A reputed Gambino crime-family associate - who allegedly has it in for federal agents, kids and African-Americans - was held without bail yesterday on extortion charges.
John Persing Jr., 40, allegedly chatted up feds who busted him last week, telling them he smoked joints occasionally to help him stay calm and prevent him from beating "n- - - - - s," according to documents filed in Brooklyn federal court.
As they drove from his house to FBI Headquarters, he explained that he has an understanding with the "criminal element" in his Staten Island neighborhood.
"The nature of the understanding is they leave Persing alone and Persing does not run over their children," the agents wrote.
Persing's wrath turned toward law enforcement as he waited to be processed at headquarters.
"I'd just as soon as split your f- - - ing head open," he said to an agent, adding that he had "more time on the pot" than his captor had on the job.
Persing, who has two prior convictions, faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of extortion charges, said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Buretta.
He previously served 12 years for armed robbery.
Persing and his father, John Persing Sr., were arrested together last Tuesday and charged with extortion, along with two made members of organized crime, Buretta said.
The elder man was released on $1 million bail the same day.
Yesterday, magistrate Judge Viktor Pohorelsky ordered that the talkative younger man be detained.
Persing's behavior "evinces a willingness to engage in a kind of behavior the community shouldn't be exposed to," he said.
Buretta said the extortion victim was a loan shark whom Persing threatened, saying he was "going to split one of his orifices because he was not paying."
It wasn't known how much money he was supposed to pay and why.
According to the papers, Persing denied the charge as his arrest was being processed by saying, "I never extorted anybody in my life - I beat people up. I assault people."
Persing's lawyer, Mathew Mari, denied his client said anything derogatory about other races.
He said Persing was angry at the feds for being falsely arrested and simply mouthed off.
"He was handcuffed tightly and felt that he was being abused physically and verbally," Mari said.
"He cursed at the agents in a fit of anger."
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