Mob FilesPublic-domain archive of American organized crime

Carmine Persico

Convicted in the Colombo family RICO case and in the Commission case. In the Commission appeal the Second Circuit wrote that the government established he was boss of the Colombo family.

Family
Colombo family, as the government established at trial (Second Circuit, 1989)
Role
Boss, as "the government established" (Second Circuit, 1989)
Source
United States v. Salerno, 868 F.2d 524 (2d Cir. 1989)
Rights
This person may be living. The page is limited to what court records state, and gives no personal details beyond them.

On the record

  • 2 October 1985 — United States v. Persico, 621 F. Supp. 842: he was one of fourteen defendants "alleged to be members and associates of the Colombo Family of La Cosa Nostra," and one of three who moved to join part of the case with the Commission indictment, a motion the court denied. Charge; court ruling.
  • 27 October 1987 — United States v. Persico, 832 F.2d 705: the government described the structure as "Carmine Persico, the Boss of the Colombo Family, assisted by Gennaro Langella, the Underboss." The court affirmed. The government's description, as the court recounts it.
  • 31 January 1989 — United States v. Salerno, 868 F.2d 524: "Persico was boss of the Colombo family, Langella its underboss," as the government established; the court also relied on testimony of "Persico's statement that he had voted against the Galante murder." What the government established, as the court summarizes it; testimony.

No opened record gives his death, so this page treats him as possibly living and cites court records only. The FBI Vault file on him and the 1988 FBI testimony about him are listed elsewhere on this archive, but they are not used here.

Records

itemUnited States v. Salerno, 868 F.2d 524 (2d Cir. 1989)Second Circuit opinion on the appeal from the Southern District of New York trial of Anthony Salerno and seven other defendants, decided January 31, 1989.itemUnited States v. Persico, 832 F.2d 705 (2d Cir. 1987)Second Circuit opinion of October 27, 1987 affirming the RICO convictions of Carmine Persico and other Colombo family defendants tried in the Southern District of New York. It sets out the government's description of the family's structure.itemUnited States v. Persico, 621 F. Supp. 842 (S.D.N.Y. 1985)Judge Keenan's pretrial ruling of October 2, 1985 in the Colombo family RICO case, denying motions for severance and transfer. It gives the Commission case's district docket as "United States v. Salerno, S 85 Cr. 139 (RO)."itemCarmine John Persico, Ten Most Wanted Fugitive #390 (FBI)Photograph from the FBI's Ten Most Wanted historical pictures, captioned: "Due to an FBI investigation, Persico was arrested in Wantagh, New York, by FBI agents on February 15, 1985."