The Mafia and State Police: Cold Murders and Other Crimes in Rhode Island

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - The cold-blooded world of organized crime in Rhode Island once felt untouchable. Hidden behind the stoic façades of social clubs and whispered conversations, the Mafia ruled parts of New England with an iron fist. But those secrets are now being exposed, thanks to retired State Police Major Anthony M. Pesare.

Through books, interviews, and a powerful podcast series, Pesare is shining a spotlight on the cases and criminals that haunted his 24-year law enforcement career. His stories are featured on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, streaming for free on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and promoted across social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, and Blogspot.

From State Police to Storyteller

Pesare’s time in the elite Intelligence Unit of the Rhode Island State Police had him investigating the Mafia, political corruption, and cold murder cases. These high-stakes investigations inspired his Gino Peterson crime novel series, They Always Win: Inspired by a True Story and Back in the Game.

“I’ve seen firsthand how the lines can blur between the law and the people we’re chasing,” Pesare shared in a recent podcast interview. “The work we did wasn’t just about arrests. It was about uncovering the truth, no matter how cold or hidden it was.”

A Murder That Went Cold

One of the real-life cases that directly inspired They Always Win revolves around Frank “Bobo” Marrapese, a feared enforcer for the Patriarca crime family. In 1975, Marrapese killed mob associate Richard “Dickie” Callei at the Acorn Social Club on Providence’s Federal Hill. Callei’s body was buried near a Massachusetts golf course, and the case went cold for years.

“Marrapese was feared. He was brutal. But he wasn’t above the law,” Pesare recalled. “We had to work those cold trails, use every angle. Eventually, we got there.”

Marrapese was later convicted and died in prison while serving time for murder, racketeering, and extortion. His conviction was one of many that chipped away at the power of New England’s underworld.

The Patriarca Family: A Criminal Legacy

The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England Mafia, has played a major role in organized crime history. Founded under Raymond L.S. Patriarca, the family controlled illegal gambling, loan-sharking, pornography, and trafficking in stolen goods throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Though their influence has diminished in recent years, the impact of the Patriarca family continues to cast a long shadow over law enforcement history in the region.

Fact Inspires Fiction

Pesare’s novels are not just entertainment, they’re reflections of the emotional and professional complexities that come with policing organized crime.

In They Always Win, Gino Peterson, the protagonist, is caught between loyalty and justice. “Gino’s not just fighting the mob, he’s fighting his own past,” Pesare explains. “I wanted to tell a story that captures the emotional complexity.”

Raised in the same neighborhoods as the people he investigates, Gino’s journey mirrors Pesare’s own life. The novel dives deep into personal conflict, political red tape, and the cost of doing what’s right, even when it hurts.

“Some names are changed, sure,” Pesare says. “But the tactics, the betrayals, the pressure, that’s all real.”
 

Back in the Game

In the sequel, Back in the Game, Gino Peterson returns to the criminal underworld, facing off with someone he once considered a friend. As both men navigate loyalty, identity, and personal redemption, their paths race toward an explosive confrontation.

“It’s a book about proving yourself, to the world and to yourself,” Pesare says. “Sometimes your biggest enemy is the person you used to be.”

A Career Devoted to Justice

Pesare’s law enforcement background extends far beyond the Intelligence Unit. He later served as Chief of Police in Middletown and was appointed Dean of the School of Justice Studies at Roger Williams University. He holds degrees in justice administration, public administration, and earned his Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law.

Now retired from active duty, Pesare hasn’t slowed down. He continues to speak publicly, write, and appear on various podcasts and news programs. His goal? To keep the conversation alive around organized crime and the law enforcement professionals who put their lives on the line to stop it.

Listen and Learn

The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast offers in-depth interviews and stories like Pesare’s, focusing on real investigations, cold cases, and criminal networks. The podcast is available for free on their official website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major platforms.

You can also find supporting content on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, and here on Blogspot.

The story of the Mafia and State Police in Rhode Island is far from over.
Follow the podcast. Read the books. Discover the truth.
Because some stories won’t stay buried.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or visit the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website.
📲 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Medium for more updates.

Attributions

Amazon

Wikipedia

Amazon

Anthony M Pesare

Providence Journal

NBC News

Wikipedia

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arrest of Corrections Officer, They Settled The Lawsuit

Image
  West Palm Beach, Fl - He dedicated over two decades of his life to serving our country, only to find yourself wrongfully accused by the very people he worked alongside. For Ian Murray, a U.S. military veteran and former corrections officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), this wasn’t just a hypothetical scenario, it was his reality. After years of legal battles, Murray recently reached a settlement with the JSO, bringing some resolution to a nightmare that began with a wrongful arrest. Murray’s ordeal started like a scene from a bad dream: a knock on his door from JSO officers in tactical gear, there to arrest him on felony theft charges linked to his military leave. The accusations spread like wildfire. Local media jumped on the story, social media lit up with chatter, and podcasts began dissecting the case. Murray’s career and reputation, built over years of service, took a devastating hit as doubts about his integrity swirled. “It was devastating,” Murray said in ...
Read more

‘12’ or ‘Pigs’ the History of Anti-Police Slang

Image
  West Palm Beach, Fl - If you’ve scrolled through social media, binge-watched TV shows, or tuned into podcasts recently, chances are you’ve stumbled across someone referring to the police as “12” or “pigs.” These terms pop up everywhere, from song lyrics to protest signs to casual chats, and they’ve been around for decades, still stirring the pot today. But where did they come from, and what do they reveal about society’s relationship with law enforcement? From Farmyard Insult to Political Statement Let’s kick things off with “pig,” a term most people recognize. While it might feel like a quintessentially American jab, its origins actually stretch back to England. “The insult goes back to 19th century England,” says cultural historian Dr. Lydia Markham. “It was used to describe someone greedy or morally lacking. Eventually, it narrowed in on the police.” The term gained serious traction in the United States during the turbulent 1960s, a time of social upheaval and anti-establishme...
Read more

A Survivor's Journey from Trauma to Advocacy

Image
  In the depths of our darkest experiences sometimes lies the seed of our greatest purpose. Nate Lewis's story demonstrates how personal wounds, when acknowledged and healed, can become wellsprings of strength and compassion for others. When trauma touches lives at a young age, it often shapes paths in ways not fully comprehended until years later. For Nate Lewis, founder of The Innocent, a nonprofit fighting child sex trafficking and exploitation, this journey from victim to advocate exemplifies how personal pain can transform into powerful purpose. The Silence of Childhood Trauma "I kept it buried for so long, but it affected everything, my choices, my safety, my entire world," Lewis recently shared on the " Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast ," revealing how sexual abuse at just 12 years old set him on a troubling path. "I didn't even know what sex was at that time. I hadn't had the talk with my parents, and sex education wasn't even...
Read more