Never

Exactly. Because like it or not, it still works for them more often than not.

a 1992 double-murder that allegedly was sanctioned by Colombo street boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli."

Yup, that is the game. The Feds get their convictions (Tommy is locked up, as an example) even if the cooperating witness later recants.

There are so many examples of cooperating witnesses changing their stories after the fact that I cannot keep count. Look at the trials involving the Scarpa crew - how many versions on different murders are there?

I think the days of the Feds getting a 90 plus percent conviction rate are over because juries ar tired of a lot of these rats. But as long as the Feds win more than they lose---and let's face it, they probably will---they'll continue to use them.

As far as Tommy Shots goes, I've said this before: But when he's eventually sentenced for the conspiracy, it will be for the max. Because even though he beat the murder rap, the Feds---and by extension the Judge---still see him as a cop killer.

He ain't getting out anytime soon (without a complete reversal of the conspiracy verdict).

He's only facing 20 years though, isn't he? He's been in prison since 2008 so even if he does get the max setence, he'll probably be out in 13 years.

Colombo captains Benjamin Castellazo and Dennis DeLucia supposedly have some interests in the Bronx. But pizzaboy is right. Relatively speaking, the Colombos have very little there compared to the other families. Almost all their cases are out of the Eastern District. Mainly Brooklyn and Long Island.