Sopranos-like dialogue

A Brooklyn Federal Court this week was treated to dialogue straight out of “The Sopranos” in the trial of alleged Genovese crime family capo Anthony “Rom” Romanello, 86.

an $86,000 gambling debt

Romanello is facing a federal trial for assaulting the boss of a former upmarket New York City steakhouse over an $86,000 gambling debt. Representing the alleged crime boss, Gerald McMahon told the jury on Wednesday the Lincoln Square Steak owner triggered the assault by telling his client he was “a washed-up Italian, that he had no balls.”

Pointing at Romanello and referring to him as that “86-year-old guy sitting there,” McMahon said his client punched Shuqeri “Bruno” Selimaj in the face not to extort money, but because the restaurateur called him washed-up.

The defense attorney added that the punch was personal and not related to mob business, evidenced in part by the mismatch between 5’10” Romanello and 200-pound, 6’1” Selimaj.  

One-punch man

The pretext to Romanello’s punch started in back 2017, with the alleged gangster accused of using the Genovese family’s reputation to intimidate Selimaj into paying off the illegal sports betting debts of two relatives.

I interpreted that he was going to use muscles against me.”

During his testimony on Wednesday, Selimaj stated the trouble started when the alleged ringleader of an illegal sports betting ring out of Queens, Michael Regan, informed him of his kin’s debts. The New York Daily News stated Regan name-dropped Romanello and cited Selimaj testifying that “I interpreted that he was going to use muscles against me.”

The steakhouse owner stated he received three visits from Romanello in 2017 with Selimaj citing the alleged capo making threats like: “I don’t care who owes it. I want all my money!”

Romanello’s third visit was the unlucky charm for Selimaj, with the defendant blowing up after the latter said he’d pay his nephew’s $6,000 debt, but not his brother-in-law’s $80,000.

Selimaj said that an enraged Romanello repeatedly screamed, “I’d like to punch you!” and stated that he told the alleged crime boss he had “no guts,” to which the response was a punch in the face in broad daylight at the restaurant.    

Risky insults

In defense of Romanello, McMahon said Selimaj left insulting voicemails on his client’s phone including: “Come over here, You have no balls, you m—–f—–,” and “This is Bruno. Why don’t you s— my d—? Come and s— my d—, you piece of s—.”

According the Daily News, Selimaj elicited a chuckle from the elderly alleged mobster at the defense table Wednesday when he stated he “couldn’t remember leaving the messages.”