Anthony Russo (mobster)

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Anthony Russo (July 13, 1916 – April 26, 1979), nicknamed Little Pussy, was an Italian-American mobster with the Genovese crime family. He was a respected figure in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and is said to have inspired the Sopranos character Gennaro "Little Pussy" Malanga.

As a youth, he and his brother John were skilled cat burglars, which helped earn him the nickname "Little Pussy" (short for "Little Pussycat"). He began his career as Vito Genovese's chauffeur and bodyguard, later working as a loanshark. He lived in Long Branch, New Jersey, and was a made man in the Newark crew led by Ruggiero "Richie the Boot" Boiardo.

From 1976 to 1978, Russo was a covert owner of the Jolly Trolley Casino in Las Vegas, involved in skimming profits. He was shot and killed in Long Branch on April 26, 1979, while on Easter furlough from prison. FBI reports named Thomas "Pee Wee" DePhillips, Anthony DeVingo, and Joseph "Joe Z" Zarro as his killers. Investigators noted it was a typical mob contract, likely someone he knew and trusted; DeVingo was a prime suspect, but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him. No weapons were recovered.