Mob Nemesis: How the FBI Crippled Organized Crime

by Joe Griffin, Don DeNevi

While J. Edgar Hoover was denying that there was such a thing as organized crime, in the forties, fifties, and sixties the mob was busy forming powerful syndicates in many northeastern cities. This book tells the fascinating, first-hand story of how FBI Special Agent Joe Griffin, with the help of a team of courageous professionals, succeeded through dogged determination and uncanny street smarts to convict major La Cosa Nostra leaders in Buffalo, Cleveland, Rochester, and Youngstown.Forget Hollywood's version of the mafia; this is the real inside story from a man who observed the day-by-day behavior of these "instinctual killers" and for whom "it was a matter of principle to destroy them." FBI Medal of Valor recipient Joe Griffin, with the help of writer/researcher Don DeNevi, provides intimate details of mob intrigue, drug deals, gambling rings, hits, bloody gangland wars, and even a plot to plant a "mole" in the Cleveland FBI office.All the more fascinating because it's true, Mob Nemesis is an engrossing story of the underworld from a man who took them on and won.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Robert Zabroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, good read on the history of the FBI

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like the book started to get repetitive near the end.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former FBI agent Joe Griffin did a fine job chronicling law enforcement activity he participated in against the Buffalo and Cleveland crime families. Readers will learn much about law enforcement tactics, as well as the structure and methods of the criminal organizations.

Unfortunately, Griffin did not limit his book to the areas with which he was personally acquainted. On those occasions when he strays outside of his personal expertise, he introduces errors. The reader should use caution with Griffin's descriptions of the early years of the American Mafia and of the later years of the Buffalo crime family.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mob Nemesis is a good little read. That said it does go into the history and details of FBI agent Joe Griffen’s involvement chasing Organized crime in the Buffalo area.

Has a decent intro and history of the Mafia in the Northeast and their origins. Gives good background on Stephon Magaddino and his crew out of the Upstate NY area.

Overall I would say worth reading for true Mafia buffs. If you have a goal of all things Mafia and some of the prosecution of them over the years, this is a good first hand account.

Also a good read if you like true crime stories in the non-fiction arena.

Over all I would give this one a straight 3. Decent read.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another me book! But I believe I would have followed Joe through the front door to effect an arrest. Definitely an agents agent!