I just finished watching Donnie Brasco again. For those who aren’t familiar with the film, it is based on a book “Donnie Brasco, My Undercover Life In The Mafia”, by Joseph D. Pistone.
What intrigued me about the film was the fine line between being an undercover Agent and a mafia goon. How does an undercover Agent become accepted in the criminal environment without breaking any laws himself ? Certainly there are some things that are done in order to obtain evidence, such as drug trafficking and stealing merchandise. However, in the film, Special Agent Pistone instigates and participates in the severe beating of an innocent civilian, disposes of several dead bodies and other various crimes. It appeared that he was almost going to murder a man (perhaps under duress).
How much immunity do these undercover agents have ? Is there a list of offenses for which they have immunity ? Wouldn’t it be very simple to weed out the Fed by ordering him kill someone ? Maybe even see his willingness to do heavy drugs or even engage in a rape ?
I can imagine that one would encouter some very precarious circumstances while working deep undercover. With peoples lives at stake, can an Agent afford the risk of blowing his cover during one of these “worst case scenerios” ? If not, what are the consequences.
I am having trouble digging up any resources on this question specifically.
Maybe I’m just lost in Hollywood and people dont go deep undercover anymore…
Well, I can’t say that much, but if I recall the movie Donnie Brasco exaggerrated a lot of what happened for dramatic effect. For instance, Pistone wasn’t about to kill a rat when the feds moved in on Ruggiero; (sp) it seemed like he squirmed and procrastinated about the hit and then had the guy busted, there was no big drama. I think the real Pistone was pretty careful to not hurt anybody. He had definite limitations placed upon him.
Thank you Space Vampire, I should know better but having not read the book I assumed most of the events depicted in the movie were real. I would be interested in understanding what limitations are placed on an Agent. (No more than two hits from a joint in 24 hours, if you have to hit a guy, you only get one smack with an open palm…)
I want to be careful to emphasise that this thread is notintended as a discussion about the movie. Rather, a discussion regarding the real limitations/ consequences of commiting crime while working undercover.
Cops have been known to commit crimes “in the line of duty.”
I recall a Georgia Court of Appeals case which described in some detail how cops from a local vice squad went to a massage parlor, and, using County money, got “the works.” (All for the sake of making the bust, y’unnerstand.)
The Court upheld the bust, but went into some detail in describing it, including (IIRC) the fact that the act was carried through “to completion.” (The Court, I think, wanted to make a point of embarrassing the vice squad for using county funds to get their jollies.)
I just read a news article the other day about cops on the west coast posing as squeegee men for the purpose of checking the vehicle’s occupants for seatbelts. The article mentioned that the cop’s activities were illegal but permissible because of an overriding public safety interest of some other gobbledygook. I laughed when I read that the officers were spit on as often as they received spare change. They deserved it, IMHO for creating an even worse public safety hazard. If officers are allowed to break the law to enforce minor infractions like the failure to wear a seatbelt, surely they can do so for any other offense.
from what i’ve read, the real crooks don’t say “hey, do a crime, and then you can join our crook club”…real tough/successful crooks do the crooked stuff only when there is profit involved, not to prove a point (except for one involving one’s honor). it’s my opinion that if a gillionaire were to keep greasing his sponsor’s palms and show up at enough tough guy social gatherings he would get the whole Cosa Nostra ceremony, including burning saint and all.