anyone can be a leader. This book is a MUST READ for anyone interested in modern organized crime!

When a friend of mine gave me this, I expected it to be another cliche-ridden book about the mafia. Boy, was I wrong. This is a really good account of how a very smart criminal defense lawyer turned a can't lose prosecution into a victory for some very interesting -- and not so bright -- ordinary citizens who just happened to be members of organized crime. I'm surprised this book has been out so long without being picked up for treatment on the big screen, with somebody like Kevin Spacey as the defense lawyer and Anthony Hopkins as the judge. Good gift for lawyers.

The people who gave this book a five star rating must be related to the author -- or maybe its the author himself. Honestly, as someone who has read almost every mafia book out there, this book is just so so. People should know that it focuses almost all of its attention on the New Jersey court case and not on the street action. Its more about lawyers and the justice system than it is about criminals and the street.

Hilarious-----and True!!! Better written, better styled than anything written by Jimmy Breslin or Murray Kempton. If a movie was ever made, danny deVito would be the star. I know of no other book more widely read in law enforcement circles than this. I know one law sch prof who made it required reading.

Although Anthony Acceturo doesn't endorse this book, records and witnesses back up Rudolph's story. Anyone who is a diehard fan of The Sopranos on HBO knows that the character of Tony Soprano is based Anthony Acceturo. Their fictional and nonfictional paths mirror one another to the present - except Acceturo is now free of the Mafia and a legit businessman.

I read this book from the perspective of a criminal defense lawyer who kind of specializes in long-ish federal cases. From that perspective, it's an amazing story about a 20 month long criminal trial. Amazing. I can't imagine (and I've tried cases that have gone 3 + months.)

However, if you aren't into trial procedure, you may find this heavy sledding. The writing style is "east coast newspaper" lots of tough guy prose and over-ripe metaphors. Which is fine, but a Pulitzer prize winner this ain't.

If you're still mourning the end of The Sopranos, The Boys from New Jersey will give you the fix you need. It's the non-fiction account of a mega mob trial that took place in Newark in 1986. Twenty-one members of the Lucchese crime family were tried, including class-clown Jackie "Fat Jack" DiNorscio and Michael Taccetta, rumored to be the model for "Tony Soprano." The defense attorneys, prosecutors, and defendants are as good if not better than similar characters you'd find in fiction, and the courtroom jockeying is fascinating. The events took place over twenty years ago, but this is a unique look into all aspects of a mob trial. If you like organized-crime stories or courtroom dramas, you won't be disappointed.

This true crime story should have been translated to film. It was well written and well paced. It outlined the government's war on organized crime which was taking place in every major city and locality in the country during the 1980's. It has been said that truth is stranger than fiction[this book is a must read which will validate the statement].