Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Mob Wives: Anthony Graziano’s Plea Deal

Renee learns of dad's arrest on show


Anthony “T.G.” Graziano, father of Renee and Jennifer, was arrested just before Thanksgiving last year, based on evidence obtained when he was secretly taped by ex son in-law, Hector “Junior” Pagan. News media have been reporting on the outcome of that arrest this week. In January, Anthony Graziano was charged with extortion for trying to collect on an old loan shark debt. He was facing up to 20 more years in prison after having served 11 years and being out only three months before his arrest. 

However, Brooklyn prosecutors offered Mr. Graziano, 71, a plea deal which would reduce his sentence to three years in exchange for pleading guilty to collecting an illegal debt. Mr. Graziano accepted.

The arrest of Mr. Graziano was dealt with on the series Mob Wives which aired recently.  Renee was told of her ex-husband turning himself in and then cooperating with the Feds, just hours before learning of the arrest of her father. The devastating news caused her to have an emotional breakdown back when all of this took place. For many, like Victoria Gotti, who say the show isn’t real, but scripted, these events have legitimatized the “reality” of Mob Wives, which is probably the most “real” reality show out there . The show’s creator, Jennifer Graziano, and her sister, Renee Graziano, have made a commitment to air the personal details of their lives without ever anticipating these devastating events would happen during the course of the show and would then have to be aired. Jennifer had the power to down play these painful and personal events, as executive producer, but instead confronted them head on in the show. Renee might have refuse to have her emotional crisis filmed, but instead went on to allow the cameras to tape her reaction to some of the most painful events of her life. It doesn’t get any more “real” than that.


6 comments:

Julie M. said...

THANKS FOR THE INFO I WAS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO RENEE'S FATHER....

killianbird said...

Well, I gotta say that I don't see anything fake about this show. These girls let it ALL hang out. This week I wore my Team Renee shirt to show my support for Renee but I have so much fun wearing my team Big Ang shirt cuz I laugh just like her when I do. Haaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Wanna know where I got the shirts?

JW said...

I'm glad Renee's father cut a deal. I was really disturbed by comments people made to Renee on Twitter. It is sheer ignorance to think that cutting a deal is a sign of being a "rat". It is the business of courts. I say this as an attorney. The courts are so backlogged and no matter who you are or how horrible the crime, the prosecutor's are always going to approach you for a deal to save the time and money required for a trial. A plea deal is entirely different from cooperating as an informant. Renee's father could have easily wasted three years on the trial and appeals alone so it makes absolute sense that he would just take the deal and get it over with now.

It is amazing and disturbing to see what some people will say and do if you give them anonymity and a keyboard.

Monique said...

I still think 3 years is a little excessive for that charge but I don't know the details..

He will be out before the 3 years (good behavior, overcrowding etc.)

Hopefully his lawyers can negotiate something a little less severe if he hasn't accepted.

MobWivesForever said...

I think a couple years probation would have been fitting enough.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Seems a little excessive 3 yrs? I love Renee, she is the real deal..look what all she has been through omg. Now her son, bless her heart.