Colombo crime family soldier Sebastian Saracino didn’t just turn on his New York Mafia family but on his own family as well when he decided to flip.
When the feds busted the Sicilian-born Saracino back in 2010 for supplying false information on immigration documents they had no idea that he would help them dismantle the Colombo family. He decided to turn on his mafia pals and help the feds build cases against high ranking Colombo family mobsters including then street boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli. In 2012 he testified against not only Gioeli but also his own brother Dino “Little Dino” Saracino also a Colombo family soldier. His explosive testimony would lead to racketeering convictions for both although they were acquitted of the 1997 murder of Ralph Dols an NYPD officer.
“Sebastian Saracino”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Gatta noted that Sebastian was and continued to be an important source of information on his former Cosa Nostra family even after his testimony. Saracino could have asked for a waiver barring him from testifying against his own flesh and blood but didn’t. His lawyer John Jordan noted that he took a big risk and paid dearly in his efforts to help prosecutors. Jordan said his client decided to cooperate because he was looking out for his wife and two daughters. Sebastion told Brooklyn Federal Judge Brian Cogan “I never wanted this life, Somehow, it seems like this life found me.” He also noted the irony of the situations saying “I’m here because of my family and I’m here because of my family.”
The NY Mafia turncoat was facing charges that could have put him behind bars for almost 70 years but instead received a sentence of time served as a reward for helping the feds according to the NY Daily News report. He will still have to forfeit a couple of properties in Brooklyn and pay $18,500 in funeral expenses for a mafia associate he testified that his brother had shot in the back of the head in the basement of their parents home. He is also on the hook for $75,000 for an insurance-related arson and may also be facing future deportation.
