FBI Special Agent Séamus McElearney and Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos.

Welcome, everyone, to part one of my interview with Author and retired FBI Special Agent Seamus McElearney. Come back next Sunday for the conclusion of my interview with Seamus.

Séamus McElearney began his distinguished career with the FBI in 1998, joining Squad C-10 of the New York Organized Crime Branch. Tasked with investigating the Bonanno and DeCavalcante crime families—infamously known as “the real Sopranos.”

In December 1999, he was assigned to arrest Anthony Capo, a violent soldier in the DeCavalcante family, as part of a sweeping indictment. Not only did he safely execute the arrest, but he also achieved a historic breakthrough: persuading Capo to become the first made member in the family’s century-long history to cooperate with law enforcement. This unprecedented move triggered a domino effect of cooperation that ultimately led to the dismantling of the DeCavalcante family. In all, 71 defendants were convicted; 11 murders were solved. As a result, Séamus and the team received the U.S. Attorney’s Office Director’s Award.

Following this six-year investigation, Séamus was promoted to lead Squad C-38, overseeing the Colombo crime family. Under his leadership, the squad dismantled the Colombos through a series of operations—including spearheading the largest Mafia takedown in FBI history. The Bonanno squad was later merged into C-38 under his command.

As Supervisor, Séamus oversaw investigations that led to the conviction of more than 200 defendants and the resolution of 20 murders.

Throughout his career as an Agent and Supervisor, Séamus helped convict ten Mafia bosses, recover five bodies, and solve the murder of an NYPD officer. He was part of historic FBI teams that dismantled three organized crime families—an achievement no one else can claim.

Seamus is also the author of the popular book, Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos.

I’m a fan of the TV show The Sopranos, so it was amazing listening to Seamus explain how the “Real Sopranos” operated and how they were dismantled and brought to justice by Seamus and his team. Please enjoy my conversation with Seamus!

In today’s episode we discuss:

· Growing up in the Bronx as a first-generation Irish-American.

· The amazing work ethic that was instilled in him by his parents.

· Lessons learned working at his dad’s gas station as a kid.

· Why he chose the FBI and even a dislocated knee couldn’t stop him!

· How he proved himself as a new FBI agent.

· His interest in organized crime and his first organized crime case.

· The benefits of consensual witness phone recordings.

· Omerta and how RICO changed the code of not being a rat.

· How to get confessions from mobsters.

· Anthony Capo and his first impression of the man Tony Soprano was molded from.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Seamus's website to learn more about him and his book.

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Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!

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