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I think organized crime these days is more gang-affiliated than mob-related, although I'm sure that there's a small underbelly still intact despite the dismantling that occurred in the 80's and 90's. To what extent he feels comfortable/safe... he's authored a book and has done detailed interviews with cable television networks that do mob-related documentaries on the NJ/NY syndicates from back in those days.
In fact, I recently watched a documentary that featured Pistone detailing the "Donnie Brasco" operation just a few weeks ago, and no effort was made whatsoever to hide his appearance or anything of that nature during his interview. But his brother maintained that he still very much makes it a point to not disclose his whereabouts to anyone other than his immediate family. So to some degree - he still looks over his shoulder, I guess you could say.
A few other tidbits his brother told me... once Pistone was assigned to go after the semi-truck hijackings that had become a serious problem in the mid-late 1970's, the agency quickly realized how easily he was able to infiltrate the NJ crime family, and then gave him the cover of a jewel thief, which began the famous "Donnie Brasco" operation. He not only infiltrated the Jersey mafia, but networked into the NY syndicate as well.
Once assigned to the Brasco operation, he spent 6 years away from his family and friends, his only connection being his brother (who I played golf with). He said he would go months without hearing from him, worried sick about him, no way to get in contact with him, firmly believing on more than one occasion that his cover had been blown and that he'd been killed. He told me of one particular instance, in which the FBI used him to funnel operational money to his brother... He was informed of a vehicle that Joe would be driving, told him where it would be and when it would be there, but that his brother would be nowhere around... and to put the money in a hidden compartment within one of the seats. So he makes the drop, and three weeks later his brother calls him from a payphone asking him where the hell the money is, he needed it asap.
The brother informs him of where he put it... Joe had no idea that he'd been driving around for three weeks with $50,000 cash in his car. Luckily it was so well hidden that none of his mob associates (who'd ridden in that same car with him since then) found it. Otherwise they would've undoubtedly assumed that he was holding out on his collections and killed him on the spot.
Anyway... very interesting stuff, to me anyway. One of the more enjoyable rounds of golf I've had in a long while.
