These Are the Unusual Rules People in the Witness Protection Program Must Obey

Jimmy Fratianno became an expensive witness to protect. Authorities reportedly spent around $1 million relocating him, guarding him, and helping him survive after he testified against organized crime figures. Yet that support was not guaranteed to continue for the rest of his life.

The government eventually ended his regular subsidy, even though Fratianno still believed the Mafia wanted him dead. He was left relying on Social Security and money from his books. Protection had kept him alive, but it did not promise him lifelong financial comfort or complete security.