When FBI agents arrested a feared New Jersey mobster in 1999, no one expected him to talk—let alone bring down an entire mafia family with him.

The takedown of the DeCavalcante crime family—said to be the real-life model for HBO’s The Sopranos—began with a covert operation in 1998 and peaked when mob soldier Anthony Capo unexpectedly became a cooperating witness, as Fox News reports.

In 1998, FBI Special Agent Séamus McElearney joined Squad C-10 of the New York Organized Crime Branch just as two major events began to intersect: a brazen robbery at the World Trade Center and the murder of a DeCavalcante associate in Brooklyn. Each event, though seemingly unrelated, helped shape the course of one of the largest mafia busts in FBI history.

The man behind the Trade Center job approached the FBI not to come clean, but to survive. He agreed to secretly record conversations with members of the DeCavalcante family’s Brooklyn crew. Over two years, he captured nearly 300 conversations without blowing his cover—a crucial feat in the secretive world of organized crime.

“You have to have him think to the criminals that he’s still not cooperating with the government,” McElearney told Fox News Digital, explaining how delicate it was to use a "proactive witness" without endangering lives. Those recordings would eventually pierce the family’s core operations and secure game-changing court evidence.

Unexpected cooperation from a feared mobster

That momentum built toward a pivotal moment in December 1999. McElearney, though relatively new on the job, found himself in charge of arresting Anthony Capo, a veteran enforcer in the DeCavalcante family with a violent past. “Here I am hoping to be on an arrest team,” McElearney recalled. “And it turns out I was the team leader.”

Capo was far from an easy target. Known for his deep mafia loyalty and suspected involvement in multiple killings, including the execution of Fred Weiss at the direction of Gambino boss John Gotti in 1989, Capo was feared even by other mobsters. McElearney prepared like a student cramming for finals, learning everything from Capo’s home address to his children’s names—and even knowing Capo’s diabetes could be a liability during a high-stress arrest.

When the moment came, instead of intimidation, McElearney brought orange juice and chocolate. He calmly instructed Capo not to speak, but to listen—delivering a wall of evidence that suggested the FBI already knew everything. The shock worked. “To tell you the truth, I had no idea at all,” McElearney admitted about what happened next. Within a week, Capo flipped.

Historic collapse of the DeCavalcante hierarchy

Capo’s cooperation was historic. He became the first made member in the 100-year history of the DeCavalcante family to assist law enforcement. His decision unleashed a flood of additional witnesses: a panel boss, a captain, a soldier and four associates all followed. “We didn’t expect that,” McElearney said. “That was very, very unique.”

Over time, the FBI rolled out seven trials, achieving 71 convictions and solving 11 murders. The investigation peeled back the layers of dysfunction and paranoia within the organization. One example: Joey Garofano, a Capo associate, was killed after bungling protocol regarding the Weiss murder—an act of internal cleanup that only stirred more fear among the ranks.

Among the many chilling recordings gathered during the investigation was one recounting the 1997 shooting of wheelchair-bound Joseph Conigliaro. “He was shot six times,” McElearney said. “He got out of the car, drove away, put his blinker on and drove himself toward the hospital.” The recording became “priceless” trial evidence, according to the agent.

A television fantasy mirrors real-world betrayal

As the FBI dismantled the DeCavalcante empire, agents were astounded to hear real-life mobsters comparing each other to characters in The Sopranos. Squad C-10 managed to turn this bizarre self-reference into courtroom leverage, aligning fictional personas with actual criminal behavior.

The stakes extended beyond prison terms. As the case unfolded, the FBI discovered a murder contract not just on Capo, but on his children and agents involved in the investigation. What had started as a covert operation now echoed with real, immediate threats.

Despite the risks, McElearney didn’t walk away. After the DeCavalcante case, he continued investigating the Colombo crime family and played a role in the FBI’s largest mafia takedown. Over his career, he helped convict 10 mafia bosses and solve more than 30 homicides, eventually earning presidential commendation in 2013.

Lessons to Learn

1. Subtle tactics can yield powerful results. The arrest of Anthony Capo highlights how respect and evidence, rather than brutality, can prompt the unlikeliest of individuals to cooperate. Calm intelligence-gathering and groundwork made the difference.

2. Appearances can be misleading—even deadly. The mafia’s internal politics are layered with betrayal. Just because a criminal appears to be “one of their own” doesn’t mean they are safe. This underscores how quickly alliances in criminal enterprises can turn fatal.

3. Stay informed—and stay cautious. Even though most people will never encounter organized crime firsthand, understanding its continuing existence and real-world impact can help citizens remain alert to unusual or threatening behavior in their communities. That said, crime can affect anyone regardless of precautions, and victims should never be blamed.

Why This Story Matters

This case reminds us that organized crime, though weakened, still holds the potential to regroup. Communities must remain vigilant and informed to prevent new criminal strongholds.

Law enforcement breakthroughs like this show how rigorous preparation, legal tools, and moral choices can bring even the most entrenched criminal institutions to justice. It’s a story of patience, strategy, and unexpected redemption. The impact of one man’s decision—both Capo’s and McElearney’s—forever changed a criminal landscape that once seemed untouchable.