Lenine "Lenny" Strollo (right) was sentenced to just under 13 years in prison Jan. 27, 2004, but received credit for time served and for good behavior. After his Dec. 11, 1997, arrest, Strollo pleaded guilty to corruption and tax charges and became a cooperating witness for the federal government in February 1999. He spent five years working with prosecutors on cases against Mafia bigshots and corrupt officials in Youngstown, Cleveland, New York, Pittsburgh PA, and Detroit MI, before he was sentenced on the original racketeering offenses. He has been held in protective custody with his whereabouts kept secret.Strollo turns 76 in April 2008. Once released, he will be on supervised release for three years. His sentence also calls for 250 hours of community service.
Strollo's wife, Antoinette, told the newspaper, "It's been a long time coming and we're glad it's almost over. His family, we all want him back. We have something to look forward to."
With Strollo's cooperation, federal prosecutors won a conviction against U.S. Congressman James Traficant. Strollo is also credited with playing a role in the conviction of Pitsburgh mobster Sonny Ciancutti, Mahoning County Sheriff Phil Chance and others.
Strollo controlled Pittsburgh Crime Family interests in Youngstown, Ohio, and the surrounding Mahoning Valley. The proceeds of Youngstown rackets have traditionally been shared by the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Mafia organizations.
