John Pennisi: The Tim Tebow of the Mafia

[Wiseguy]

I wonder if they're not far off from Tom doing a video on how often John cuts his toenails.

"Well, Tom, you know Big John gets his pedicure every week and he doesn't want any of the 'friends' in his crew to have better toenails than him. But see, Big John gets lazy and doesn't get his nails done for weeks, months, so we all had to grow ours out, too. 'Sideburns' was wearing socks with his sandals for six months."

Pennisi talking about Big John is pretty similar to when Borello talked about Ronnie G. I wonder how many of these guys loathe the captain they have to report to.

[SonnyBlackstein]

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.

Really appreciate your thoughts.

Keep us posted as to whats next on your mind.

[Angelo Santino]

If someone wants to hate on Pennisi, one could make the argument that he left the life because he got cucked. Pretty much it.

I like him, I haven't caught him in a lie. Like I said, the more these guys talk the more they will trip themselves up. So far I haven't seen Pennisi lie about anything. He's a source of info on the modern Luccheses which is likely the least known about NY Family so I'm glad he's doing what he's doing and I'm glad he has Tom interviewing him because he's an interviewer coming from a place of general mob knowledge which is very rare.

If people think they can do better then get in the ring.

[Amershire_Ed]

I think if anything Pennisi has undersold his “value” as a wiseguy. He wouldn’t have been tight with some of the guys he was tight with (DeSantis, Amato, Ronnie G) if he was a total nobody. One of them, maybe. But all those guys?

I think he also has a better grasp on the traditions and standard operating procedure of Cosa Nostra than the others. B mentioned this in another thread but take Anthony Arilotta for example. He’s someone I also find largely believable, but he used “shelved” when describing his situation when he shoulda used “chased”. And Pennisi kinda interrupted him and made sure to clarify the difference between the two. He’s also loosening up a bit which is nice. I don’t think he cussed for the first several episodes and eventually worked his way up to saying “scuse my French” before cussing. Lately he’s just been letting the F bombs fly with no warning lol

[bluehouse]

Calandra channel has over 4k subscibers and hes only been doing this for about 2 months he will be more popular than JP in a few weeks.Hes very low level talking about beatings and shootings but i think thats what gets viewers.

[Etna]

Calandra channel has over 4k subscibers and hes only been doing this for about 2 months he will be more popular than JP in a few weeks.Hes very low level talking about beatings and shootings but i think thats what gets viewers.

Well the entire 90s while Calandra was out there, Pennisi was in jail. I'm sure he has stuff from the 80's up his sleeve.

[Etna]

I think if anything Pennisi has undersold his “value” as a wiseguy. He wouldn’t have been tight with some of the guys he was tight with (DeSantis, Amato, Ronnie G) if he was a total nobody. One of them, maybe. But all those guys?

I think he also has a better grasp on the traditions and standard operating procedure of Cosa Nostra than the others. B mentioned this in another thread but take Anthony Arilotta for example. He’s someone I also find largely believable, but he used “shelved” when describing his situation when he shoulda used “chased”. And Pennisi kinda interrupted him and made sure to clarify the difference between the two. He’s also loosening up a bit which is nice. I don’t think he cussed for the first several episodes and eventually worked his way up to saying “scuse my French” before cussing. Lately he’s just been letting the F bombs fly with no warning lol

Spot on!

[Amershire_Ed]

Calandra channel has over 4k subscibers and hes only been doing this for about 2 months he will be more popular than JP in a few weeks.Hes very low level talking about beatings and shootings but i think thats what gets viewers.

Calandra already had name recognition. The Bath Ave crew episode of Inside the Mafia was seen by a shit ton of people. And he was featured in that episode prominently. I’m not surprised one bit he’s had that many subscribers. Even if he’s not the greatest storyteller.

[Etna]

John Pennisi on his podcast and other interviews comes across as very humble. Not once did he brag about violence he committed or how much money he made. He never seems like he’s bragging. Also he is a good storyteller. It makes you almost feel like you are there with him. I admit that i enjoy watching Pennisi's stuff on youtube.

He doesn't brag because the only violence he committed was shooting and killing a guy over a girl and violently assaulting a woman because he thought she was having an affair with Eugene Castelle. By violently assaulting, I mean he punched her so hard in the face, he knocked her teeth out. You can go back through the threads for the documentation on those two things.

Also they're apparently charging 500 for a one hour session and 300 for a 1/2 hour session - at least two people have said that in the comments. And it's more if you want to add in one of their other informant friends. I'm not sure what kind of business advice either one of them is going to give considering....do a little digging and you'll be surprised at what you find. Here's a start...follow the trail to see where it leads you.

https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/x-fa ... s%20System

He beat up a hispanic drug dealer who was selling heroin to John Castelluci's son. He mentioned that in his first New Theory interview.

Well didn't Big John's son die of a heroin overdose? The fact he hurt a dealer is a public service in my opinion.

[Chucky]

Calandra channel has over 4k subscibers and hes only been doing this for about 2 months he will be more popular than JP in a few weeks.Hes very low level talking about beatings and shootings but i think thats what gets viewers.

Well the entire 90s while Calandra was out there, Pennisi was in jail. I'm sure he has stuff from the 80's up his sleeve.

Do people still need to hear the same stories about the fucking 80s still?

[Nick Prango]

It's so funny how real life mobsters sound exactly like the ones in the movies and the Sopranos

[Wiseguy]

It's so funny how real life mobsters sound exactly like the ones in the movies and the Sopranos

Life imitating art imitating life.

[JohnnySalami]

Though Jimmy calandra isnt that great of a storyteller he tends to get off track and repeats himself I do find myself listen to his stories. Can he be exaggerating? Sure. But some of the stuff hes said seem pretty genuine. Maybe I gravitated towards his show opposed to alite or sammys because it was around my era of being in the area. I remember vividly as a kid hearing about someone getting stabbed inside the Vegas diner on 86th st. Than decades later hearing about it on inside the mob show.

I gotta say tho pennisi does give alot of insight on modern day OC but i question if he really had that type of pull knowing all these heavy hitters from all different families. Prior to a year and a half - 2 years, I never heard of the guy but that's just me. When did he do his longest prison stretch?

[Nick Prango]

Though Jimmy calandra isnt that great of a storyteller he tends to get off track and repeats himself I do find myself listen to his stories. Can he be exaggerating? Sure. But some of the stuff hes said seem pretty genuine. Maybe I gravitated towards his show opposed to alite or sammys because it was around my era of being in the area. I remember vividly as a kid hearing about someone getting stabbed inside the Vegas diner on 86th st. Than decades later hearing about it on inside the mob show.

I gotta say tho pennisi does give alot of insight on modern day OC but i question if he really had that type of pull knowing all these heavy hitters from all different families. Prior to a year and a half - 2 years, I never heard of the guy but that's just me. When did he do his longest prison stretch?

John Pennisi spent 17 years in prison. From 1990 until 2007.

[mafiastudent]

Though Jimmy calandra isnt that great of a storyteller he tends to get off track and repeats himself I do find myself listen to his stories. Can he be exaggerating? Sure. But some of the stuff hes said seem pretty genuine. Maybe I gravitated towards his show opposed to alite or sammys because it was around my era of being in the area. I remember vividly as a kid hearing about someone getting stabbed inside the Vegas diner on 86th st. Than decades later hearing about it on inside the mob show.

I gotta say tho pennisi does give alot of insight on modern day OC but i question if he really had that type of pull knowing all these heavy hitters from all different families. Prior to a year and a half - 2 years, I never heard of the guy but that's just me. When did he do his longest prison stretch?

John Pennisi spent 17 years in prison. From 1990 until 2007.

State prison.