Joseph "Joe" Valachi, a low-ranking member of the Genovese crime family, became the first high-ranking member of the American Mafia to break the "omertà" (code of silence) and testify against his former associates. In 1963, Valachi provided extensive testimony before a United States Senate subcommittee, detailing the inner workings of the Mafia, its hierarchy, and its criminal activities. Valachi's testimony, which lasted for several days, shocked the nation and exposed the secretive underworld of organized crime. As a result of his cooperation, Valachi was placed in protective custody for the remainder of his life and died in a Witness Protection Program safe house in 1971. Valachi's testimony marked a significant turning point in the fight against organized crime and led to the establishment of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in 1970, a powerful tool for prosecuting mobsters.
