Ori Spado
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Ori Spado | |
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| Born | Orlando Spado December 17, 1944 Rome, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author; public speaker |
Notable work | The Accidental Gangster |
Orlando "Ori" Spado (born December 17, 1944) is an American author and former organized-crime associate. In 2008, he was named among a dozen defendants in a federal racketeering indictment tied to the Colombo crime family in the Eastern District of New York.[1] The New York Post also covered the charges, listing Spado among those indicted in the Colombo case.[2] Spado later wrote the memoir The Accidental Gangster (2019), which recounts his life from upstate New York to Los Angeles and his later conviction and imprisonment.[3]
Early life
Spado was born in Rome, New York, where he attended Rome Free Academy.[4] The Rome Sentinel profiled Spado in 2019, recounting his upbringing, early work in insurance, and eventual move to Los Angeles.[5]
Career
After working in insurance, Spado moved to Los Angeles. Accounts of his later life describe him as a Hollywood “fixer” who became associated with figures in organized crime.[6]
Criminal case and imprisonment
On June 4, 2008, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed a 17-count superseding indictment charging twelve defendants—including Spado—with racketeering conspiracy and related offenses connected to the Colombo crime family.[1] [2]
Local news coverage later reported that Spado served just over five years in federal prison following his conviction.[7]
Writing and media
In 2019, Spado published his memoir, The Accidental Gangster, co-written with Dennis N. Griffin, which recounts his early life, involvement with organized crime, federal trial, and time in prison.[3]
The book received regional coverage, including a 2021 WIBX radio feature and article in Rome, New York, Spado’s hometown.[7] In 2024, WIBX featured him again in a video interview discussing his life and career.[8]
In 2020, Spado appeared on the Talk About Las Vegas interview series to discuss his life, career, and memoir.[9]
In 2021, Spado appeared on the VladTV interview series, discussing his experiences in organized crime and his life in Hollywood.[10] He also appeared in a follow-up segment on VladTV later in 2021, expanding on his experiences in organized crime.[11]
In 2022, Spado was interviewed on the Shawn Atwood True Crime Podcast, a UK-based program focusing on organized crime and criminal justice.[12]
Spado has also appeared on the Redemption Matters podcast to discuss his post-prison life and personal growth.[13]
In 2022, Deadline reported that filmmaker George Gallo was set to direct a feature film adaptation of The Accidental Gangster, with Nick Vallelonga producing.[14] In 2023, WKTV, a local NBC affiliate, reported on the planned film adaptation, highlighting Spado's upbringing in Rome, New York, and his memoir as the basis for the project.[15] The Mob Museum also covered the planned film, noting Spado’s role in the Hollywood underworld and his later career as an author.[6]
In 2024, Spado appeared on the Chatter That Matters interview series, produced by RBC Royal Bank, discussing his past as a Hollywood fixer and his transition into legitimate work.[16]
Bibliography
- Spado, Orlando; Griffin, Dennis N. The Accidental Gangster: From Insurance Salesman to Mob Boss of Hollywood. WildBlue Press, 2019. ISBN 978-1-948239-46-2.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Colombo Organized Crime Family Acting Boss, Underboss, and Ten Other Members and Associates Indicted" (Press release). United States Department of Justice – U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDNY). June 4, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Schram, Steve (June 5, 2008). "Goodbye Colombos". New York Post. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Spado, Orlando ("Ori"); Dennis N. Griffin (2019). The Accidental Gangster: From Insurance Salesman to Mob Boss of Hollywood. Denver, CO: WildBlue Press. ISBN 978-1-948239-46-2.
- ↑ "About Ori Spado". TheAccidentalGangster.com. March 11, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ↑ "Living quite the colorful life". Rome Sentinel. October 4, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Henry, Larry (January 31, 2023). "Spado's "Accidental Gangster" story headed to silver screen". The Mob Museum (blog). Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rondenelli, Jeff Monaski & Bill Keeler (February 2021). "Rome, NY Mobster Tells His 'Accidental Gangster' Story". WIBX950. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "The Accidental Gangster – Ori Spado from Rome, NY". WIBX950 YouTube Channel. May 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Talking With Ori Spado – December 28, 2020". Talk About Las Vegas. December 28, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Ori Spado on Hollywood & Mob Stories". VladTV. November 18, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Ori Spado – VladTV Interview (Part 2)". VladTV. August 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Hollywood Fixer for the Mob Ori Spado". Shawn Atwood True Crime Podcast. May 15, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Ori Spado – Redemption Matters". Apple Podcasts (Podcast). April 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 21, 2022). "'The Accidental Gangster' Film In Works From George Gallo & Nick Vallelonga". Deadline. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Rome native's mob book being made into a movie". WKTV. June 23, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ Amato, Diane (April 5, 2024). "Hollywood fixer Ori Spado shares stories of his life in crime, going legit". Chatter That Matters. RBC Royal Bank. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
External links
This article "Ori Spado" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.