John Pennisi: The Tim Tebow of the Mafia

[chubby]

Tim Tebow was big star in college.

However, he was a world class flop in the NFL. He couldn't complete a pass, was a big bust and was a disaster.

John Pennisi is no different. He had no reason to be made. Had no rackets. Never did a murder. Couldn't complete any task his caporegime gave him. He was made because he's Italian heritage and he did time in prison.

Pennisi accomplished nothing in La Cosa Nostra. He never did a murder. He never made any money. He worked a 9-5 job like a su ker. Then...he flips for no reason. No indictment. No arrest. His reason: He felt someone might kill him. Hello! Who would want to kill a brokester with no crew, no street crew and no money. He's delusional. No one would want to kill you Pennisi! You are a compete loser and not worth going to prison for.

Now Queen Pennisi is everywhere. Interviews, podcasts and blogs.

Why exactly should we care? Same reason we care about Tim Tebow.

I'm tired of talking about Mr. Do Nothing Tim Tebow and Mr. Do Nothing John Pennisi.




Pennisi isn't fit to shine John Alite or Bob Luisi's shoes. Pennisi is a BUM.

The more I listen to him and his co host.. the more I’m starting to believe that pennisi has totally been downplaying a ton of his involvement when he was in the life... cause like you said he seemed like he made 0 dollars, had nothing going on, yet seemed to mingle with a ton of people... I’m starting to think he had shit going on and probably acts like a paranoid over cautious brokester now cause he doesn’t want the feds to start looking into shit like his earning, if he was bragging about how much. Money he made and all this stuff on the podcasts that could come back to bite him in the ass with taxes, irs shit.. I almost feel like he must have like a few shoe boxes full of money on the sneak or some shit... cause like you said makes no sense why he would have ever been made if he was really like he claims he was on the street.. I mean he literally claims he had like 2 gamblers under him on a half sheet and did a couple loans.. there’s no way...

Took the words right out of my mouth. People are letting his timidness fool them

100 percent, I haven’t listened to any new episodes since the beginning of the month because I was dealing with the passing of my grandmother, then I had friends visiting from Phoenix and then I was in Vegas this past week.. so I got a lot to catch up on... but I can guarantee you pennisi has fully downplayed his earning in that life... the life revolves around money, and he sure did a lot of moving and shaking in the street when it came to being social.. seemed to be friendly with a lot of huge earners in his family and other families like Ronnie g.. I’ll give it to pennisi.. he’s a slick talker and not stupid at all... spending 17 years in prison usually makes you a very savvy politician... I get the feeling he tells the truth like 90 percent of the time so the very few things he does lie about, or avoids, kind of just Go right over peoples heads without a second thought ... I’ve caught him a few times, when he’s caught himself... and quickly stopped and changed subjects.. one time while talking about earning and stuff he was saying most of his “scores” came from straightening out beefs between companies and shit within the construction industry, or getting guys certain help with unions.... he was saying how much money there was In that, then caught himself and changed the subject... also the episode where his daughter was on.. when he talks about how he had her help him count a huge pile of money on a table???? I’m sorry but no brokester who gave out like 3 loans in his career and had 2 guys on his half sheet are going to ever be counting a table full of money.... if you got enough cash where you need help to count it.... it’s a lot of money... I dunno I just think he does a very good job of downplaying his status and role in cosa Nostra in general.... but only to look out for his own ass..... if he really only did the bare minimum of the shit he spoke about, he would have never , ever got made... I mean there is tens of thousands of other younger Italian street guys who make more money selling their oxy script each month than John claims he made the entire 3 or 4 years he has his button... especially money meaning almost everything in that life these days... I’m sorry I just can’t see them making some guy who was kicking up 50$ a month and scared to take sports bets or hand out a loan.... but is quick to beat someone with an axe handle???

[Angelo Santino]

Domestic violence is wrong. But cheating on a Mafia member with another isn't the brightest thing to do either and its almost asking for it. Especially considering the ramifications of the life and the rules that go with it. If I borrowed money from a Member, didn't pay and he knocked out four of my teeth and I came on here to bitch about it, I'm sure there'd be a few people who'd respond that I shouldn't borrow money from gangsters. In fact, both she and I would be lucky considering the consequences that would have been inflicted in decades past.

Again, not condoning domestic violence or vigilantism but if you're going to swim with sharks...

Amongst all the back and forth, I couldn't help but think this.
This ENTIRE thing would have been avoided if they kept to the rules. The rules exist to keep order. When you get straightened out you're told, no fooling around with other made guys wives, girlfriends, daughters, sisters, or relatives. It's a recipe for disaster, and the guys who made the rules saw the potential for problems with this. Years ago, guys wouldn't even go in the same house or apartment that another guy's wife was in if the guy wasn't there, so as to keep everything "above board" and even avoid the POTENTIAL for a claim to be made.
As time went on, you had guys whose M.O. became to actually go after and bang associate's guys wives and girlfriends. That, in my humble opinion, is pathological. It's more about power and marking territory. Today it seems to be the rule as opposed to the exception. I read about Joe Relay's wife who left him to go with Cupcakes Urgitano. Then Castelle goes after Pennisi's girl despite knowing she was involved with him.
Again, domestic violence is wrong......but what about the rules? Is there a shortage of eligible attractive women without ties to other guys in the life in these neighborhoods? C'mon now.

Agreed. Pennisi's story really drives home the importance of that rule and why it was implemented way back when.

[Angelo Santino]

The bankruptcy is another Thomas LaVecchia. If you’re going to do research and post it here, at least get it right

Is that you Thomas? Thank the lord you burned that God awful hat!

If it is Tom, I'd like to welcome him to the board. He'll have fans and critics and hopefully he takes it in stride. We spoke on the phone a few months ago and I was being candid when I said his podcast is the only one I watch aside from a few Franzese interviews like the one with Ed O'Neil which was good stuff.

I wouldn't mind making a Lucchese chart from 2015 or whenever with Pennisi's assistance, full credit given of course. You guys (assuming this is Tom) could sell it and I'd take a design credit. I'd also implore you to consider letting me work on some logos, avatars and backgrounds. The words with the Italian flag colors is hard to read with the white background and white center. I'm not charging because I like the podcast and wish to support it. Salut.

[CabriniGreen]

Tim Tebow was big star in college.

However, he was a world class flop in the NFL. He couldn't complete a pass, was a big bust and was a disaster.

John Pennisi is no different. He had no reason to be made. Had no rackets. Never did a murder. Couldn't complete any task his caporegime gave him. He was made because he's Italian heritage and he did time in prison.

Pennisi accomplished nothing in La Cosa Nostra. He never did a murder. He never made any money. He worked a 9-5 job like a su ker. Then...he flips for no reason. No indictment. No arrest. His reason: He felt someone might kill him. Hello! Who would want to kill a brokester with no crew, no street crew and no money. He's delusional. No one would want to kill you Pennisi! You are a compete loser and not worth going to prison for.

Now Queen Pennisi is everywhere. Interviews, podcasts and blogs.

Why exactly should we care? Same reason we care about Tim Tebow.

I'm tired of talking about Mr. Do Nothing Tim Tebow and Mr. Do Nothing John Pennisi.




Pennisi isn't fit to shine John Alite or Bob Luisi's shoes. Pennisi is a BUM.

The more I listen to him and his co host.. the more I’m starting to believe that pennisi has totally been downplaying a ton of his involvement when he was in the life... cause like you said he seemed like he made 0 dollars, had nothing going on, yet seemed to mingle with a ton of people... I’m starting to think he had shit going on and probably acts like a paranoid over cautious brokester now cause he doesn’t want the feds to start looking into shit like his earning, if he was bragging about how much. Money he made and all this stuff on the podcasts that could come back to bite him in the ass with taxes, irs shit.. I almost feel like he must have like a few shoe boxes full of money on the sneak or some shit... cause like you said makes no sense why he would have ever been made if he was really like he claims he was on the street.. I mean he literally claims he had like 2 gamblers under him on a half sheet and did a couple loans.. there’s no way...

Took the words right out of my mouth. People are letting his timidness fool them

100 percent, I haven’t listened to any new episodes since the beginning of the month because I was dealing with the passing of my grandmother, then I had friends visiting from Phoenix and then I was in Vegas this past week.. so I got a lot to catch up on... but I can guarantee you pennisi has fully downplayed his earning in that life... the life revolves around money, and he sure did a lot of moving and shaking in the street when it came to being social.. seemed to be friendly with a lot of huge earners in his family and other families like Ronnie g.. I’ll give it to pennisi.. he’s a slick talker and not stupid at all... spending 17 years in prison usually makes you a very savvy politician... I get the feeling he tells the truth like 90 percent of the time so the very few things he does lie about, or avoids, kind of just Go right over peoples heads without a second thought ... I’ve caught him a few times, when he’s caught himself... and quickly stopped and changed subjects.. one time while talking about earning and stuff he was saying most of his “scores” came from straightening out beefs between companies and shit within the construction industry, or getting guys certain help with unions.... he was saying how much money there was In that, then caught himself and changed the subject... also the episode where his daughter was on.. when he talks about how he had her help him count a huge pile of money on a table???? I’m sorry but no brokester who gave out like 3 loans in his career and had 2 guys on his half sheet are going to ever be counting a table full of money.... if you got enough cash where you need help to count it.... it’s a lot of money... I dunno I just think he does a very good job of downplaying his status and role in cosa Nostra in general.... but only to look out for his own ass..... if he really only did the bare minimum of the shit he spoke about, he would have never , ever got made... I mean there is tens of thousands of other younger Italian street guys who make more money selling their oxy script each month than John claims he made the entire 3 or 4 years he has his button... especially money meaning almost everything in that life these days... I’m sorry I just can’t see them making some guy who was kicking up 50$ a month and scared to take sports bets or hand out a loan.... but is quick to beat someone with an axe handle???

What did the Feds have on him?

[CabriniGreen]

Also, I hear you, but this SAME guy swears a bunch of Bonnanos got made cause they were friends with some heavyweights son, also says a guy got made cause he saved a guys life in prison.

I think WE overestimate these guys sometimes, seriously. They are SUPPOSED to be arch criminal mastermind types, but look at a guy like Quack Quack. He, if he was capable of keeping his mouth under control, probably would have been Underboss, for no other reason than he was Gottis buddy and Neils nephew.....

[B.]

The bankruptcy is another Thomas LaVecchia. If you’re going to do research and post it here, at least get it right

Is that you Thomas? Thank the lord you burned that God awful hat!

If it is Tom, I'd like to welcome him to the board. He'll have fans and critics and hopefully he takes it in stride. We spoke on the phone a few months ago and I was being candid when I said his podcast is the only one I watch aside from a few Franzese interviews like the one with Ed O'Neil which was good stuff.

I wouldn't mind making a Lucchese chart from 2015 or whenever with Pennisi's assistance, full credit given of course. You guys (assuming this is Tom) could sell it and I'd take a design credit. I'd also implore you to consider letting me work on some logos, avatars and backgrounds. The words with the Italian flag colors is hard to read with the white background and white center. I'm not charging because I like the podcast and wish to support it. Salut.

Would love to see that happen.

If it's Tom on the board, welcome.

The show has been consistently high quality especially with how prolific it is. Tom isn't brand new to the mafia subject and knows how to get great info from Pennisi, especially for those of us here who are interested in the details, i.e. previously unidentified members, interactions between political factions, protocol, etc.

With other sources we have to wait with strained ears for info on promotions, inductions, etc. from the last decade, and in the last year Pennisi has thrown all kinds of that info our way and it's been reliable, believable info. If someone can't appreciate that alone, I'm not sure what to say.

I also appreciate that they keep the show raw and don't go for a glossy approach. It's just those two on webcam and the spoken content more than keeps the listener's interest.

[johnny_scootch]

The bankruptcy is another Thomas LaVecchia. If you’re going to do research and post it here, at least get it right

Is that you Thomas? Thank the lord you burned that God awful hat!

If it is Tom, I'd like to welcome him to the board. He'll have fans and critics and hopefully he takes it in stride. We spoke on the phone a few months ago and I was being candid when I said his podcast is the only one I watch aside from a few Franzese interviews like the one with Ed O'Neil which was good stuff.

I wouldn't mind making a Lucchese chart from 2015 or whenever with Pennisi's assistance, full credit given of course. You guys (assuming this is Tom) could sell it and I'd take a design credit. I'd also implore you to consider letting me work on some logos, avatars and backgrounds. The words with the Italian flag colors is hard to read with the white background and white center. I'm not charging because I like the podcast and wish to support it. Salut.

John & Tom would be lucky to have you assist. I remember the podcast when they shit all over Mukremins chart but they don't realize what goes into it or realize that those charts are made with years old info sometimes. At that point in 2015 or whatever year the chart was we hadn't heard any of the info Pennisi would eventually give and so the chart was way off.

I'd be interested to see You, John & Tom create charts for all 5 families from the time right before John flipped. If that is Tom hopefully he doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[funkster]

The bankruptcy is another Thomas LaVecchia. If you’re going to do research and post it here, at least get it right

Is that you Thomas? Thank the lord you burned that God awful hat!

If it is Tom, I'd like to welcome him to the board. He'll have fans and critics and hopefully he takes it in stride. We spoke on the phone a few months ago and I was being candid when I said his podcast is the only one I watch aside from a few Franzese interviews like the one with Ed O'Neil which was good stuff.

I wouldn't mind making a Lucchese chart from 2015 or whenever with Pennisi's assistance, full credit given of course. You guys (assuming this is Tom) could sell it and I'd take a design credit. I'd also implore you to consider letting me work on some logos, avatars and backgrounds. The words with the Italian flag colors is hard to read with the white background and white center. I'm not charging because I like the podcast and wish to support it. Salut.

The show has been consistently high quality especially with how prolific it is. Tom isn't brand new to the mafia subject and knows how to get great info from Pennisi, especially for those of us here who are interested in the details, i.e. previously unidentified members, interactions between political factions, protocol, etc.

With other sources we have to wait with strained ears for info on promotions, inductions, etc. from the last decade, and in the last year Pennisi has thrown all kinds of that info our way and it's been reliable, believable info. If someone can't appreciate that alone, I'm not sure what to say.

Exactly right.

[newera_212]

The super chat last night was pretty cool - I tuned in for about 30 minutes - but some of questions these guys get were absolutely ridiculous. I don't think there has been one episode so far where John hasn't recapped his story a little, stressing that he went away for a while at the end of the 80s when he was pretty much a young kid - yet people still ask him questions about whether or not he had dealings with mobsters from other families, in other boros, who were active before he was born. That would drive me nuts.

[funkster]

So, I've defended Tom quite a bit cause he seems like a decent dude. Having said that, the dramatics and over the top expressions during the story and saying he was emotionally really upset at what happened to John cause he's a friend is a bit much. Relax dude.

[thesalesexpert]

Hey guys, the chart thing is a little dicey, but let’s talk again and see what we can do to help. Thanks for watching the show

[funkster]

Hey guys, the chart thing is a little dicey, but let’s talk again and see what we can do to help. Thanks for watching the show

It's him

[B.]

Tommy the Hat laying down the law with the "chart ban". Too many guys are getting pinched for charts and the show doesn't need that kind of heat.

Maybe someone should make a chart showing all of the different wiseguys who have slept with the same woman.

[Dave65827]

Hey guys, the chart thing is a little dicey, but let’s talk again and see what we can do to help. Thanks for watching the show

I appreciate the show one of the better mob podcast out there

[Angelo Santino]

Hey guys, the chart thing is a little dicey, but let’s talk again and see what we can do to help. Thanks for watching the show

Greetings,

Way it would work is we here compile it, you guys correct it, I make it and take a design credit, the board here gets credit, you get a high resolution copy that you guys can sell, a lower res will be posted here. Up to you guys. I'm a historian and anything I do after 1930 is for fun but it's not my area. That being said it still helps to keep up to date on the modern era because there's overlap and continuities.

As far as logos and avatars go, text doesn't go well with a small avatar, I'd suggest something like this for Sitdownnews and if you wanted I could draw you both for MBA ATB.:



Again, you guys have done a great job and I find it very informative and educational. Salut