Accused Mob Figure Blames the Movies

[afang]

Danny Provenzano said organized crime doesn't exist -- it's just something that people made up for the movies.

One of those movies happens to be ``This Thing of Ours,'' which stars Provenzano as the nephew of a mob boss who runs a scheme to steal millions over the Internet. The movie, which he directed and co-wrote, debuts this week at a film festival in Sarasota, Fla.

There is another drama coming up for the nephew of reputed Genovese associate Anthony Provenzano: ``The State of New Jersey vs. Daniel Provenzano.''

Provenzano, 38, has been charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors say he used violence, including taking a hammer to someone's thumb, kidnapping and death threats to extort $1.5 million from businessmen dealing with a former printing firm he ran.

He faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The indictment called Provenzano the leader of an organized crime operation, but didn't associate him with a particular family.

Provenzano calls himself an artist who may like to pretend he is a criminal, but isn't the real thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts...ovie-Star.html

[afang]

Danny Provenzano said organized crime doesn't exist -- it's just something that people made up for the movies.

One of those movies happens to be ``This Thing of Ours,'' which stars Provenzano as the nephew of a mob boss who runs a scheme to steal millions over the Internet. The movie, which he directed and co-wrote, debuts this week at a film festival in Sarasota, Fla.

There is another drama coming up for the nephew of reputed Genovese associate Anthony Provenzano: ``The State of New Jersey vs. Daniel Provenzano.''

Provenzano, 38, has been charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors say he used violence, including taking a hammer to someone's thumb, kidnapping and death threats to extort $1.5 million from businessmen dealing with a former printing firm he ran.

He faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The indictment called Provenzano the leader of an organized crime operation, but didn't associate him with a particular family.

Provenzano calls himself an artist who may like to pretend he is a criminal, but isn't the real thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts...ovie-Star.html