EXCLUSIVE: Genovese mobster Anthony Romanello is seen heading to court after being accused of punching restaurateur in attempt to collect $86,000 gambling debt

Genovese crime family mobster Anthony Romanello was seen on his way to court after he was seen on surveillance footage punching a restaurateur in a reported attempt to collect a $86,000 gambling debt. 

Romanello, 86, is accused of shaking down Shuqeri 'Bruno' Selimaj and attacking him inside Lincoln Square Steak restaurant in Manhattan in 2017. 

DailyMail.com cameras spotted Romanello headed into Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday with his wife wearing a blue windbreaker.

Genovese crime family soldier Joseph Chelso - who is alleged to taken part of the assault - was also seen walking into the courthouse. 

Last week, jurors were shown the clip at an ongoing Brooklyn trial against Romanello, also known as 'Rom,' an alleged capo in the Genovese family. 

In the video, the two men can be seen engaging in what appears to be a heated discussion, before Romanello delivers a right-handed punch to Selimaj's jaw.
Selimaj can be seen raising his hands as he backs away from Romanello and another man, who the New York Post identified as Irish bookie Mike Regan. 

Others inside the restaurant try to break up the trio before Regan and Romanello walk out of the establishment. 

According to the Post, Selimaj recalled on Wednesday: 'Rom kept saying, 'I'd like to punch you' … I said, 'You have no guts to punch me. A few seconds later, he punched me.'

Selimaj also testified that he then informed the two men that they had been recorded on his restaurant's security camera, with Romanello telling Regan: 'Let's get out of here.'

Romanello's lawyer Jerry McMahon told the jury the punch was nothing to do with an extortion plot, and that Romanello had been defending his honor. 

McMahon told the court that Selimaj had insulted him, saying he was a 'washed up Italian' that 'had no balls' and 'was nothing'. 

The Post also reported McMahon had said prosecutors wanted to portray Romanello as having delivered a blow akin to that of 1950s boxer Rocky Marciano.

McMahon then said: 'People who have viewed the video will say my client punches 'like a girl.'' 

Prosecutors have alleged that mafiosos had visited Selimaj three times in an attempt to threaten him so he would pay off a relatives' debt. 

Selimaj had appeared as the first witness in the case, and claimed that he offered to pay his nephew's $6,000 debt, but not his nephew's brother-in-law's $80,000 debt.

That decision is said to have thrown Romanello into a rage, causing him to appear at the restaurant. 

Selimaj reported the incident to the police but he recanted the next day after his brother passed him a message allegedly given by Genovese soldier Joseph Celso, he told the court. 

Celso is on trial alongside Romanello on extortion charges, and another charge of obstruction of justice for the alleged threat on Selimaj. 

Prosecutors say Celso and Romanello were roped into an extortion scheme by alleged Genovese associate Luan Bexheti. 

Celso's lawyer Gerrard Marone told the court on Wednesday that his client had nothing to do with the case. 

He said: 'He didn't menace anyone, certainly didn't punch anyone. My client is not involved in the drama.'

Selimaj testified that he knew the visits from the two were a means to intimidate him, and he eventually paid the debt due to it. 

He said: 'I was afraid this mafia guy was going to hurt me, [hurt] my nephew.' 

The Post also reported that Brooklyn federal prosecutor Rebecca Schuman told the jury in her opening statement: 'Bruno knew that crossing Romanello could have real consequences — violent consequences.'

Romanello faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty, while Celso faces up to 60 years if convicted. 

In 1993 Celso was acquitted for the murder of Manuel Maya, 18, a Dominican student who was chased for 17 blocks by a group of white men before being beaten to death with a baseball bat and a fire extinguisher, after the teen had been spotted spraying graffiti in a park. 

Celso was identified as a member of the group, but he was acquitted after the witness testifying against him left the country and refused to return.

Romanello dodged a firearms charge in 2012 when the witness testifying against him suffered a heart attack before the trial.