📖 Overview
Kenny Gallo is a former gangster, FBI informant, and author born in 1968 who was involved with the Los Angeles and Colombo crime families before turning informant against notable mafia figures. He later documented his experiences in the memoir "Breakshot: A Life in the 21st Century American Mafia" (2009).
Born to Japanese and Italian parents in Los Angeles and raised in Orange County, Gallo's early life was marked by behavioral issues and a transformative period in military school. These experiences shaped his later path into organized crime, where he became involved in narcotics trafficking on the West Coast.
Beyond his criminal activities, Gallo worked in the adult film industry as a director and producer. After becoming an FBI informant, he provided evidence against several high-ranking mafia members, including Colombo family heir apparent Theodore "Teddy" Persico Jr.
👀 Reviews
Limited reader reviews exist online for Kenny Gallo's memoir "Breakshot: A Life in the Underground" and his blog writings. The book has only 6 ratings on Goodreads with an average of 3.17/5 stars.
Readers highlighted:
- Insider details about organized crime activities
- Direct writing style and candid confessions
- Documentation of his work as an FBI informant
Main criticisms:
- Self-aggrandizing tone
- Lack of fact-checking or verification of claims
- Some readers questioned authenticity of certain events
On Amazon, the book has 3 reviews averaging 3.5/5 stars. One reader called it "an interesting look inside the mob life" while another said "feels embellished."
Several blog commenters expressed skepticism about Gallo's accounts, particularly regarding celebrity interactions he claimed. No major newspaper or publication appears to have reviewed the book.
Note: Limited review data makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions about reader reception.
📚 Books by Kenny Gallo
Breakshot: A Life in the 21st Century American Mafia (2009)
A first-person memoir detailing Kenny Gallo's journey from his mixed Japanese-Italian upbringing through his years as a Los Angeles mobster and adult film producer to his eventual role as an FBI informant against the Colombo crime family.
👥 Similar authors
Henry Hill
His memoir "Wiseguy" details his life in the Lucchese crime family and his eventual role as an FBI informant. Hill's story covers both the criminal underworld and the witness protection experience, similar to Gallo's journey.
Michael Franzese As a former Colombo family captain turned informant, Franzese writes about the same crime family Gallo encountered. His books provide first-hand accounts of the Colombo family's operations and internal dynamics.
Frank Cullotta Cullotta's works describe his transition from Chicago Outfit associate to government witness. His experiences parallel Gallo's path from criminal to informant, with detailed accounts of both sides of law enforcement.
Jon Roberts His memoir "American Desperado" chronicles his involvement in cocaine trafficking and organized crime on both coasts. Roberts shares Gallo's dual perspective as both a criminal operator and eventual cooperator with law enforcement.
Giovanni Rocchi Writing as John Alite, Rocchi details his experiences in the Gambino crime family and subsequent cooperation with the FBI. His stories cover similar territory to Gallo's, including the intersection of organized crime and federal investigation.
Michael Franzese As a former Colombo family captain turned informant, Franzese writes about the same crime family Gallo encountered. His books provide first-hand accounts of the Colombo family's operations and internal dynamics.
Frank Cullotta Cullotta's works describe his transition from Chicago Outfit associate to government witness. His experiences parallel Gallo's path from criminal to informant, with detailed accounts of both sides of law enforcement.
Jon Roberts His memoir "American Desperado" chronicles his involvement in cocaine trafficking and organized crime on both coasts. Roberts shares Gallo's dual perspective as both a criminal operator and eventual cooperator with law enforcement.
Giovanni Rocchi Writing as John Alite, Rocchi details his experiences in the Gambino crime family and subsequent cooperation with the FBI. His stories cover similar territory to Gallo's, including the intersection of organized crime and federal investigation.