The New York Post offers a
piece on the death of Carmine “The Snake” Persico. the former boss of the
Colombo Cosa Nostra crime family.
Carmine Persico had nothing to lose.
Carmine Persico had nothing to lose.
In 1986, the notorious Colombo
crime-family boss had just been convicted on racketeering charges and, with a
second federal trial looming, was facing spending the rest of his life behind
bars.
So he hired the toughest guy he
knew to represent him in court: Carmine Persico.
What the pugnacious high-school dropout known as “The Snake” lacked in legal training, he made up for in street smarts and fight — keeping the Manhattan courtroom alternately enthralled and in stitches as he grilled witnesses in his thick Brooklyn accent.
What the pugnacious high-school dropout known as “The Snake” lacked in legal training, he made up for in street smarts and fight — keeping the Manhattan courtroom alternately enthralled and in stitches as he grilled witnesses in his thick Brooklyn accent.
When his own turncoat cousin, the
government’s star witness, tried to claim he hadn’t taken money from Persico to
buy his house, the wiseguy spat back: “″You couldn’t buy socks!”
Persico didn’t win — he was
sentenced to 100 years behind bars, plus 39 years for his other trial — but
even one of his judges praised his final performance.
“Mr. Persico, you’re a tragedy,″
said Judge John F. Keenan, the justice in his other racketeering case. “You are
one of the most intelligent people I have ever seen.”
Persico would spend the rest of
his life in the slammer.
“Mr. Persico, you’re a
tragedy,″ said Judge John F. Keenan, the justice in his other racketeering
case. “You are one of the most intelligent people I have ever seen.”
Persico would spend the rest of
his life in the slammer.
He passed away Thursday at age 85 at a North Carolina
hospital near the Butner Federal Correctional Institution, where he had been
imprisoned.
His death marks the end of an era
for New York, experts said.
You can read the rest of
the piece via the below link:
You can also read my Washington Times review of Carmine the Snake and His Murderous Mafia Family via the below link:
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