Andrew "Mush" Russo

Andrew Russo was the acting boss of the Colombo Family on January 20, 2011 when he was arrested by the FBI.  The FBI knows this because there was a meeting in Brooklyn on May 11, 2010, and with the FBI listening, Russo was introduced to Ralph Scopo (a Colombo Soldier) as the Acting Boss of the family.  The FBI agents that listened to the recording must have chuckled when Russo accepted the congratulations from Scopo on his promotion.

Russo had some work to do inside the Colombo Family after being away for a number of years.  The Family had been run by a panel for years.  The panel was 3 or 4 Capos that decided what the family would do and handled the day to day operations of the family.  

Russo started reaching out for Colombo Family members and asking them to pledge their allegiance to the family.  He told people he was putting the family back together again after the war in the 1990s and all the busts that went down.  He told everyone that anyone who would not pledge allegiance to the family would be placed on an “enemy list” that would go to the other families.  If any of them worked with any of the guys on the list they would be placed on the list too.  These are Russo’s exact words from the wire:

“Yeah, what my intentions are that when I’m finished, who really doesn’t want to come in, I’m making up a list. I’m giving it to all the borgatas and they’re outlaws. Anybody that deals with them is my enemy. I’m making it as clear as that.”

I know the Persicos and I don't know anyone who would want to be on that list.

On June 29, 2010 the FBI was watching and listening when Russo had a meeting at a house on Staten Island with his son Billy (capo), Benji the Claw (underboss), Richie Fusco (consigliere) and Anthony Russo (capo).  He was talking about the family business and inducting new members. He wanted them to be smart, capable of murder and capable of doing time.

The FBI was again listening when incarcerated Russo bumped up Thomas Farese to consigliere.

Russo was very active in putting the family on the right track, the only problem is the FBI was there for every step.  I think he did do a lot of good (if you can call it that) for the family.

He had meeting after meeting with his capos to settle beefs, and even one beef they had with the Gambino Family.  He approved a gambling spot complete with Joker Poker machines that would bring more cash into the family.  He let Joseph Savarese and Larry Seesa run a bookmaking business.

Andrew Russo was so well liked that actor James Caan offered to put up his bail for him.  The judge must have liked him also because he only gave him 33 months.  Now he is 80 years old and a free man.

Colombo Family: Inside Secrets Revealed

The “administration” or “panel” that rules the Colombo Family is ever changing depending on who is locked up and who gets taken down.  The one constant is the boss, Carmine “The Snake” Pesico, who now lives in Butner FCI in North Carolina with 737 other inmates including Bernie Madoff.  Carmine is now 81 years old and it is doubtful he will make his release date in 2050 but he keeps the family in check with a never ending supply of acting bosses.  Many of these are relatives both by blood and by marriage. I have already written about Tommy Geoli and Joe Waverly running the family on a day-to-day basis.  

Andrew Russo was the acting boss in 2011, and he was another Persico relative. Benjamin “The Claw” Castellazzo was the underboss during that time who dealt with a lot of the capos around Brooklyn. Richard Fusco was the Consigliere and with him were senior capos Joseph Carna, Dennis Delucia, Ren Maragni and Anthony Russo.

They were quick to beef up the ranks of the family and replace those that were lost to death or incarceration.  They held a secret initiation ceremony in January of 2009 where they made 5 new soldiers.  They were preparing to have another ceremony on December 7, 2010 at Emanuele Favuzza’s home.  Andrew Russo and Benji Castellazzo would run the ceremony and Anthony Russo was bringing the pistol and the knife to the location, but they found out the FBI was watching so they cancelled it. They had planned on making 4 more soldiers at this ceremony.

They never seem to miss a step when it comes to crime.  They were once again inside the Union LIUNA Local 6a and this time they were extorting the “Coffee Boy”.  The Coffee Boy is where any Union Member on any job site must buy their food and beverages from.  The Coffee Boy was required to kick back at least $250.00 a week.  This adds up quick considering how many job sites there are around the city.  They still held high positions in the Union and could hand out jobs to their relatives.  

The Colombo family is not above being in the drug business unlike what movies try to portray.

They contacted some well known mafia-connected drug traffickers in Canada and arranged for a 250 pound load of marijuana to be delivered in Massachusetts.  The FBI was waiting for them when they were picking up the load.

They were all heavily involved in the mafia staples of shylocking and gambling.  They continued to loan out and collect large sums of cash.  They had bookies all over New York and Florida that brought in more than 2k a day each.  

Ren Maragni was not only a senior capo he was Cooperating Individual (CI) for the FBI and he wore a wire.  He was able to capture 90 conversations during his time wearing the wire.

When Thomas Farese was upped to the Consigliere position, he recorded him speaking about his promotion.   He told the FBI about a January 20, 2011 induction ceremony that Benji Castellazzo presided over where they again inducted soldiers.

One of the guys he gave up to the FBI is my old pal Teddy Persico Jr. He let the FBI know about his position as capo in the family.  He also told the FBI about Teddy’s participation in the murder of Joe Scopo while he was on a prison furlough.  

He gave up a lot of information on the role of Michael Persico, the unmade son of Carmine who for years was the clean Persico.  Michael was able to see his father and bring back messages to the rest of the family because of his lack of record.  

He also brought to light the pizza sauce beef, one of the funniest Mafia stories.  Big Frank Guerra, or BF, has been very close to the Persicos since his motorcycle accident many years ago.  He married into the family who owns the L&B Pizza place, where they make world famous pizza.  A former worker had left L&B and opened his own place on Staten Island which he called the Square.  BF was livid and there was a series of Mafia sit downs over the stealing of the sauce recipe.  Ren Maragni wore his trusty wire and captured for all time this laughable episode inside the Colombo Family.  BF ended up getting 4k from the Square and a lot of time in prison.

Ren Maragni gave up his whole life in the Colombo family from his start when he was with Jerry Langella to his meeting Allie Boy Persico when they were young. Their cousins had a beef and Allie fixed it.  Years later while he was still an associate Allie Boy had him keep tabs on the South Florida Colombo crew.  He would meet Allie once a month and pass messages.

Ren also told the FBI about his own induction ceremony in the Bronx at a social club in the basement.  Benji Castellazzo as the underboss was in charge that night and he along with Richard Fusco recited the words while Ren had his hand on the pistol as the saint burned in his hand.

Ren double crossed the FBI when he was wearing a wire by using a secret cell phone to call people.  He also collected his shylock debts and diverted money from secret businesses he owned.  The FBI still went to bat for him when he was sentenced!

The FBI keeps taking the Colombos down, but the next day others replace them. This is why the Cosa Nostra is still alive, the structure assures that it will continue.  Other crime groups are usually ruled by one guy and when he goes down that is it.