A troubled actor who played a driver and bodyguard to mafia boss Tony Soprano on the hit HBO series made bail on counterfeiting charges Friday but won’t be released just yet.
Louis Gross, 31, nicknamed Muscles Marinara for his hulky build, appeared in Manhattan court to for a bail hearingon charges that he passed fake $100 bills in Manhattan last August.
Bail bondsmen to the stars Ira Judelson posted the $3,500 bond for the actor who plays handsome Perry Annunziata on “The Sopranos.” But instead of going home, Gross was shipped upstate to Orange County, NY for a warrant on another open case.
He told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Laura Ward that the warrant was issued after he’d missed a court date there while he was in jail at Riker’s for passing phony cash.
“The worst excuse in the world for missing a court date is being locked up again,” Ward responded with a smile.
Gross also has a pending Brooklyn case for felony pot and weapons possession.
Gross was collared Aug. 11 when he tried to make a purchase with the phony money near 23rd Street and Third Avenue, according to the criminal complaint.
When a cop spotted him, he tossed four fake $100 bills to the ground. The cop allegedly recovered four more forged $100 bills on him.
He returns to Manhattan Supreme Court Sept. 23 on the felony charge.