Mob Wife Drita D'Avanzo Arrested for Beating Chef

Drita D'Avanzo

UPDATE #2: Drita D'Avanzo, a cast member of VH1's Mob Wives, was arrested on Tuesday, the NYPD confirmed.

Reportedly, she had engaged in a "verbal dispute" with a woman on Staten Island. D'Avanzo "attacked" the woman and punched her repeatedly, then fled, police said.

Of course "the woman" -- a former chef on Staten Island -- wants money before she'll even respond to press inquiries.... 

And it seems she found a buyer! See below for details....how much do they apparently pay, I wonder...

The Albanian firecracker and mother of two was later arrested and taken to the precinct and processed.

The Daily News reported that D’Avanzo, 40, was busted after she visited Mary Bratti, 38, on Amboy Road in Tottenville about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

"During an argument, she punched Bratti, a chef, in the face and ran off, police said.

"The reality television star later surrendered at the 123rd Precinct stationhouse and was charged with misdemeanor assault."

She was given a desk appearance ticket and sent home, cops said. She is due in court on March 9.

D’Avanzo is the wife of Lee D’Avanzo, a mob-affiliated bank robber who served two prison stints.

As for Bratti, the Staten Island Live reported that Bratti is a former chef at Staten Island's St. George Italian restaurant Enoteca Maria, a "convivial trattoria featuring homestyle Italian cuisine & fine wines in an intimate brick interior."

Reached for comment Wednesday, Bratti asked if the Advance would pay money for information on the case. When the answer was no, she had no comment.

Then, later today, TMZ reported:

The woman who was allegedly attacked by "Mob Wives" star Drita D'Avanzo says her family is now living in fear, terrified of Drita and her husband Lee. 

Mary Bratti has provided TMZ with the full video of her and Drita exchanging blows on Tuesday. Bratti tells us the brawl got so heated she later passed out from pain, and a CT scan at the hospital revealed a minor concussion. 

We're told the fight started over a parking spot -- Bratti says Lee D'Avanzo frequently uses her reserved spot outside her home. She also claims he's been harassing her since the fight. Bratti plans to request an order of protection, and she's having home security cameras installed. 

Lee is an alleged mob associate (hence Drita's TV gig) who's done time for bank robberies and other crimes. 

We've reached out to Drita, but no word back.

Apparently the VH1 reality show gets so heated, some cast members reportedly have refused to work with Drita. In fact, bodyguards were hired in case a fight broke out, sources have said.

Developing.....