Mafia Don Turns Public Snitch in Mob First

[The Streets Don't Love You Back]

Mafia Don Turns Public Snitch in Mob First

Joseph 'Big Joey' Massino, the head of the Bonanno crime family for 14 years, is seen in this undated file photo released by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The former Mafia don testified against his successor, becoming the highest-ranking mobster to break the sacred code of silence on the stand.

 

By LEE FERRAN

April 13, 2011

 

For the first time in American organized crime history, a former Mafia don testified in open court against his successor, becoming the highest-ranking gangster to break the mob's sacred code of silence on the stand.

"Vinny told me that he had killed him," Joseph "Big Joey" Massino told a Brooklyn court Tuesday, referring to an alleged jailhouse confession by Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano. Basciano, the head of the secretive Bonanno family, is accused of ordering the murder of an associate that had fallen out of favor in 2004. He is already serving a life sentence from a previous conviction.

Massino said that in 2005 Basciano told him he killed gangster Randolph Pizzolo because Basciano said Pizzolo was "a scumbag, a rat, a troublemaker, a bad kid."

Though Massino continues his testimony today, one official familiar with the case told ABC News his colorful testimony has already been helpful to the prosecution.

In addition to fingering Basciano, the 68-year-old Massino candidly answered the prosecutor's questions about his time at the head of the family.

As a boss, Massino said he was responsible for spotting talent -- whether in killing or in racketeering -- in the mob ranks and promoting and demoting captains