Overview
Former Chicago police officer and mafia associate Fred Pascente is the man who links Tony Spilotro, the protagonist of Nicholas Pileggi’s Casino and one of Chicago’s most notorious mob figures, to William Hanhardt, chief of detectives of the Chicago Police Department. Pascente and Spilotro grew up together on Chicago’s near West Side, and as young toughs they were rousted and shaken down by Hanhardt. While Spilotro became the youngest made man in Chicago Outfit history, Pascente was drafted into the army and then joined the police department. Soon taken under Hanhardt’s wing because of his connections, Pascente served as Hanhardt’s fixer and bagman on the department for more than a decade. At the same time, Pascente remained close to Spilotro, making frequent trips to Las Vegas to party with his old friend while helping to rob the casinos blind. Mob Cop tells about the decline of traditional organized crime in the United States, and it reveals information about the inner workings of the Outfit that have never been publicly released. Fred Pascente’s positions as an insider on both the criminal and law enforcement fronts makes this story a matchless tell-all.
Reviews
"Worthwhile glimpse into the schizoid world of a corrupt cop.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A tale from the underworld that’s rich in Outfit history and the characters that come with it. Pascente’s memories unspool like letters from a dark and fading Chicago.”—Jeff Coen, author of Family Secrets: The Case That Crippled the Chicago Mob
“A detailed, gritty account of growing up around Grand Avenue and of life on both sides of the law, from someone who was a mob associate and a Chicago police officer—at the same time. Sam Reaves’s commentary that goes along with Fred Pascente’s story is excellent.”—John J. Binder, author of The Chicago Outfit
"The book is chock full of the dark side of both the police department and the mob but it is surprisingly also full of strong friendship, family devotion, unswerving loyalty and at times had me laughing out loud at some of the ridiculous antics on both sides of the law." —Chicago History Cop
“Pascente’s tale is fascinating.” —Library Journal
“Fans of mobster stories will want to grab a copy of the foul-mouthed but fascinating memoir of Fred Pascente, the corrupt former Chicago cop who was tight with Tony Spilotro and a host of Las Vegas ne’er-do-wells. Written with novelist Sam Reaves, the book is titled “Mob Cop: My Life of Crime in the Chicago Police Department.” A friend and business partner of former Crazy Horse Too boss Rick Rizzolo, Pascente also was a member of Nevada’s casino Black Book. Pascente died in 2014, so I’m guessing the book tour is out.” —Las Vegas Review-Journal
Author Biography
Fred Pascente was a Chicago police officer for 26 years, serving as assistant and “bagman” to William Hanhardt. He was also a professional thief with close ties to the mafia, and a close friend and confidant of Tony Spilotro. Sam Reaves is the author of 10 novels and has served as president of the Midwest chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in Evanston, Illinois.
Distribution Programs
Sales Channels
Marketing Services
Digital Services
Specific Services for Publishers
Operations
