A judge has sentenced Lee D'Avanzo, the husband of "Mob Wives" star Drita D'Avanzo, to five years in prison, a harsher penalty than what prosecutors recommended.
According to Page Six, federal Judge Rachel Kovner in New York cited Lee's lengthy criminal history and the seriousness of his crime while handing down the sentence on Aug. 7.
Lee, a twice-convicted bank burglar with six criminal convictions, was arrested in December 2019 following a raid at the home he and Drita share. He was eventually indicted for possession of firearms and marijuana by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. As part of a plea bargain, he pled guilty to federal gun possession charges in March.
Prosecutors had recommended Lee serve 37 to 46 months behind bars, but the judge settled on a 64-month sentence instead.
"The defendant had two guns in the house with his kids, and they were loaded with hollow-point ammunition," Judge Kovner said while Drita looked on. "At the time, there was other contraband in the house."
Drita, who starred on VH1's "Mob Wives" from 2011 to 2016, was initially arrested along with her husband, but charges against her were eventually dropped.
Last week, she wrote the judge a letter pleading for leniency, arguing that he's an incredible father and a "family man."
"If there is one thing no one can take away from Lee is what an amazing father he has been to our children. He never missed a soccer game and was very involved in our kids school work and any activities they were involved in. He is a family man and is missed!" the reality star wrote. "He has a family that is fully supporting him and hoping he comes home soon!"
Lee's legal troubles aren't over either — Page Six reports he still faces charges in Monmouth County Court in New Jersey for conspiracy to possess marijuana and possession of marijuana.
According to Drita's official "Mob Wives" bio, Lee is "the leader of a Bonanno and Colombo crime family farm team."
Friday's proceeding is believed to be the first in-person hearing in the downtown Brooklyn courthouse since it shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic in March.