He Went from the Mob to the Ministry

Ex-mobster Alonso Esposito once committed crimes ranging from drug-trafficking and robbery to murder, but today he is living a new life as a charismatic minister.

"I was involved between Philadelphia and Boston in at least a dozen murders," he said in an interview with The Memphis Commerical Appeal.

Esposito, once known as Robert "Bobby" Luisi Jr., got involved in the mob at age 12 and set off on a life of crime, even taking part in murder. As a young adult, he said he tried to make an honest living but was eventually drawn into cocaine trafficking in 1993.  

At one time he was making $40,000 a week in the drug game.

"I had to pick a side and get involved. I just started coming up and building up my cocaine business. I'd say by '95 or around that time I was already a millionaire.''

The 55-year-old ex-mobster may even know something about the 1990 infamous heist of $500 million worth of artwork, including three Rembrants, from a Boston museum.

His journey to faith began when his father and brother, both involved in the mob, were murdered. He says they came to him in a haunting vision and warned him of the consequences of his life.

"It was an awakening. I realized my lifestyle was wrong," he admitted years later.

He talks about the experience in a book he's writing about his life called, From Capo to Christian - The Life of Robert C. Luisi Jr.

But, it was only years later, after being convicted of cocaine distribution, that he turned from a "die-hard gangster, murderer, extortionist, anything that you could think of, to accepting Christ."

"The only way I had to fight this thing was the name of Jesus,'' he said. "I seen the power of his name," he said.

When he entered the Witness Protection Program several years ago, he took the name Alonso Eposito and, today, the once mobster, murderer and drug dealer now preaches the gospel of grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

"I have to follow my faith and what the Lord wants me to do," he said. "I'm going to tell you I can never hurt anybody again. I have too much love in my heart. I'm ashamed of the things that I've done. I hurt people in the past. I'm a man. I'll always defend myself and my family first. But I'm not worried about anybody."

Esposito, who recently decided to go public with his testimony, says he does not fear retaliation from his past and realizes that some will question whether or not his faith is real.

"That old me is dead. I love being Alonso Esposito. Bobby Luisi's dead and buried. The blood of Christ washed the blood off my hands."

Larry Easton, a former pastor in Boston knew Esposito years ago and recently became reacquainted with him.

"I think it's all very sincere," Easton said.

He said Esposito first came to him years about with questions about faith in the 1990s when he was still in the mob but wasn't ready then to commit.

"He was very conflicted. His father was deeply involved in the mob and he idolized him," he said.

Today Esposito works as a cabinet maker in Memphis where he lives with his wife. He is an active member of his church, Faith Keepers Ministries and has self-published a book called The Last Generation.

He also shares his story of redemption on his website, Alonso Esposito