Gregory Scarpa: The Mafia Killer Who Worked With the FBI

Gregory Scarpa was one of the most feared killers in the Colombo crime family. Known as "The Grim Reaper," he was involved in the violent world of the New York Mafia while secretly providing information to the FBI for decades. But how much did federal investigators know about the crimes of their own informant? For years, Gregory Scarpa maintained a relationship with federal law enforcement while operating within one of New York's Five Families. His connections to FBI Special Agent Roy Lindley DeVecchio eventually became the center of a major controversy involving confidential informants, organized crime investigations, and allegations of misconduct. In this American Mafia documentary, The Commission Files investigates the disturbing history of Gregory Scarpa, his role in the Colombo crime family, and the questions surrounding his relationship with the FBI. From the early years of his cooperation to the bloody Third Colombo War, Scarpa's story reveals the risks of relying on violent criminals for intelligence. This documentary explores: Gregory "The Grim Reaper" Scarpa's rise within the Colombo crime family. His relationship with the FBI beginning in 1962. The controversial accounts connecting Scarpa to the 1964 Mississippi Burning investigation. The FBI's Top Echelon Informant program and the management of organized crime sources. Scarpa's relationship with FBI Special Agent Roy Lindley DeVecchio. The rivalry between the Persico and Orena factions during the Third Colombo War. The allegations surrounding the murder of Mary Bari. Internal FBI concerns about Scarpa's violent activities and the handling of his informant status. Scarpa's 1992 arrest and subsequent federal prosecution. His HIV infection, declining health, and death in federal custody in 1994. The 2007 murder trial of former FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio and the dismissal of the charges against him. The Gregory Scarpa case raises questions that go far beyond the Mafia. When law enforcement relies on a criminal informant, how does it prevent that relationship from undermining the very laws it is supposed to enforce? Some allegations against DeVecchio were disputed, and the 2007 murder case was dismissed after serious problems emerged with the prosecution's central witness. The distinction between documented misconduct concerns, contested allegations, and proven criminal conduct remains essential to understanding this story. Was Gregory Scarpa manipulating federal investigators for his own advantage, or did the system become too dependent on the information he provided? THE COMMISSION FILES Inside New York's Mafia Empire. Historical documentaries exploring the organized crime networks, internal power struggles, investigations, betrayals, and hidden histories of New York's Five Families: Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo. #GregoryScarpa #ColomboCrimeFamily #MafiaHistory