Mob Informant Assails Witness Program

Aladena (Jimmy the Weasel) Fratianno, whose government pay for informing on the underworld was cut off last week, said Wednesday he would tell anyone who might become a protected witness in a federal case to “think twice.”

Fratianno, 74, an admitted gangland killer, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” program that he never would cooperate with federal prosecutors if he had it to do all over again.

Fratianno collected $951,326 during his nine years in the federal witness protection program, before the Justice Department ended the payments Friday. He still will get protection to keep his new, government-furnished identity a secret.

Government prosecutors “don’t care,” Fratianno said. “I would advise anybody to think twice before they go on this program, because, after they’re through using you, they throw you out in the street.”

Fratianno’s figure was blacked out on television, to protect his identity.

The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that gangland bosses have reinstated a longstanding contract on Fratianno’s life, which could be worth as much as $250,000