The real Paulie from Sopranos is still running the streets

Charles Stango is a notorious figure within the New Jersey branch of the Genovese crime family, often considered the inspiration for the Sopranos fan-favorite character, Paulie Gualtieri, due to his loyalty and longevity in the mob. His criminal career spanned several decades, and he was regarded as a high-ranking member of the Genovese family throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Stango’s ties to the Genovese family began in the 1980s, quickly rising through the ranks to become a trusted figure within the family’s New Jersey operations. His criminal activities primarily involved using threats of violence to enforce his loan sharking and extortion schemes.
In the early 2000s, Stango’s criminal empire faced a major setback when he was arrested and charged with a series of offenses. After a prolonged legal battle, he was convicted in the mid-2000s and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
He was connected to multiple murders and brutal acts carried out by the Genovese family, though he was never convicted of murder.
Despite spending years behind bars, Charles Stango remains a symbol of the old-school mobster.