Mob Wives’ Big Ang’s Criminal Past Revealed!

Back in 2001, Big Ang was indicted on six felony counts after an undercover investigation and drug bust targeting a mob-tied drug ring operating in New York City. She was one of the 15 defendants named in the criminal case after she was caught repeatedly selling cocaine in the undercover operation by the  DEAand New York Police.

According to federal agents, Big Ang was as an associate of the drug ring’s  leader, who was sentenced to almost 13 years in prison (and is currently in prison). Big Ang is said to have provided cocaine for “street level distribution” selling the drugs in the Brooklyn bars where she worked.

The charges against her included conspiracy to distribute and five other charges related to separate cocaine sales she made to undercover cops. In fact, her handbag contained 14 small plastic bags  containing cocaine during her arrest.

In March 2003, Big Ang, out free  on $100,000 bond,  pled guilty to some of the charges. In  October 2003, she was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to  spend four months under home confinement. And nine months later, in July  2004, a federal judge ordered her to enroll in “an  outpatient and/or inpatient drug treatment or detoxification program.”

Drita’s Interview with Radio Station HOT 97

HOT 97  is an American radio station in New York City under the corporate ownership of Emmis Communications. The station broadcasts on 97.1 MHz FM.  Despite being billed as a Rhythmic CHR station on Mediabase & Nielsen BDS, HOT 97 primarily plays urban contemporary hits. In this interview, Drita, the feisty Staten Island native seems far more aggressive on the show than she does in person.  K. Foxx and Cipha Sounds shared a few laughs and hip hop memories with Drita before delving into the real drama on VH1’s Mob Wives.  Although it is clear that Drita “finishes” the drama, its unclear who starts it.  Drita clears the air and makes it very clear that she only reacts to the “bullies” on the show, Karen and Ramona.  You can watch the full interview here .

‘Mob Wife’ Renee Graziano Drops $30K on Plastic Surgery

‘Mob Wife’ star Renee Graziano already knows how to pack a powerful punch, but now she’s hoping to get the body to go with them. The loud-mouthed reality star decided to go under the knife Monday for what she calls a “full-body lift”, a procedure with a $30,000 price tag. Graziano told TMZ she decided have the full-body procedure, which includes a tummy tuck, to get rid of the weight she gained since filming the first season of the VH1 show. The five-hour procedure also reportedly included a butt lift.
The reality star claims she paid for the surgery herself, and that the producers in no way pressured her to lose the weight.Graziano recently opened up about her estranged relationship with her father, incarcerated former Bonanno family consigliere Anthony Graziano. “My father is not speaking to me right now because of the show. He has his own views, I respect him,” she said. “He’s my father, I’m his daughter, nothing will ever stand in the way of that. He respects me I respect him but they understand they have to let me grow otherwise I’m going to have an ignorant mentality and never really have my own identity.”

Renee Graziano talks ‘Mob Wives’, Family Relationships & Her Greeting Card Company!

Renee Graziano may be known to bring the drama to VH1′s hit show Mob Wives, but rest assured that this strong woman is also cool, confident and a genuine sweetheart. Renee also informed us that while her father “loves his daughters unconditionally,” he still disapproves of her appearance on the show. However, Renee happily reports that the rest of her family and friends love the show! On her take on the show’s editing, Renee explained:

“I’m not as rough, and I’m definitely not a tough girl.  I’m a strong personality.  I wish they would have focused a little bit more on the fact that I’m really funny and that I’m a very gentle person, believe it or not.”

Renee also informed us that her greeting card company called JAIL MAIL INC – which she started by writing letters to her friends on “the inside” – should have a website up by the end of summer. This personal project is being handled with care and will surely generate great involvement from Renee’s fans.

He’s a REAL snitch! Mob Wives’s cast member has been wearing a wire for the FBI that led to arrest of two family members

Mob Wives cast member Hector Pagan, former son-in-law to crime man Anthony ‘The Little Guy’ Graziano, had negotiated a deal with the feds to wear the wire last summer following an arrest involving armed robbery charges. Renee is going to have to tell viewers (as well as co-stars) why her ex-husband Hector Pagan … is now a mob turncoat playing for Team America,’ the report states. Both Pagan and Graziano were arrested in Staten Island last week, Graziano, reportedly for instructing Pagan to collect a loanshark debt of $150,000 from an unidentified man which was caught on tape. Pagan was reportedly arrested for his summer robbery, the government coming to collect following his recent cooperation.

ABC News: ‘Mob Wives’: The Women of Mafia Families Star in New Reality Series.

So much for family secrets. Several women related to men serving time for mob-related crimes are now reality-TV stars.

“I think we’re brave,” said Karen Gravano, one of the stars of the new VH1 series “Mov Wives.” “I think there’s so much out there about the mob and it’s so glorified. I just thought it was time to bring people behind closed doors and see what the families go through.” D’Avanzo is a mother of two and wife of Lee D’Avanzo, who’s serving time for bank robbery for the second time. Facciolo is also a mother of two. Her husband, Joey Ferragamo, is serving 88 months for stock fraud.  “When you’re a single mom trying to do everything, it’s hard,” Facciolo said.

D’Avanzo said her friends in Staten Island, N.Y., are not happy about the show. “It seems to me they feel like we’re representing somehow. That’s insane. I don’t get that,” she said, added that  there were single mothers watching who could relate to their situation.

A mother of one, Graziano is the daughter of the former consigliore of the Bonanno crime family, Anthony Graziano. Her father is serving 11 years in prison.  “Bringing cameras into my home was probably the biggest step I took … to see what it feels like to have your life taken apart,” Graziano said.

She wanted people to see them as wonderful women with hardships, she said, while not looking for sympathy. “We’re regular people, and I wanted people to know it,” she said.But true to the reality-TV form, the show is not without tense moments. One scene showed Gravano confronting Graziano outside a restaurant of the former’s father. Gravano’s father was an informant for the FBI and turned state’s evidence. Gravano said they needed to address “family issues” so she confronted Graziano directly.

“You have a problem because of who my father is … because you’re just a weak-minded individual?” Gravano said to Graziano.

When asked on “Good Morning America” if she approved of what Gravano’s father did, Graziano said, “I will say that I do not agree with anyone, whether it be my son or someone in school or a grown-up, telling on another person.”

Pressed on whether she approved of turning evidence is certain situations, Graziano jokingly “pleaded the Fifth.”

Gravano said, “At the end of the day, these are our fathers. I’m going to ride with my father till the grave because that’s my father.”

The stars agreed, though, that they shared a bond and, although they fight, they can work through it. “We can fight with each other,” Facciolo said, “but if somebody else comes in our circle, that’s not good.”

Watch the four stars of VH1s new series Mob Wives opened up on Good Morning America on April 20, 2011.