Blerim Skoro

So now everybody knows that torture I did. And you know how I served in the Croatian war, you know, was one of the most dangerous war in Balkan. So kind of, not kind of, but even in a mafia community, my name started becoming among the five, six families, Gambino, crime family, Genovese, Bonanno, Lucchese, all this Italian mafia included Albanians. And... I was respected.

We were hanging out in one of the Gambino crime clubs in Bensonhurst. It used to be a well-known neighborhood of mobsters in New York. I used to live in that neighborhood, you know, living all in the middle of the mobsters, so all surrounded with mafia. And I kind of blend in good with good skills and now it's quick spread the rumors, oh, he came from the war, you know.

We were hanging out in one of the Gambino crime clubs in Bensonhurst. It used to be a well-known neighborhood of mobsters in New York. I used to live in that neighborhood, you know, living all in the middle of the mobsters, so all surrounded with mafia. And I kind of blend in good with good skills and now it's quick spread the rumors, oh, he came from the war, you know.

We were hanging out in one of the Gambino crime clubs in Bensonhurst. It used to be a well-known neighborhood of mobsters in New York. I used to live in that neighborhood, you know, living all in the middle of the mobsters, so all surrounded with mafia. And I kind of blend in good with good skills and now it's quick spread the rumors, oh, he came from the war, you know.

Knowing through the media he comes from the war zone, they give you highly respect, you know, they treat you more than the rest of the people, you know, because, you know, surviving in that Croatian war is kind of big things. I start the trip, first trip, if I don't make mistake, somewhere end of 96, first drug dealing, sending drugs to Albania.

Knowing through the media he comes from the war zone, they give you highly respect, you know, they treat you more than the rest of the people, you know, because, you know, surviving in that Croatian war is kind of big things. I start the trip, first trip, if I don't make mistake, somewhere end of 96, first drug dealing, sending drugs to Albania.

Knowing through the media he comes from the war zone, they give you highly respect, you know, they treat you more than the rest of the people, you know, because, you know, surviving in that Croatian war is kind of big things. I start the trip, first trip, if I don't make mistake, somewhere end of 96, first drug dealing, sending drugs to Albania.

Those moments, for example, I didn't much ask because I know the nature of the mafia. It's not to ask too much questions because if you ask questions, then you're raising questions. Maybe you work for government, you know, because my asylum was granted right away. So a lot of them were still illegal because that time in the U.S., nobody was asking you for documents.

Those moments, for example, I didn't much ask because I know the nature of the mafia. It's not to ask too much questions because if you ask questions, then you're raising questions. Maybe you work for government, you know, because my asylum was granted right away. So a lot of them were still illegal because that time in the U.S., nobody was asking you for documents.

Those moments, for example, I didn't much ask because I know the nature of the mafia. It's not to ask too much questions because if you ask questions, then you're raising questions. Maybe you work for government, you know, because my asylum was granted right away. So a lot of them were still illegal because that time in the U.S., nobody was asking you for documents.

You can live here like rest of the illegal immigrants. Nobody will ask you if you have any paper. So it was like normal everybody else. And since I started hanging out with them, I said not to ask questions. All I need to follow whatever they tell me to follow. No questions. And they said they teach me how to do all these things.

You can live here like rest of the illegal immigrants. Nobody will ask you if you have any paper. So it was like normal everybody else. And since I started hanging out with them, I said not to ask questions. All I need to follow whatever they tell me to follow. No questions. And they said they teach me how to do all these things.

You can live here like rest of the illegal immigrants. Nobody will ask you if you have any paper. So it was like normal everybody else. And since I started hanging out with them, I said not to ask questions. All I need to follow whatever they tell me to follow. No questions. And they said they teach me how to do all these things.

And I said, okay, do we start, you know, hanging out, being more close to them, more, you know, but they had a good reputation. I tell you this, Albanians, Italian mafia was very dangerous, but Italian mafia would not play with Albanian mafia because they was taking them too serious. Albanians was killing them with no problems. It was more kind of serious Albanians than Italians.

And I said, okay, do we start, you know, hanging out, being more close to them, more, you know, but they had a good reputation. I tell you this, Albanians, Italian mafia was very dangerous, but Italian mafia would not play with Albanian mafia because they was taking them too serious. Albanians was killing them with no problems. It was more kind of serious Albanians than Italians.

And I said, okay, do we start, you know, hanging out, being more close to them, more, you know, but they had a good reputation. I tell you this, Albanians, Italian mafia was very dangerous, but Italian mafia would not play with Albanian mafia because they was taking them too serious. Albanians was killing them with no problems. It was more kind of serious Albanians than Italians.

I used to see them, then when I came out to the prison, then I found out Albanians was really more strong than Italians.

I used to see them, then when I came out to the prison, then I found out Albanians was really more strong than Italians.

I used to see them, then when I came out to the prison, then I found out Albanians was really more strong than Italians.

Absolutely, 100%. Absolutely. Even me. For example, when I was in that club, look, the time, mafia, how they was functioning, you know, when it's a club, they all know each other. Even it's not social club, but they all know each other. So now they know it is guy who came from the war and it's me. And I used to be known like Benny. My nickname was Benny. Everybody used to know me Benny.