Carmine Persico

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Carmine Persico


Born	August 8, 1933(1933-08-08) Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Penalty	Life imprisonment (139 years)
Status	Alive
Occupation	Boss of the Colombo crime family
Children	Alphonse Persico

Carmine John Persico, Jr. (b. Brooklyn August 8, 1937) aka. "Junior", aka. "The Snake", aka. "Immortal", is as of 2008, the current Boss of the Colombo crime family, which he has been since the beginning of the 1970s. Persico is currently serving life imprisonment at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Medium in North Carolina for murder and racketeering charges.

[edit] Early youth and crimes

Carmine John Persico, Jr. was born on August 8, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, to Carmine John Persico Sr., who was a recognized made member in the Luciano crime family, under Charlie "Lucky" Luciano during the early 1930s, as Carmine, Jr. and his brothers were becoming a part of the same life in their early youth. He is the brother of Colombo crime family capo Theodore Persico. His older brother Alphonse Persico, who was his son's namesake, passed away while in prison in March 1989. Other relatives includes Frank Persico a reputed Colombo crime family associate and stockbroker, cousins, Vittorio "Vic" Orena and Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo, who were both recognized capos in the Colombo crime family during the 1980s. Orena was at some point the Acting Boss of the family, but as he started the Colombo War, he was jailed and demoted. At the age of 17, Persico was suspected in committing a murder. An NYPD police informant known only as 'Blue Angel' identified Persico as the perpretrator, however, before he was formally charged his older brother Alphonse 'Allie Boy' confessed to the crime and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years to the New York State Department of Corrections. After being involved with robbery and extortion in the late 1940s, Persico became familiar with Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo and the Gallo brothers, who would become both allies and sworn enemies in the future.

[edit] Inducted and Profaci force

During the 1950s, in his early 20s, Persico became inducted, or a made member, of the Profaci crime family, under the leadership of Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci, and was soon heavily involved with extortion, racketeering, loansharking, illegal gambling, drug trafficking and especially murder for hire, as he was seen as one of the toughest mobsters coming out of Brooklyn during the mid 1950s. Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo and his Gallo brothers had also been inducted about the same time as Persico, and their friendship would really be put to the test.

[edit] The Gallo/Profaci War

[edit] Loyal to the Gallo brothers

After the Gallo brothers were inducted into the family, they soon became legends in New York City. After Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci had taxed them for years, as he had organized the murder of former member, Frank "Frankie Shots" Abbatemarco, the Gallo brothers were recruited by Commission members Carlo Gambino and Thomas Lucchese to overthrow the leadership of the Profaci crime family. To gain more support, the Gallos sought Carmine Persico as their chief ally and began organizing a new leadership of the Colombos.

[edit] Kidnapping Profaci members

In February of 1961, Gallo and Persico organized the kidnapping of prominent Profaci members like longtime Underboss Joseph "Joe Maylak" Magliocco and caporegime Joseph "Joe C" Colombo to try and change the leadership of the family. In a meeting between Gallo brothers and Carmine Persico, and Profaci faction Consigliere Charles "Charlie the Sidge" Lociciero, the members were released in hope for better profit and peace between the two factions.

[edit] Retaliations and switching sides

But in August of 1961, Larry Gallo was lured to a bar where he was strangled by Profaci faction members, but a policeman walked in, surprising the hitman and Larry Gallo escaped. In retaliation, the Gallo brothers started shooting at Profaci members wherever they were, and Persico would again be shot several times during the Gallo/Profaci fallout. After several attempts on his life, Carmine Persico switched sides and went with the Profaci faction instead, which didn't please the Gallo brothers.

[edit] Crackdowns and death of Profaci

But toward late 1961, the FBI struck against the Gallo faction, removing Joseph "Crazy Joey" Gallo off the streets, and put him behind bars for extortion. But where Gallo himself was finished, the remaining Gallo faction kept on striking against Profaci. On June 6, 1962, longtime Boss Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci died of lung cancer and was replaced by Joseph "Joe Maylak" Maglicco, who promoted Persico as chief enforcer and hitman for the old Profaci faction that same year. But the Commission members Carlo Gambino and Thomas Lucchese and the Gallo brothers weren't satisfied with that decision.

[edit] Tough, fierce and immortal

In 1963, hoping to weaken Magliocco's hold on the family, the Gallo faction targeted his strongest men, particularly the fierce Carmine Persico. Persico's car was bombed in 1963, but he escaped with only minor injuries. On May 19 of that year, Persico was shot in the face, hand, and shoulder, according to mob expert Jerry Capeci, in a drive-by shooting by the Gallos, but Persico was reportedly so tough that he spat out one of the bullets that entered his face, which gave him the impression and nickname "The Immortal" ^[1] In another incident days later, one of Persico's enforcers, Hugh McIntosh, was ambushed and shot, but managed to survive. Later during that year, both Perscio and McIntosh were imprisoned for hijacking and extortion.

[edit] The Gallo brothers gives up

After almost a four year internal war, the remaining Gallo faction didn't have enough strength to continue fighting, due to law enforcement and the growing Magliocco faction. Which is why in the fall of 1963, the imprisoned Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo gave up ^[2]. Joseph "Joe Maylak" Magliccoo decided not to concentrate on the Gallo brothers, as there was money to be made in the streets.

[edit] Magliocco's leadership

After the Gallo/Profaci war, Joseph "Joe Maylak" Magliocco and head of the Bonanno crime family, Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, became friendly and decided to create the Bonanno/Profaci alliance so they could work together and become more powerful than ever. That's when they realized that the remaining Commission members Carlo Gambino and Thomas Lucchese had influenced the Gallo brothers to continue fighting, and decided to organize the murders of both Gambino and Lucchese, and take control over the Commission. But when giving the assassination plans to Profaci capo Joseph "Joe" Colombo, Colombo felt murdering Gambino would only bring the end of the Cosa Nostra, and approached both Gambino and Lucchese and told them about the plans of Magliocco and Bonanno. Both Magliocco and Bonanno were brought in front of the Commission, where only Magliocco showed up, who was brought pitty, fined $50,000 and forced to step down as Boss of the Profaci crime family, who Colombo, for his loyal service toward the Commission, was rewarded with the position of Boss, and rechristened the family to the Colombo crime family. After more than ten years of service, Colombo rewarded Carmine Perscio, who was imprisoned during the entire time for hijacking and extortion, the position of caporegime under the new leadership of Joseph Colombo.

[edit] Capo under Colombo

When reaching Caporegime under Colombo's leadership, Carmine "Junior" Perscio was at the streets at all costs. When Joe Valachi became the first federal cooperator of the Cosa Nostra, he testifyed that "Whenever business on the streets, Persico was always there", as Persico became involved with labor racketeering, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling, hijacking and especially murder for hire. In this way, the Carmine Persico crew became, during the late 1960s, one of the most profitable crew of the entire Colombo crime family.

[edit] Shooting of Colombo

In the late 1960s, Colombo became very attached to the Italian-American Civil Rights League, and which would lead him to his downfall, as Carlo Gambino, considered the most powerful Mob boss in New York, influenced the Commission and thought Colombo was attracting too much attention, attention the Mafia didn't need.

On June 28, 1971, thousands of people converged on Manhattan's Columbus Circle for the second annual Italian-American Civil Rights League rally. Apparently, the African-American Jerome Johnson shot Colombo in the middle of the crowd, while the second assassian escaped and was never identified, as FBI officials stated that his assassination was organized by someone much more powerful than Johnson. Both Carlo Gambino and Carmine Perscio, as well as a dozen others, were arrested and questioned days later, as Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo was questioned while in prison. No one would be tried or indicted following the Colombo shooting. Colombo survived, but lingered in a coma without regaining consciousness for nearly seven years. On May 22, 1978, Joe Colombo died at his New Jersey estate. ^[3]

[edit] Promoted in the family

Days after the shootout of Joe Colombo, Persico would be arrested and questioned for organizing his murder, but was let off. At the same time, he would be tried again for loansharking and extortion, as well as murder charges, but due to lack of evidence, Perscio was let off in several cases in 1971. After releasing from prison, Persico was eventually considered the new recognized boss of the Colombo crime family, but due to law enforcement and constant surveilliance, he demoted himself to the Underboss position and put Vincenzo "Vinny" Aloi as acting boss while he was on trial. Although not officially made Boss, Persico was in much control of the family.

[edit] Crazy Joe and prison

But in late 1971, an old Colombo enforcer, Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo, was released after serving ten years for extortion, and Persico's future as Boss of the Colombo crime family looked very dark, as they thought Gallo was ready to start a new war against the Colombo faction. On April 7, 1972, Gallo was celebrating his birthday at the Copacabana night club with a group of friends. Gallo, his bodyguard, and four women went to Little Italy in downtown Manhattan, looking for a restaurant that was open. They found their way to Umberto's Clam House on Mulberry Street, when suddenly the party was interrupted as gunmen started shooting. Gallo was hit several times, but made it outside and died while converging on his Cadillac. ^[4]

Carmine Persico was arrested days later, but released as law enforcement had no evidence. Later, Persico would be imprisoned for hijacking and loansharking from 1973 to 1979, and then when his releasement, sentenced to five years for extortion. Still, throughout the 1970s, Persico was in control of the Colombo crime family as its Underboss.

During his 1973 to 1979 incarceration Persico was able to maintain control and influence over the crime family. This was due to his ability of having placed key members such as Dominick "Donnie Shacks" Montemarano and Joseph "Joe T." Tomasello, both coming from Persico's time with the Gallo brothers. Others included Charles Panarella and the Aloi brothers, Vincenzo "Vinny" Aloi and Benedetto "Benny" Aloi. Persico's imprisonment also coincided with the release of his brother Alphonse for the previous murder confession. Alphonse Persico would be named acting boss and alongside him were longtime Persico family associates Gennaro Langella and his brother Teddy Persico.

[edit] 1985 Federal Fugitive

On January 31, 1985 the FBI named Persico as the 390th Fugitive to be added to the Ten Most Wanted list. Persico had heard of indictments coming up, involving racketeering, extortion, murder and conspiracy, and went into hiding. Thomas DiBella had stepped down as acting boss for Persico, and Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella was installed by Persico while he was a fugitive. Persico was arrested February 15, 1985 in Wantagh, New York, and indicted together with 10 other highly prominent members of the Five Families. The investigations resulted in the Mafia Commission Trial which began 10 days after Persico was captured.

[edit] Life imprisonment

[edit] Commission Trial and prison

Carmine "Junior" Persico was eventually indicted on murder, conspiracy and labor and construction racketeering in early 1985. After firing his lawyer, Persico decided to defend himself during the trial, which was highly unusual by anyone, especially a Boss of one of the Five Families. Persico would receive a help counsel of lawyers who could guide him when the prosecutors asked him questions ^[5]. But eventually in 1986, Persico and Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella, as well as all the defendants, were found guilty on all charges, receiving life imprisonment, in addition to 39 years for extortion provided by informers and bugs days earlier. He was also fined $250,000. Carmine Persico was removed off the streets, and put behind bars at the Lompoc Federal Prison in Lompoc, California.

[edit] Brooklyn Rivalry

After Persico's conviction, rivalry would be developed in the Colombo crime family, as Persico named Vittorio "Vic" Orena as acting boss in 1988. Orena, a strong and loyal Brooklyn caporegime, who also was related to Persico, became disregarded with the current leadership, and decided to replace Persico as the head of the Colombo crime family during the late 1980s, as he became allied with Gambino crime family Boss, John Gotti. This made it easy for Orena to seize control of the family, by influencing the capos Vincent and Benedetto Aloi

[edit] Third Colombo War

Eventually, Persico felt threathened by Orena, and with the help of Carmine Sessa, the Colombo Consigliere, he organized the would-be-murder of Orena and struck first. On June 20, 1991, a five-man hit team led by Persico's Consigliere Carmine Sessa, converged on Orena's home on Long Island. But one of the shooters started firing his weapon before the other men were in position, where Orena saw them coming and manage to escape. After the attempt on Orena's life, Sessa appealed to the Commission on behalf of Persico, portraying Orena as an upstart who was betraying his longtime boss, and that removing him was the only way. In 1993, After a total of twelve murdered, two of who were bystanders, and 15 wounded, the FBI and Brooklyn AUSA took down the whole Orena faction, including Victor Orena himself who was arrested in 1992. Days later, more than 40 members of the Persico faction would be arrested and indicted for racketeering, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. It was during the Colombo trials, that Persico's chief and Underboss, Gregory Scarpa Sr., would be recognized as an informer, and testify against dozens of members of the Colombo crime family, including Vittorio "Vic" Orena. In late 1992, Orena's most powerful Caporegime, Pasquale "Patty" Amato, was arrested along with the remaining Orena faction. Later, the imprisoned Carmine "Junior" Persico and the remaining Persico faction claimed the victory of the third Colombo War. Orena and his underlings would be sentenced to life imprisonment and excluded form the Colombo crime family. ^[6]

[edit] New family structure

After the third Colombo War from 1991 to 1993, Persico's son, Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico was an expected candidate for Boss, as he was recognized as Caporegime in 1986 by law enforcement, but as he was on trial for association with known organized crime figures, Persico installed a committee consisting of Persico's brother and captain, Theodore "Teddy" Persico, along with Joseph Baudanza and Joseph "Joe T." Tomasello, but with the releasement of Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo in 1994, a powerful member of the Colombo crime family and another Persico relative, Persico chose Russo as acting boss and disbanded the panel in early 1994. Andrew Russo would eventually be arrested and jailed in 1996. Longtime Orena loyalist Joel "Joe Waverly" Cacace would then step up for Persico.

[edit] At Lompoc Penitentiary

Persico was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1986 and shipped off to the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary in Lompoc, California, where his inmate-number was 74666-158. While incarcerated with dozens of his associates, Persico met Joseph "J.R." Russo, who was one of his former associates of the Lucchese crime family, however, also the reputed Consigliere of the Providence-based Patriarca crime family, before he was eventually sentenced to 15 years for murder at Lompoc. Although incarcerated for the rest of his natural life, Persico formed the "Lompoc Four", a band in which Russo played guitar and Persico played the drums, as well as participating in the annual prison rodeo competition. After the death of Russo in 1998, Persico did his time at Lompoc until 2004, when Lompoc was broken up and lower security inmates flooded the gates, as well as it turned into a correctional facility and all maximum inmates were transferred. Persico was shipped to a medium correctional facility in North Carolina, next to its satellite medical prison, because at the time he was dying of emphysema. ^[7]

[edit] Notorious Persicos

While Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico was out of prison, he couldn't take over the leadership until early 1999, when he was released after the murder charges from the third Colombo War. Allie Persico became full acting boss of the much weakened Colombo crime family sometime in 1999, as he and loyal Persico Underboss, John "Jackie" DeRoss organized the murders of former Orena supporters in William "Wild Bill" Cutolo's crew, who himself was summoned to a meeting in a hope of becoming Underboss, and was never seen again. One member of Cutolo's crew, Joseph "Joe Campy" Campanella, was shot by Allie Persico's entourage, but managed to survive, and later became a government witness. The planned executions were allegedly on Persico Sr's orders.

[edit] Family Crackdowns

Allie's reign as Colombo crime family boss was soon cut short by a string of new convictions. In 2000, Allie was sentenced to 18 months in prison on gun charges. The Coast Guard had searched his boat in Florida and found a loaded .38 handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun.

On January 24, 2001, the day of his release for the gun charges, Allie was indicted again in New York on loansharking charges and held without bail as a suspect in Cutolo's disappearance. On December 20, 2001, Allie pled guilty to the loansharking charges, accepted a 13 year prison sentence, and agreed to forfeit $1 million.

On October 14, 2004, Allie and DeRoss were indicted on federal racketeering charges, including conspiring to murder Cutolo and Joe Campanella. The two defendants' first trial ended in a mistrial. On December 28, 2007, Allie Boy Persico and Jackie DeRoss were convicted of Cutolo's murder. Like his father, Allie will probably be serving the rest of his life in prison.

[edit] Current leadership

As of November 2007, Carmine "Junior" Persico still remains the reputed Boss of the Colombo crime family, with current street boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, and former Persico rival, John "Sonny" Franzese as the Underboss, but due to parole violations, Andrew "Andy Mush" Russo is the acting Underboss in stead of Franzese, with the Aloi brothers, Vincenzo and Benedetto, as alleged Consigliere.

Carmine Persico has reportedly been running the Colombo crime family since the 1970s, days after Joseph "Joe" Colombo was shot, and Persico's name has been mentioned in dozens of murder-cases since then, as he has been in charge of the Colombos for over three decades. During his 50-year-membership with the Colombo crime family, he has survived three internal wars, his life sentence, and allegedly been shot more than 20 times. Persico is also only one of three defendants from the Mafia Commission Trial who received 100 years and is still alive.

Still, Persico remains the Boss of the Colombo crime family. As of April 2008, Persico is serving a life imprisonment at the Buttner Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Medium in North Carolina. His projected release-date is March 20, 2050, effectively a life sentence. ^[8]

Preceded by Vincent Aloi	Colombo crime family Boss 1973–1990	Succeeded by Victor Orena
Preceded by Joel Cacace	Colombo crime family Boss 2004–present with Thomas Gioeli as street boss Andrew Russo as underboss (2007–present) Ralph Lombardo as consigliere (2004–present)	Incumbent

[edit] References

[edit] External links