Former FBI agent goes from busting mobsters to tracking animal abusers

NEW YORK -- He’s Doggie Brasco.

A legendary former FBI agent has gone from nailing mobsters to taking out animal abusers.

Jack Garcia — who once posed as a Sicilian jewel thief named “Jack Falcone’’ to infiltrate the Gambino crime family — now works for a Long Island-based animal-rescue group as its lead investigator.

He recently told The Post that after retiring from the FBI in 2006, he was looking to make a difference again.

“I went from driving around Gambino captain Greg DePalma to driving my daughter to school. It was a big transition. It took a lot of time to get used to it. So when this opportunity came around . . . I wanted to get involved,” said Garcia, who wrote a book, “Making Jack Falcone,’’ on his undercover work.

“The acts of violence on defenseless animals is as vicious as some of the crimes I’ve investigated. And I’ve seen it all.”

The Cuban native gained fame after duping Mafiosos into letting him into their inner circle by posing as Falcone.

The operation resulted in more than 30 convictions and decimated the post-John Gotti Gambino power structure.

The 6-foot-4, 390-pound ex-G-man is now using his crime-fighting skills at the Guardians of Rescue, which finds animal abuse, provides veterans free service dogs and aids animal shelters, among other services.

Its founder, Robert Misseri, says Garcia is a great asset.

“We wanted to bring someone in with real experience and reach not just locally, but throughout the country,” said Misseri, who was once eyed by the feds for alleged mob ties.

The nonprofit cannot make arrests, but Misseri said it provides information to help police investigate animal-abuse cases.

Garcia said his new job lets him help the helpless.

“With the Mafia, if you had a problem, at least you could do something about it,” he said. “You could contact the police; you could move somewhere else. But animals don’t have a voice in that way if they are being abused. We want to give them that voice.”

Despite increased awareness, horrific abuses are still rampant, Misseri said.

“The puppy mills are still big business, and you still have a lot of dogfighting and other issues,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done. Having someone like Jack onboard is going to help in a lot of ways.”

(NY Post - July 21, 2015)