Carmine Sessa
Encyclopedia
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.
. When Persico went into hiding to avoid an indictment, the family decided to kill Bari out of concern that she knew Persico's location. Bari was lured into Sessa's social club Occasions on the pretext of a job interview. When Bari arrived, Sessa shot her three times to the head. In May 1988, Sessa murdered Anthony Bolino. Suspecting Bolino of robbing his dealers, Sessa shot him one time in the head on a street corner in Bayside. In November 1988, Sessa murdered Vincent Angellino, a top capo in the Colombo family. Angellino was lured to a home in Kenilworth, New Jersey
, where Sessa shot him. In 1989, Sessa murdered Anthony Collucio, a member of Sessa's crew. Suspecting Collucio of becoming an informant, Sessa shot him.
In 1988, Sessa attempted to kill Dominick Costa as a service to the Lucchese crime family
. Costa was a master safecracker for the Bypass Gang, a highly skilled group of bank robbers run by Lucchese mobster Anthony Casso
in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
. When Casso discovered that Costa was a police informant, he decided to kill him. Casso hired Sessa because of his reputation as a hitman and because Costa did not know him. Sessa shot Costa five times in Costa's apartment, but Costa survived to later testify against the Lucchese family.
planned to have his son Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico become acting boss on his release from prison.In 1990, three years after becoming a made man in the Colombo family, Carmine Persico had appointed Sess as consigliere. He was now part of the family leadership. In early 1991, temporary acting boss Victor Orena
informed Sessa that he wanted to poll all the capos on who should be the acting boss, him or Alphonse Persico. However, Sessa ignored Orena's request and forwarded the information to Carmine PersicoAt this point, Persico ordered Sessa to murder Orena.
On June 20, 1991, Sessa, Zambardi, John Pate, and Hank Smurra went to Orena's Long Island, New York home to ambush and kill him. However, when Orena arrived at the house, he saw the trap, and escaped unharmed. A two-year war now erupted between the Persico and Orena factions. On November 29, 1991, Sessa's nephew, Larry Sessa was nearly killed during an ambush; Larry was chased down the street by masked gunmen and jumped into a friend's car. When the Colombo war ended with Orena's defeat, 12 people were dead out of 24 murder targets.
On April 8, 1993, Sessa and other Colombo mobsters were arrested while attending a secret meeting outside St. Patrick's Cathedral
in Manhattan. Sessa had been a fugitive for the previous nine months. Sessa was indicted on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
murder conspiracy charges.
against his wife and for stealing guns from his son. In 2000, Sessa was sentenced to time already served for the four murders. At his sentencing, Sessa made a statement,
In October 2007, Sessa testified at the corruption trial of former Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agent Lindley DeVecchio
. DeVecchio, the agent in charge of Scarpa, was eventually acquitted.
Sessa and his family are presumably stiil participating in the federal Witness Protection Program.
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
of the Brooklyn-based Colombo crime family
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 ....
and played a key role in the family from 1991 to 1993. Sessa later became a government witness.
Murders
After becoming a government witness, Sessa admitted to personally murdering four people. In September 1984, Sessa murdered Mary Bari, a former girlfriend of then Colombo consigliere Alphonse PersicoAlphonse Persico
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.-Background:Born in...
. When Persico went into hiding to avoid an indictment, the family decided to kill Bari out of concern that she knew Persico's location. Bari was lured into Sessa's social club Occasions on the pretext of a job interview. When Bari arrived, Sessa shot her three times to the head. In May 1988, Sessa murdered Anthony Bolino. Suspecting Bolino of robbing his dealers, Sessa shot him one time in the head on a street corner in Bayside. In November 1988, Sessa murdered Vincent Angellino, a top capo in the Colombo family. Angellino was lured to a home in Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...
, where Sessa shot him. In 1989, Sessa murdered Anthony Collucio, a member of Sessa's crew. Suspecting Collucio of becoming an informant, Sessa shot him.
In 1988, Sessa attempted to kill Dominick Costa as a service to the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
. Costa was a master safecracker for the Bypass Gang, a highly skilled group of bank robbers run by Lucchese mobster Anthony Casso
Anthony Casso
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso is a former New York City mobster who served as underboss and acting boss of the Lucchese crime family until he was arrested in 1993, becoming a cooperating witness for the Federal Government...
in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. When Casso discovered that Costa was a police informant, he decided to kill him. Casso hired Sessa because of his reputation as a hitman and because Costa did not know him. Sessa shot Costa five times in Costa's apartment, but Costa survived to later testify against the Lucchese family.
Colombo War
In 1991, a rivalry within the Colombo family erupted into war. Imprisoned family boss Carmine PersicoCarmine 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...
planned to have his son Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico become acting boss on his release from prison.In 1990, three years after becoming a made man in the Colombo family, Carmine Persico had appointed Sess as consigliere. He was now part of the family leadership. In early 1991, temporary acting boss Victor Orena
Victor 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...
informed Sessa that he wanted to poll all the capos on who should be the acting boss, him or Alphonse Persico. However, Sessa ignored Orena's request and forwarded the information to Carmine PersicoAt this point, Persico ordered Sessa to murder Orena.
On June 20, 1991, Sessa, Zambardi, John Pate, and Hank Smurra went to Orena's Long Island, New York home to ambush and kill him. However, when Orena arrived at the house, he saw the trap, and escaped unharmed. A two-year war now erupted between the Persico and Orena factions. On November 29, 1991, Sessa's nephew, Larry Sessa was nearly killed during an ambush; Larry was chased down the street by masked gunmen and jumped into a friend's car. When the Colombo war ended with Orena's defeat, 12 people were dead out of 24 murder targets.
On April 8, 1993, Sessa and other Colombo mobsters were arrested while attending a secret meeting outside St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in Manhattan. Sessa had been a fugitive for the previous nine months. Sessa was indicted on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
murder conspiracy charges.
Government witness
Shortly after his 1993 indictment, Sessa, at the urging of his wife, pleaded guilty to four murders and became a government witness. Sessa went on to testify in eight mob trials. In the summer of 1997, Sessa was released from prison. In December 1997, Sessa was arrested for domestic violenceDomestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
against his wife and for stealing guns from his son. In 2000, Sessa was sentenced to time already served for the four murders. At his sentencing, Sessa made a statement,
"I hate everything about the life I led, and I hope that it ends soon, because it keeps destroying families and kids who are infatuated with it and can't wait to be 'goodfellas.'
In October 2007, Sessa testified at the corruption trial of former Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) agent Lindley DeVecchio
Lindley DeVecchio
Lindley DeVecchio is a former U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent in charge of managing mob informants. DeVecchio worked for the FBI during the Mafia wars in New York during the 1980s and 1990s....
. DeVecchio, the agent in charge of Scarpa, was eventually acquitted.
Sessa and his family are presumably stiil participating in the federal Witness Protection Program.