Before Anthony Arillotta joined the ranks of the Mafia, he was stirring up trouble on the streets of Springfield, Massachusetts. He first served prison time when he was just 21 years old — and it set him up for a life of crime. Arillotta talks about his experience in prison, the lessons he learned, and the connections he made.

This is the first in a series of exclusive CAFE Insider bonus episodes of Up Against the Mob, a show that takes you inside law enforcement’s battles with the Mafia. If you haven’t listened to the main episode, head over to the Up Against the Mob feed, and then come back here to listen to the bonus. 

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Up Against the Mob is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Hosted by @eliehonig. Follow us on Twitter.