- Tom Papania
Tom Papania (born
May 30 ,1944 ) is a Christian evangelist who claims to have been a high-ranking enforcer in theGambino crime family before hisreligious 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 theGambino crime family first working for Carlo Gambino and then directly for mafia bossPaul 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 aRoad to Damascus experience and then turned toJesus 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 withJames 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]
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