The Last Gangster

From Cop to Wiseguy to FBI Informant: Big Ron Previte and the Fall of the American Mob

By: George Anastasia

Narrated by: Chris Monteiro

As a cop, Ron Previte was corrupt. As a mobster, he was brutal. And in his final role, as a confidential informant to the FBI, Previte was deadly. The Last Gangster is his story—the story of the last days of the Philadelphia Mob, and of the clash of generations that brought it down once and for all.

For thirty-five years, Ron Previte roamed the underworld. A six-foot, three-hundred-pound capo in the Philadelphia-South Jersey crime family, he ran every mob scam and gambit from drug trafficking and prostitution to the extortion of millions from Atlantic City. By the 1990s, Previte, an old-school workhorse, found himself answering to younger mob bosses like "Skinny Joe" Merlino, who seemed increasingly spoiled, cocky, and careless.

Convinced that the honor of the "business" was gone, he became the FBI's secret weapon in an intense and highly personalized war on the Philadelphia mob. Operating with the same guile, wit, and stone-cold bravado that had made him a force in the underworld—and armed with only a wiretap secured to his crotch—Previte recorded it all; the murder, the mayhem, and even the story of mob boss Ralph Natale's affair with his youngest daughter's best friend. Previte and his FBI cronies eventually prevailed, securing the convictions of his nemeses, "Skinny Joey" Merlino and Ralph Natale.

©2004 George Anastasia (P)2022 Tantor

Interesting narrator

This story is very informative and gives insight to the mafia in the mid 80’s /90’s. I’ve read a lot of mafia books and I learned about characters I’d never heard of and their stories!!! Good Read!!!

Loved this book

Heard the stories, read the news articles and now I heard the inside story. This was a great book. Knowing the many landmarks made it even better. Side note I grew up on the authors neighboring street and remember him as a kid, we played football together. I have followed his articles for years. Enjoy it.

Sensational

loved it, not a dull moment. very detailed storytelling. if chronically factually believeable. wow the people that walks amongst us. my hats off.

Beautifully done! Exceptional.

Anastasia captures all the details and relays them with a degree of objectivity and flair. After creatively articulating the stories and facts, he leaves room for the audience to evaluate. As a former South Philly resident, these stories are particularly interesting — and the author “does the right thing.” Informative and entertaining.

good listen

enjoyed it if your into mafia and dysfunctional organized crime your gonna enjoy it very much