Correct again Giacomo.

In fact, before he was prepped by the feds for trial, I don't think that Valachi had ever even heard Persico's name before, let alone had ever actually met him.

Valachi was from another generation. More importantly, he was a East Harlem guy, a Manhattan guy. Joe Valachi couldn't find Brooklyn with a map if his life depended on it.

Despite his testimony before the 1963 Senate Hearings (which, by the way, was extremely accurate by comparison,) Valachi knew little outside of his small realm. And if you notice, with the exception of the Persico hijacking trial he took the stand for, Valachi never again served as a trial witness in any other case. The Persico case was the only case the feds tried using him in because his dismal, lack-luster performance convinced them to put Valachi out to pasture.