'Sopranos' actor Lillo Brancato released from jail after serving 8 years for role in cop's death
Brancato — discovered by Robert De Niro and who starred opposite him in 'A Bronx Tale' — was released after serving eight years for his part in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui. Brancato and pal Steven Armento broke into an apartment seeking drugs after a night of partying in 2005. Armento was convicted of shooting and killing the cop, while Brancato is out early for his 10-year burglary conviction.
Former ‘Sopranos’ actor Lillo Brancato was released from an upstate prison on Tuesday night.
One-time "Sopranos" star-turned-junkie Lillo Brancato walked out of prison Tuesday after serving eight years for his part in a cop killing.
Brancato, 37, dodged reporters waiting outside the Hudson Correctional Facility in upstate New York, instead climbing into a waiting white Mercedes and speeding off without a word.
He beat a murder rap in the December 2005 slaying of Officer Daniel Enchautegui, gunned down after confronting Brancato and another man trying to steal prescription drugs from a Bronx apartment.
Brancato was shot twice by the dying cop as he tried to flee. A Brancato pal fired the fatal shots, but the actor was also accused of felony murder.
Brancato (right) during a scene from HBO's 'The Sopranos.'
HBO
Brancato (right) during a scene from HBO's 'The Sopranos.'
RELATED: 'SOPRANOS' ACTOR LINKED TO COP'S DEATH TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON
“I went to sleep thinking about this,” said the slain cop’s sister, Yolanda Rosa, who attended Brancato’s trial. “I’m disappointed that’s he’s out. He was equally responsible for my brother’s death.
“I knew this day was going to come, and now it’s here, you know? I’m just disappointed.”
Brancato, who was discovered by Robert De Niro and starred opposite the Oscar winner in the 1993 movie "A Bronx Tale," was instead only convicted of burglary.
Brancato had been serving 10 years for his part in a burglary that resulted in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.
DAVID GREENE/AP
Brancato had been serving 10 years for his part in a burglary that resulted in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.
He was sentenced in January 2009 to 10 years in prison as a judge ignored the prosecution's call for the maximum 15-year sentence. His jail time included the years he spent behind bars before trial.
RELATED: LILLO BRANCATO JR. MOURNS GANDOLFINI FROM PRISON
Brancato was additionally sentenced to five years of post-prison supervision.
Enchautegui, 28, was gunned down on Dec. 10, 2005, as Brancato and pal Steven Armento broke into an apartment seeking drugs after a hard night of partying at a strip club.
Lillo Brancato (right) in a scene from 'A Bronx Tale' with Robert De Niro (left).
Tribeca Productions
Lillo Brancato (right) in a scene from 'A Bronx Tale' with Robert De Niro (left).
Armento, who fired the fatal bullet, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Enchautegui was able to return fire on the snowy morning and wounded the two drunk and high suspects.
RELATED: LILLO'S ADVICE FOR LILO
The head of the city police union was outraged that Brancato was not forced to do his full 10-year stretch.
Yolanda Rosa, the sister of slain Officer Daniel Enchautegui, seen after Lillo Brancato was sentenced in 2009.
Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News
Yolanda Rosa, the sister of slain Officer Daniel Enchautegui, seen after Lillo Brancato was sentenced in 2009.
“It is our firm belief that Lillo Brancato is guilty of the murder of police officer Daniel Enchautegui even though he was only convicted of attempted burglary,” said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch.
“Even while incarcerated, this lowlife thug showed his true colors when he beat up a fellow inmate who wouldn't get off a payphone quickly enough.”
Bracanto's meteoric Hollywood career was derailed by his drug problem, although he memorably appeared in a half-dozen episodes of "The Sopranos" as a dimwit mob wannabe.
RELATED: EX-‘SOPRANOS’ ACTOR GETS SHUT DOWN BY FACEBOOK
His character was executed personally by James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano.
Just six months before the police shooting, Brancato was busted in Yonkers with four bags of heroin.
In a recent tweet, Brancato said he was worried about life outside of prison.
"I should be really happy to be going home but in all actuality I'm not; I'm nervous & scared," he wrote. "Been a long time, I don't know what to expect."
lmcshane@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...released-jail-article-1.1562250#ixzz2p4laRebr
A Bronx Tale | "The Door Test"
Brancato — discovered by Robert De Niro and who starred opposite him in 'A Bronx Tale' — was released after serving eight years for his part in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui. Brancato and pal Steven Armento broke into an apartment seeking drugs after a night of partying in 2005. Armento was convicted of shooting and killing the cop, while Brancato is out early for his 10-year burglary conviction.
Former ‘Sopranos’ actor Lillo Brancato was released from an upstate prison on Tuesday night.
One-time "Sopranos" star-turned-junkie Lillo Brancato walked out of prison Tuesday after serving eight years for his part in a cop killing.
Brancato, 37, dodged reporters waiting outside the Hudson Correctional Facility in upstate New York, instead climbing into a waiting white Mercedes and speeding off without a word.
He beat a murder rap in the December 2005 slaying of Officer Daniel Enchautegui, gunned down after confronting Brancato and another man trying to steal prescription drugs from a Bronx apartment.
Brancato was shot twice by the dying cop as he tried to flee. A Brancato pal fired the fatal shots, but the actor was also accused of felony murder.
Brancato (right) during a scene from HBO's 'The Sopranos.'
HBO
Brancato (right) during a scene from HBO's 'The Sopranos.'
RELATED: 'SOPRANOS' ACTOR LINKED TO COP'S DEATH TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON
“I went to sleep thinking about this,” said the slain cop’s sister, Yolanda Rosa, who attended Brancato’s trial. “I’m disappointed that’s he’s out. He was equally responsible for my brother’s death.
“I knew this day was going to come, and now it’s here, you know? I’m just disappointed.”
Brancato, who was discovered by Robert De Niro and starred opposite the Oscar winner in the 1993 movie "A Bronx Tale," was instead only convicted of burglary.
Brancato had been serving 10 years for his part in a burglary that resulted in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.
DAVID GREENE/AP
Brancato had been serving 10 years for his part in a burglary that resulted in the death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.
He was sentenced in January 2009 to 10 years in prison as a judge ignored the prosecution's call for the maximum 15-year sentence. His jail time included the years he spent behind bars before trial.
RELATED: LILLO BRANCATO JR. MOURNS GANDOLFINI FROM PRISON
Brancato was additionally sentenced to five years of post-prison supervision.
Enchautegui, 28, was gunned down on Dec. 10, 2005, as Brancato and pal Steven Armento broke into an apartment seeking drugs after a hard night of partying at a strip club.
Lillo Brancato (right) in a scene from 'A Bronx Tale' with Robert De Niro (left).
Tribeca Productions
Lillo Brancato (right) in a scene from 'A Bronx Tale' with Robert De Niro (left).
Armento, who fired the fatal bullet, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Enchautegui was able to return fire on the snowy morning and wounded the two drunk and high suspects.
RELATED: LILLO'S ADVICE FOR LILO
The head of the city police union was outraged that Brancato was not forced to do his full 10-year stretch.
Yolanda Rosa, the sister of slain Officer Daniel Enchautegui, seen after Lillo Brancato was sentenced in 2009.
Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News
Yolanda Rosa, the sister of slain Officer Daniel Enchautegui, seen after Lillo Brancato was sentenced in 2009.
“It is our firm belief that Lillo Brancato is guilty of the murder of police officer Daniel Enchautegui even though he was only convicted of attempted burglary,” said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch.
“Even while incarcerated, this lowlife thug showed his true colors when he beat up a fellow inmate who wouldn't get off a payphone quickly enough.”
Bracanto's meteoric Hollywood career was derailed by his drug problem, although he memorably appeared in a half-dozen episodes of "The Sopranos" as a dimwit mob wannabe.
RELATED: EX-‘SOPRANOS’ ACTOR GETS SHUT DOWN BY FACEBOOK
His character was executed personally by James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano.
Just six months before the police shooting, Brancato was busted in Yonkers with four bags of heroin.
In a recent tweet, Brancato said he was worried about life outside of prison.
"I should be really happy to be going home but in all actuality I'm not; I'm nervous & scared," he wrote. "Been a long time, I don't know what to expect."
lmcshane@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...released-jail-article-1.1562250#ixzz2p4laRebr
A Bronx Tale | "The Door Test"
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what? Dude was involved in a cop killing. Hollywood isn't touching that....he's done. He'll be lucky if he isn't found dead somewhere.
CACS 
