Alphonse Trucchio was a rising star in the Gambino crime family before the feds stepped in and put him behind bars.

Trucchio made his way up the ranks of the New York Mafia family getting made in his 20’s and eventually becoming one of the youngest mobsters to be made a captain in mafia history. He was known as a big earner and was gaining quite a following within the Cosa Nostra family. He was caught up in the huge Mafia takedown back in 2011 that included more than 120 mobsters and associates. He was named in two indictments and charged with various mafia-related crimes. He eventually pled guilty to racketeering, narcotics trafficking, assault, illegal gambling, loansharking, obstruction of justice, and extortion in February of 2012. He was sentenced to 121 months behind bars he was also ordered to pay $100,000 in forfeitures. Trucchio now resides at a Bronx halfway house and is only a couple months away from being back on the streets. His max-out day is February 23, 2020, but most halfway house stays end weeks, and sometimes months before the official date.

“Alphonse Trucchio”

It will be interesting to see how the new Gambino leadership handles the former capo. He did the time and kept quiet proving he is a stand-up guy and will likely want to step back in especially after his supervised release comes to an end. But a dispute with former Gambino consigliere Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo reportedly led to the young mobster being shelved by boss Domenico Cefalu. According to the reports the two mobsters were involved in a disagreement over defense strategy after the bust in 2011 before Trucchio decided to cop a plea.

The defendants were divided into two separate trials but no one wanted to be first up to face the feds firing squad which was loaded with an array of new evidence. During a pre-trial session, Corozzo’s son and lawyer Joseph got into a heated argument with Trucchio over a move made by his lawyer that directly contradicted an appeal he had made. “Hey Al, so it’s every man for himself, now, said Corozzo. Why don’t you come here and say that to my face, replied Trucchio, as he kept moving toward the elevator. So, I’m not a man now, snapped the lawyer, with a look of disgust on his face.”

It was taken as a sign of disrespect toward his mob superior and Alphonse was reportedly demoted and shelved. In 2015 reports surfaced stating that aging wiseguy Thomas “Monk” Sassano had been named the new captain of Alphonse’s Queens-based crew. But several years have now passed and a lot has changed within the Gambino family. Corozzo is no longer a part of the Gambino hierarchy and doesn’t seem to be as influential within the family as he once was. The recent loss of powerful Gambino family leader Frank Cali has seemingly impacted the Gambino’s financially at least so some extent.

So maybe everyone can let bygones be bygones and there can once again be a place at the table for an earner and proven leader like Alphonse Trucchio.

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Joseph Chilli III a reputed soldier in the Bonanno crime family has seemingly been unable to separate himself from his old mafia pals.

Chilli got out of prison in 2015 after doing a stretch for cocaine and heroin distribution. He was back in court earlier this week for violating the conditions of his supervised release according to reports. The 63-year-old mobster admitted to having contact with at least three wiseguys and mob associates but claimed that none of it was criminal. According to Chilli, the connections have to do with his legitimate business a delivery service that supplies Italian stores and restaurants with various items. The violation could have landed the New York Mafia wiseguy back behind bars for 13 months.

“Joseph Chilli III”

Prosecutors and his probation officer recommended that Chilli get time served for the offense with no added prison time. Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis needed a little convincing before seeing eye to eye with those recommendations. He said “I’ve been dealing with these problems with the Bonanno family for the last 18 years including violations of supervised release. It’s a little bit sophomoric and a little bit simplistic to say you’re engaging in business with [these] people. Work with people who don’t have these connections to organized crime.”

Even though Garaufis eventually agreed to side with the recommendations of no additional prison time he wasn’t letting Chilli off clean. The obese Mafiosi allegedly suffers from an array of medical ailments. Instead, he hit Joseph Chilli III with an additional four years of supervised release. Joseph was due to end his original stretch of supervised release on at the end of the week. Garaufis told Chilli “I hope you live out the period of your supervision and beyond. I don’t want you to come back here with another violation. Work with people who do not have a connection to organized crime, I hope you have a successful business but there are certain people you can’t do business with.”

That may be a tall task for the veteran wiseguy as it seems like most of his friends and associates have ties in one way or another to Cosa Nostra. The odds that the Bonanno family mobster finds himself back in front of the Judge before those four years are up doesn’t seem to be on his side.

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Colombo crime family mobster Fat Larry Sessa has been released from prison after a year-long stretch for a parole violation.

Sessa plead guilty to racketeering charges back in 2012 and did 87 months. Since then he has been back in the can twice for violating conditions of his parole. The 53-year-old mobster claims he is trying to go legit and this last parole violation wasn’t what the feds made it out to be. He was in contact with Colombo family mobsters Salvatore Fusco Jr. and Jerome Ciauri who according to Sessa’s lawyer were just longtime friends. Sessa’s lawyer said, “His old friends were trying to help him make legitimate money and a living in the used car business.”

Ilario “Fat Larry” Sessa

But the feds painted a different picture noting that the Cosa Nostra wiseguy had used numerous burner phones to stay in contact with his old mafia pals. And of course, the Judge wasn’t buying Sessa’s side of things saying “When someone goes through extraordinary lengths by using six disposable phones there’s an obvious attempt to evade the probation departments condition.” Even though Ilario’s lawyers pleaded for leniency he sent the overweight wiseguy back to prison for a year and a day.

Fat Larry Sessa has been making his way up the ranks within the New York Mafia family for years now. He played a role in the bloody Colombo family civil war back in the 1990s and has seemingly been an active member of the family since. According to Colombo family rat, Reynold Maragni Sessa got his button in 2012 from acting boss Andrew Russo while they were both behind bars. The 400 pounds Sessa is sticking with his story of wanting to go legit as he exits prison once again. He reportedly suffers from multiple medical problems including morbid obesity, lupus, diabetes, heart disease, and spinal stenosis.

With Sessa back on the streets, it will be interesting to see how long he sticks to the legit businesses. He has had trouble keeping himself out of prison over the last few years. He has proven over and over that he is a stand-up guy and would likely be welcomed back into the organized crime family by his mob superiors with open arms.

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Anthony Gurino a longtime member and captain in the Gambino crime family has passed away according to reports.

The 76-year-old was an established member of the New York Mafia families powerful Sicilian faction. Gurino has a long history within the crime family and was reportedly a close friend of former Gambino boss John Gotti. He was an old school mobster that was known for being a moneymaker and a stand-up guy. Anthony had multiple run-ins with the law dating back several years but refused to talk too much less cooperate with law enforcement. Unlike Gotti, Gurino quietly made his way up the ranks of the Cosa Nostra family avoiding unnecessary attention and the limelight.

“Anthony Gurino”

Even after the Gotti era had come to an end his stock within the family continued to rise. In 2013 he became a member of a three man security panel along with fellow mobsters John Gambino and Joseph Juliano. The panel helped to run the NY Mafia families day to day operations and acted as a buffer for the rest of the families hierarchy.

The panel of three helped to insulate current Gambino boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalù and now deceased underboss Frank Cali from the prying eyes of the feds. John Gambino passed away in 2017 and Juliano is now in his 80s so the status of the security panel is uncertain.

Since reports of his place within the families administration surfaced in 2013 he has remained low key and under the radar. It’s not clear as to what his current status and or position was leading up to his death. The loss of Anthony Gurino along with the untimely death of Cali is consecutive blows to the Gambino’s Sicilian faction. But the Sicilian’s are still firmly in control behind Cefalu and new underboss Lorenzo Mannino.

The mafia families stability at the top has allowed for a bit of a resurgence in recent years it will be interesting to see if the loss of key guys like Cali slows that progress.

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Tapes of Lucchese crime family mobster Christopher Londonio could give prosecutors an insurmountable edge in the upcoming mafia trial.

According to reports, the feds plan to play dozens of tapes of Londonio talking about various aspects of the Cosa Nostra families business. The 45-year-old wiseguy was captured on wires worn by mob turncoats, FBI wiretaps, and prison phone recordings. He can be heard boasting about various crimes including drug dealing, extortion, loansharking, robbery, home invasions, and assault. All of which are included in the current racketeering indictment. Londonio, Steven Crea, Matthew Madonna, and Terrence Caldwell are set to go to trial for multiple crimes including the murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish.

“Christopher Londonio”

These recordings between Londonio and cooperating witnesses among others would play a crucial role in the upcoming trial. In some of these talks, Londonio allegedly details the current structure of the Lucchese family including his role and the roles of both Crea and Madonna. While he never admits to his role in the Meldish hit he talks about a slew of other crimes he either committed or was planning. Prosecutors believe these tapes establish him as a viable member of the New York Mafia family and that he served under Crea and Madonna.

This has led to some interesting plea deal negotiations which could bring the trial to an end before it even begins. These tapes along with a lineup of cooperating witnesses at trial seem like an uphill battle. Two weeks ago Lucchese capo Steven (Stevie Junior) Crea agreed to a deal which will put him behind bars for 13 years. Now the four remaining defendants may have a chance to take the same route but it comes with conditions according to the GanglandNews report.

Prosecutors have allegedly offered Londonio a deal which he has tentatively agreed according to a source that would put him behind bars for 30 years. But the catch is that both Crea and Madonna also have to agree to plea deals. According to the GanglandNews source, the feds have also offered 72-year-old Crea an 18-year deal and the 83-year-old Madonna a 20-year deal. They would get time served but the lengthy deals could still end up being life sentences for both of the aging mobsters.

It remains unclear as to whether or not all three defendants can come to a global plea deal before the October 2nt trial date. Discussions are reportedly ongoing and lawyers for the three have not closed to the door on the possibilities of a pre-trial agreement. Even if the feds fail at linking the defendants to the Meldish murder convictions on the remaining crimes in the racketeering indictment could still land everyone behind bars for an extended period of time.

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The Detroit Mafia also referred to as the Tocco-Zerilli crime family or the Detroit Partnership has a long and interesting history dating back to the 1900s.

The mid-west organization was recognized by The Commission and became one of the 24 original Mafia families that comprised Cosa Nostra in America. The mafia in Detroit grew in power and influence over years under the guidance of top mob bosses that included Joe Zerilli and Giacomo “Jack” Tocco. The highly respected mob family maintained a very quiet and low key approach compared to some of the countries other families. That is until the disappearance of former Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa in 1975 pushed them into the headlines. Years of investigations would follow many of which included members of the Detroit mafia making them one of the most talked-about American Mafia families outside of New York. But times have definitely changed and now many wonder if the mob in Detroit has become a thing of the past.

The families long-held tradition of marrying off within its ranks has truly made it a family affair. This strategy has allowed the mafia in Detroit to avoid many of the pitfalls that have taken down other mob families across the country. Having so many members within the family related by blood made them extremely hard to penetrate. It has also allowed them to avoid costly internal wars and an infestation of mob rats at least for the most part.

The downside was that it limited the families ability to expand and grow. What was once a large organization consisting of more than 100 made men has reportedly dwindled down to approx 30 or fewer today. Over the past couple of decades, the family has lost the majority of its political influence and wide-ranging power. As we entered the 1990s questions of the families sustainability began to arise.

A large racketeering indictment in 1996 proved the organized crime family was still fully functional and actively controlling some traditional mafia rackets. Sixteen alleged members and associates of the Tocco-Zerilli crime family were indicted including aging boss Jack Tocco and underboss Tony Zerilli. The feds described the case as a stake to the heart of the Motor City Mafia. While that may have been a bit much it was a blow to the already diminishing organization.

A RICO indictment that centered around bookmaking, money laundering, and extortion landed in 2006. The indictment while not directly attributed to the local mafia family included the familiar names of Tocco and Giacalone. Many saw this as a sign that rumors of the mob families demise may have been a bit premature. But it remained clear that the changing times were having a negative effect on the once-mighty crime family as this was one of the last major cases to date involving multiple members of the organization.

Longtime boss Jack Tocco passed away back in 2014 followed by the death of Tony Zerilli in 2015. The family would lose other long term members over the past few years as well. It was time for the next generation to take the reigns of the Detroit Mafia. But many believed that this new generation were more businessmen then they were mobsters intent of moving the family away from their long-held mob rackets and into more legitimate businesses.

The mob family still maintains a functioning hierarchy according to some reports. It including current boss Jack (Jackie the Kid) Giacalone, underboss Anthony (Chicago Tony) La Piana, and street boss Peter (Specs) Tocco. Although some believe these ranks and positions have become more ceremonial than they are functional. Just how active is this new era of the Detroit Mafia when it comes to the families illegal enterprises?

Many mob enthusiasts and insiders point to the lack of indictments and legal cases brought against the organization over the last several years as a sign of the families inactivity. Would the feds have turned their backs on an active and functioning American Mafia family? It could be a clear indicator that the new regime isn’t as involved in illegal rackets as their predecessors were. The feds may no longer consider them as part of the American Mob landscape.

We still see cases at least to some extent being brought against other active mafia families outside of New York including New England, Philadelphia, and Chicago. But not everyone buys into the idea that the Detroit family is all but dead and gone. Many believe the family has adapted its methods of doing business utilizing its close ties to avoid any federal hiccups. They believe the family still maintains sway over the local area and still controls much of its illegal bookmaking, extortion, and loan sharking activities along with some of the drug trafficking.

The organization is clearly a shadow of its former self like many other families around the country but for many that doesn’t mean they are defunct. If the Motor City Mafia family hasn’t met its end just yet it may be trending toward doing so sooner than later. It’s hard to tell exactly where things stand in Detroit today but a real lack of mafia news out of the Motor City in recent years is hard to overlook. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The debate will continue as to whether or not Detroit still has a functioning and established crime family. Even if the guys in Detroit still have a piece of long-running rackets like bookmaking and loansharking is it enough today for them to still be considered a legit and active family? What do you think? Feel free to comment below.

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Philip Narducci a longtime Philadelphia mafia enforcer has been sentenced to one year behind bars in accordance with recent his plea deal.

During his sentencing hearing, Narducci told U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage that he just wanted to get back to his family and work saying “All my past is in my past.” The judge said he believed that Narducci had too much to lose and wouldn’t risk going back to prison and signed off on his plea agreement. The judge sided with Narducci even though he was in court for a loan sharking case which has long been a money-making racket for the mafia. The case included claims of mob-style threats, extortionate loans, and a violent encounter leading to a plea agreement.

“Philip Narducci”

But it certainly wasn’t your typical old school Cosa Nostra case. The feds claimed he loaned thousands of dollars to a South Philadelphia barber. Then he and a co-defendant repeatedly threatened him in an effort to collect after the defendant failed to make payments. At one point Narducci allegedly assaulted him by shoving his head against a car windshield. So far it seems like a normal day in the Philly Mafia but it takes somewhat of an odd turn.

The debtor in the case turned out to be a Lebanese national and frequent federal informant who was caught by a judge in the past lying about his links to the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah. According to Phil, the man conned him into loaning him the cash by playing on his sympathies saying the money wad for an organ transplant for his mother. But instead, he ended up losing all of the money gambling.

Prosecutors were fairly quick to offer Phil a plea deal once information about the alleged debtor was made public. Perhaps they were worried that his credibility would not have held up on the stand in front of a jury. His checkered past would have also come into play. This certainly could have been a factor in their quick move to cut a deal instead of going to trial.

It was a shock to some that he was offered what seemed to be a fairly lenient plea offer considering his long history in organized crime. He was an established member of the Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo’s crew and has been tied to multiple gangland slayings. He was convicted for the 1985 murder of Frank “Frankie Flowers” D’Alfonso in 1989. But the verdict was eventually overturned on appeal and a second trial ended in acquittal.

He would end up back behind bars on racketeering charges and was released in 2012. Rumors and speculation popped up as to his possible re-emergence within the Philadelphia mob family but Phil insisted that he had gone legit. He left his life of crime behind to open up a Washington Avenue gastropub named Chicks along with his wife. Then he was hit with this new loan sharking case although it didn’t seem to be mafia related and still doesn’t.

The 57-year-old former wiseguy has already served roughly four months of that sentence and with early release and good behavior, he will be out in a matter of months. It seems that Philip Narducci may actually be legit now and no longer linked to the mafia in Philadelphia. Perhaps it wasn’t that hard of a call to make considering that things on the streets clearly aren’t what they once were.

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Frank Locascio the former consigliere of the Gambino crime family may finally have a reasonable shot at getting released from prison.

While the odds still aren’t exactly on the side of the ailing 86 year old mobster a distinguished new lawyer and some new evidence has given him renewed hope. Frankie Loc was once a trusted lieutenant of former boss John Gotti. He was part of the New York Mafia families leadership when he was busted along with Gotti and Sammy Gravano back in 1990. Gravano decided to turn rat while Gotti and Locascio got sent to prison for life. But Frank has always claimed that he was wrongly convicted of the murder of Gambino family soldier Louis DiBono. The charge has kept him behind bars for more than 28 years.

“Frank Locascio”

According to Locascio’s new lawyer Nancy Gertner, she received newly discovered evidence from Gravano. In an affidavit Sammy the Bull claims that “Frank Locascio had no role in the planning of, nor did he participate in any way in the murder or conspiracy to murder Louis DiBono.” Gravano said Gotti gave the order to kill DiBono because he had failed to show up for meetings with the Gambino family boss. As the boss of the mafia family, Gotti had the sole authority to make the call on killing DiBono.

Gravano said the Locascio didn’t even agree with the decision to kill DiBono. Gravano says an FBI tape recording from 1989 backs up these claims. On it, Gotti can be heard discussing his desire to have DiBono whacked. But Frankie Loc predicts that DiBono will bring Gotti 50 grand to appease the situation and calm things down. But Gotti rebuked Locascio’s suggestion saying: “…I won’t take it Frankie…but I should take it and more….”

This conversation showed that Frank Locascio didn’t approve and tried to save DiBono’s life said Gravano according to the GanglandNews report. Sammy also wrote that shortly after the recorded conversation Gotti told him that he resented Locascio’s suggestion to take the cash and let DiBono live. He went on to say “In addition and most memorable, was the fact that shortly thereafter I was promoted to the position of ‘Official Underboss’ and Locascio was made the Acting Consigliere. It was clear that Frank’s suggestion to Gotti about DiBono was one of the reasons why Gotti made the change in positions.”

Gertner has petitioned the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to contest Locascio’s murder conviction on the strength of this new evidence. If she is successful that this is new evidence that Locascio had no prior access to it would entitle him to file a second motion contesting his previous conviction. His first attempt two years ago using a much different approach failed. Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office is sure to oppose this new attempt at freedom as they have in the past.

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Aniello Migliore passed away on September 11th at the age of 85 according to reports.

The veteran mobster was a longtime member and leader in the Lucchese crime family. Migliore’s time in the New York Mafia dates all the way back to the 1950s when he was recruited by former capo Joseph Laratro. His name sort of burst on the scene when it was attached to reports of the historic 1957 Cosa Nostra summit in Apalachin although he wasn’t actually in attendance. He would rise through the ranks of the NY Mafia family eventually becoming a capo before holding several positions in the families administration. In his early years, he was tied to bookmaking and illegal gambling and proved to be a solid moneymaker for the mafia.

Aniello “Neil” Migliore

But the Queens-based mobster really made a name for himself when it came to labor racketeering one of the mobs more lucrative rackets. He had become a trusted ally of fellow mobster Anthony Corallo. In the late 1960s, Corallo would take the reigns as the new Lucchese family boss and Migliore quickly became one of his top capos. The duo would help make the Lucchese’s the dominant force within the NY Mafia when it came to controlling of construction union-locals.

Using the families control over unions he was able to build and control semi-legitimate construction businesses which made millions. He would then marry into the Albicocco family which owned a major construction firm giving the Lucchese’s further reach into several major LI construction companies. But things hit a snag in the mid-1980s for both Corallo and Migliore.

In February of 1985, Corallo was arrested by the FBI and charged in the infamous Mafia Commission case. He would be convicted in 1986 and sentenced to 100 years behind bars. In March of 1986, Aniello was indicted for labor racketeering charged with extortion and bid-rigging. The feds claimed he was a key figure in what became known as the concrete club. Multiple mafia families including the Lucchese’s had taken control over the bidding process for the supplying of concrete to high rise building projects in New York.

In 1988 Migliore was convicted and was also sentenced to several years behind bars. But his conviction would eventually be overturned in 1991 and he was released from prison. While this was a huge break things on the streets had changed and the family was now under the control of Vittorio Amuso and Anthony Casso. The paranoid and bloodthirsty duo had turned the Lucchese family inside out and things were extremely unstable.

By 1992 an imprisoned Amuso feared the families powerful Bronx faction were plotting to take back control. He felt he had to prove he was still in control and ordered a hit on one of the Bronx’s most powerful capos Aniello Migliore. On April 3, 1992, a gunman in a passing car shot Migliore through a restaurant window during a birthday party. Migliore was injured but would luckily survive the brazen attack.

After several indictments and a restructuring of the Lucchese Family, the internal beef would eventually die down. In the years after the attack, Aniello kept a low profile and avoided any further conflicts. His name would resurface in the early 2000s when he was part of a new Lucchese family ruling panel. He served on the three man panel with fellow mobsters Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna.

The ruling panel was believed to have remained in place for several years dispanding some time around 2012. It’s unclear as to the exact role the aging wiseguy played within the family of late. But he remained a respected and highly regarded member of the family until his death. During his career in organized crime, Aniello Migliore would become one of the cities richest mobsters.

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On this episode of Mob Talk Sitdown, the guys take a look at how Mafia rules for being made have changed along with the locations of making ceremonies.

Philadelphia mafia experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser go over some recent information pertaining to new-made guys and some of the interesting places they may have gotten their buttons. The mafia has always had a knack for being able to adapt and survive. The feds have gotten better at finding out about and locating making ceremonies forcing today’s mobsters to change the status quo. The guys also touch on some other recent happenings in and around the mafia in Philadelphia. So take a couple of minutes to check out the latest episode of Mob Talk with George and Dave!

According to George and Dave mobster Marty Angelina has received a new subpoena to state grand jury. It is still unclear as to what the subpoena pertains to but there has certainly been some recent speculation. They also touch on the recent sentencing of former Scarfo era wiseguy Phil Narducci. He is headed back to prison for a short stay after being sentenced to a year and a day after pleading guilty. At least Phil has always followed the Mafia rules esp Omerta which hasn’t exactly been a staple in recent years.

There will be a bit more buzz in and around the mob family with the upcoming return of alleged boss Joey Merlino. He is still set to be released to a halfway house in October. Questions have surfaced lately after rumors of a possible change at acting boss. Michael “Mikey Lance” Lancellotti had taken the reigns but some reports of recent health issues led to speculation that George Borgesi may have taken over. There will certainly be plenty of eyes on Merlino and that may lead to a better idea of the current Philly Mafia pecking order.

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Former Gambino crime family acting boss Peter Gotti is seeking a compassionate release from a federal prison in North Carolina.

The 79-year-old mobster has completed 17 years of a 25-year sentence and is scheduled for release in 2032. But Gotti claims he now suffers from multiple health conditions including early-onset dementia and should be let out of prison. In his filing for release earlier this year he argued that his age and medical conditions have made him incapable of violence. But the feds have a totally different opinion when it comes to whether or not the former mafia leader is still a substantial danger to the community. They have made it clear that they don’t think he is sick enough to be let out of jail.

“Peter Gotti”

Assistant US Attorney Jun Xiang said in a recent letter to the court that “The danger posed by a Gambino Family leader like Gotti is not that he will personally engage in acts of violence, but that he can command others to do so.” The feds seem to believe that Gotti may still have some standing and potential influence within the New York Mafia family he once led. He took over as acting boss of the Gambinos from 1999-2002 after his brother’s arrest.

Prosecutors also made note that Gotti spent thousands of dollars on failed attempts to hunt down and kill former mobster turned rat Sammy Gravano. But the days when Peter and his brother John Gotti controlled the Gambino family are long gone and the Gotti era is nothing more than NY Mafia history.

A judge has yet to make a ruling on the request from Peter Gotti but it seems like a longshot especially with the feds making a push to keep him locked up. It would certainly come as a surprise to many if somehow the judge ruled in Peter’s favor especially considering the Gotti name and its history.

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Skinny Joey Merlino is reportedly out of prison and headed to a halfway house in Florida where he will begin his supervised release after just over a year behind bars.

The alleged Philly Mafia boss was busted in the East Coast LCN Enterprise case back in 2016. At the time it looked like the feds had scored a major blow against Merlino as he was facing an extended stay behind bars. But the case wasn’t as strong as the feds had hoped and the trial ended in a hung jury. It didn’t seem like either side was really looking forward to a retrial and eventually, Merlino and several other alleged mobsters and associates in the case coped to plea deals. It was the first time that Merlino had ever plead guilty to a crime but it was certainly an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino”

The terms of his plea deal allowed him to plead guilty to a single gambling charge. It called for a maximum of 24 months behind bars instead of the 10 plus years he would have been facing in a retrial. He was eventually sentenced to the max 24 months and was due to be released in July of 2020. But a new justice reform formula and some credit for time served from an appeal helped the 57-year-old mobster get out earlier than expected.

According to the feds and several other sources, Skinny Joey Merlino is still the head of the mafia in Philadelphia. But is it finally time to step away? Could this latest run-in with the feds be enough to influence Joey to finally retire from his Cosa Nostra family? With Joey being Joey that seems like a real longshot. According to reports, he had visits from several Philly wiseguys while he was a guest of the government seemingly keeping him in the loop on current happenings.

Before he went away he reportedly installed Michael (Mikey Lance) Lancelotti as his new acting boss. Although more recent rumbling out of the City of Brotherly Love is that Lancelotti’s recurring health problems have caused him to take a step back. And it seems that longtime Merlino friend and associate George Borgesi may be the current acting boss. Either way, Joey’s return isn’t expected to have much of an impact on the day to day operations of the Philadelphia Mafia.

He will likely head back to Boca Raton and continue to run things from there through his trusted associates like Borgesi. Although it would certainly be breaking Mafia News if Skinny Joey Merlino decided it was time to hang ’em up and he walked away from organized crime!

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Colombo crime family captain Joseph Amato and 10 other alleged members and associates of the New York Mafia family targeted in the latest mob bust.

More than 20 defendants were charged with racketeering, extortion, loansharking, stalking, and attempted sports bribery according to indictments unsealed in Brooklyn federal court. Among those charged with racketeering along with 60-year-old Amato were Daniel Capaldo and Thomas Scorcia, alleged Colombo family members and Joseph Amato Jr. and Anthony Silvestro, alleged Colombo family associates. According to the indictment the defendants have been engaged in criminal activities in Staten Island and elsewhere since January of 2014.

“Joseph Amato”

The investigation reportedly began after a GPS monitoring device that was used by Joseph Amato to track his then-girlfriend was found attached to an MTA bus. She apparently discovered the device and removed it attaching it to the bus at a Staten Island depot. The discovery of the device on the bus helped authorities obtain court-authorization to intercept communications over various cellular telephones used by Amato and his Colombo family crew.

According to the indictment Amato was caught in an email telling his then-girlfriend “This is my island. Not yours. I have eyes all over.” In a separate email, he boasted about his standing saying ‘I’m a MANS MAN!!!” But that’s not all the feds were able to find out they also caught the Cosa Nostra captain and his crew using violence and threats of violence to earn illegal proceeds and solidify their reputation and standing.

During an altercation at a bar, Amato Jr. told an individual that had confronted him to back off saying “Do you know who my father is?” The following day the individual was lured to a location where Amato Jr. his dad and members of their mafia crew brutally beat him. The court authorized intercepts also captured other conversations relating to acts of violence against multiple victims.

A scheme by the defendants to fix an NCAA college basketball game in 2018 was also captured on wiretaps. Benjamin Bifalco planned to pay members of an unnamed basketball team thousands of dollars to intentionally lose the game by more than the point spread. The plot was seemingly unsuccessful because Amato Jr was caught allegedly sending texts to Scorcia saying “Ok I wouldn’t trust the game I was telling u about” and “I’m not touching it personally.”

United States Attorney Donoghue. Mr. Donoghue said, “The mafia is not the criminal threat it once was, but we remain vigilant and will vigorously investigate and prosecute members and associates who engage in violence and extortion to intimidate victims and enrich themselves and their crime family.”

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Frank Narducci Jr. an alleged soldier in the Philadelphia mafia has passed away of natural causes according to reports.

The Second-generation Philadelphia mobster is the son of former Scarfo family leader Frank (Chickie) Narducci and the brother of reputed Philly mobster Phil Narducci. Frank passed away from liver failure at the age of 66. His brother Phil recently plead guilty to loan sharking charges and is currently behind bars in federal prison. Both of the Narducci brothers were indicted back in 1987 and were convicted in 1989 on racketeering charges. According to the feds they were alleged co-conspirators in the 1985 mafia murder of Frank (Frankie Flowers) D’Alfonso but Frank Jr was never arrested in connection to it.

“Frank (Windows) Narducci, Jr.”

According to the feds Frank Narducci Jr. became a made member in the Philly mafia back in 1981. He accompanied his dad Chickie to the courthouse where he was on trial for racketeering back in 1982. After the proceedings had ended he drove his dad to his car at a nearby parking garage.

Chickie was then gunned down shortly afterward getting out of his car in front of his home in Philadelphia after being part of an unsuccessful bid to take over the Cosa Nostra family. He was the last person besides the hitmen to see his father alive.

Frank Narducci Jr. was released from prison in 2009 and has kept a very low profile ever since. His only other brush with the law beyond his 89 conviction was a 2015 parole violation.

Even though his brother is currently in prison he maintains that he has left the mafia in Philadelphia and has gone legit. Phil along with his wife recently opened up a gastropub called Chick’s in South Philly named after their dad.

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Jonathan Massari along with two other men and a woman have been arrested for four murders including those of Rizzuto crime family leaders Rocco Sollecito and Lorenzo Giordano.

Arrested along with Massari were Dominico Scarfo, Guy Dion, and Marie-Josée Viau. According to Chief Inspector Guy Lapointe, the four defendants will be charged with planning and executing the 2016 murders of Giordano and Sollecito. They are also suspected of playing a role in the disappearance of brothers Vincenzo and Giuseppe Falduto. Lapointe said “These are all individuals that have been around the organization, running drug-trafficking rings. For us, it’s clear these individuals are related to the Italian Mafia. There is no question there.”

According to Lapointe police believe the killing of mobster Salvatore Scoppa last year was probably revenge for the 2016 mafia hits on Sollecito and Giordano. “To us, Scoppa and Jonathan Massari were the leaders behind these four homicides (in 2016), and for us, the murder of Scoppa was a response to those homicides,” Lapointe said according to a Montreal Gazette report.

Jonathan Massari has been involved with the Montreal Mafia since at least 2011 mostly operating in the cities drug trade. The 2016 murder of the Giordano, Sollecito, and the Falduto brothers were believed to be part of the struggle between Calabrian and Sicilian mafia factions vying for control of the cities lucrative drug markets. Many believe the Ndrangheta played some kind of role in the attacks on the Sicilian based Rizzuto family.

After the fall of the once-powerful Rizzuto clan and the death of longtime godfather Vito Rizzuto Italian organized crime in Montreal was trying to reorganize itself. Rocco Sollecito was seen as a highly influential member of what remained of the old guard of the Rizzuto’s. Giordano was also seen as someone who could play a key role in things if the Rizzuto family somehow remained in power.

The 10-month investigation into the Canadian mafia murders dubbed Project Préméditer could produce even more results in the coming days said, Lapointe. “There is an assumption that these organized crime murders generally can’t be solved. For us, this sends a really clear message to organized crime members that these murders can’t just be committed without fear of being arrested.”

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Chicago mafia leader Joseph Lombardo passed away on Saturday at the age of 90 while doing a life sentence according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

The aging mobster was dealing with various medical problems including throat cancer according to recent reports. It’s still unknown as to what the cause of death was. Lombardo known as “the Clown” was convicted in the landmark 2007 Family Secrets Chicago Outfit trial. The trial also took down other Chicago mob heavyweights including Frank Calabrese Sr. and James Marcello. The case included various charges including multiple mafia murders many of which the jury ultimately deadlocked on although it wasn’t enough to help any of the defendants beat the feds extensive case.

“Joey the Clown Lombardo”

Joseph Lombardo was convicted of racketeering, extortion, loan sharking and the murder of his former friend and businessman Daniel Seifert. According to prosecutors, Seifert was brutally gunned down in front of his wife and young son back in 1974. Seifert was reportedly ready to testify against the Clown in a Teamsters pension fund fraud case. But Joey the Clown maintained that he never knew Seifert planned to testify and didn’t kill him.

During the notorious Family Secrets trial Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Markus Funk said “Mr. Lombardo is a mobster, He’s an Outfit member. He is an Outfit boss with no remorse. He has shown no remorse.” Lombardo claimed he was not given a fair trial but U.S. District Judge James Zagel was not in agreement. He put Joseph Lombardo behind bars for life!

Lombardo’s criminal career began at an early age as a thief and tough guy before being introduced into the Chicago Outfit. He began as a driver and over the years made his way through the ranks. He was seen as a rising star at one point and was seen by some as a possible successor to former boss Anthony Accardo. He has multiple run-ins with the law over the years which landed him behind bars for extended periods of time.

The former Grand Avenue crew boss built quite the mafia resume and was once described as one of the Chicago Outfit’s most colorful and ruthless characters. He was certainly anything but a clown even though the infamous nickname stuck with him throughout the years.

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This episode of Mob Talk Sitdown takes a look back at some historical moments within the Philadelphia Mafia that have taken place in October including Halloween.

This Halloween episode of Mob Talk Sitdown with George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser takes a look back at some interesting and still unsolved Philly mafia history. This month marks the 20 year anniversary of the brutal mafia hit on former mob soldier Ron Turchi. According to some reports Turchi was killed because of his association with turncoat Ralph Natale. It was one of the mob rubouts that took place during the Joseph Ligambi era as acting boss. The unsolved Turchi hit is definitely one of the hits the feds would like to tie into a current RICO case if they could somehow put the pieces together.

Mob Talk Sitdown also takes us back to Dante & Luigi’s restaurant on Halloween night in 1989. Nicky Scarfo Jr. was sitting down to enjoy spaghetti and clams when a shooter walked in wearing a Halloween mask and holding a trick or treat bag and shot him multiple times. Even though Nicky somehow survived the brazen attack it was effectively the end of the Scarfo family era in Philadelphia.

According to reports from FBI informants Joey Merlino was the shooter. Joey has long denied having anything to do with the attempted murder. There have never been any charges filed against anyone including Merlino for the legendary Cosa Nostra hit. We may never actually know for sure who pulled the trigger on Nicky Jr. but it seemingly changed the future for many within the organized crime family at the time.

Merlino would eventually take the reins of the Philly mob and has held sway over the family ever since. For more episodes of Mob Talk be sure to follow the guys on YouTube!

Happy Halloween from all of us at About The Mafia!

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Former NYPD detective Louis Eppolito and his partner Stephen Caracappa were infamously known as the Mafia cops.

Back in the 1980s, the duo began working for the Lucchese crime family of the New York Mafia. They passed along intelligence reports on mob rats and carried out several mafia hits for Lucchese family leader Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso. They acted as paid Mafia executions for Casso in exchange for a monthly salary. In 2005 things would come crashing down after both Eppolito and Caracappa were arrested by the DEA. Both of them were convicted in 2006 for their involvement in the eight murders carried out on behalf of the Cosa Nostra family and sentenced to life behind bars.

“Louis Eppolito”

Louis Eppolito was 71 years old. The cause of death was not released but he had reportedly been struggling with multiple health issues. His daughter, Andrea Eppolito-Fisher wrote in a Facebook post “My father, Louis John Eppolito, died peacefully in his sleep at 9:03 pm. He died like he lived, on his own terms, as a fighter. And I will miss him and love him forever.”

Gruesome details of murders committed by Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were revealed during their trial. In one hit carried out by the Mafia cops, a canary was shoved into the mouth of a dead Lucchese family associate that Casso and others suspected of rating out the organized crime family to the feds. Caracappa passed away back in 2017 at the age of 75.

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Salvatore “Sam” Piccolo a soldier in the Philadelphia mafia has been sentenced to over 12 years behind bars for fraud and drug trafficking.

Piccolo admitted to staging a New Jersey pawn shop robbery so the owner could collect insurance money along with selling nearly half a pound of meth to an undercover FBI agent according to this DOJ report. The 68-year-old Jersey-based mobster has also been ordered to pay $174,025 in restitution to the insurance company that paid out for the fake claim. Piccolo has long-standing family ties to the mafia in Philadelphia. His uncle Anthony “Tony Buck” Piccolo was once the families acting boss and his nephew Domenic Grande is an alleged member and captain.

A mafia turncoat within the family has been recording conversations with mobsters from both the Philly and Jersey factions for over two years. This played a part in not only Piccolo’s arrest but also the arrest of fellow mob soldier Joseph (Joey Electric) Servidio. The hundreds of hours of recorded conversations allege the trafficking of various narcotics along with stolen cigarettes.

According to some reports, one of the people frequently referred to but unnamed on the tapes was, in fact, Domenic Grande. Salvatore Piccolo reported to Grande (his captain) in the Philly mob hierarchy according to sources. Grande has been referred to as a rising star within the Cosa Nostra family. He has also been on the fed’s radar for some time now.

They believe he may have been the shooter in the 2012 mafia hit on mob associate Gino DiPietro although he’s never faced charges in the case. It seems likely that the feds made an unsuccessful attempt at flipping Salvatore “Sam” Piccolo before putting him away in hopes of building a case against Grande and others within the organized crime family.

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According to the DOJ report, four Lucchese crime family mobsters were convicted today of murder, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies in the Michael Meldish murder case.

Matthew Madonna, Steven Crea, Christopher Londonio, and Terrence Caldwell were all found guilty as charged. According to evidence presented during the trial, Madonna who was acting boss of the New York Mafia family became displeased with Meldish in 2013 because he refused to collect debts owed to him. He put out the order to have Meldish killed. Crea the Cosa Nostra families underboss then and now participated in the decision to have Meldish killed. He relayed the orders he got from Madonna to lower-ranking members of the crime family.

“Matthew Madonna and Steven Crea”

Londonio a soldier in the Lucchese family acted on Crea’s orders he helped set up Meldish to be killed and acted as the getaway driver. Evidence presented at trial also showed that as acting boss of the NY Mafia family Madonna received payments from a host of other illegal activities, including the extortion of labor union members, loansharking, illegal gambling operations, and drug-trafficking.

Crea was personally involved in several criminal schemes, including fraud and extortion in a large construction project at a public hospital, the extortion of one of his subordinates, and ordering the assault of a relative according to evidence. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “The violent and disturbing acts of these four organized crime figures included the brutal murder of associate Michael Meldish. Fittingly, all four defendants have been found guilty of their heinous acts of fraud, extortion, and murder on the six-year anniversary of Meldish’s death. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we will continue our commitment to making organized crime a thing of a bygone era.”

Here is a complete list of charges in which the defendants were found both guilty of and acquitted on:

MADONNA, 84, of the Bronx, New York; CREA, 72, of Crestwood, New York; LONDONIO, 45, of Hartsdale, New York; and CALDWELL, 61, of Manhattan, New York, were each found guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; and use of a firearm in furtherance of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

CREA was acquitted of one count of attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering.

LONDONIO was also found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. LONDONIO was acquitted of one count of attempting to escape from the Metropolitan Detention Center.

CALDWELL was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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