Goodfellas star Anthony Borgese gets lenient sentence for recording anti Mafia video
Reputed mobster and 'Goodfellas' actor Anthony Borgese leaves Federal Court in Brooklyn after being sentenced to six months house arrest.
It was the role of a lifetime for “Goodfellas” actor Anthony Borgese — an anti-Mafia video that didn’t win him any awards but kept him out of prison.
The Gambino associate recorded the public service announcement last year after pleading guilty to orchestrating a mob beatdown that left a debtor with a broken nose and ribs. In it he warns young men of the pitfalls of running with wiseguys.
On Wednesday a Brooklyn federal judge said he was so moved by the performance and Borgese’s good deeds that he sentenced him to a lenient six months house arrest. The mob movie star could have gotten up to 41 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Judge Eric Vitaliano also pointed to Borgese’s “remarkable” work in raising millions of dollars for various charities years before his extortion arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Norris noted that the video was "undoubtably" made with an eye on Borgese's sentencing, but commended him.
Borgese, 73, is best known for his “Goodfellas” role as Sonny Bunz, the owner of the Bamboo Lounge, which is torched after mobsters squeeze the nightspot dry. He also acted in episodes of "The Sopranos."
He said Wednesday that he believes he can put his celebrity status to better use outside prison.
"I know what I did was wrong, I shouldn't have done it … and I'll suffer for it the rest of my life," he said.
The victim of the attack, who owed $5,000 to an acquaintance of Borgese, declined to seek restitution for his injuries or appear in court, the prosecutor said.
Defense lawyer Kevin Faga said he did not know where the public service announcement was being distributed except that someone posted it on YouTube.
Borgese was also ordered to perform 250 hours of "non-physically taxing" community service.
The Gambino associate recorded the public service announcement last year after pleading guilty to orchestrating a mob beatdown that left a debtor with a broken nose and ribs. In it he warns young men of the pitfalls of running with wiseguys.
On Wednesday a Brooklyn federal judge said he was so moved by the performance and Borgese’s good deeds that he sentenced him to a lenient six months house arrest. The mob movie star could have gotten up to 41 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Judge Eric Vitaliano also pointed to Borgese’s “remarkable” work in raising millions of dollars for various charities years before his extortion arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Norris noted that the video was "undoubtably" made with an eye on Borgese's sentencing, but commended him.
Borgese, 73, is best known for his “Goodfellas” role as Sonny Bunz, the owner of the Bamboo Lounge, which is torched after mobsters squeeze the nightspot dry. He also acted in episodes of "The Sopranos."
He said Wednesday that he believes he can put his celebrity status to better use outside prison.
"I know what I did was wrong, I shouldn't have done it … and I'll suffer for it the rest of my life," he said.
The victim of the attack, who owed $5,000 to an acquaintance of Borgese, declined to seek restitution for his injuries or appear in court, the prosecutor said.
Defense lawyer Kevin Faga said he did not know where the public service announcement was being distributed except that someone posted it on YouTube.
Borgese was also ordered to perform 250 hours of "non-physically taxing" community service.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/goodfellas-start-anthony-borgese-lenient-sentence-recording-anti-mafia-video-article-1.988081#ixzz1fspK7qBd
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