Who Was Andrew Russo? The Colombo Boss Into His Eighties
Mobsters DailyAndrew "Andy Mush" Russo was Carmine Persico's cousin and the Colombo family's longtime street leader, who served as acting and official boss across four decades and was still identified as boss when he died in April 2022, aged 87. Few modern mobsters held power that long.
Persico's cousin and wartime street boss
Russo grew up inside the Profaci-Colombo world and became Persico's trusted relative on the street while Persico ran the family from prison. During the Third Colombo War of 1991–93, Russo was a Persico loyalist targeted by the Orena faction. His long career runs parallel to the family history in the Greg Scarpa story, from the same Persico camp.
Russo was the family business in human form — a cousin holding the seat for a boss doing life. The Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater leans into that world for the holidays — Tony in black-and-white stencil, gabagool energy, built for November and December parties.
Prison, return, and boss at 87
Russo served multiple sentences, including for jury tampering and racketeering, yet each release returned him to the top. In 2021, at 86, he was arrested in a major Colombo indictment alleging labour union shakedowns; prosecutors called him the family's boss. He died in 2022 while awaiting resolution of the case. His endurance sums up the shrunken modern era in why the Mafia fell.
Frequently asked questions
How was Russo related to Persico? He was Carmine Persico's cousin and his most trusted street representative for decades.
When did Russo die? He died in April 2022, aged 87, while facing a federal racketeering indictment.
Was Russo official boss? Prosecutors identified him as the Colombo family's boss in his final 2021 indictment.
Keep reading: The Five Families · How the Commission Trial Broke the Mob · Vincent "Chin" Gigante · How Was Joseph Colombo Shot? The Unity Day Shooting, Explained
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