Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico cut his losses yesterday, pleading guilty to a host of mob-related crimes as acting boss of the Colombo organized crime family – and agreeing to serve 13 years in prison and shell out $1 million.
Persico was set to go on trial in January for racketeering charges – including extortion, money laundering and loan-sharking – that spanned 1993 to 1999.
Asked why “Allie Boy” chose now to throw in the towel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Walsh said, “Our case is very, very strong.” Defense lawyer Barry Levin, who hammered out the deal with prosecutors during intense negotiations, said Persico, 47, “pleaded guilty to avoid any further pain to himself or his family.”
If “Allie Boy” had taken a gamble with a jury, former Miami Beach club king Chris Paciello might have made his mob rat debut. Paciello was close to Persico – son of jailed-for-life Colombo boss Carmine “the Snake” Persico – and could place him at the top of the Colombo family, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kroger said at a recent court hearing.
Prosecutors also have a mountain of physical evidence seized in raids in Florida and New York – as well as testimony from the vengeful son of a missing reputed wiseguy.
Though murder is not charged in the indictment, prosecutors planned to argue that Persico orchestrated a hit on William “Wild Bill” Cutolo in 1999 – a reputed Colombo capo who opposed “Allie Boy” in a bloody war for control of the family in the early 1990s.
If Raggi accepts the sentence recommended in the plea agreement, Persico will serve 13 years and forfeit $1 million in mob money.
Sentencing is set for June 13. Lawyers for Persico’s four codefendants said prosecutors are ready to offer plea agreements across the board.