# FBI Sting Nabs 30 Gambino Family members **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 10, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748 "2005-03-10T00:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/1 "2005-03-10T00:33:08Z")
…is this the end for the famous crime family? I just read that the FBI had infiltrated an agent into the Gambino crime family (the late Carlo Gambino was the inspiration for “THE GODFATHER”). From what I read, senior capos and soldiers were arrested, inlcuding Peter Gotti. Does this mean the NYC Mafia is finished at last? Man, how the might have fallen! I guess we will have to recall the Mafia with some nostalgia…the Asian and Russian gangs hat are supplanting the Italian Mob are much worse. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Wallflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Wallflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallflower)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/2 "2005-03-10T00:41:20Z")
[Link](http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050309/D88NMLE81.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/3 "2005-03-10T00:43:13Z")
Wouldn’t there still be four more? The Genovese, Lucchese, Colombo and Bonnano families? ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/4 "2005-03-10T00:49:24Z")
> [@Article](#): > > The acting boss of the Gambino family and at least 30 other mob figures were arrested after an undercover FBI agent posing as a wiseguy infiltrated the Mafia with an act so convincing he was considered for membership, authorities said Wednesday. I always thought “wiseguy” was a euphemism for “smartass,” but such is obviously not the case here. Is this an actual position within a mob outfit? What sort of duties does being a “wiseguy” entail? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/5 "2005-03-10T03:45:55Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > …is this the end for the famous crime family? I just read that the FBI had infiltrated an agent into the Gambino crime family (the late Carlo Gambino was the inspiration for “THE GODFATHER”). According to what I have read, Tony Accardo was more likely the “inspiration” for the character of Vito Corleone. [Cite.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1582341761/qid=1110427366/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-9702764-8576706?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/6 "2005-03-10T03:48:13Z")
> [@Yamirskoonir](#): > > I always thought “wiseguy” was a euphemism for “smartass,” but such is obviously not the case here. Is this an actual position within a mob outfit? What sort of duties does being a “wiseguy” entail? Wiseguy is more a euphemism for “mob member” but it’s sometimes applied to hangers-on and wannabes as well. It’s not a position so much as it is a general belongingness (if that’s a word.) ---
**Author:** ![Peyton\_Farquhar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Peyton\_Farquhar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peyton_Farquhar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-sting-nabs-30-gambino-family-members/293748/7 "2005-03-10T06:06:08Z")
According to what I have read, Vito Corleone was based on many people, including Tommy Lucchese and Vito Genovese. William Bonanno (son of Joe and subject of Gay Talese’s _Honor Thy Father_ identified with Michael C, according to the book (which is probably the aforementioned “what I have read”). The book that was the basis of the movie _Goodfellas_ was titled _Wiseguys_ , but the movie was given a different title after a TV show used the name “Wiseguy”.