Carmine Persico
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Carmine John Persico (born in Brooklyn on August 8, 1937) is known as "The Snake", "Junior" and "Immortal" because he has been shot a record of 20 times. Originally assuming control as Underboss of Brooklyn's Colombo crime family in the early 1970s, he is the reigning boss of the Colombo crime family based in New York.
"Made" under Joe Profaci and named a Capo under Joe Colombo, Persico was widely regarded on the streets as a feared enforcer and loanshark. As the 1960s wore on Persico was at various times allied with both the anti-Colombo Gallo brother's faction and Joe Colombo. After both Joey Gallo and Joe Colombo were both assassinated (Persico remains a suspect in both slayings) in the early 1970s, Persico became the Boss of the family. On January 31, 1985 the FBI named him as the 390th Fugitive to be added to the Ten Most Wanted list. He was arrested February 15, 1985 in Wantagh, New York. In 1986, Carmine was convicted of murder and labor and construction racketeering and is currently serving a 100 year sentence. He has been incarcerated for the bulk of his time on top of the Family, however through various Acting Bosses he maintains control. One of these Acting Bosses was Vic Orena, a Brooklyn Capo who decided in November 1991 to eliminate Persico loyalists and become the official Boss himself. After a 2 year war that claimed nearly a dozen lives, the Persico faction emerged on top and Orena received a life sentence for murder. Since the war Persico's cousin and son, Andrew Russo and Alphonse Persico, have been running the family. Both are currently incarcerated and the Acting Boss is now Tommy "Shots" Gioeli. The underboss is octogenerian John Franseze, formerly seen as an enemy of the Persicos.
His son, Alphonse, is due out of prison in December 2011. However, his daughter, Susan, has not been associated with the crime life, and does not intend on continuing the family crime reputation.
[edit] External links
- "Court cases."
- "American Mob bosses"
- "Free Information Society Page."
- "Gangland bosses"
- "Mafia in New Jersey"
| Preceded by: Thomas DiBella |
Colombo Crime Family Boss 1978-1996 |
Succeeded by: Andrew Russo |
