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Drita D’Avanzo, Hot-Tempered Star of ‘Mob Wives,’ Is Arrested Drita D’Avanzo, Hot-Tempered Star of ‘Mob Wives,’ Is Arrested
(4 days later)
The selling point of the VH1 reality show “Mob Wives” was its authenticity: a group of Staten Island women with mobster husbands and a tough-girl penchant for chardonnay, omertà and a hot temper.The selling point of the VH1 reality show “Mob Wives” was its authenticity: a group of Staten Island women with mobster husbands and a tough-girl penchant for chardonnay, omertà and a hot temper.
The show has been in reruns for three years, but one of its stars, Drita D’Avanzo, 43 — wife of reputed mobster Lee D’Avanzo, 50 — has managed to keep herself in the spotlight by engaging in fistfights and social media beefs.The show has been in reruns for three years, but one of its stars, Drita D’Avanzo, 43 — wife of reputed mobster Lee D’Avanzo, 50 — has managed to keep herself in the spotlight by engaging in fistfights and social media beefs.
Now, she can add a drug arrest to her street cred.Now, she can add a drug arrest to her street cred.
On Thursday night, she and Mr. D’Avanzo were arrested in a police raid on their home on Staten Island, during which officers seized two loaded handguns from the house, along with more than a pound of marijuana and modest amounts of hydrocodone and Xanax pills, the police said.On Thursday night, she and Mr. D’Avanzo were arrested in a police raid on their home on Staten Island, during which officers seized two loaded handguns from the house, along with more than a pound of marijuana and modest amounts of hydrocodone and Xanax pills, the police said.
At her arraignment in a Staten Island courthouse on Friday afternoon, Ms. D’Avanzo lacked her usual on-camera glamour and feistiness, appearing in a plain dark winter jacket, her hair pulled back into a modest ponytail. A scruffy Mr. D’Avanzo wore a black sweatshirt.At her arraignment in a Staten Island courthouse on Friday afternoon, Ms. D’Avanzo lacked her usual on-camera glamour and feistiness, appearing in a plain dark winter jacket, her hair pulled back into a modest ponytail. A scruffy Mr. D’Avanzo wore a black sweatshirt.
Both were charged with several counts of gun and drug possession. Afterward, Ms. D’Avanzo left the courthouse trailed by reporters and photographers whose questions she ignored as she walked to a waiting blue Jeep.Both were charged with several counts of gun and drug possession. Afterward, Ms. D’Avanzo left the courthouse trailed by reporters and photographers whose questions she ignored as she walked to a waiting blue Jeep.
Lawyers for Mr. and Ms. D’Avanzo would not comment after the arraignment.Lawyers for Mr. and Ms. D’Avanzo would not comment after the arraignment.
On “Mob Wives,” which aired for six seasons, from 2011 through 2016, Ms. D’Avanzo was known for her hot-tempered personality and frequent clashes with her nemesis, Karen Gravano, a daughter of Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, the infamous mob turncoat who took down John Gotti and the Gambino crime family. On “Mob Wives,” which aired for six seasons, from 2011 through 2016, Ms. D’Avanzo was known for her hot-tempered personality and frequent clashes with her nemesis, Karen Gravano, a daughter of Salvatore Gravano, the infamous mob turncoat known as Sammy the Bull who took down John Gotti and the Gambino crime family.
The show featured a group of Staten Island single mothers with relatives in the mob.The show featured a group of Staten Island single mothers with relatives in the mob.
Draped in jewelry and furs, and teetering on stiletto heels or in thigh high boots, they would gather in McMansions or glossy local venues to cradle oversize glasses of wine and commiserate over husbands serving time.Draped in jewelry and furs, and teetering on stiletto heels or in thigh high boots, they would gather in McMansions or glossy local venues to cradle oversize glasses of wine and commiserate over husbands serving time.
The conversations would inevitably devolve into back-stabbing trash talk and then to expletive-filled showdowns and fights, in which Ms. D’Avanzo was often a willing participant.The conversations would inevitably devolve into back-stabbing trash talk and then to expletive-filled showdowns and fights, in which Ms. D’Avanzo was often a willing participant.
After the show was canceled, Ms. D’Avanzo worked as a makeup artist for various high-end cosmetic companies and promoted her makeup line, Lady Boss, and other businesses and social ventures.After the show was canceled, Ms. D’Avanzo worked as a makeup artist for various high-end cosmetic companies and promoted her makeup line, Lady Boss, and other businesses and social ventures.
Ms. D’Avanzo’s buddy on the show was Angela Raiola, a niece of Salvatore “Sally Dogs” Lombardi of the Genovese crime family. Better known as Big Ang, Ms. Raiola died from complications of throat cancer and pneumonia in 2016. Ms. D’Avanzo’s buddy on the show was Angela Raiola, a niece of Salvatore (Sally Dogs) Lombardi of the Genovese crime family. Better known as Big Ang, Ms. Raiola died from complications of throat cancer and pneumonia in 2016.
According to Ms. D’Avanzo’s biographical page on the show’s VH1 website, her husband was described as a low-level mobster: “the leader of a Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team.”According to Ms. D’Avanzo’s biographical page on the show’s VH1 website, her husband was described as a low-level mobster: “the leader of a Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team.”
As part of the ragtag New Springville Boys crew, which authorities said worked under the umbrella of the Bonanno crime family, he was arrested for drug deals and robberies dating to the 1980s.As part of the ragtag New Springville Boys crew, which authorities said worked under the umbrella of the Bonanno crime family, he was arrested for drug deals and robberies dating to the 1980s.
Some of his crimes resemble bungling comedic skits, such as the attempted bank robbery in 2008 in which he and several accomplices tried to tunnel into the vault of a bank that happened to be next to a local police precinct.Some of his crimes resemble bungling comedic skits, such as the attempted bank robbery in 2008 in which he and several accomplices tried to tunnel into the vault of a bank that happened to be next to a local police precinct.
Despite Ms. D’Avanzo’s ability to stir up drama onscreen, her appearance in court attracted scant attention.Despite Ms. D’Avanzo’s ability to stir up drama onscreen, her appearance in court attracted scant attention.
One bystander, Jessica Martino, 36, said, “I’ve heard of the show but I didn’t realize she was one of them.”One bystander, Jessica Martino, 36, said, “I’ve heard of the show but I didn’t realize she was one of them.”
“It’s kind of funny,” she said of the arrest. “I guess they got too cocky and got caught.”“It’s kind of funny,” she said of the arrest. “I guess they got too cocky and got caught.”
Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting.Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting.