Tony Darrow of ‘Goodfellas’ fame has apologized for his involvement in a real-life Mafia extortion plot and vowed to make up for his bad behavior by working to steer youngsters away from crime.
Tony, who also starred in 14 episodes of the mafia-based TV series, ‘The Sopranos,’ is facing a possible prison sentence after pleading guilty earlier this month to asking a mob boss to help him collect a debt as a “favour.”
The unidentified debtor was later savagely beaten by two thugs linked to New York’s Gambino crime family, and suffered a broken jaw and ribs. Tony whose real Anthony Borgese – has told of his terror after he was thrown in a cell with hardened crooks, and has filmed a public service announcement in a bid to help troubled youngsters stay away from a life of crime.
He adds, “They threw me into a cage with 70… criminals. I was the only one who got arrested for the first time… I was so frightened I thought I was going to pee myself.” He told the New York Post, “I’m very sorry for what I did. The only way I can change it is by trying to help other people.”
Darrow reveals he decided to film a public service announcement to send a positive message to youngsters after a conversation about his conviction with his teenage son.
He says, “(My son) said, ‘The guy owed you money; you tried to collect it. You didn’t do anything.’ It made me feel worse. It was not the message I wanted to give him.”
What did Tony think was going to happen when he asked for help from a mobster? Did he think they were going to send a collection letter? To me this sounds merely like Tony is trying to avoid the serious sentence he deserves. All of a sudden he has become a nice guy… .
