Victor Orena
| Victor Orena | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 4, 1934 New York City |
| Criminal charge | Racketeering, murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life plus 85 years |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution, Terre Haute; Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Conviction(s) | March 10, 1997 |
Vittorio "Little Vic" Orena (born August 4, 1934) is a New York City mobster who became the temporary acting boss of the Colombo crime family. A challenge by Orena to boss Carmine Persico triggered one of the bloodiest Cosa Nostra wars of the late 20th century, and the last major Cosa Nostra war in New York to date.
Born in New York City, Orena's father died when he was a child. Orena spent time in a reform school and eventually dropped out of high school. According to his son, Orena entered the mob life because the wise guys were the big figures in the neighborhood, the nice clothes, cars, and the "glamor" of it and the fact that some of these men had rough beginnings.
In the early 1970s, the new Colombo boss, Carmine Persico, allegedly had a few people "made" into his family, even though the "books" had officially been closed since 1958, barring any new inductions. One of these men was Orena, who rose through the ranks and operated in Brooklyn, Long Island, and New Jersey primarily in labor racketeering. Orena was a well dressed individual who projected a traditional business image.
In 1986, Carmine Persico and several leading Colombo figures were convicted of racketeering charges. A year later 1987, Carmine Persico and "acting boss" Gennaro Langella were convicted in the Mafia Commission Trial and sentenced to 139 years in prison. To run the family in his absence, Carmine Persico named his brother, Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico, as acting boss. However, Allie Boy was slapped with loansharking charges and skipped out on bail. In his brother's absence, Persico created a "Ruling Committee" of Orena, Joseph Russo, and Benedetto Aloi to run the family. At the same time, Orena was promoted to caporegime of the crew that had formerly been led by Carmine's son, Alphonse "Little Allie Boy" Persico. Orena was able to set up operations almost everywhere in the New York and New Jersey area.
When John Gotti became Gambino boss in 1986, Orena was able to expand his criminal dealings with the Gambinos. Orena now became a top earner in the Colombo family. Orena also increased his influence with brothers Vincenzo and Benedetto Aloi, leaders of the Colombo Brooklyn faction. Orena was also close friends with Lucchese crime family mobsters Victor Amuso and James Burke.
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