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Plea Deal Nixes Persico Trial

The federal racketeering trial against reputed Colombo capo Theodore Persico Jr. and his cousin Michael Persico -- the son of imprisoned boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico -- won't be going forward as planned on Monday after the pair secured sweet deals yesterday with federal prosecutors as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News.

The pair were accused in the 1993 hit on Joseph Scopo during a  Colombo family war but now Michael Persico is walking away from the murder charge and Teddy Persico faces only ten years in prison for his admitted role.

However, Michael Perisco won't be skating from everything.  The mob scion agreed to plead guilty to an extortion charge on which he will face less than four years.

Reputed Colombo Capo's Self-Representation In Racketeering Trial Has Co-Defendants Nervous

Apparently Theodore Persico Jr. doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

The reputed Colombo capo will be representing himself at his racketeering trial next week, and fearing the spectacle will prejudice their defense his two co-defendants Francis "B.F." Guerra and Michael Persico requested a separate trial which was promptly denied by the presiding judge as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News.

The lawyer wannabe's court-appointed counsel Elizabeth Macedonio says "'he doesn't have any hard feelings,' about his cousin Michael and Guerra wanting to get as far away from him as possible."

Federal Judge Denies Bail To Francis Guerra

Francis "B.F." Guerra, a reputed Colombo mobster charged earlier this month "with two gangland murders and the shakedown of a pizzeria," will remain in jail pending trial as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News:  "Magistrate Cheryl Pollak ruled Monday that federal prosecutors had convinced her that Francis (BF) Guerra is a danger to the community and must remain in jail."

Federal prosecutors charge Guerra with killing Michael Devine in 1992 for dating the wife of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico, and involvement in the 1993 hit on Joseph Scopo who had aligned with the Orena faction against the Persicos during the Colombo family's dysfunctional war.  Michael Persico, son of reputed boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico and brother of Allie Boy, is charged with ordering the hit on Scopo.

Mob Scion Indicted For Ordering 1993 Hit

Michael Persico -- son of reputed Colombo boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico and brother of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico -- was indicted yesterday for allegedly ordering the 1993 hit on Joseph Scopo who had aligned with the Orena faction during the family's dysfunctional war which claimed twelve lives as reported by Oren Yaniv for the Daily News.

In May 1999 John Pappa was convicted for carrying out the Scopo hit, and at the time of the murder Perscio allegedly was in a nearby car with cousin Theodore "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr., Francis "B.F." Guerra, and another individual who now is cooperating with the feds.  Skinny Teddy and Guerra also are charged for their alleged roles in the Scopo hit, and Guerra is further charged with killing Michael Devine in 1992 which included a bullet to the groin for dating the wife of Allie Boy.

Guerra's lawyer, Gerard McMahon, claims the government's witness is former capo Anthony "Big Anthony" Russo who flipped last February, and court papers allege the turncoat made secret recordings which tie Michael Persico to the Scopo murder.

Persico, the owner of a a limousine service and a restaurant, already was facing racketeering charges for his alleged role in a kickback and extortion scheme involving debris removal at the World Trade Center ground zero site, and has been out on $5 million bail although federal prosecutors now intend to seek his remand to jail.

Last October FBI agents seized a photo showing convicted killer Joseph "Joey Cupcakes" Urgitano and Skinny Teddy together which had been hanging on the wall of the famed Italian eatery Rao's at 455 East 114th Street in Harlem, and apparently the seizure was in connection with an investigation into the 1990 murder of federal informant Vincent "Scoobie" Lafaro.  Veteran mob writer Jerry Capeci previously reported that law enforcement consider Guerra as a suspect in the Lafaro murder, and believe Skinny Teddy may have sent Joey Cupcakes a "coded message" once Lafaro was whacked.  Yesterday's indictment does not address the 1990 Lafaro hit.

The Mob Prince Is Sprung

Michael Persico -- son of reputed Colombo boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico and brother of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico -- is getting sprung from jail on $5 million bond "after the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that another judge had made a procedural error at Persico's earlier bail hearing" as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News.  Persico was indicted last March on federal racketeering charges for allegedly participating in a kickback and extortion scheme involving debris removal at the World Trade Center ground zero site.