Organized crime families and other syndicates have a long history of running drugs, gambling,and other illegal activities. Many of these organizations are also known for their violent history, as the responsible parties in many high profile violent crimes. In order to keep violent organized criminals and terrorists off the streets, the FBI and other government officials often make deals with caught criminals in return for information that can bring down the top criminal organizations. In return, those who turn over evidence or testify in court get to live out their life in the Witness Protection Program (or WITSEC) without any jail time.
Deciding to turn evidence and enter the witness protection program is not an easy one. For criminals it means turning against the people you’ve worked with, labeling yourself a traitor, moving your entire life, and giving up your identity. Many of those who entered witness protection used to be in the mafia, where loyalty is praised above all, so the decision is tougher than you may imagine. The choice is also tough for the FBI, who have to decided whether it’s worth looking over an informants crimes in order to get evidence to put away bigger fish.
Who are the most famous people in witness protection? The well-known names on this list made the tough choice to give up their criminal comrades in return for a new protected life.
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Anthony Casso
Anthony Casso had a reputation for being a true psychotic mafia member, especially since he attempted to kill crime boss John Gotti multiple times. When he was arrested in 1993, he offered to turn evidence against his fellow mobsters. However, Casso was thrown out of the Witness Protection Program when he was accused of bribery, lying, and violence and then sentenced to life in prison.
Frank Salemme
Mobster and hitman Frank Salemme became the head of the Patriaca crime family in the 80s. He was convicted of racketeering charges in 1995 and sentenced to 11 years in prison. However, when he found out his fellow mobsters were FBI informants, Salemme decided to testify against FBI Agent Connolly in returns for admittance into the witness protection program.
Henry Hill
In 1980, Henry Hill, a NYC mobster with 25 years of history with the Lucchese crime family, assisted the FBI get 50 convictions and put away mobsters like James Burke and Paul Vario. His story was turned into the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas and book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family.
Joseph Barboza
Joe Barboza was often called The Animal due to an altercation that ended with him biting a man's ear. Barboza had a minor league boxing career, a history of escaping from prison, and working for organized crime syndicates in Boston. In 1966, he was shot and decided to turn FBI informant while in prison for murder.
Leroy Barnes
Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, aka Mr. Untouchable, was known as one of the biggest drug lords in American history in the 1970s. When he was arrested and sentenced to life in prison, he discovered that The Council, the drug ring he was a part of, had turned against him. As a result, he turned over 109 names, including his wife, which ultimately helped convict 16 criminals.
Ray Ferritto
Ray Ferritto was responsible for many violent crimes from the time he was 13 years old. However, he didn't get into any serious trouble until 1977, when he was arrested for car bombing a competing mobster. He became a government informant when he found out his mafia family had turned against him. He only stayed in witness protection for a year, before being sentences to 6 months in prison.
Vincent Teresa
Vincent Teresa made witness protection history when he wrote three books from under the FBI's watchful eye, each of which recorded his decades in the mafia. Teresa claimed that he never killed anyone despite being "made" in the Italian mob.
Andrew Thomas DelGiorno
Andrew DelGiorno held the title of captain in the Scarfo crime family, before he was demoted after a betrayal by one of his closest friends. He was even put on the top of the Scarfo hit list. In return, DelGiorno turned into a FBI informant and helped but Nicky Scarfo in jail for life.
Max Mermelstein
Max Mermelstein was once lauded by the FBI as one of the most valuable assets in fighting the war on drugs in the 70s and 80s. His Witness Protection relocation included 30 members of his family, making it one of the biggest re-locations it WITSEC history.
Joseph Vollaro
In the 1990s, Joseph Vollaro joined the Gambino family after working in construction for years. In 2004, he was arrested for possession of cocaine and decided to help the FBI take down Nick Corrozzo and many of his mob family in a RICO case.