Never understood why Pacinos character werent higher up in the Hierarchy, he was older than most of em.
Gambling debts, Ruggiero was a degenerate horse gambler during the late 60's - 70's, owing 100's of thousands sometimes (the equivalent of a million plus today). It was seen as a weakness, and the guy he owed the money to also made sure he was never let into the inner circle. They respected him enough to let him get "made" and in real life, they didn't kill him for Brasco, but that was it. He went back to his apartment after prison, and died there a few years later.
Good casting, this was the real guy.
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