New York/October 25, 1984
The FBI, working with the local police and several other government agencies had started inputting the data from their paper records into computers. During that process, they discovered that a Joey Escalla, listed as dead, was also in the witness protection database. This same Joey Escalla entered the witness protection program because he provided the FBI with information that could have easily led to his mob style execution; at least that was what the FBI believed. He claimed that Nick Costello was the man responsible for the execution of the Sabrisio brothers and he feared for his life. As a result, he asked that they fake his death and put him under witness protection, and in exchange he would provide them with valuable information about the Sabrisio and Giovanna families. Instead of life in prison, he got 22 years at a Wisconsin Federal penitentiary for his involvement with these crime families. Joey asked that they keep his identity secret and that he serve his time away from the general prison population. As a protective measure, and in cooperation with the FBI and the staff of the Florida hospital where he had been admitted with gunshot wounds, Joey faked his death. It was the FBI's understanding that he received the wounds at the Sabrisio home when it came under attack by Nick Costello and other members of his gang.
This information, sent to Captain John Connolly in the form of an internal alert notice, was sitting on his desk; buried among all of his other papers.
On October 25, a week after his meeting with his two agents, Captain John Connolly almost jumped out of his chair when he discovered the notice. He immediately ordered Agents Sam Williams and Sheila Connors to Wisconsin to interview Joey Escalla. Unfortunately, it was two weeks after Joey Escalla left the Wisconsin penitentiary, having completed his twenty-two year sentence.