Mocobizscene- According to his lawyer, the alleged “heir apparent” to a Mafia family in New York City expressed his reluctance to be elevated to the position of godfather during a court hearing on Friday.
Theodore Persico, also known as “Skinny Teddy,” has decided to leave his life of organized crime behind and pursue a law-abiding path after serving his current prison sentence, as confirmed by his lawyer Joseph Corozzo. Being the nephew of two former Colombo crime family leaders, this decision marks a significant turning point in Skinny Teddy’s life.
“He doesn’t want to be the boss,” he said.
Persico, who is 60 years old, received a five-year prison sentence on Friday. He was found guilty of racketeering in connection with the Colombo family’s 20-year extortion scheme targeting a construction union in Queens.
Persico expressed his readiness and willingness to accept any punishment deemed appropriate by U.S. District Judge Hector Gonzalez.
“I’m looking to make a change and move my family and business to New Jersey, away from the hustle and bustle of New York City,” he expressed during his appearance in federal court in Brooklyn. “As I’m getting older, I’ve come to realize that this is not the way things should be. I want to transform myself and leave behind any past mistakes that may have caused harm to others.”
According to court papers, Persico’s fiancee, Nicole Russo, is the owner of an auto-body shop in Staten Island that he was managing prior to his most recent arrest.
During a meeting of high-level gangsters at a Brooklyn restaurant in November 2020, prosecutors revealed that Persico was designated as the “heir apparent” of the Colombo family.
Persico, the nephew of the infamous Colombo boss Carmine “the Snake” Persico, was reportedly set to assume control by May 2023, after completing a three-year term of supervised release from prison.
However, he ultimately faced charges in a September 2021 indictment, which aimed at dismantling the Colombos’ ruling hierarchy, referred to as the “administration.”
According to the Gangland News website, the Colombos have selected Robert “Little Robert” Donofrio as their acting boss, just days after Persico’s guilty plea in July.
Persico’s co-defendants included another uncle, Andrew “Mush” Russo, who was the boss of the Colombo family. Sadly, Russo passed away in April 2022 while he was still awaiting trial.
Reputed Colombo consigliere Ralph DiMatteo, who was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday, managed to evade arrest by flying to Florida a day before the FBI rounded up everyone else. DiMatteo gained attention when a photo of him, resembling Tony Soprano, surfaced on social media while he was briefly evading capture. In the picture, he can be seen leisurely relaxing in a pool.
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