Overview: The life and career of Carmine "The Snake" Persico, the head of one of the five New York City Mafia families. Based in Brooklyn, Persico's family earned a reputation for brutality and murder--he was given the nickname "The Snake" by his fellow mob bosses because he couldn't be trusted not to double-cross anyone he made a deal or agreement with--that made his family one of the most feared in the city.