Séamus McElearney
Former FBI agent and author of Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos, who led and narrated the investigation into the DeCavalcante crime family.
Top 3 podcasts with Séamus McElearney
Ranked by the Snipd community
Apr 7, 2026 • 1h 29min
The Untold Story Behind The Sopranos | FBI Agent Seamus McElearney
Seamus McElearney, a former FBI agent who flipped mobsters and helped dismantle the real-life family behind The Sopranos. He recounts undercover work, running a proactive informant, and how consensual recordings and flips led to a 39-person takedown. He also traces which real figures inspired Tony Soprano and reveals a damaging leak that threatened the case.
Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 9min
Seamus McElearney with Barbara Finkelstein, "Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos" (Chicago Review Press, 2025)
Séamus McElearney, a former FBI agent who spent over two decades hunting organized crime, tells the story of flipping a made man to unravel the DeCavalcante family. He recounts sting recordings, the unprecedented cooperation of Anthony Capo, and the cascade of flips that led to major RICO convictions. The conversation covers informant management, witness protection, and how one turncoat can topple a criminal network.
Jan 12, 2026 • 33min
Séamus McElearney on the End of Omertà as a Business Model
Séamus McElearney, a former FBI agent and author of 'Flipping Capo', shares gripping insights about dismantling the DeCavalcante crime family. He reveals how omertà crumbled under RICO laws and changing incentives, benefiting everyday workers by stopping mob control over unions. McElearney contrasts real mob life with 'The Sopranos', noting where the show deviated from reality. He also narrates the transformation of mob members into key witnesses that led to significant convictions, painting a vivid picture of organized crime's decline.
