Sopranos star faces prison after mugging arrest

The teenage actor who plays the pot-smoking son of TV mob don Tony Soprano is facing up to 15 years in prison after a £28 mugging.

Robert Iler, 16 - Anthony Jr in The Sopranos - has been charged with robbery and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in New York.

Police said Iler and three friends surrounded two other teenagers and stole 40 dollars (£28).

After his arrest police asked Iler: ‘‘Why are you doing this? You’ve got an acting career - you’re doing good.’’

To which, police said, Iler replied: ‘‘Don’t concern yourself with my acting career,’’ adding later: ‘‘Hey, I’m a millionaire!’’

His mother Helen said her son ‘‘was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The truth will come out.

‘‘He’s a good kid, a very good kid. What can I say? Sixteen-year-old kids sometimes make mistakes.’’

She added her son ‘‘said he’s not guilty, and I believe him.’’

Assistant District Attorney Robert Wallack described the suspects as ‘‘kids who thought it would be fun to go out and do a robbery.’’

Iler, who was freed on £1,750 bail, began his showbusiness career at six in a Pizza Hut commercial. He made his first film - The Tic Cod’’ - when he was 10, and landed the role of AJ Soprano in 1999.