A&E Biography - Mobsters Series 4 (2012) Part 3 "Mad Sam" DeStefano

Follow the true stories behind the mob legends who have ruthlessly clawed and fought their way to success in the American underworld. Included are infamous figures such as Jimmy “The Gent” Burke, made famous by Martin Scorcesse's film Goodfellas, and “The Grim Reaper” Greg Scarpa, who for over 30 years lived a charmed triple life Mafia hit man, loving father and husband, and secret FBI informant. One of the most violent and outrageous characters in mob history is featured - “Mad Sam” DeStefano , who lived up to his moniker throughout a three-decade reign as a money lender and sadistic enforcer with the notorious Chicago Outfit. MOBSTERS investigates the violent world these men accept as normal, where power plays involve murder and corruption at a level that most people would find hard to comprehend.

Part 3 “Mad Sam” DeStefano

One of the most violent and outrageous characters in mob history, “Mad Sam” DeStefano lived up to his moniker throughout a three-decade reign as a juice loan lender and sadistic enforcer with the notorious Chicago Outfit. “Mad Sam” was born in 1909, the son of a nomad mine-worker. DeStefano plunged into crime early, taking up with Chicago's famed '42-Gang', and spending time behind bars for rape and burglary. His fortunes changed when, locked up at Leavenworth Prison, he met Paul “The Waiter” Ricca, head of the Chicago Outfit. DeStefano started as a loan shark, or 'juice loan' lender with Ricca's backing, and the mobster's underworld business thrived. By the 1960's, he was king of the juice loans in Chicago. The mobster staked his claim by brutally punishing any delinquent debtors — going so far as to stab, burn, and even urinate on his victims. But DeStefano's eccentric — and even worse — public personality rankled the Outfit brass. By the early 1970's, the order was made to take down “Mad Sam”, and he was shot and killed in his own garage.

Full Version Available Upon Request
Episode One Shown Here