New York crime boss Joseph Massino to testify against mob associate Vincent Basciano

New York crime boss Joseph Massino to testify against mob associate Vincent Basciano

 

A former New York crime boss and head of the Bonanno crime family is due to testify against his successor Vincent Basciano.

The FBI revealed on Friday that Joseph Massino will go to court to spill the beans on his former crime associate.

The pair were both members of the Five Families which control organised crime in New York.

Joseph Massino (left) is due to testify against Vincent Basciano

'A boss testifying against another boss is a sea change in the mob world,' said author of 'American Mafia' Thomas Reppetto.

'The old time bosses like [Charles] Luciano and [Vito] Genovese are rolling in their graves. The Mafia as we knew it now longer exists.'

Massino was convicted of racketeering, seven murders, arson, extortion, loanshacking, illegal gambling, conspiracy and money laundering in July 2004.

But to avoid the death penalty he agreed to turn state witness and now testifies against his former associates.

He became famous throughout America during his time in the mob and was referred to as the 'Last Don' by the media because, at the time, he was the only official head of the Five Families not in prison.

He is now set to turn against Basciano, or Vinny Gorgeous as he is more commonly known.

Basciano, 51, was convicted in a racketeering trial in 2006 for running illegal gambling and attempted murder.

In 2007 he was also convicted of the murder of Frank Santoro who was believed to have kidnapped his son.

He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment and is now facing trial for the murder of mob associate Randolph Pizzolo.

Massino, 68, helped the FBI by secretly taping Basciano in prison when he allegedly admitted ordering the murder.

The tape also features the pair allegedly discussing a plot to kill a federal prosecutor.