Former Colombo crime family street boss Andrew “Mush” Russo convicted of racketeering gambling conspiracy is trying to charm a federal judge for a lenient sentence.
Russo in a letter sent to a Brooklyn federal judge claimed among other things that he was an amateur magician who was beloved as he entertained at family parties. There were also letters submitted from family members including his grandniece who said whether Russo was telling jokes, doing magic tricks, or talking about their families history he always had their full attention. His nephew and niece chipped in saying that he always made them laugh and would entertain them for hours with his magic tricks. The mobster even counts actor James Caan as a friend and is the godfather to his son.
“Andrew Russo (center)”
Russo faces sentencing in the next few weeks and could get 33 to 41 months in prison. Whether the letters of support has any effect on his sentencing will soon be determined but one thing is for sure another Colombo family mobster is headed for a extended prison stay. The attack by the feds on the Colombo family has been extensive and many of the families top leaders have been convicted over last couple of years many due to cooperating witnesses from with in the family. Mob insiders and law enforcement sources believe the mafia family has been decimated and now sits as the weakest of the five families in New York. For years mafia families from New York have taken on attacks from the feds and found ways to stay above water and some even bounce back to rebuild and only time will tell if the Colombo family can once again bounce back.
