367: Donnie Brasco – Following in the Footsteps of Uncle Joe Pistone (Part 1)
Release Date: 08/27/2025
382: Michael Clarke and Jack McFarland – Disrupting The Commission, U.S. Virgin Islands
FBI Case File Review
Retired FBI agent Michael Clarke and retired DEA agent Jack McFarland review their 2004 joint FBI and DEA investigation of "The Commission," a violent criminal gang operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands which includes St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, whose members were convicted in federal court for racketeering, murder, and drug trafficking. The case was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the Safe Streets Task Force initiative, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Mike and Jack both served as agents for 32 years. ...
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381: William Peterson – Kenya Kidnapping, Most Wanted Terrorist Sajid Mir
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent William Peterson reviews two cases, his kidnapping investigation where two American businessmen in Kenya where held for ransom and his assistance in the capture and identification of terrorist Sajid Mir, a senior member of the Pakistan-based Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT). Mir is on the FBI Most Wanted list for his leading role in the planning, preparation, and execution of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. These were just two of the significant investigations Peterson worked during his FBI counterterrorism and international law...
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380: James Gaylord - China's Family of Spies (Part 2) Chasing Chi
FBI Case File Review
In part two of this two-part episode, retired agent Jim Gaylord reviews the resolution of his investigation and the prosecution of Chi Mak and family members as spies for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Chi was an engineer who had immigrated from Kwang-Tung, China, and was employed with a U.S. company designing sensitive U.S. military and commercial technologies. Jim was assigned to investigate whether Chi was stealing U.S. Navy secrets from his employer. This case highlights the bureaucratic friction that jeopardized efforts to break the string of espionage failures. Check out episode...
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379: James Gaylord - China's Family of Spies (Part 1) Chasing Chi
FBI Case File Review
In part one of this two-part episode, retired agent Jim Gaylord reviews his espionage investigation and the prosecution of Chi Mak and his family members as spies for the People's Republic of China. Chi was an engineer who had immigrated from Kwang-Tung, China, and was employed with a U.S. company designing sensitive U.S. military and commercial technologies. Jim was assigned to investigate whether Chi was stealing U.S. Navy secrets from his employer. Jim is the author of Chasing Chi: The FBI’s Groundbreaking Pursuit of China’s Most Prolific Spy Family. He served in the FBI for 31...
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378: John Schachnovsky – FBI in Thailand, Death of Famous Actor, Frozen Body Parts
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent John Schachnovsky recounts his role in the investigation of the suspicious death of the actor David Carradine, the identification of frozen body parts discovered in a freezer in Bangkok, and a fraudulent financial transaction which originated in Memphis, Tennessee, but was resolved in a local Thai bank. John wrote about these investigations and many more in his memoir, Beyond the Badge: Crime, Justice, and the FBI in Thailand, available for pre-order now and in stores on December 9, 2025. John served in the FBI for 20 years. Check out the episode's show notes, photos,...
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377: Séamus McElearney - Flipping Capo, How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent Séamus McElearney reviews his investigation of the DeCavalcante crime family—infamously known as “the real Sopranos”—and how he convinced Anthony Capo, a violent soldier in the DeCavalcante family to become the first made member in the family’s century-long history to cooperate with law enforcement. Séamus is the author of Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos. He served in the FBI for 21 years. Check out the episode show notes, photos, and related articles: Also listen to this Philly Prime Podcast episode about...
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376: Brian Herrick and Mike Levy – TV News Anchor Computer Hacking Case
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent Brian Herrick and retired Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Michael Levy review the computer hacking investigation and prosecution of former Philadelphia CBS affiliate news anchor Larry Mendte who hacked into the email accounts of his co-anchor Alycia Lane and leaked private information about her to the media. Mendte was charged with intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization. Brian Herrick served with the FBI for 20 years. Check out the episode's show notes, photos, and case-related articles: Join my Reader Team to get the FBI Reading...
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375: John Kuchta – 1994 DC Metro Police Headquarters Ambush (Replay)
FBI Case File Review
In this encore episode of FBI Case File Review, John reviews the November 22, 1994, ambush at the DC Metro Police Headquarters where a gunman killed SAs Martha Dixon and Michael Miller, and MPD Sgt. Henry “Hank” Daly and John survived multiple gunshot wounds to the heart, liver, kidney, lung, arm and leg. For his actions that day, he was awarded the FBI Medal of Valor and U.S. Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Heroism in recognition of exceptional acts of heroism involving the voluntary risk of personal safety and life performed in the line of duty in the face of a criminal...
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374: Tim Carpenter - Grave Robber, Stolen Artifacts and Burial Remains
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent and former FBI art crime team leader Tim Carpenter reviews his case where 5,000 illegally collected cultural artifacts and two thousand human burial remains were seized from the Midwestern home of grave robber Don Miller. Many of the pieces in Miller’s illicit collection of over 42,000 items were looted from sacred burial and cultural heritage sites around the world. Tim and his team repatriated these items of historical and cultural significance back to Native American and other indigenous communities from which they were stolen. Tim, the author of The Grave Robber, a book...
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373: John McMurtrie – Eufaula Police Corruption, Crappy Murder Lead
FBI Case File Review
Retired agent John McMurtrie reviews his police corruption investigation where drug dealers operating in Eufaula, Alabama, complained about being extorted by members of the Eufaula Police Department. The dealers cooperated and made consensual recordings that led to the arrest and conviction of a police captain, his lieutenant, and the local district attorney for the extortion scheme. John also reviews the worst assignment of his FBI career, serving a warrant to search the contents of a septic tank. John McMurtrie served in the FBI for over 28 years. Check out episode show notes, photos,...
info_outlineIn part one of this two-part episode, retired agent Donnie Brasco reviews his career navigating as an FBI agent with his infamous name and following in the footsteps of his uncle, legendary undercover agent Joe Pistone. Until now, most people were unaware of Donnie and Joe’s family ties. I call it the worst-kept secret in the FBI. Joe drops in at the end of the episode to share why he chose the name "Donnie Brasco" for his alias. Donnie served in the FBI for 21 years.
Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/367-donnie-brasco-following-in-the-footsteps-of-uncle-joe-pistone-part-1/
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