Tom Papania

Tom Papania (born May 30, 1944) is a Christian evangelist who claims to have been a high-ranking enforcer in the Gambino crime family before his religious conversion. Papania's story has been challenged by several sources.

Starting at age 17,cite news | url = http://www.ardmoreite.com/stories/110299/new_papania.shtml | title = Papania to share journey from mafia to ministry | first = Sandi | last = Wolfe | date = 1999-11-02 | accessdate = 2008-04-23 | work = The Daily Ardmoreite ] Papania claims he worked his way up the Gambino crime family first working for Carlo Gambino and then directly for mafia boss Paul Castellano.cite web | url = http://www.tompapania.com/Tom%20Papania's%20Testimony.htm | title = Tom Papania's Testimony | accessdate = 2008-04-23 ]

Papania claims that in 1984 he had a Road to Damascus experience and then turned to Jesus Christ, and away from crime. [cite web | url = http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=402500 | title = Ex-mobster to share his story of conversion | date = 2006-02-17 | accessdate = 2008-04-23 | work = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ]

Papania was charged and sent to Atlanta federal penitentiary to await trial. The trial lasted 11 months. After a year, Papania was set free.

Since his release, Papania has worked as an evangelist and speaker throughout the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia among other countries. According to the "Ponca City News", Papania's interview with James Dobson was the most ordered cassette from "Focus on the Family". [cite news | url = http://www.poncacitynews.com/NewsArchives/0297folder/lo022697.html | title = KLVV Presents Popular Series Thursday Night | work = Ponca City News | date = 1997-02-26 | accessdate = 2007-05-14 ]

In 2001, Papania was sued by Robert "Rocky" Scarfone, who accused him of using stories from Scarfone's life as his own. [cite web | url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/januaryweb-only/54.0.html?start=1 | title = Ex-mobsters face off on conversion stories | first = Ted | last = Olsen | date = 2001-01-01 | accessdate = 2008-04-23 ] cite news | title = Ex-mobsters spar for story rights | url = http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/011201/met_MNS-6037.000.shtml | date = 2001-01-12 | accessdate = 2008-04-22 | publisher = Augusta Chronicle ] Papania's attorney called the suit "a baseless, unsubstantiated allegation."

References

External links

* [http://tompapania.com Official website]