Alphonse Persico
Encyclopedia
Alphonse T. Persico, known as Little Allie Boy or just Allie Boy, is a former acting boss of the Colombo crime family
from the 1980s and 1990s. He is not to be confused with his uncle of the same name, who was also a Colombo family mobster known as "Allie Boy", who died in 1989.
and Bensonhurst.
Persico's father is Carmine Persico
, the imprisoned official boss of the Colombo family. Alphonse Persico's brother is Michael Persico, considered by federal prosecutors to also belong to the Colombo family. Alphonse Persico shared the same name with a uncle who died in 1989. Alphonse Persico was married to Teresa Persico.
Unlike some mafiosi, the young Alphonse Persico was a promising student who graduated from high school and was accepted into college. At St. John's University in New York, Persico contemplated going to law school. Instead, he quit St. John's after his sophomore year, presumably to work for his father. By his mid-twenties, Persico was reportedly a caporegime
(captain) running his own crew. Like many other mafiosi, Persico enjoyed the power and excitement of the mob life. In 1983, Persico was arrested for heroin possession, but the case was dismissed.
In 1986, after being sentenced to 100 years in prison, Carmine Persico designated his son Alphonse Persico as the Colombo acting boss. However, in 1987, Alphonse was convicted in New York of racketeering and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
, a loyal capo, to be the temporary acting boss. In selecting Orena, Persico made it clear to the family that his son Alphonse would become acting boss again when released from prison.
In the spring of 1991, Orena decided that he wanted to run the Colombo family without the Persicos and told consigliere Carmine Sessa
to call a referendum of the family capos to approve it. In response, the imprisoned Carmine Persico ordered Orena's murder. On June 20, 1991, Persico gunmen unsuccessfully try to kill Orena at his home. In November 1991, after several months of negotiations, the Persico and Orena factions broke into open warfare. Still in prison, Alphonse Persico directed the campaign against Orena. On May 13, 1993, Alphonse and other family leaders were indicted on racketeering charges that included the 1992 murders of Orena loyalists John Minerva and Michael Imbergamo. By October 1993, Orena and many of his followers had been sent to prison. Carmine Persico retained control of the Colombo family. Also in 2993, Teresa Persico divorced Alphonse.
On August 8, 1994, Alphonse Persico was acquitted of the 1993 federal racketeering and murder charges due to the revelations about Colombo capo Gregory Scarpa and his relationship with the FBI. Persico was now a free man, but he did not become acting boss right away. Instead, Persico spent much of the next few years at his family home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1996, Carmine Persico appointed Andrew Russo as acting boss. When Russo went to prison in early 1999, Alphonse Persico finally took over the acting boss job.
. After searching the vessel, Coast Guardsmen arrested Persico for possessing a shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun as an ex-felon.
In May 1999, Carmine or Alphonse Persico allegedly ordered the murder of his newly appointed temporary acting underboss, William Cutolo
. Persico's motive might have been revenge for Cutolo's support of Orena in 1991. However, another theory is that since Alphonse Persico was facing prison again for the Florida weapons charge, Persico feared that Cutolo would seize control of the family during his absence. On May 26, 1999, Cutolo's wife, Marguerite Cutolo, reported her husband missing. Earlier that day, Alphonse Persico had summoned Cutolo to meet with him at a park in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. However, when Cutolo arrived at the part, Colombo hitmen Thomas Gioeli
, Dino Calabro, and Dino Saracino took Cutolo to Saracino's apartment, where they murdered him. Goeli later buried Cutolo's body in a field in Farmingdale, New York
, where it remained undiscovered until October 2008.
In October 1999, Persico was arrested again in New York on federal racketeering, loan sharking and bank fraud charges. The arresting agents searched Persico's Brooklyn apartment and uncovered $25,000 in cash along with records of extensive loan sharking and credit card
fraud activities. He was released on bail. In 2000, Persico was convicted on the Florida gun charges and sent to federal prison in Florida for 18 months.
The government also suspected Persico in the Cutolo murder and was starting to build a case against him. Persico was held without bail. On December 20, 2001, Persico pleaded guilty to federal racketeering, loan-sharking and money-laundering charges from 1999 and 2001. The judge sentenced Persico to 13 years in federal prison.
On October 14, 2004, Persico was finally indicted in New York for the Cutolo murder. However, on November 3, 2006, the judge declared a mistrial due to allegations that Cutolo's wife Marguerite had lied under oath. In the second trial, on December 28, 2007, Persico and DeRoss were convicted of murder in aid of racketeering and witness tampering
On February 27, 2009, Persico was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the Cutolo murder.
As of October 2011, Persico is serving a life sentence at the United States Penitentiary, Florence
in Colorado
.
Colombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
from the 1980s and 1990s. He is not to be confused with his uncle of the same name, who was also a Colombo family mobster known as "Allie Boy", who died in 1989.
Background
Born in New York, Alponse T. Persico grew up in South BrooklynSouth Brooklyn
South Brooklyn is a region or composite neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, encompassing areas of Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope, and Boerum Hill. Thus it is roughly encompassed by Brooklyn Community Board 6, which in turn approximates the southern half of the 18th...
and Bensonhurst.
Persico's father is Carmine Persico
Carmine Persico
Carmine John Persico, Jr. also known as "Junior", "The Snake" and "Immortal", has been the de-facto boss of the Colombo crime family since the early 1970s. Persico has overseen gang wars, murders, and major rackets, most of the time from prison. He has been serving life imprisonment without...
, the imprisoned official boss of the Colombo family. Alphonse Persico's brother is Michael Persico, considered by federal prosecutors to also belong to the Colombo family. Alphonse Persico shared the same name with a uncle who died in 1989. Alphonse Persico was married to Teresa Persico.
Unlike some mafiosi, the young Alphonse Persico was a promising student who graduated from high school and was accepted into college. At St. John's University in New York, Persico contemplated going to law school. Instead, he quit St. John's after his sophomore year, presumably to work for his father. By his mid-twenties, Persico was reportedly a caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
(captain) running his own crew. Like many other mafiosi, Persico enjoyed the power and excitement of the mob life. In 1983, Persico was arrested for heroin possession, but the case was dismissed.
In 1986, after being sentenced to 100 years in prison, Carmine Persico designated his son Alphonse Persico as the Colombo acting boss. However, in 1987, Alphonse was convicted in New York of racketeering and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
Orena rebellion
With his son Alphonse in prison, Carmine Persico selected Colombo mobster Victor OrenaVictor Orena
Vittorio "Little Vic" Orena is a New York City mobster who became the temporary acting boss of the Colombo crime family. When an attempt by Greg ScarpaVittorio "Little Vic" Orena (born August 4, 1934) is a New York City mobster who became the temporary acting boss of the Colombo crime family. When...
, a loyal capo, to be the temporary acting boss. In selecting Orena, Persico made it clear to the family that his son Alphonse would become acting boss again when released from prison.
In the spring of 1991, Orena decided that he wanted to run the Colombo family without the Persicos and told consigliere Carmine Sessa
Carmine Sessa
Carmine Sessa is an Italian-American mobster and hitman who became the consigliere of the Brooklyn-based Colombo crime family and played a key role in the family from 1991 to 1993. Sessa later became a government witness.-Murders:...
to call a referendum of the family capos to approve it. In response, the imprisoned Carmine Persico ordered Orena's murder. On June 20, 1991, Persico gunmen unsuccessfully try to kill Orena at his home. In November 1991, after several months of negotiations, the Persico and Orena factions broke into open warfare. Still in prison, Alphonse Persico directed the campaign against Orena. On May 13, 1993, Alphonse and other family leaders were indicted on racketeering charges that included the 1992 murders of Orena loyalists John Minerva and Michael Imbergamo. By October 1993, Orena and many of his followers had been sent to prison. Carmine Persico retained control of the Colombo family. Also in 2993, Teresa Persico divorced Alphonse.
On August 8, 1994, Alphonse Persico was acquitted of the 1993 federal racketeering and murder charges due to the revelations about Colombo capo Gregory Scarpa and his relationship with the FBI. Persico was now a free man, but he did not become acting boss right away. Instead, Persico spent much of the next few years at his family home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1996, Carmine Persico appointed Andrew Russo as acting boss. When Russo went to prison in early 1999, Alphonse Persico finally took over the acting boss job.
Cutolo murder
Alphonse Persico's second stint as acting boss would last only a year before he was sent back to prison. In early 1999, the US Coast Guard stopped Persico in his speedboat as he was motoring in the Florida KeysFlorida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
. After searching the vessel, Coast Guardsmen arrested Persico for possessing a shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun as an ex-felon.
In May 1999, Carmine or Alphonse Persico allegedly ordered the murder of his newly appointed temporary acting underboss, William Cutolo
William Cutolo
William Cutolo , also known as "Billy Fingers" and "Wild Bill", was a Brooklyn mobster in the Colombo crime family who committed several murders and was heavily involved in labor racketeering...
. Persico's motive might have been revenge for Cutolo's support of Orena in 1991. However, another theory is that since Alphonse Persico was facing prison again for the Florida weapons charge, Persico feared that Cutolo would seize control of the family during his absence. On May 26, 1999, Cutolo's wife, Marguerite Cutolo, reported her husband missing. Earlier that day, Alphonse Persico had summoned Cutolo to meet with him at a park in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. However, when Cutolo arrived at the part, Colombo hitmen Thomas Gioeli
Thomas Gioeli
Thomas Salvatore Gioeli, , also known as "Tommy Shots", is a high-ranking member of the Colombo crime family who has allegedly killed several people, including a policeman and a Colombo underboss, for the family.- Rise in the Colombo family :...
, Dino Calabro, and Dino Saracino took Cutolo to Saracino's apartment, where they murdered him. Goeli later buried Cutolo's body in a field in Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
, where it remained undiscovered until October 2008.
In October 1999, Persico was arrested again in New York on federal racketeering, loan sharking and bank fraud charges. The arresting agents searched Persico's Brooklyn apartment and uncovered $25,000 in cash along with records of extensive loan sharking and credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
fraud activities. He was released on bail. In 2000, Persico was convicted on the Florida gun charges and sent to federal prison in Florida for 18 months.
Prison
On January 24, 2001, Persico finished his weapons sentence and was due for release from prison in Florida. However, that same day, Persico was transported back to New York, where prosecutors indicted him on loansharking charges.The government also suspected Persico in the Cutolo murder and was starting to build a case against him. Persico was held without bail. On December 20, 2001, Persico pleaded guilty to federal racketeering, loan-sharking and money-laundering charges from 1999 and 2001. The judge sentenced Persico to 13 years in federal prison.
On October 14, 2004, Persico was finally indicted in New York for the Cutolo murder. However, on November 3, 2006, the judge declared a mistrial due to allegations that Cutolo's wife Marguerite had lied under oath. In the second trial, on December 28, 2007, Persico and DeRoss were convicted of murder in aid of racketeering and witness tampering
Witness tampering
Witness tampering is harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony.-Witness tampering in the USA:In the United States, the crime of witness tampering in federal cases is defined by statute at , "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant"...
On February 27, 2009, Persico was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the Cutolo murder.
Aftermath
In February 2010, Colombo hitman Frank Sparaco reportedly told prosecutors that Persico had ordered the 1992 murder of Michael Devine, a Staten Island nightclub owner. Devine, who was found shot to death in a car, had allegedly enraged Persico by dating Persico's wife Teresa during their separation. No charges have been filed.As of October 2011, Persico is serving a life sentence at the United States Penitentiary, Florence
United States Penitentiary, Florence
The United States Penitentiary in Florence is a high security prison located in the Florence Federal Correctional Complex in Fremont County, Colorado, near Florence.-History:...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.