Joseph Massino the former boss of the Bonanno crime family and first active boss of a New York mafia family to turn rat is set to be released from prison as a reward for his cooperation. A Brooklyn federal court judge today ruled that Massino’s life sentence would be reduced to time served and that he would be placed into the witness protection program upon his release. Massino was serving life in prison for his part in eight gangland slayings but decided to join team America and testify against dozens of his fellow mobsters including his successor as Bonanno boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano and now is reaping the rewards. He testified at two separate trials and FBI confirms that he also supplied them with an unprecedented amount of highly confidential mafia information. At age 70 Massino has served 10 years of his previous life sentence.
Massino’s lawyer argued that his client deserved a few years of freedom in return for his cooperation which he labeled as being a turning point against La Cosa Nostra. After his arrest Massino was forced to forfeit $7 million dollars , 257 gold bars, and properties much of which was made as boss of the Bonanno family but his lawyer said he will be able to support himself through social security and income from some modest rental properties he still owns. He said that a return to his clients gangster ways was very unlikely. Massino’s lawyer also made reference to multiple health problems that Massino was currently dealing with. Massino also agreed to continue to offer support to law enforcement for ongoing investigations that have yet to be revealed against the mafia.
