Legendary Jewish gangster Harold (Kayo) Konigsberg has been sprung from an upstate prison in a surprise parole decision that will allow him to live out his final days in a posh gated community in Florida, the Daily News has learned.
The still-remorseless 86-year-old mob hit man was quietly released in June from the maximum-security Mohawk Prison, where he spent nearly five decades for a gangland murder.
He might have died behind bars after being sentenced to 20 years to life for the 1961 contract killing of Teamsters big Anthony (Three Fingers) Castellito, on orders from union rival Anthony (Tony Pro) Provenzano.

Konigsberg — suspected by the feds in as many as 20 other mid-20th century mob hits — used a Venetian blind cord to strangle Castellito in the kitchen of the dead man’s upstate vacation home. His body was buried in New Jersey but never found.

Retired NYPD detective and veteran mob buster Joseph Coffey said it’s a disgrace that Konigsberg is free.

“I knew him well and he was the worst of the worst,” Coffey said. “He enjoyed killing and enjoyed getting paid for it...

He gave up a lot of info to the feds. He talked about murders, burial sites and named names. I think Tony Provenzano got the worst of it but also Bonanno capo Joe Ziccorelli got its share.
But Konigsberg never testified against anybody, to the best of my knowledge. Perhaps he chickened out.

Do you think they were afraid to put him on stand because his crimes might overshadowed those of whom he testified against ? A jury could have been totally turned off when they herd his confessions on stand. I'm surprised I never heard of him, but I am new to this, he sounds like a worse maniac than recent informers.

I read a book about him a few years ago written by his nephew. He was an ultra-bad guy--seemed to live for hurting people for the sake of harm. He acted as his own lawyer in his last trial and infuriated the judge.

I read that book, TB. "Blood Relation," right?

I though it was well written, but was most impressed that the author didn't try to whitewash his uncle's life. The guy was a psycho and his nephew didn't try to hide it.

I do remember one part of the book that made me laugh out loud. Konisberg had just beaten a murder charge, but felt that he had to get his family's blessing to marry a shiksa.

Talk about priorities! The guy killed without conscience, but when it was time to take a wife he needed his family's permission to marry a Gentile!

I read a book about him a few years ago written by his nephew. He was an ultra-bad guy--seemed to live for hurting people for the sake of harm. He acted as his own lawyer in his last trial and infuriated the judge.

I read a book about him a few years ago written by his nephew. He was an ultra-bad guy--seemed to live for hurting people for the sake of harm. He acted as his own lawyer in his last trial and infuriated the judge.