Good info Stern. I had always thought that Giovanni was independent. Not sure who skinny was selling cocaine with in cali, but it was Fratianno's testimony that sent Velotta to Prison.
fratiannos testimony didn't send him to prison at least in the drug case in 1983. He was only a bad character witness against Skinny. Since Fratianno wasn't involved in the deal his testimony was only used in background. He was already sunk. Skinny had a weak defense that he was only guilty of setting up the informant to rob him not sell him dope.
