Drita D'Avanzo
Drita D'Avanzo | |
|---|---|
 D'Avanzo at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards | |
| Born | Drita Selmani February 6, 1976 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Reality star |
| Spouse |
Lee D'Avanzo (m. 2000) |
| Relatives | Florina Kaja (cousin) |
Drita D'Avanzo (née Selmani; born February 6, 1976) is an American reality star who appeared on the VH1 series Mob Wives from 2011 to 2016. She also appeared on Mob Wives spinoff Big Ang.
Early life
[edit]D'Avanzo grew up in Staten Island after her family emigrated from Albania.[1] She attended Susan E. Wagner High School.[2]
Career
[edit]On The Tomorrow Show with Keven Undergaro, D'Avanzo stated that she is working on a spinoff of her own.[3] D'Avanzo makes regular appearances as herself on television, with notables including Celebrity Ghost Stories and Watch What Happens Live!.[4] In August 2017, she was announced as a cast member on the Big Brother-style VH1 reality show Scared Famous.[5] She is known for her hot-tempered personality.[6]
D'Avanzo has worked for several upscale cosmetic companies as a freelance makeup artist and has launched her own cosmetics line called "Lady Boss by Drita".[7]
Legal issues
[edit]D'Avanzo and her husband Lee D'Avanzo, who federal prosecutors allege is the leader of the Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team, were arrested on December 19, 2019; they were charged with criminal drug and multiple firearms possession after a search warrant was executed on their home.[8] The firearms were a .38-caliber revolver and a 9 mm, both loaded with hollow-point bullets. On February 21, 2020, the charges against her were dropped, while Lee pleaded not guilty to gun possession charges.[9] On March 20, 2020, Lee pleaded guilty to the charge.[10] On August 7th 2020, D'Avanzo was sentenced to 64 months (5-1/3 years) in prison for the offenses.[11] In sentencing him, the judge cited his extensive criminal history, which entails six convictions. He is currently incarcerated at FCI McKean, a medium security Federal prison located in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania. As of May 2021, he is 52 years old. His scheduled release date is July 14 2024.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Grunlund, Maura (20 December 2019). "Exclusive: 'Mob Wives' star Drita D'Avanzo, her husband arrested in Staten Island raid". SILive.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Zaffarano, Steve (20 December 2019). "Drita D'Avanzo, 'Mob Wives' star: Her rise and her arrest". SILive.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "D'Avanzo Discusses a Spinoff". The Tomorrow Show YouTube Channel. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Drita D'Avanzo Credits". IMDB.com.
- ^ "Browse our vh1 digital original series. Discover the latest episodes here". Archived from the original on September 4, 2017.
- ^ "Mob Wives Official Page". VH1.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016.
- ^ "Lady Boss by Drita". ladyboss.com.
- ^ "'Mob Wives' star Drita D'Avanzo, husband arrested on Staten Island". WABC-TV. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "'Mob Wives' star Drita D'Avanzo has weapons and drug charges dismissed". nydailynews.com. February 21, 2020.
- ^ "'Mob Wives' hubby Lee D'Avanzo pleads guilty to federal gun charge". silive.com. March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Lee d'Avanzo, husband of 'Mob Wives' star, slammed with 64 months in prison". 7 August 2020.
- ^ "BOP: Federal Inmates by Name".