Former Mafia Capo Dominick Cicale Answers Your Questions

DOMINICK CICALE, A FORMER CAPO IN THE BONANNO CRIME FAMILY, WILL ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS EVERY FRIDAY.

Dominick CicaleIn 1999, Bronx-based Dominick Cicale finished his second years-long bit and hooked up with Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, then an up-and-coming member of the Bronx faction of the Bonanno crime family.

Initially he'd been closely affiliated with "Big Ernie" in the Genovese family.



POST QUESTIONS BELOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.
EACH FRIDAY DOMINICK WILL ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS OF HIS CHOICE -- UNLESS THREE QUESTIONS ARE PUSHED TO THE TOP BY READERS' UPVOTES. 
SO IF YOU ASK A QUESTION, OR WANT A PARTICULAR QUESTION ANSWEREDCLICK THE "UP" ARROW.*
[* The story was posted about three hours ago -- and already we have far more comments than I anticipated, so Dominick will answer the top three questions each Friday (if three do not get "upvoted" to the top, he will pick). As a courtesy, in addition to answering three questions this Friday, he will also answer some that were posted when he was going through the comments a while ago. (I will note the ones he said he'd answer in the comments themselves; the rest still may get answered if they are upvoted enough). This is all up to Dominick: he is answering the questions as a favor to me -- whether he writes a long, detailed answer or not is his decision and probably depends on a number of variables, including a.) what kind of day he's having. b.) whether he's pissed off at me about how many ads he has to watch to get to my website. c.) Whether he has had a few drinks and d.) I am just joking around with variables. But be sure to upvote your question or the questions you'd like him to answer; I will vote for my favorite questions as well. Then again, Dom may answer more than three questions, he may reply, whatever. He will be on here Fridays to answer at least the three questions. Depends on how much time he has. My opinion ask one very specific question at a time, like I did...]

Under Basciano’s tutelage, Dominick rode the fast track: he was inducted into the American Cosa Nostra and swiftly rose from soldier to capo, amassing great wealth and power. Cicale befriended and associated with numerous figures within all of New York's Five Families as he plotted and schemed in a treacherous world where each day could be his last.

He testified in four major RICO trials, including one of John Gotti Junior's.

He can tell you the real stories about what happened on the street. Because he was there and played a part in those stories...

Yes, Dominick is a turncoat. He himself liberally describes himself as a "rat." To writers, insiders like Dominick offer gold. But the American public exhibits an odd dichotomy.



While citizens devour their stories as told in books, films and documentaries (without a rat, we wouldn't have Goodfellas) these same taxpayers cheer against them during trials. This sentiment was eloquently expressed on the Friends of Ours blog.

Friends of Ours from November 2012: "Juries are sophisticated enough to understand that a rat carries baggage, and they aren't looking for boy scouts and choir boys.  When the government tries the devil, the witnesses often come from hell.  Indeed, a flipped witness is credible precisely because he's often a slimeball.  Who else would be involved with the Mafia to know where the proverbial bodies are buried?  The badder the rat, the more he knows.  A witness is more credible on the stand based on the more "street cred" he has, and defense lawyers paradoxically are propping up the rat by empasizing how bad he is. 

Although rats often are motivated by self-interest in their decisions to flip, the move also comes at great personal risk to themselves.  After all, the criminal underworld doesn't look kindly on those who betray it.  Moreover, whatever deal a rat obtains from prosecutors is conditioned upon his truthful testimony, and he risks losing the deal for any perjurious statements or other misconduct.  Finally, it's the rare case which is predicated solely on rat testimony, and often there is other corroborating evidence. 

Mob apologists may bemoan the loss of omerta but ordinary folk want career criminals to betray their once-held values, and rather than condemning rats we should encourage them.. ."

Post any questions for Dominick in the comment section below:
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