Mafia Defectors and Origins of Witness Protection Program

I prefer Defectors, while the unwashed mass media, which tends to view everything in black and white, uses Rats.

Stefano Magaddino posed the threat prompting Witsec.

Defector, based on its historical definition, is more accurate, I believe:

A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause, or doctrine to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty. ...

This list of names of guys who flipped is a work in progress, ongoing for a couple of years now. The original focus was on New York's Five Families, but I've expanded it to include others.


Two things to consider while we're on this topic:

Firstly, the Witness Protection Program began with Pascal "Paddy" Calabrese and was a direct response to Buffalo mob boss Stefano Magaddino. While serving a five-year stretch, Calabrese started nursing a deep hatred for Magaddino, who had cut him loose. Magaddino had done the same to the drug-dealing Agueci brothers, forgetting about them as soon as they were arrested.

While out on bail, Albert Agueci threatened the 75-year-old Cosa Nostra boss, saying if Magaddino didn't use his connections to help him and his brother, he'd talk to the FBI about everything.

And so.... Albert was not only found dead a few days later, he'd died horribly. He'd been tortured, strangled, then doused with gasoline and set afire. Magaddino evidently had used the death to send a chilling message throughout the underworld, You talk, you go, and not easy ...

Agueci's body was missing 40 pounds of flesh, which had been sliced off. Both his arms and legs were broken, and his jaw. The slicing and shattering had been done while Albert was still alive.

Autopsy report on Albert Agueci

An imprisoned Calabrese had Albert Agueci on his mind when, without even realizing, he craftily created the agenda for what became the Witness Protection Program.

He said that he'd testify against his boss in return for an end to his prison sentence; relocation for him, his girlfriend, and her children; and new identities for all.

Read more about that here in Many Ghosts Haunt Witness Protection Program


Secondly, anyone officially made is made for life. That's right, even if he flips, he's still a member, only he's considered "shelved," said James "Big Louie"Tartaglione at a Bonanno crime family enterprise corruption trial.

Tartaglione's testimony was corroborated by former Gambino capo Michael "Mikie Scars" DiLeonardo, who said the same during his own testimony and in an interview.

"The family can not make another person to take your spot until you are dead," he told Cosa Nostra News.

Read more about that here in Made Guys Who Flip Are Still Made, Turncoat Testifies

Bonanno Crime Family
Genoroso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri - Soldier/Former Acting Capo
Joseph "Jersey Joe/Joe the Rat" Bonanno - Soldier/Acting Capo
Paul Cantarella - Soldier
Richard "Shellackhead" Cantarella - Capo/Acting Underboss
Dominick Cicale - Soldier/Acting Capo
Frank Coppa - Capo
Joseph "Joey Mook" D'Amico - Soldier
Frank "Curly" Lino - Capo
Michael “Sonny” Maggio - Soldier
Joseph "Big Joey/The Ear" Massino - Boss
Nicholas “P.J.” Pisciotti - Soldier/Acting Capo
James "Jimmy Tag/Big Lou" Tartaglione - Capo
Salvatore "The Chief/Good Looking Sal" Vitale - Underboss
Peter Rosa - Soldier

SEE OUR FULL LIST