Momo Barone

Cosimo "Momo" Barone ("Momo the Roach") is a fictional character in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. He grew up in the Bronx alongside boyhood friend Eddie Paradise. "Momo", as he was called, got his nickname "the Roach" because his flamboyant, rigidly shellacked hairstyle seemed as hard as a roach's exoskeleton.

Momo Barone grew up around people like Pete Clemenza and was 'attached like a fly to him' in the novel. He was also the best friend of soldato and caporegime Nick Geraci, and the nephew of Sal Tessio.

After Geraci killed Tessio in 1955, Momo is 'made' under him with fellow soldier Eddie Paradise. He also befriended fellow Geraci soldier Carmine Marino. He is considered untrustworthy because of his blood relationship to Tessio, but is liked by Tom Hagen, and thus given the job to kill the man who stole his watch.

Barone is Nick Geraci's closest aide circa 1956 to 1960. After Geraci is deposed in 1961, Barone is considered a likely candidate for the role of caporegime, but Paradise is chosen instead to be capo. It is implied Barone doesn't hold a grudge for being overlooked, but he is angry that nobody trusted him because he was "Tessio's Kid". Barone meets with Geraci, who is still on the run in 1963, and agrees to help Geraci in his bid to dethrone Michael Corleone and take over as Don.

Geraci promises Barone the title of consigliere if he agrees to help. Barone agrees, and feeds Geraci information on Michael Corleone's plans. Ultimately, both Geraci and Barone are killed while attending a meeting that had been supposedly arranged for Geraci to negotiate his bid for leadership. The meeting turns out to be a setup masterminded by Michael Corleone. Barone is killed by his lifelong friend Eddie Paradise.