bout the workings of undercover operations and how undercover agents are often used in hidden operations. In fact, criminal operations depend on concealing information about their operations; getting information is difficult. One of the most successful ways of deceiving members of such criminal operations is to get them to reveal how they operate through undercover operations, which is the way the FBI used Sammy Gravano to deceive the other members of his crime family. Undercover work is important - as witnessed in this case - because it provides police with a special advantage that would not be available otherwise. Once inside the criminal operations, FBI officials can learn the role of the persons involved in criminal operations, can find out the locations where criminal discussions have taken place, and they can identify resources used by organized crime members. More importantly, however, are informants. In the case of Gambino family mob boss John Gotti - who was sentenced to life by federal court in New York City in 1992 - having an informant like Gravano was essential. The most important tool used in the prosecution was testimony from Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano. Gravano is a perfect example of the important role that an informant can play in the prosecution of organized crime cases that are highly publicized. In the beginning, Gravano was set to stand trail along with Gotti but struck a deal with prosecutors and faced a lesser charge. Gravano is serving a twenty-year sentence and in exchange for this, Gravano testified in Gotti's trial, not to mention almost ten other people's trials. He became the highest-ranking man ever involved in organized crime to turn against his crime family and give evidence to the state. An informant is any person who gives information in a criminal case but who is not a witness or victim in the same case. Informants can be concerned citizens or ruthless criminals but in many ca...
