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"Pudgy" Sentence Commuted For Role In Gus Boulis Murder

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A key witness in the trials of "Big Tony" and "Little Tony" for the murder of Miami Subs founder Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis left court on Friday a happy man.

It was sentencing day for James "Pudgy" Fiorillo and it couldn't have gone any better. The judge gave him a six-year sentence, time served and his probation has been lifted. The light sentence was given because of his cooperation, he testified against both men convicted of Boulis' murder and he's led a crime free life, and even got married, after being released from jail.

"There was a time period when I was down and out on my luck, nowhere to go but on the street, and you know, I thought, there were some people who could help and in turn they were looking to hurt. I'm just glad there's a good result at the end of the day," Fiorillo said outside the courtroom after his sentenced had been commuted. "It was a serious case and these are serious people."

Fiorillo who said he has lost sixty pounds says he can no longer can be termed "Pudgy. He expressed relief that the ordeal is over but because of his testimony he fears he will always be a marked man.

"I'd be lying if I told you I didn't think so.  I will always have to look over my shoulder but you have to be aware of your surroundings," said Fiorillo.

Fiorillo pleaded guilty in 2012 to a conspiracy charge and agreed to testify at the trials of Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, the mastermind of Boulis' murder, and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari.

During Moscatiello's retrial earlier this year, Fiorillo testified that he was the one who staked out Boulis' Fort Lauderdale office on February 6th, 2001. When he saw Boulis leave he called his boss Ferrari.

Minutes later, Boulis was fatally shot in an execution-style ambush. Fiorillo testified that he got rid of the gun after the murder.

Ferrari was convicted in 2013 and is serving a life sentence.

Moscatiello, 77, was found guilty of murder conspiracy on July 1st, 2015.

"It was a serious trial with some serious people but I can say at the end of the day I thought I would be just fine," said Fiorillo.

During the trials, prosecutors maintained that Moscatiello ordered a hitman to kill Boulis who was trying to regain control of his SunCruz gambling business. One of the new owners Adam Kidan was feuding with Boulis and hired Moscatiello, who has alleged mob ties, to protect him.

Moscatiello claims it was Kidan who wanted Boulis dead.

Moscatiello could be looking at the death penalty. The jury will come back in September to decide on a sentence.

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