Theodore “Teddy” Persico Jr has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for ordering a hit on a mafia rival. Persico a Colombo crime family capo plead guilty to murder conspiracy for ordering the hit on fellow mobster Joseph Scopo back in 1993 while he attended his grandmothers wake at a Brooklyn funeral home. Scopo was a leading member of a break away faction lead by Vittorio “Little Vic” Orena battling the Persico faction for control of the mob family during a bloody civil war. Teddy was actually out on a prison furlough to attend the wake of his grandmother when he green lighted the hit.
“Teddy Persico Jr”
Fellow Colombo family mobster turned rat Anthony Russo testified that Persico sat down at the chapel and after saying a prayer for his grandmother passed along the orders signing off on Scopo’s death warrant. The conversation between Persico and three mob associates which took place just out of earshot of the correction officers accompanying him. Russo outlined the entire event for the feds.
Russo said Teddy told him and his other mob associates that you have to go after Joey (Scopo), to end this war we have to get Joey he is a target. Then a few months later at the door of his Queens home Scopo was gunned down by a Colombo family hit team effectively putting an end to the Colombo civil war. The feds claim that Teddy is on a short list of candidates to take control of the Colombo family upon the death of his uncle and current boss Carmine “The Snake” Persico.
