I worked as an undercover ATF agent for 25 years. Reentering normal life was harder than infiltrating biker gangs.

Frank D'alesio infiltrated criminal organizations as an ATF agent for 25 years. He says that balancing undercover work and family life was challenging. His family got used to him not being around, and it was hard to re-establish those connections. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Frank D'alesio, a former agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who spent 25 years infiltrating criminal organizations. It has been edited for length and clarity. My ...