Lefty Ruggiero was sentenced to 20 years in prison but died of cancer after serving just five years.
Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, portrayed by Al Pacino in the film “Donnie Brasco,” was a real-life mobster who became a mentor to undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone, who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family under the alias Donnie Brasco. Ruggiero, deeply involved in the mafia for decades, was eventually betrayed by Pistone’s undercover work, which led to the arrest and conviction of over 100 mob associates.
After the operation was revealed and Pistone’s true identity was exposed, Ruggiero was arrested and charged with various crimes, including racketeering and murder. The evidence against him was overwhelming, largely due to the extensive undercover work of Pistone. In 1982, Ruggiero was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. However, his health deteriorated while incarcerated, and he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Ruggiero was released early from prison on compassionate grounds in 1992 and died of cancer on November 24, 1994, at the age of 72. His life and downfall were a direct result of the successful infiltration of the mafia by the FBI, which significantly disrupted the operations of the Bonanno family.