Mobstermash

Former New York Post writer and current blogger for The Huffington Post, Jerry Capecihas worked both as a columnist and reporter, providing great scoops about John Gotti and other NYC wiseguys with a writing style rich in mob vernacular. But covering the underground crime circuit hasn’t always been risk free. While co-writing 1996’s Gotti: Rise and Fall, Capeci was allegedly informed that the dapper don wanted to “kick him in the ass.”Still Capeci isn’t worried. “In NY the (Italian) mob has this rule about not going after reporters,” he explains.

     While Capeci hasn’t always endeared himself to mobsters, Stanford University did take notice. In September 1996, while studying under the prestigious one-year John S. Knight Fellowship, Capeci took advantage of the emerging medium and launched “Gang Land” (www.gangland.com), a website devoted to organized crime. His expanded column provides information on the five major NY Mafia families and other notable NY crime legends such as deposed Harlem heroin kingpin Nicky Barnes and Chinatown gangster Wing Yeung Chan. Another feature of Capeci’s weekly column is “Ask Andy,” which tests Andy’s- identified only by his first name and head shot- encyclopedic knowledge of Mafia history.

     What sets “Gang Land” apart from other sites,and earns Capeci the respect of both the cops and crooks, is his evenhanded approach- which means taking on the NYPD when they cross the line. “I treat (the mobsters) fairly,” he says. “I’m not afraid to take on the good guys.”