Mafia stool pigeon kept in jail so he can keep singing to authorities
Mugshot of Peter Zuccaro, who was given a sentence of time served plus a year-and-a-half starting Monday.
Former Gambino associate Peter (Bud) Zuccaro pleaded guilty to two murders and marijuana trafficking but is getting a big break because he's testified against Mafia bigwigs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Norris assured the court that even after Zuccaro entered witness protection, he would be required to take the stand at the murder trial of Gambino associate John Burke and others.
Federal Judge Sandra Feuerstein was skeptical.
"You're putting him on retainer?" she asked.
"That's a concern of mine. I'm loath to impose a sentence in which he could just say, 'I'm done,' and wash his hands of the government."
She crafted an unusual sentence, giving Zuccaro time served for the seven years he's spent in jail - plus a sentence of a year and a day that started Monday.
The Long Island judge noted Zuccaro's cooperation was "extraordinary" - he's testified at the trials of Gambino capo Dominick Pizzonia for the so-called "Bonnie and Clyde" killings, Gambino hit man Charles Carneglia and John A. (Junior) Gotti.
Zuccaro, 54, grew up with Carneglia and testified that the vicious killer kept trophies of his kills in the rafters of a storage shed in East New York, Brooklyn. There were watches, bracelets and rings taken from the victim's corpses.
He has clammed up about himself, though.
"He's very nervous, and he's asked me to say he'd rather not speak," said defense lawyer Leonard Sands.
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