Pistol Whipping Pizzeria Owner Was Ex-Mobster In Witness Protection Program
Well, this explains that Goombah Pizzeria owner's apparent anger management issues: he was a former hit-man who'd served prison time in 2004 after pleading guilty to 2 murders.
Gothamist writes that "Joey Calco, the man who made a name for himself when he turned on the Bonanno crime family and ratted out consigliere Anthony Spero in 2001, has been living in Florida and running a pizza place under the name Joseph Milano." We wonder if competing pizza joints in the area will start placing signs in their windows that read, "NOT affiliated with the mob!"—or if that would just invite more pistol whippings.
"Mob Turncoat's Identity Outed After a Fight Over a Calzone" [Gothamist] (Thanks to Alexa!)
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Comments:
I wonder if he knows Crabman?
Great, a hitman does a few years, and now he's totally not a danger to society...
So if someone in the program commits a crime, do they lose the protection?
@hewhoroams: I believe one of the rules in the witness protection plan is that you not start building up a new rap sheet. This loose torpedo obviously yearns for his old life - and now, it may come to visit him. Karma.
Perhaps it was a typo on the court papers and he got put in the Witness Publicity Program?
@chargernj: According to the Gothamist post, he was identified by a Daytona newspaper that noticed he looked a lot like the mobster.
@Darrone: Pleading guilty to two murders, and in under 5 years he's already out and running a pizza shop?
Only in America.
Joey Calco >> Joseph Milano? Is that the best that witness protection could do?
Also, pistol whipping a college student for complaining about your food? Way to keep a low profile, Joey!
Also, also, Ex-mob hitman Joe Milano running a pizzeria? Too many italian-american stereotypes rolled into one! o.O
Wow, pleaded guilty to 2 murders in 2004, and out of prison with enough time to start up a pizza company by 2009? Not really a fan of how our criminal justice system is based on informational bribes.
I think they do get booted, although it may only be after a conviction. Personally, I make it a point to never cross that line... ;)
Remember the end of Goodfellas... the credits said he was indicted on charges while in protection, his wife divorced him eventually, etc.
Also-- I know one mobster type said Sopranos was pretty close to reality- I guess it is!
[southpark] Dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb! [/southpark]
They should have changed his name to Stanley because he's a huge tool. I'd like to see him beat with his own sign for naming the place 'Goombah'. What a fucktard.
This wouldn't have happened at the Olive Garden.
It's not like mobsters generally kill innocents, they kill other mobsters.
Also, anyone who has seen "My Blue Heaven" would have a healthy understanding of the Witness Protection program works.
Where's Steve Martin and Rick Moranis when you really need them?
@ludwigk: Also, also, Ex-mob hitman Joe Milano running a pizzeria? Too many italian-american stereotypes rolled into one!
You caught that one too, eh?
I think I'll be watching The Sopranos when I get home.
That's the worst hiding job since Obi-Wan Kenobi became "Old Ben Kenobi" and hid cleverly on his arch-nemesis' home planet.
This is cheesy enough to have been a feature film. Joe Pesci's career is NOT over after all!!!
@chargernj: depends on the crime, and how valuable they are. Sometimes they get to skate becasue protecting them is more important that puting them in jail.
You can't make this stuff up folks.
If it's anything like In Plain Sight, sign me up - that blond chick can protect my identity any day.
Hey It s Crab Man
aha! so he's in the Witless Protection Program?
@semanticantics:It's not like mobsters generally kill innocents, they kill other mobsters.
Yeah, They only PISTOL WHIP innocents!
@ludwigk: I would think keeping the name change subtle reduces the time it takes to get accustomed to answering to a different name.
If he disappears, I think I will hold off on any "pepperoni" or "Italian sausage" for a while.
Agent: Tell you what, sir. From now on, you'll be, uh, Homer Thompson at Terror Lake. Let's just practise a bit, hmm? When I say, "Hello, Mr. Thompson," you'll say, "Hi."
Homer: Check.
Agent: Hello, Mr. Thompson.
Homer: [stares blankly]
Agent: Remember now, your name is Homer Thompson.
Homer: I gotcha.
Agent: Hello, Mr. Thompson.
Homer: [stares blankly]
[A long time later]
Agent: [sighs in frustration] Now, when I say, "Hello, Mr. Thompson," and press down on your foot, you smile and nod.
Homer: No problem.
Agent: Hello, Mr. Thompson! [stomps on Homer's foot a few times]
Homer: [stares blankly]
[to other agent] I think he's talking to _you_.
Anyone who has ever been to Palm Coast should not be surprised at all. That place is 70% retired 30% witness protection.
@hewhoroams: That's what makes this guy such an idiot. He goes and gets himself arrested even though there's a decent chance it might also get him killed. He could have just as easily kicked the customer out of his store instead of throwing a temper tantrum.
@badhatharry: Maybe he was originally in North Dakota but couldn't get a good market for real Italian style pizza...
@winstonthorne: LOL too bad the goombah didn't have jedi mind tricks, then the customer could've pistol whipped himself!
Witness protection? Was he a needle hiding in a haystack, or a needle hiding in a box of needles?
A former mobster, in witness protection, opens up a pizzeria named "Goombah's"...
@hewhoroams: Yeah it seems like it. I mean, the guy obviously did something stupid, but that doesn't mean he should just be strung up and laid out for his former employers to come gut him.
He's an idiot, but there is something unscrupulous about a media culture that will print this guy's name and show his face without a second thought.
So doesn't that defeat the point of being protected when your real name is in the papers?