Carmine “The Big Dog” Ruso
Don Carmine Leonardo Ruso (a.k.a. The Big Dog)
Background
Carmine "The Big Dog" Ruso's rise to power began in the rough streets of Toronto’s Little Italy, where he was groomed from an early age by his father, Vito Ruso, a feared mob boss. Carmine’s early years were spent running small errands and learning the business, but he was also a rising star in the underground boxing world. Nicknamed "Right-Hook Ruso" and "The Sicilian Scrapper," he was beloved by the Italian community for his natural fighting skills and his dedication to protecting his family’s name.
However, it was a single event that pushed Carmine fully into the violent life that would define him. When he was 18, a member of a rival family insulted and disrespected one of Carmine’s female cousins, an affront that enraged the Ruso family. At the time, the man seemed untouchable—well-connected and slippery enough to avoid consequences for his behavior. Rather than leaving the matter unresolved, Carmine took justice into his own hands. He discovered the man was a boxer, and with the help of his family, arranged a match between them under the guise of a simple sporting event.
But Carmine had no intention of just winning the fight. He wanted retribution. The fight was brutal, but what shocked everyone was the final blow. Carmine didn’t just knock the man out—he killed him in the ring. Rumors spread that he had slipped a horseshoe or some other weighted object into his glove, ensuring the fatal hit. However, no evidence was ever found, and the authorities ruled the death as manslaughter.
While the world saw it as a tragic accident, those close to Carmine knew the truth: this was calculated revenge, a violent and bloody statement to anyone who dared cross the Ruso family. The incident marked a turning point in Carmine’s life. The guilt and fear that might have haunted another man only fueled his transformation into a cold, ruthless enforcer. The death in the ring was not just a singular act of violence but a lesson Carmine took to heart—true power came through fear, and if you wanted respect, you had to take it.
After serving a brief prison sentence, Carmine was released on parole for good behavior, but the time he spent behind bars only made him harder and more dangerous. During his incarceration, he formed connections with older mobsters and learned the inner workings of organized crime from the veterans of the underworld. By the time he was out, he was no longer the young, scrappy boxer. He was fitted with his first suit as a made man, and from that moment, he began his rise to the top of the Ruso crime family.
Carmine systematically eliminated his rivals, both within and outside of his family. He modernized their operations. Known as "The Big Dog," Carmine earned his nickname through his dominance both physically and in the underworld. He was feared not just for his raw strength but for his intelligence and willingness to strike hard at anyone who dared oppose him.
Personality Carmine Ruso is a man who learned early in life that power comes from violence and fear. The death he caused in the boxing ring was the beginning of his transformation into the ruthless crime lord he is today. While others might have been haunted by the memory of killing a man, Carmine embraced it, seeing it as a necessary step toward maintaining his family's honor and securing his future. Though he presents himself as a charming and well-spoken businessman in public, beneath the surface is a cold, calculating mind willing to do whatever it takes to stay on top. He believes in old-school values—loyalty, respect, and family—but he interprets those values in his own twisted way, using them to justify his violent actions.
Carmine has a particular disdain for the new generation of criminals who lack class or respect for the traditions of the Mafia. He holds himself and his men to a higher standard, expecting them to dress well, carry themselves with dignity, and show deference to the old ways of doing business. However, his insistence on these traditions does not make him less dangerous; if anything, it adds to his mystique and his ability to inspire fear.
At the core of Carmine’s personality is the belief that the strong survive and the weak are crushed. He harbors no illusions about the moral ambiguity of his actions—he knows he's a villain, but in his mind, that's simply the way of the world.
Carmine "The Big Dog" Ruso's rise to power began in the rough streets of Toronto’s Little Italy, where he was groomed from an early age by his father, Vito Ruso, a feared mob boss. Carmine’s early years were spent running small errands and learning the business, but he was also a rising star in the underground boxing world. Nicknamed "Right-Hook Ruso" and "The Sicilian Scrapper," he was beloved by the Italian community for his natural fighting skills and his dedication to protecting his family’s name.
However, it was a single event that pushed Carmine fully into the violent life that would define him. When he was 18, a member of a rival family insulted and disrespected one of Carmine’s female cousins, an affront that enraged the Ruso family. At the time, the man seemed untouchable—well-connected and slippery enough to avoid consequences for his behavior. Rather than leaving the matter unresolved, Carmine took justice into his own hands. He discovered the man was a boxer, and with the help of his family, arranged a match between them under the guise of a simple sporting event.
But Carmine had no intention of just winning the fight. He wanted retribution. The fight was brutal, but what shocked everyone was the final blow. Carmine didn’t just knock the man out—he killed him in the ring. Rumors spread that he had slipped a horseshoe or some other weighted object into his glove, ensuring the fatal hit. However, no evidence was ever found, and the authorities ruled the death as manslaughter.
While the world saw it as a tragic accident, those close to Carmine knew the truth: this was calculated revenge, a violent and bloody statement to anyone who dared cross the Ruso family. The incident marked a turning point in Carmine’s life. The guilt and fear that might have haunted another man only fueled his transformation into a cold, ruthless enforcer. The death in the ring was not just a singular act of violence but a lesson Carmine took to heart—true power came through fear, and if you wanted respect, you had to take it.
After serving a brief prison sentence, Carmine was released on parole for good behavior, but the time he spent behind bars only made him harder and more dangerous. During his incarceration, he formed connections with older mobsters and learned the inner workings of organized crime from the veterans of the underworld. By the time he was out, he was no longer the young, scrappy boxer. He was fitted with his first suit as a made man, and from that moment, he began his rise to the top of the Ruso crime family.
Carmine systematically eliminated his rivals, both within and outside of his family. He modernized their operations. Known as "The Big Dog," Carmine earned his nickname through his dominance both physically and in the underworld. He was feared not just for his raw strength but for his intelligence and willingness to strike hard at anyone who dared oppose him.
Personality Carmine Ruso is a man who learned early in life that power comes from violence and fear. The death he caused in the boxing ring was the beginning of his transformation into the ruthless crime lord he is today. While others might have been haunted by the memory of killing a man, Carmine embraced it, seeing it as a necessary step toward maintaining his family's honor and securing his future. Though he presents himself as a charming and well-spoken businessman in public, beneath the surface is a cold, calculating mind willing to do whatever it takes to stay on top. He believes in old-school values—loyalty, respect, and family—but he interprets those values in his own twisted way, using them to justify his violent actions.
Carmine has a particular disdain for the new generation of criminals who lack class or respect for the traditions of the Mafia. He holds himself and his men to a higher standard, expecting them to dress well, carry themselves with dignity, and show deference to the old ways of doing business. However, his insistence on these traditions does not make him less dangerous; if anything, it adds to his mystique and his ability to inspire fear.
At the core of Carmine’s personality is the belief that the strong survive and the weak are crushed. He harbors no illusions about the moral ambiguity of his actions—he knows he's a villain, but in his mind, that's simply the way of the world.
Current Status
At Large
Birthplace
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Children
Current Residence
Little, Italy, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sex
Male
Eyes
Dark Brown
Hair
Dark Brown, starting to grey
Height
6'5" or 195.6 cm
Weight
260 lbs or 117.9 kg
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