634: Joe Barone | Living in Dread Between the Mob and the Feds Part One

Turning Point

Joe Barone recounts the shocking moment he discovered his father's body had been exhumed, a revelation that set him on the path to becoming an FBI informant. The FBI informed him that his father had likely been killed by mobsters, prompting Joe to consider cooperating with them to find out the truth. He expressed his anger and desire for revenge but ultimately decided to think carefully before making any decisions, a tactic he learned from his time in the mafia 1.

They said, "Is this the kind of life you want, or do you want to find out who killed him?"

--- Joe Barone

   

Double Life

Living a double life as a mafia member and an FBI informant took a significant mental toll on Joe. He constantly feared being discovered and had to maintain his cover at all times, even in his personal life. The stress was immense, and he often had nightmares and struggled to form genuine relationships due to the constant fear for his and his loved ones' safety 2.

I always had to portray the man I was pretending to be.

--- Joe Barone