Lou Eppolito knew of his family's mafia ties when he lied on an application to enroll in the NYPD's police academy in 1969. Eppolito's father, “Fats the Gangster,” had been a bookie for the Gambino crime family. Eppolito's uncle and cousin also had ties to the Gambino family, working as ruthless enforcers for the crew. Lou was different though. He saw all the havoc organized crime had wreaked on communities and wanted to break away from his family's unscrupulous legacy.
He quickly rose within the ranks of the NYPD. By the time the 1980s rolled around Eppolito had a number of honors under his belt and was working as a lead detective with the force. Only Eppolito's partner, Stephen Caracappa, knew that it was all a farce.
