Former ‘Sopranos’ Actor Lillo Brancato, Jr. Released From Prison
December 31, 2013 2:29 PM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – A former “Sopranos” actor convicted of attempted burglary for his role in the killing of an off-duty New York City police officer has been released on parole.
State corrections officials said that Lillo Brancato Jr. was freed from prison at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
A jury found Brancato guilty on the attempted burglary charge in 2008 but acquitted him of murder in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.
He was sentenced to 10 years but was released after serving eight years, 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria reported.
His co-defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Patrick J. Lynch, president of the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, told WCBS 880 that the parole board made a “terrible mistake” by releasing Brancato.
“He should have been held accountable for participating in the death of New York City police officer,” he said. “But nonetheless, he’s out in the streets. Parole will be watching, and every police officer across the state will be watching. And when he makes that mistake, we’ll put him back behind bars, where he belongs.
“When the parole board looks and says that he was a model prisoner, it’s easy to do what you have to do when you’re behind bars and corrections officers are monitoring you,” Lynch added. “It’s a different thing when they’re out in the street. When he was out in the street, he was a drug-addicted burglar who did it on a regular basis and killed a New York City police officer.”
Shortly after his release, Brancato paid a quick visit to his parole officer and then went straight to his parents’ home, where he was welcomed with open arms, D’Auria reported.
“This is a very big day. Thank you all for coming. I just want to spend some time with my family,” Brancato told reporters.
Brancato made his debut in 1993 in “A Bronx Tale” opposite Robert De Niro. He later played a doomed aspiring mobster in HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
