John Abruzzi

He is played by Peter Stormare. John Abruzzi, former Chicago mob boss, is arguably the most infamous prisoner incarcerated at Fox River Penitentiary; and has translated his celebrity into power inside the prison walls. Other inmates, even murderers, defer to Abruzzi in prison-related business. While the correctional officers enforce the rules, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that John Abruzzi runs the prison.

Abruzzi was convicted on two counts of murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder after decades of eluding punishment from Illinois district attorneys. Otto Fibonacci provided eyewitness testimony at Abruzzi’s trial, which convinced the jury to convict Abruzzi of rubbing out two rival gangsters. Abruzzi subsequently put a hit out on Fibonacci, forcing him to enter the Witness Protection Program.