Who Is Carmine Persico? Age, Biography and Wiki
Carmine Persico was born on August 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York City. He became a prominent figure in the American Mafia, leading the Colombo crime family from the 1970s until his death in 2019. Renowned for his involvement in organized crime, Persico's life was marked by notorious activities including racketeering, extortion, and murder. His complex legacy continues to interest historians and true crime enthusiasts.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 8, 1933 |
| Age | 85 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 7 March, 2019 |
| Died Place | Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
Popularity
Carmine Persico's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 180 lbs (82 kg)
- Body Stats: As a mobster who was often in confrontational situations, he maintained a solid build typical of someone who was accustomed to the rigors of criminal life.
On June 6, 1962, Profaci died of cancer and Magliocco became the new family boss. However, the war with the Gallo faction continued. In early 1963, Persico survived a car bombing and his enforcer Hugh McIntosh was shot in the groin as he attempted to kill Larry Gallo.
On May 19, 1963, Gallo gunmen ambushed Persico in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. A panel truck pulled alongside Persico's car and two men shot him in the face, hand and shoulder. Persico reportedly spat out the bullet that had entered his face. Soon after this attempt on his life, Persico was imprisoned on extortion charges.
By the fall of 1963, with Joey Gallo also imprisoned, the shooting war had ended with Magliocco the winner.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Carmine Persico was famously married to his longtime wife, who remained a private figure throughout his life. The couple had four children, and while details about his family life weren't widely publicized, it is known that they have largely distanced themselves from his criminal past following his incarceration. There are no known details regarding current relationships as Persico passed away in 2019.
and Assunta "Susan" Plantamura. His father was a legal stenographer for several law firms in Manhattan. His brothers Theodore Persico and Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico (died 1989) also became caporegimes in the Colombo crime family.
His son, named Alphonse after the boy's uncle and commonly known as "Little Allie Boy", eventually became a capo as well. He was the uncle of Theodore Persico Jr. The family lived in the Carroll Gardens and Red Hook sections of Brooklyn.
Net Worth and Salary
At the height of his power, Carmine Persico's estimated net worth was substantial, although exact figures are hard to ascertain due to the illicit nature of his activities. It is believed that he accumulated millions through various criminal enterprises, including extortion and loan sharking. After his conviction and subsequent imprisonment, his wealth likely diminished significantly.
In February 1971, Joey Gallo was released from prison. On June 28, Colombo was shot and severely wounded at the second annual Italian-American Civil Rights League rally in Manhattan. The shooter, a black ex-convict named Jerome Johnson, was immediately shot dead by Colombo's bodyguards.
Colombo survived in a paralyzed state until his death on May 22, 1978. Police concluded that Johnson was the sole shooter.
Both law enforcement and the Mafia assumed Gallo had organized the hit; he had built ties with black gangsters while in prison and, upon his release, threatened to start another gang war unless he received $100,000 compensation.
Career, Business and Investments
Carmine Persico's career spanned several decades, primarily associated with the Colombo crime family. He was involved in numerous illegal activities, including:
- Racketeering: Leading operations that extorted money from businesses.
- Murder and Violence: Being implicated in various violent crimes as a means to maintain power and control.
- Investments in Legitimate Businesses: While the majority of his income was generated through illegal means, there were instances where he invested in legitimate businesses for laundering purposes.
In 1957, Persico allegedly participated in the murder of Albert Anastasia, the former leader of Murder, Inc. and the boss of what was then the Anastasia family. Anastasia's underboss Carlo Gambino wanted control of the family and conspired with his allies, Genovese family boss Vito Genovese and Profaci boss Joe Profaci, to kill Anastasia.
Profaci allegedly gave the job to Persico and the Gallo brothers.
Social Network
Despite his high-profile life, Carmine Persico was not known for an extensive presence on social media. Given the nature of his work, it is likely that he maintained a low profile to avoid drawing attention. However, various documentaries and crime-focused media outlets have continued to explore his legacy, discussing his impact on organized crime in America.
In March 2010, the Reuters News Agency reported that Carmine Persico had been socializing in prison with convicted swindler Bernard Madoff. The New York Post further reported that Persico loved to play pinochle and bocce with other mobsters and regale them with stories from his past.
Education
Information regarding Carmine Persico's formal education is sparse. It is widely reported that he did not pursue higher education, as he became involved in crime at a young age. His upbringing in Brooklyn and exposure to the underworld played a significant role in shaping his early years and future endeavors in organized crime.
Persico dropped out of high school at age 16. By then he was a leader of the Garfield Boys, a Brooklyn street gang. However, one contemporary source says that in 1950 he had actually belonged to the South Brooklyn Boys, a successor gang to the Garfield Boys.
In March 1951, 17-year-old Persico was arrested on charges of fatally beating another youth in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. However, all charges were eventually dropped. In the early 1950s, Persico was recruited into the Profaci crime family, the forerunner of the Colombo family, by longtime capo Frank Abbatemarco.
At first Persico did bookmaking and loan-sharking, then moved into burglaries and hijackings. During this decade he was arrested over 12 times but spent only a few days in jail. He also started working with Joe Gallo and his brothers, Albert Gallo and Larry Gallo.
