Actor Lillo Brancato was just at the start of his career, landing roles in iconic series Sopranos and film A Bronx Tale – until he was gripped by drug addiction and was involved in the death of a cop.
Now 47, the New Yorker was spending almost $1,000 a day on heroin and crack. And his struggles to addiction led to major legal troubles, and a 10-year prison sentence.
He was released on parole on December 31, 2013 and, since 2020, claims he has been 13 years sober. Lillo has now shared his story on the Anything Goes With James English podcast.
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"At my worst, I would say I was spending $700 to $800 a day," he told host James. "I was spending $200 on heroin, just to snort, just to be normal, then I'd smoke about $500 of crack a day, probably more."
At the height of his addiction, in 2005, Lillo went to a house where he claims he "tried to get the guy's attention so I broke his window". He claims he "wasn't trying to break in" and wasn't carrying a gun himself.
On off-duty police officer, 28-year-old Daniel Enchautegui, lived next door and confronted Brancato, then 29, and Steven Armento, 48, who was with him. Brancato claims it was Armento, who was the father of his ex-girlfriend, who shot Enchautegui, though they were shot at first by the cop.
"As I'm walking away, I heard a male's voice say, 'Don't move!'" he says. "That's when I moved and that's when I started getting shot."
He woke up in hospital a few days later after having had his spleen and part of his colon removed. He says: "The doctor brought me the newspaper, he said, 'You proud of yourself? Look, you killed a cop.'"
The actor describes it as his "worst nightmare". He says: "I just couldn't believe where my addiction took me, that someone's dead now because of this."
Brancato was in hospital for nine days, before he was moved to Rikers Island. He was charged with second-degree murder and his trial began three years later on November 17, 2008.
A jury eventually found him not guilty on that charge, but guilty on the charge of first-degree attempted burglary. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on January 9, 2009.
While locked up, in 2006, his addiction continued and he overdoes on heroin. "That one was bad," he says, "because it's like, I'm not in enough trouble, then this happened.
"I was questioned, detectives came down, it was a big investigation, 'cause this guy is a high profile inmate and he's getting drugs and overdosing. What are you guys doing? How are you doing your job? They really wanted to get to the bottom of it."
Brancato was released on parole on December 31, 2013. He says: "I think it's very clear that I'm still here to help people going down the road of addiction.
"I think God wants us to be his elves. He's Santa Claus, we're the elves."
He has since returned to acting and has appeared in a number of movies, including the 2017 remake of 1950's D.O.A., Dead On Arrival. He also offers personalised messages on Cameo, with prices starting at £59.
The full interview is available to watch on YouTube.
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