The Sopranos, the critically acclaimed HBO series, featured several characters who served as informants for the FBI, providing crucial intelligence on the activities of the Soprano crime family. While the question asks for "the snitch" in the singular, multiple individuals were revealed to be cooperating with law enforcement throughout the show's run.
Key Informants in The Sopranos
Several characters, some close to Tony Soprano, were identified as FBI snitches to the audience over the course of the series. Their revelations often led to significant plot developments and tragic ends for the informants themselves.
Here are the primary characters revealed to be FBI informants:
- Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero: One of Tony Soprano's closest and most trusted friends, a capo in the DiMeo crime family. His betrayal was a central storyline in the second season. The audience became aware of his cooperation with the FBI, leading to a dramatic and tragic confrontation where Tony and his associates discovered the truth, resulting in Pussy's execution.
- Raymond 'Buffalo Ray' Curto: Another capo within the Soprano crew. Ray Curto's status as an FBI informant was revealed posthumously in Season 5 when his wire was discovered by the FBI after he died of natural causes. His cooperation was largely unknown to the other characters during his lifetime.
- Eugene 'Gene' Pontecorvo: A soldier in the family who was increasingly burdened by his criminal life and desired to leave the mob with his family and inherited money. His history as an FBI informant was revealed in Season 6, leading to a desperate attempt to escape his obligations, which ultimately ended in tragedy.
- 'Little' Jimmy Altieri: A captain in the DiMeo crime family. Jimmy Altieri was identified as an FBI informant early in the series. His betrayal led to his demise, with the family acting on suspicion of his cooperation.
- Carlo Gervasi: A capo who rose through the ranks and became a significant figure in Tony Soprano's crew, eventually serving as acting underboss. By the series finale, it is strongly implied that Carlo Gervasi has "flipped" and is cooperating with the authorities. This revelation suggested he was "going to testify" against Tony, a critical development that left Tony's ultimate fate ambiguous.
These characters highlight the constant threat of betrayal and surveillance that permeated the lives of those involved in organized crime, a recurring theme throughout The Sopranos series.
