What is benjamin lefty ruggiero?

Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero was a notorious Italian-American mafia hitman and associate of the Bonanno crime family. He was born in 1926 in New York City and grew up in the infamous Brooklyn neighborhood of Coney Island.

Ruggiero began his criminal career as a petty thief and street hoodlum before joining the Bonanno family in the early 1950s. He quickly rose through the ranks of the organization, becoming a trusted enforcer and hitman for the top bosses.

Ruggiero was known for his cunning, ruthless tactics, and his ability to get away with crimes. He was also notorious for his close relationship with undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone, who infiltrated the Bonanno family in the late 1970s and early 1980s under the alias of "Donnie Brasco."

In 1985, Ruggiero was arrested and charged with various crimes, including racketeering and murder. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, where he died in 1994 from lung cancer.

Ruggiero's life and criminal career have been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films, including the 1997 drama "Donnie Brasco," which starred Al Pacino as Ruggiero.