abstract
| - Born in New York, Alponse T. Persico grew up in South Brooklyn, Bensonhurst and Hempstead L.I. Persico's father is Carmine Persico, the imprisoned official boss of the Colombo family. Alphonse Persico's brother is Michael Persico, considered by federal prosecutors to also belong to the Colombo crime family. Alphonse Persico shared the same name with a uncle who died in 1989. Alphonse Persico was married to Teresa Persico. Unlike some mafiosi, the young Alphonse Persico was a promising student who graduated from high school and was accepted into college. At St. John's University in New York, Persico contemplated going to law school. Instead, he quit St. John's after his sophomore year, presumably to work for his father. By his mid 20s, Persico was reportedly a caporegime (captain) running his own crew. Like many other mafiosi, Persico enjoyed the power and excitement of the mob life. In 1983, Persico was arrested for heroin possession, but the case was dismissed. In 1986, after being sentenced to 100 years in prison, Carmine Persico designated his son Alphonse Persico as the Colombo acting boss. However, in 1987, Alphonse was convicted in New York of racketeering and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
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