Charles “Chucky” Russell, a convicted killer, who had been connected reputedly to the Outfit’s Grand Avenue crew, had been reported recently, of bragging to a federal informant which he had been planning a home invasion that would lead to a happy holiday for both of them, according to the federal prosecutors.

The mobster reportedly admitted the informant, “It will be a great Christmas, I’m telling you. You’re going to love this. Nothing gets my juices flowing like putting a gun to someone’s head, taking their stuff and making it mine.”

But instead of pulling off a score that he had estimated would rake in at least $300,000, along with jewelry and bottles of high-end wine. Russell will be spending his Christmas in a lockup.

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Russell, 67 years old, had been charged in federal court on December 22, along with being a felon in possession of firearms after he had arranged to buy eight guns from an undercover federal agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A ninth gun had been found in his home in Schaumburg.

The gun case against Russell was the latest effort to weaken Chicago’s once powerful Italian mob by the feds.

The Outfit had taken a major hit in 2007 when some of its most powerful leaders, including Grand Avenue crew leader Joey “The Clown” Lombardo, who had been convicted in the FBI’s “Family Secrets” case. Recently two of Russell’s associates, Paul Koroluk and Robert Panozzo Sr., had been charged with racketeering in Cook County criminal court. Law-enforcement sources had said that they believe Albert “Little Guy” Vena now runs the Grand Avenue crew.

Russell, with his bald head and muscular physique, had appeared in court in an orange jail uniform with his feet shackled. He chatted amiably with federal agents before the hearing. When he had been arrested on December 2, he told ATF agents and Chicago Police officers, “You guys did a really good job.”