David Nadolski - The Con and the FBI Agent: An Unlikely Alliance

The Con and the FBI Agent

An Unlikely Alliance

David Nadolski

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Nadolski, David, 1951 author.

Title: The con and the FBI agent : an unlikely alliance / David Nadolski.

Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: The Con and the FBI Agent is the story of an unlikely alliance between two diametrically opposed people that results in one of the most successful undercover cases in Boston FBI history Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021020652 (print) | LCCN 2021020653 (ebook) | ISBN 9781538159590 (cloth ; alk. paper) | ISBN 9781538159606 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Romano, Tony, -2012. | Nadolski, David, 1951- | United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. | RobberyMassachusettsBostonCase studies. | Undercover operationsMassachusettsBostonCase studies. | InformersMassachusettsBostonCase studies.

Classification: LCC HV6661.M42 N33 2021 (print) | LCC HV6661.M42 (ebook) | DDC 364.15/520974461dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020652

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020653

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

For Anthony Romano,

may he rest in peace,

and my fellow brothers and sisters of the FBI

Also thanks for all the help:

Dorothy Skelley for excellent editing

and invaluable advice,

Zach Leach, and Maureen Kelly

Most of all for Linda, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Meredith,

who lived this case with meI love you all!

When it was revealed that Tony Romano was an FBI informant who helped thwart a major heist outside of Boston in 1999, his friends turned on him and his family was confused. To his community, Tony was a rat. To the FBI, Tony was a hero, of sorts. Heroes come in all forms, not all of them angelic, and Tony was no angel. God knows the man struggled with his demons. But, in this one moment, Tony stepped up, stayed strong, and carried the day. I should know: Tony and I were tied at the hip for two years working on a sting operation that would lead to the prosecution and incarceration of four dangerous criminals poised to launch one of the biggest armed robberies of the twentieth century.

Sometimes people do the right thing for the right reason. And sometimes people do the right thing for the wrong reason. Initially, Tonys reason for becoming an informant was to seek vengeance against a gangster who had turned Tonys ex-wife into a drug mule while he was in prison. He saw an opportunity to work with the FBI as a way for him to bring this guy down. And I saw Tony as an opportunity to help us bring this guy down. Same goaldifferent motivations. But, over the course of the two-year operation, Tony became fully engaged and committed to the cause. He wanted to create a legacy that reflected a more noble purpose than sticking up gas stations. And my perspective about Tony as just a conduit to justice changed as well. We were forced to trust one another unconditionally. While I took a risk on Tony to pursue the bad guys, Tony risked his life to support the good guys.

Tony Romano was having a rough time on this sultry June day in 1979, and his head was swimming with the grim reality he was facing. Earlier, he and his attorney had been sitting in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Henry Chimilinski. Tony was being sentenced for a series of armed robberies committed in and around the city of Quincy, Massachusetts. Tony was a drug addict but not a violent criminal, who used a realistic-looking squirt gun for his stickups, which technically constituted armed robbery. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the law and particularly in the view of Henry Chimilinski, he might as well have used a machine gun.

Young man, you sit before me today for sentencing having pleaded guilty to five armed robberies in the city of Quincy, is that correct? the judge pried.

Yes, your honor, whispered Tony, head bowed and looking at his folded hands.

Judge Chimilinski glared at Tony. Speak up; I cant hear you! boomed the judge from his elevated bench.

Yes, your honor, said Tony in a clearer voice, head still bowed. He couldnt bear to look to his left, where his fifty-five-year-old mother, stricken with multiple sclerosis, sat sobbing in her wheelchair. Next to her was his scowling father, contempt and disappointment written all over his face. Tony couldnt bear to look directly at the judge either, who scared the shit out of him.

The judge readied himself for his decision: Young man, your attorney, Mr. Troy, has made an eloquent appeal on your behalf. He explained how you suffer from the disease of drug addiction and that you are not the type of person who should be sitting before me today. I firmly agree with him. You should not be sitting here today. Your poor mother should not be sitting here today. No one in this whole courtroom should be sitting here today! The problem is we are here, and we are here because of you and the stupid choices you made. He didnt wait for a response. Isnt that true? he bellowed from the bench.

Tony gulped, managed to lift his head a few inches, and whispered, Yes, sir.

Okay, get on your feet, Mr. Romano. With that command, Tony and his lawyer stood to face the judge.

Mr. Romano, I think you know where we are headed with this. I am not inclined to excuse your criminal behavior because you cannot manage to get through a day without sticking a needle in your arm. Im going to give you the opportunity to clean yourself up once and for all. Im going to remove you from the temptation of the streets and introduce you to a new environment where your life on drugs will become a distant memory. Mr. Romano, you are hereby sentenced to twelve to fifteen years at MCI [Massachusetts Correctional Institute] in Walpole.

With that Judge Chimilinski banged his gavel, lifted his considerable bulk from his chair, and walked from the courtroom. The court officer called out, All rise; court is adjourned.

As soon as the judge was out of the courtroom, Tonys knees buckled, and he landed back in his chair. He felt as though he was going to pass out. Twelve to fifteen, Holy God,