Russo is a cousin of Colombo family boss Carmine Persico and first rose to prominence in the family when he was promoted to acting underboss from 1973–1975. In November 1986, Russo was sentenced to 14 years, he was released on July 29, 1994 under special parole conditions, upon his release he was named street boss when Alphonse Persico (Carmine's son), was named acting boss. In August 1999, Russo was convicted of jury tampering and sentenced to 57 months, he was also sentenced to 123 months for both parole violation and his involvement in a racketeering case of a Long Island carting company.