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Created by Gerald Shur, a Justice Department official, in 1971, the Federal Witness Protection Program, also known as WITSEC, has safeguarded more than 18,000 federal witnesses and their families in return for critical testimony. This program played a pivotal role in convincing high-ranking mafia members, including those linked to the Lucchese family and John Gotti, to betray their organizations and assist in prosecuting top crime figures.
Shielding whistleblowers from the threats of dangerous criminals is a costly endeavor. Estimates suggest the government allocates over $10 million each year [PDF] to sustain WITSEC. However, the investment pays off, as trials involving WITSEC participants boast an impressive 89 percent conviction rate, thanks to the high-stakes testimonies provided.
U.S. Marshals tasked with creating new identities for WITSEC participants are famously secretive, rarely disclosing program details publicly. Despite this, some insights have emerged. Gerald Shur, alongside author Pete Earley, penned WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program, offering a glimpse into his experiences. Additionally, former WITSEC participants have occasionally shared their struggles with adapting to new lives. Here’s the most comprehensive look at the program you’ll find without stepping into risky territory.
1. THEY UNDERGO ORIENTATION.
For years, WITSEC struggled with an inconsistent approach to preparing enrollees for their new lives, often leaving them waiting months for essential documents like birth certificates or social security numbers. To improve efficiency, the Marshals established a clearinghouse in 1988 near Washington, D.C. The WITSEC Safesite and Orientation Center can accommodate up to six families simultaneously. Families are transported in vehicles with tinted windows and isolated in separate rooms to prevent any interaction. The facility is also designed to withstand bomb threats. Recognizing the emotional toll of such drastic life changes, psychological support is provided. Within two weeks, enrollees are shown videos of their future homes.
2. MOST ARE CRIMINALS.
Contrary to the common movie narrative of innocent bystanders forced into witness protection, real-life WITSEC participants are rarely without criminal ties. Gerald Shur estimated that fewer than 5 percent of relocated witnesses are entirely innocent, with the majority being career criminals seeking immunity and protection from retaliation. Recidivism rates among WITSEC members range between 10 and 20 percent. In 1995, Portland police chief Michael Chitwood criticized the program, stating that Maine had become a 'dumping ground' for relocated criminals. Local authorities are often unaware of their presence and worry about the potential for increased criminal activity in their communities.
3. THEY SOMETIMES RETAIN THEIR FIRST NAME.
Shur, who managed the program for over 25 years at the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section in Washington and later served as a consultant, revealed in WITSEC
4. PARENTS REQUEST GRADE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WITSEC handles the issuance of new social security numbers, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates for witnesses and their families. For children, this means school records must be adjusted to reflect grades and notes from previous schools. Initially, a school in the Washington area assisted by transferring redacted records into new files. While grades were typically kept unchanged, Shur noted that some parents requested upgrades for their children’s academic performance, a request he consistently denied.
5. THEY ONCE RECEIVED LAVISH PERKS—LIKE BREAST IMPLANTS.
During the 1970s and 1980s, WITSEC achieved remarkable success in dismantling mafia operations. Key figures testified against their bosses, confident in the program’s ability to help them start anew. To maintain their cooperation during lengthy trials, the government occasionally approved extravagant requests. For instance, former mob hitman Aladena Fratianno secured government funding for his wife’s breast implants, facelift, and dental work. Another participant, supported by a psychologist’s diagnosis of low self-esteem, received a penile implant at the government’s expense.
6. DIVORCED PARENTS LOST ACCESS TO THEIR CHILDREN.
In a groundbreaking case that reshaped WITSEC policies, Thomas Leonhard revealed a harrowing situation in the early 1970s. His ex-wife, married to a protected witness, meant Leonhard, who had visitation rights, was barred from seeing their daughter to protect her new identity. Even after winning full custody, WITSEC officials refused to disclose her whereabouts. The resulting public outcry led to a 1984 amendment requiring WITSEC to consider joint custody when relocating children. However, non-program parents still faced challenges, often having to navigate complex travel arrangements under aliases to visit their children. One father expressed fears about missing major life events like graduations or weddings.
Today, a non-program parent with visitation rights must consent to the child’s relocation. If they refuse and secure full custody, the child cannot maintain their new identity.
7. FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS TEMPORARY.
WITSEC provides initial financial assistance, covering housing, furnishings, and a stipend based on the local cost of living. Shur noted that the amount varied depending on the region and family size. On average, witnesses receive around $60,000 before being expected to find employment and become self-sufficient within six months. During the peak of organized crime prosecutions, the Justice Department disbursed up to $1 million to witnesses involved in prolonged trials.
8. SOME CRIMINALS EXPLOIT THE PROGRAM FOR FURTHER CRIMES.
Law enforcement emphasizes that WITSEC is not designed for rehabilitation. Career criminals with no legitimate work experience or skills often revert to illegal activities, knowing their protected status may shield them from consequences. Shur highlighted cases where witnesses abused their new identities to accumulate massive debts, then claimed they were recognized by enemies to secure another relocation. This allowed them to evade creditors while continuing to receive WITSEC stipends. At one point, 32 witnesses amassed $7.3 million in unpaid debts, prompting officials to threaten exposing their identities unless repayments were made.
9. THEY MUST DECEIVE THEIR SPOUSES.
Marriage under WITSEC requires constant deception. Participants are instructed to never reveal their true identities to new spouses, even if the relationship deteriorates. For instance, notorious mobster Henry Hill, while in the program as 'Martin Lewis,' married Sherry Anders in 1981 without disclosing his criminal past or his existing marriage. Anders was unaware of Hill’s violent history or her unintentional involvement in bigamy. The marriage ended shortly after.
10. STATES OPERATE SEPARATE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMS.
WITSEC is a federal initiative designed to support major cases against criminal organizations where witnesses face significant threats. However, for many who witness gang violence or street-level crimes, federal intervention is unlikely. Instead, local programs in various regions offer temporary relocation during and after trials. For example, Detroit’s Project Safeguard offers housing and meals through private funding, while Baltimore is exploring a similar initiative, seeking congressional support for smaller-scale protection efforts.
11. INMATES CAN ALSO RECEIVE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES.
Although WITSEC may secure reduced sentences for cooperating witnesses, some still serve prison time. To encourage cooperation, WITSEC can grant these inmates extraordinary privileges. In 1996, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that protected witnesses in custody enjoyed luxuries like live lobsters and pig roasts through an anonymous commissary system, along with unlimited phone access. Some exploited these privileges to orchestrate criminal activities or credit card scams from behind bars.
12. YOU CAN EXIT THE PROGRAM—BUT IT’S RISKY.
The U.S. Marshals boast an impeccable safety record, with no WITSEC participant harmed while under protection. However, some witnesses underestimate the dangers they face. A few have voluntarily left the program or violated rules by returning to high-risk areas. Shur recounted the tragic case of Daniel LaPolla, who ignored warnings and returned home for a funeral. His house was booby-trapped, exploding the moment he opened the door. “It blew up in his face,” Shur remarked.
All images provided by iStock.
