4 srsly? 11x Murderer Gets Time Served

[magickyleo101]

I know everyone's upset about the Taliban fighter who got 16 years for killing a solider in war, but I think something worth getting more upset about...

Salvatore Vitale, the former Bonanno crime family underboss who became perhaps the most significant mafia turncoat in nearly two decades and pleaded guilty to 11 murders, was sentenced on Friday to time served.
Mr. Vitale, 63, who has been imprisoned since his arrest in 2003 — and his almost immediate cooperation with the FBI and prosecutors — in 2003, likely will enter the witness protection program.

I mean, it's great that he was a state witness, but 7 years for killing 11 people? That's not even a year per person. A better deal would have been to give this guy 20 years in a white collar prison. That's jail time but with enough incentive to testify.

[Heavy Weapons Guy]

He should had been executed.

[Pra]

Ok, he cut a deal that got bigger fish to fry.

He's in the witness protection program.

...big deal? I can't really see the hubbub here.

[JP226]

“Quite simply, Vitale has likely been the most important cooperator in the history of law enforcement efforts to prosecute the Mafia,”

[Katsumoto]

It's the way of the world we live in. Deals have to be made to achieve goals. This guy squealed good:

Using his testimony, federal prosecutors and F.B.I. agents have been able to imprison 51 mob figures, including Mr. Massino and the last four acting bosses of the Bonanno family.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Yeah I would say its worth it.

[Squiggle]

The laws an ass, what can be said.

[magickyleo101]

I know he was a really good witness, but time served on 11 murders is just too much.

[HissingNewt]

I know he was a really good witness, but time served on 11 murders is just too much.

I've got to agree with this. Even though he was a really helpful witness, he should have lots of jail time and consider himself lucky to not be executed.

[Pious Agnost]

But then you'd be lucky to ever have an informant like him again.

It's really unfortunate but somewhat necessary.

[HissingNewt]

But then you'd be lucky to ever have an informant like him again.

It's really unfortunate but somewhat necessary.

11 people are dead directly because of him. It should be no less than 2 years per person even if he did help (because still, most states would just straight up have him killed).

[Cougar109]

11 people are dead directly because of him. It should be no less than 2 years per person even if he did help (because still, most states would just straight up have him killed).

You act like these were 11 innocent bystanders who were randomly killed for no reason. I guarantee you all 11 of these people were direct enemies of this particular family; drug dealers, corrupt individuals, rival gang members, etc. The Mafia doesn't go around killing random people for and giggles.

If you have to let a guy who killed 11 scumbags walk in order to bring down an entire Mafia family who not only had a hand in those 11 but I'm sure many, many more. You do it, no questions asked.

[Katsumoto]

You've got to look at the bigger picture. With this guy's help they basically dismantled the Bonnano crime family. Imagine the amount of murders they would've commited in the future. You give this guy a long jail sentence and you scare off a lot of potential informers. Nobody is going to go informer if after delivering 50 mobsters they get a life sentence. I'm not defending this decision but I can see that it is necessary. That's how you eradicate crime, not by busting the dealer on the street but by getting him to give up his suppliers. Cut off the head and the body will die.

[Captain Jin]

You can't just straight up kill him. It's like Pious said, you want to turn people to fry the guys at the top you have to cut deals. It's a situation, but be realistic here. No one is going to turn state or Federal witness if they aren't going to get anything out of it. This is how they've dismantled organized crime over the years because they get guys that have a lengthy sheets and are in a jam by copping plea bargains and turning them against their bosses. Freedom is a very, very tasty carrot to dangle in front of someone's face and when you can nail 51 mafia members for the price of one it's a worthwhile deal. Also, of those 11, how many are guys that were in the game just like him and how many were innocent people he just murdered to murder. Cause as far as people in the game getting iced go, law enforcement doesn't really give a .

[Armenum]

He's going to be wishing that he had been jailed instead. I mean he squealed on so many Mafia people, that he's going to get it when he's free.

[charles the hammer]

Wait isnt he in his 60's? He might not even survive to be free.

[Captain Jin]

He's going to be wishing that he had been jailed instead. I mean he squealed on so many Mafia people, that he's going to get it when he's free.

Ever heard of Joseph Pistone? Or maybe by his mafia name Donnie Brasco? His undercover work led to the indictment of 200 mafia folks and the mob even put 500k contract out on his head. He's still alive and kicking. Or maybe you heard of William Queen aka Billy St. John? An ATF agent that infiltrated the Mongols Motorcycle club whose investigation led to the arrest of 54 members of one of the most violent and dangerous gangs in America. He's still alive.

Real life isn't like the movies. It's not so super easy for the bad guys to find witnesses and such and assassinate them. Obviously it happens, but not like in the movies.

[Katsumoto]

Pretty sure he's going into the witness protection program.

Mr. Vitale, 63, who has been imprisoned since his arrest in 2003 — and his almost immediate cooperation with the FBI and prosecutors — in 2003, likely will enter the witness protection program.

[Armenum]

Pretty sure he's going into the witness protection program.

oh right...

[Katsumoto]

This ain't 1365 man. People live longer than 60.