Thomas Pitera
Thomas Pitera | |
|---|---|
Pitera's June 4, 1990 DEA mugshot | |
| Born | December 2, 1954 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names |
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| Occupation | Mobster |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Allegiance | Bonanno crime family |
| Convictions | Drug trafficking, murder (1992) |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (1992) |
| Imprisoned at | United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy |
Thomas Pitera (/pɪˈtɛərə/; born December 2, 1954) is an American mobster in the Bonanno crime family of New York City. Pitera, a soldier and later on a captain of his own crew, was suspected by law enforcement of as many as 60 murders. Pitera was well known for his use of karate and other martial arts when fighting, a skill he had learned at a young age and which earned him nicknames like "Tommy Karate", and "The Karate Guy". Pitera is serving a life sentence at USP Big Sandy in Inez, Kentucky.