HBO Producing a True Crime Limited Series about Mafia Cops with Terence Winter
HBO is developing a true crime limited series with Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter that will tell a story about mafia cops. The series is based on the 2003 book Friends of the Family: The Inside Story of the Mafia Cops Case, which was written by former NYPD Detective Tommy Dades, former Brooklyn prosecutor Mike Vecchione, and David Fisher.
The book chronicles the true story of two decorated NYPD detectives with access to the department's most sensitive information, Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito, who “sold their badges to the Mafia—and became murderers for the mob.”
The most dangerous corrupt cops in American history, they left behind a pile of bodies when they retired in the early 1990s. For more than a decade it looked as if they were going to get away with it—until Detective Tommy Dades and Brooklyn Assistant DA Mike Vecchione turned a seemingly dead-end investigation into one of New York City's greatest law-and-order stories.
This historic case that rocked the world of law enforcement and made national headlines when it was exposed that “Caracappa and Eppolito received thousands in monthly payoff money in exchange for confidential information on police informants and investigations, in addition to serving as mob assassins.”
They became known as the “Mafia Cops” and were convicted in 2006 of eight contract murders, two of which they carried out themselves. They were sentenced to life in prison in 2009.
Dades and Winter will be working on the Untitled Project together and they will be getting help from some of the original people involved including Joseph Ponzi, former Chief Investigator for the Brooklyn District Attorney, retired DEA agent Frank Drew and former NYPD Detective Frank Pergola. On top of that, former New York Gambino crime family underboss Sammy “The Bull” Gravano will be involved adding what he knows to the story.
Producer Joe Poletto said in a statement:
“It’s an honor to work with Terry Winter and Tommy Dades and the rest of the team to bring this crime story to life. There’s no one better than Terry to tell the story of these two corrupt cops who betrayed their badges, their department and their city — and almost got away with it. It’s an era in New York City history we can’t forget.”
Winter added:
“Caracappa and Eppolito disgraced their badges like no one else in NYPD history. It’s a privilege to tell the story of Tommy Dades, Mike Vecchione and Joe Ponzi – the good guys who brought them to justice.”
I’ll be looking forward to watching this! This sounds like it’s going to be one hell of a crazy true crime story!
Source: Deadline