Mob turncoat Joseph “Big Joey” Massino — who went from Mafia boss to canary for the feds — continued ratting out his old pals today as he took the witness stand in Brooklyn federal court.
But first he described his own greatest hits.
Testifying for the government at the racketeering trial of reputed Genovese capo Anthony “Rom” Romanello, prosecutors had Massino describe his mob resume of murder and mayhem as he rose through the ranks of the Bonannos, one of New York’s notorious Five Families.
The rotund Massino — wearing a black and grey zip-up sweatshirt — eased his considerable girth into the witness stand and put on his glasses before a prosecutor walked him through his life of crime.
Massino said he was in the Bonanno family from 1972 to 2004, rising to the level of boss.</p><p>“Is there anyone else in the Mafia in this courtroom?” the prosecutor asked.
Massino pointed straight to the defense table and calmly said: “The man sitting over there with the glasses, Romanello.”</p><p>Romanello is on trial for racketeering and extortion.
When the prosecutor asked Massino to sum up his life in the Bonanno family, the witness answered without flinching: “Twelve murders, bookmaking, breaking and entering into a factory, shylocking.”
“It’s all about money,” said Massino, adding that his business associates never hesitated to use violence to get their money. “All the time. If you don’t pay they put you in the hospital.”
Additional reporting by David K. Li
Mob boss rats out 'pals' for feds at trial
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Mob boss rats out 'pals' for feds at trial
