# Statement of FBI Director William H. Webster, November 29, 1983 (S. Hrg. 98-914, pp. 94-95)

Canonical: https://mobfiles.org/items/shrg-98-914-webster-statement-1983-11-29/

FBI Director Webster's statement to the President's Commission on Organized Crime, reprinted in a 1984 Senate hearing. He says undercover agent Joe Pistone "was able to work his way into the family's confidence" and that the investigation led to the convictions of "Benjamin Ruggiero, a capo in the New York Bonanno organized crime 'family,'" and two of his soldiers.

Director William H. Webster's statement of November 29, 1983 to the President's Commission on Organized Crime is reprinted at printed pages 94 and 95 of S. Hrg. 98-914, the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing of May 9, 1984 on S.J. Res. 233. The two pages are stored here from the NCJRS scan. The scan's text layer mixes the two columns, so the quotations are taken from the page image.

Under "Case Highlights" Webster says: "One major operation has produced important racketeering convictions against organized crime figures in New York and Milwaukee and indictments in other parts of the country. This investigation involved several undercover FBI Agents and was directed at the illegal operations of the Bonanno 'family' in Milwaukee and Florida, including their activities in the vending industry, sanitation business and after-hours club operations."

"After being introduced to family members, one of our undercover Agents, Joe Pistone, was able to work his way into the family's confidence. With able assistance from fellow undercover Agents, he reached a level of trust with the Bonanno 'family' that was unprecedented." "Our investigation led to the recent convictions of Benjamin Ruggiero, a capo in the New York Bonanno organized crime 'family,' and two of his soldiers, as well as the conviction of Milwaukee LCN 'boss' Frank Balistrieri and two of his confederates in a related case. Other significant indictments were returned at Tampa, Florida, and trials are pending."

"I am pleased to tell you that Joe Pistone, our undercover Agent who led a dangerous double life for six years, received the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award last January." In a statement of November 1983, "last January" means January 1983. The "capo" label for Ruggiero is the Director's. The Eleventh Circuit describes Ruggiero only as a member of Napolitano's crew.

## Sources

- National Criminal Justice Reference Service, scan of S. Hrg. 98-914 (NCJ 96374): https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/96374NCJRS.pdf