Blood and Volume: Inside New York's Israeli Mafia

by David Copeland

In the 1980s, a multi-million dollar drug distribution and contract murder syndicate led by murderous gangsters Johnny Attais rose to prominence in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Calling themselves the Israeli Mafia, the group Attias, along with pals Ran Efraim and Ron Gonen, richer than they had ever dreamed, but brought on troubles they never expected. In Blood & Inside New York's Israeli Mafia, author Dave Copeland gives an exclusive and never-before revealed look into one of the most successful Israeli gangs ever to operate on American soil. While the book gives readers an intimate portrait of Gonen, Efraim, and Attias, the book focuses most deeply on the life and crimes of Ron Gonen. A charismatic rogue, Gonen lived life in the fast lane and eventually spiraled out of control. Blood & Volume is filled with paranoid mobsters, clever scams, deep betrayals, and the struggles Gonen faced as he tried to find redemption and do the right thing by his young daughter and his family. Readers will see firsthand the crimes that could have propelled Gonen and his gang to the top of the New York underworld--if he hadn't agreed to cooperate with federal law enforcement officials.

Genres: Crime

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2007

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is far outside the typical books I gravitate to but the COVID19 lockdown was a perfect opportunity to push me outside my comfort zone to read something different. Like my other reviews, this rating is based on my personal preference (like, really like, love) not the quality of the book itself. I typically enjoy a lighter, easier to digest book, and this was not a light read. There was no fluff or filler at any point. If I happened to get distracted during any paragraph, it was immediately apparent I missed an important piece of information and would need to circle back to reread. Decades of Ron Gonen's complicated personal and professional life was meticulously outlined in great detail and concise manner. Quite an impressive feat since there were scores of transactions, with dozens of people, over multiple continents, bouts of drug addiction, cancer, mob hits, and arrests. My head was spinning just trying to keep it all straight. While I was always interested in what was happening, I wasn't really rooting for Ron or his family as his story unfolded. The last chapter was my favorite because his life slowed down enough for me to finally feel more for Ron personally than I could in the busier chapters. If you like True Crime stories, there is a lot for a fan to unpack in this book. I do recommend it.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should disclose that the author is a good friend of mine, so perhaps I am biased. I have, however, read several true crime books, and this is among the best. Copeland maintains a writer's detachment and doesn't allow the book to become a forum for his subject to justify his crimes or lifestyle. I also enjoyed learning about a part of the underworld I had never encountered before.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got a ton of great reviews but for some reason I could not get into the story or main character. The challenge was Geffen was maily a solo operator so I became exhausted with his personal issues as opposed to being a look into the mafia.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you listen to fools the Israeli mob rules. They had by far one of the quickest run in the New York crime scene. The Italians and the Columbians have been around forever and the Russians have picked up from where the Israelis left off in the 90's and are still,going strong.

This true tale centers around Ron Gonen. Born Roman Gonen in he Ukraine and then moving to Israel at around 11, Ron found it easy to get into trouble. Starting out with stealing he soon would move up in the world of crime. As a troubled teen after his mom would send him to kibbutzim in order to straighten him out. It did not work instead he bounced around from Kibbutz to kibbutz. He had a fondness for Tobacco and hashish. Trying to enlist in the navy early only to get caught, Ron would eventually end up in the merchant marine .

Ron started off with jewelry heists and safe cracking. Later he would move to Europe where another Israeli expat named, Sammy Merckel, taught him the ropes. Getting caught at least twice he served time in European prisons. There he would meet Ran Ephraim and Johnny Attias. Ran would be a friend and partner in crime. Johnny he would never get close to but Johnny would prove potentially dangerous. In London Ron would be guilty of fraud. Ron would travel through South America committing crimes.

In the early 80's Ron, Ran and someone else eeked out a plan to deal cocaine. Then it was off to New York to set up his coke dealership. In New York he met his second wife Honey Tessman. She was married before and had a kind from another marriage. She was also a drug addict. She would help Ron with his business and also cost him lots of money.

In the end Johnny Attias would enter New York rather violently. Killing all who got in his way, he wanted to pressure Ron into working for him. That and cancer would start to take their toll. ron's adventure end with an arrest and testifying against his former comrades. Jonny Attias would die by assassination.

The Israeli mafia had a brief but violent run in New York before they were taken down. They are the most unorganized and least traditional of all the crime groups. Their coming opened a door for the Russian mafia to slip in.

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tells the story of a lowlife career criminal who makes his way from Israel to Europe and then New York. He falls into drug dealing, becoming a middle level player wholesaling coke through a connect based in LA. He ends up turning states evidence after becoming part of an Israeli crew based in Brooklyn who have their own criminal organization.

The material is decent but the writer doesn't do a good job of painting scenes. The book would've been better if the author had focused only on the protagonist's time in New York, instead of giving his life story.