Crime

La Cosa Nostra Rebound: Philadelphia Mafia Seems to Be ‘Alive and Well’

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Just a few years ago, federal authorities thought they had the Philadelphia-area mob close to sleeping with the fishes: One boss had turned government informant, his successor was convicted of racketeering and the underworld organization seemed in disarray.

But a federal grand jury report unsealed Monday, announcing charges against the top two reputed Philadelphia mobsters and 11 others, paints a picture of La Cosa Nostra as alive and well.

Its 70 pages detail an operation that has rebounded and is thriving in some of classic staples of organized crime: sports betting, electronic gambling, coded conversations and violent threats.

“Despite the clear history over the past 30 years, there are people still willing to be involved in this type of activity,” said Barry Gross, a former assistant U.S. attorney who helped bring down several city crime bosses. “These allegations seem to be in line with what they’ve always done. … It continues.”

The old-school hallmarks of organized crime are detailed in a report that reads like something straight from the big screen, replete with real-life characters who go by “Uncle Joe,” ”Mousie,” ”Bent Finger Louie“ and ”Sheep.”

The report outlines a structured world of bosses and underbosses, where members are “made” or “straightened out” in a ceremony where a knife and gun are displayed, and the potential member must agree to be willing to use either of them to help “our friends.“ The guiding rule of this underworld is ”omerta,” the code of silence, the grand jurors wrote, and the penalty for violating that code is death.

The indictment alleges that reputed mob leader Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi, reputed underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino and 11 others engaged in loan sharking and ran illegal gambling businesses involving video poker machines and sports bookmaking.

There are no murder charges, but authorities allege the men used threats to kill or harm people to recoup business debts.

In April 2002, for example, two of the defendants went to collect “Uncle Joe’s money“ and one of them told the debtor that he was ”capable of cracking” the victim if necessary, the grand jurors allege. In another instance a month later, two defendants allegedly told a victim they had repeatedly assaulted another debtor, once with a bat.

The indictment paints a picture of a classic world of coded talk, where illegal gambling machines — placed in coffee shops, restaurants and other places — are spoken of as espresso or coffee machines. Reputed mobsters and associates engage in and secret “walk and talks,” the report alleges, having covert conversations on foot to hinder interception.

“Organized crime still exists in the Philadelphia area,” George Venizelos, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia field division, said at a news conference announcing the charges. “It has not disappeared.”

That’s a different tune than authorities were singing several years back, especially after former mob boss Ralph Natale was sentenced in 2005 to 13 years in prison.

Natale is believed to be the first reigning mob boss ever to testify for federal authorities.

It 1999, Natale admitted he ordered or personally committed a total of eight murders in exchange for a shorter prison term. He later testified in four trials, including that of Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino, the man investigators say succeeded him as leader. Merlino and six others were convicted of racketeering and other mob-related activities but cleared on murder and attempted murder charges.

“He helped expose it and helped eradicate the La Cosa Nostra in the Philadelphia area,” Gross said then.

In announcing the latest arrests, however, federal authorities described a revived and reinvigorated criminal enterprise that, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said, “has shown a remarkable ability to reorganize.”

Edwin J. Jacobs Jr., an attorney who has represented Merlino and other alleged mobsters in the past, said prosecutors typically talk in cycles.

“At the conclusion of a racketeering case, the government will announce that they have delivered a fatal blow to organized crime,” said Jacobs, who declined to address the latest charges specifically. “But when they indict the next case, they readily acknowledge a healthy and a vibrant and a powerful organization.”

Gross said every past prosecution has hurt La Cosa Nostra significantly, but the potential for making money keeps people coming back.

“It’s about the money. It’s always about the money,” he said.

One notable absence from the indictment is actual violence, something noted by a federal magistrate at a detention hearing for Ligambi and another defendant.

A decade ago, the last big mob indictment alleged three slayings, part of a bloody period in which more than 30 people were killed in gangland violence — starting with the March 21, 1980, assassination of former crime boss Angelo Bruno.

The latest incarnation of the city’s La Cosa Nostra, authorities allege, rules based on past reputation and fear.

“What they’re banking on is fear,” federal prosecutor John S. Han said. “They don’t need to commit actual violence.”

Comments (87)

1 2
  • Bushie
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:39am

    I got news for all you people out there, the Chicago mob is running this country now, it’s called unions. The obama’s are nothing more then a front and, an ugly one at that.

    Report Post » Bushie  
    • let us prey
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 10:03am

      Who better to regulate the Chicago mob than A G Holder. It would be cool to see a headline that 100′s of mobsters were arrested in a White House sting today. This would be a giant step forward in the nations fight to end organized crime. NOT.

      Report Post » let us prey  
    • Bushie
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 10:33am

      Ha, Ha. Great stuff.

      Report Post » Bushie  
  • Gita
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:33am

    Growing up in NJ in a neighborhood where mafia families lived I got news for you the mafia have no use for the likes of Obama and his ilk.

    Report Post » Gita  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:16am

    What would Ubama’s mafia nickname be?

    Barry “Big Ears” Soetoro?

    Barack “Insane” Ubama?

    Report Post » ShyMan  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:12am

    I remember what one of the biggest sports bettors said on 60 minutes. The biggest crooks he ever met were on Wall Street. Gambling is legal in many countries around the world and had been around forever. As far as the mob goes nasty people but the clowns in government are nastier, where does it say in the Constitution no Gambling or anything as a matter of fact, We let these so called morality freeks decide everything for us like we are little babies. No Thanks if I want to gamble I will, leave it alone and let people decide instead of forcing people to go to the mob, which creates a bigger problem. Oh I forgot, Richard Trumpka leader of the AFL-CIO goes to the WH all the time, the same AFL-CIO investigated by the Kennedy’s for connections to organized crime, Pres from Chicago,Rahm Emmanuel mayor Chicago, hmmmmmm maybe the justice dept should look into to that.

    Report Post »  
  • 9thCommandment
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:49am

    Story floated so BHO admin can parade their fighting of organized crime while the rest of us can’t walk down the street at night….unless we live in a gated community, isn’t that something like having a moat?

    Report Post »  
  • bluzrider
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:40am

    As long as there is a market for what the mob provides, their will always be a mob. The FBI will never get rid of the mob, weather it’s the Italians, the Russians, the Asians, the Mexicans, The Black city mobs, Biker Clubs, Everyone gets into the act.

    As long as there is money to be made there will always be a mob.

    Organized Crime is a way of life in America, Its been here a long time, and will be for a long time to come.

    When you pick on only one mob, like the Italian Mafia, you just cover up the fact that there are a hundreds of other mobs out there to fill the void.

    The Mafia will be back, no matter how many bosses they get to testify against each other, or they bust and put them in jail, there will always be someone to take their places.

    It the way they are structured that makes them still to this day the most powerful mob in the country. They taught all the other how to do it, and most of them still have to listen to the Italians, and pay the street tax to do business in their respective territories.

    The FBIs job will never be done on this issue, and they know it.

    Report Post »  
  • moonpeace
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:37am

    Listen, organized crime exists in every state and probably in every country. Murder and serious violence are not cool, but there are a few aspects of organized crime that are good for people…because it keeps them safe. Example: in the ’70s I was robbed by three men of many thousands of dollars while living in Baltimore County, MD. I knew the names of the guys who did it, but by myself I was powerless to do anything about it. I went to see my Uncle Benny Trotta with my proof. Less than a week later Uncle Benny called me to his house. I entered and there was my money stacked up, counted and sitting on the dining room table…every dollar was accounted for. I knew better than to ask my uncle for any details. Those three men disappeared from town, and they were never heard from again. I’m not saying I believe they were killed, but I do believe they were taught a lesson. Now this was a type of situation where for various reasons, mostly to protect myself from prosecutiion, I couldn’t report the crime to the police. As it turned out I never needed to…thanks to Uncle Benny.

    Report Post » moonpeace  
    • bluzrider
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:52am

      Everyone could use an Uncle Benny from time to time. In this new world that our politicians are creating, black markets are going to spring up all throughout the country, and who’s going to take care of business for you. The Police? I don’t think so.

      Their motto has changed from “Protect and Serve” to Prey upon and “Make’m Pay”. The police no longer help citizens and protect them. They have only one job as of now. They have become revenue generators for their respective organizations.

      Hey, that sounds a lot like the way organized crime works. Just where do you think they learned that lesson from?

      Maybe Uncle Benny?

      Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:00am

      sounds like a movie script….

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:35am

    @ Angelcat
    You’ve hit the nail on the head. The Democrats are the labor unions, the labor unions are the mob. It’s all one big disgusting family.

    Report Post »  
  • angelcat
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:18am

    I wonder now if it is underground gas they can provide? Soon it will be the foods that Michelle forces restaurants and supermarkets not to handle. What I worry about it that Obama will find some way to use the group to bribe and threaten voters to insure his election in 2012. After all, they are almost as bad as the unions.

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:10am

    Fuhgiddaboutit!

    Report Post » ares338  
  • 912828Buckeye
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:00am

    There is always a force preying on the weak, its called evil.

    Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
  • philly bill
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 7:35am

    generally speaking, the Mafia leaves you alone if you leave them alone, that’s not the case with the government, local, state or federal. They force themselves on us, take huge amounts of money from each of us then waste it on stupid programs and themselves.

    Report Post »  
  • Reality Shack
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 7:31am

    Given a choice, I would just as soon let the Mafia run the country than the bunch in there now.

    Report Post » Reality Shack  
  • hottips2011
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 7:12am

    La Cosa Nostra Rebound: Philadelphia Mafia Seems to Be ‘Alive and Well’

    With the SAME amount of transparency as the current administration……..

    Report Post » hottips2011  
  • patfoust
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 6:45am

    Why aren’t we getting more of this in our media?

    Report Post »  
  • Papa Joe
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 6:36am

    Instead of going after the Mafia, go after the REAL gangsters, the POLITICIANS, who have their hands in everyone’s pockets!

    Report Post »  
    • jacobstroubles
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:38am

      OH…but wait, the really fun is about to begin. states like Ca and many other really soon will let vile filth back out in to your streets and your communities. They have no morals, no ethics, no rules.
      They’ll steal, rape, mame, kill just for the shear opportunity of acting out on their uncontrollable impulses of creating havoc. These are degenerate and defective -useless pieces of garbage.
      And yes, the white collar crock have pretty much done the same thing to the tax payers on our dime, and the only difference is they did it with a suite and tie. They are from the same cesspool!

      Report Post »  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 5:51am

    Who is concerned with the mafia these days….we have Obama to worry about.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 5:35am

    The city of brotherly love?

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 3:56am

    the mafia is in the white house but its members are more colorful

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 12:13pm

      Just a color clarification thing, darker is less color, brighter is more color, just saying.

      Report Post »  
    • devilhasforktongue
      Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:45am

      Well just to let you know that this country will NEVER HAVE AN ITALIAN PRESIDENT, NEVER!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:45am

    All mafia style organizations flourish under this administration. Kindred spirits I guess.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:59am

      The mafia is more anti government than the tea party. The government and mafia are both PREDATORS going after the same chunk of meat………

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 4:19am

      i thought the obama administration and their anti American,buddies where the mafia, don’t they all come from the same area. Chicago, Philadelphia, New York,heck they all know each other, they may not KNOW each other, as obama said,but they have been seen together, lairs,cheats and thieves,the u s government.

      Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 7:09am

      Just look at the “services” provided by the mafia: loan sharking, bookmaking, gambling. Whenever people are in financial need the mafia profits.

      I disagree that the mob is a predator. It is a PARASITE. Um… that is… IF such an organization actually existed… that is… yeah… that’s the ticket!

      Report Post »  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:29am

    The Chicago mafia is alive and well in the White House. So, why wouldn’t La Cosa Nostra make a comeback as well. Organized crime is all the rage be it the world banks, the unions, corportations in bed with the federal government, the drug cartels crossing our Southern border, or even “spooky dude’s” not-for-profit political family of organizations . What’s a little mafioso thuggary as long as its kept in the the “Family”!

    Report Post »  
    • The Patriot
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 4:35am

      thanks

      Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:30am

      With the La Cosa Nostra, most of us can live our lives and never have to come in contact with it. The politicians, bankers, public service union bosses, they infect our lives and freedom on a daily basis.

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:43am

      The DEMOCRAT PARTY hates competition. Look for a new Vendetta

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • EP46
      Posted on May 31, 2011 at 6:34am

      @Bonnie
      My thoughts exactly. The Philly mob will never catch up with the Chicago mob. I have read that the Russian mob makes zillions ripping off medicare/medicaid. The Mexican mob is making more money on drugs than the national debt and this administration is helping them. Don’t worry about Philly.

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:26am

    Good…. I think the world could use some old school charm of the mafia… maybe they can put the politicians and the terrorists in their place.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:53am

    Question if you had a choice would you want a Italian gang or a black or Mexican gang in your neighborhood..Video porker vs human trafficking …

    Report Post » Thevoice  
    • Buck Bagaw
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 10:39am

      Excuse my ignorance, but what the hell is ‘video porker’. I’m having a bit of trouble in the pure thoughts department here.

      Report Post »  
  • LetUsReason
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:53am

    There will always be secret combinations.

    Report Post »  
    • Dakotobol
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 7:11am

      Yeah…..what about those BLACK PANTHERS?

      Report Post » Dakotobol  
    • teachermitch32
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 11:15am

      Ohbama does the “walk and talk” all the time. sometimes he’s sitting, lying down, flapping his gums behind the teleprompter. Ya never know.

      Report Post »  
    • devilhasforktongue
      Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:47am

      What about the ignorant devils?

      Report Post »  
  • alexw3086
    Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:47am

    First!

    Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:51am

      Hey anyone remember where those Black Panthers intimidated voters , on behalf of Hussein ?
      Was that the same city where they wanted to kill craka babies ?
      I wonder which city that was ?

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Showtime
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:24am

      You’re good, Cheez! You’re good! You don’t forget a thing!

      I would love to get your reaction to the video you’ll find if you do a search for “Harrison J. Bounel.” (That’s a hint, Cheez.)

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:32am

      @alexw3086

      “First.” Yes you were. Why did you waste the opportunity? Did I miss the point of your comment? I have to say I don’t feel as though I learned much from your brilliant insights.

      But hey thanks for playing! Please feel free to post again once you grow up.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • brickmoon
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 2:39am

      Huh? Don‘t know what you’re talking about, Cheez. (Shhhh, omerta — code of silence, remember?)

      Report Post » brickmoon  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 3:21am

      First to the pig trough. Yes, lets wallow in the slop. Oh, wait you were trying to make an intelligent post. Well by all means, proceed……..

      The mafia whether it be the Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, or Italian Mafia, they are all gang members and should be treated as such. Taken to the shed and give them the business. Maybe a trip to Cuba.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • GODSAMERICA
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 3:56am

      Of course there are still people wanting to play La Cosa Nostra. Prime examples: every single union in this country! If they don’t get their way then they work on “taking out” the people that are against them! It doesn‘t matter if it’s the auto unions, police unions, teacher unions or the unions unions they are all the same. Anti-Freedom, Anti-American, Anti-Capitalism, Anti-anyone having money or the say in anything except themselves.

      Report Post » GODSAMERICA  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 5:31am

      This is intended to be a distraction from the White House Mob

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Smug
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 5:45am

      @GODSAMERICA

      Excellent comparison and Trumpka LOOKS and ACTS like a Mafia thug. Except for one thing the Mafia has a code of honor, Unions have none…….MSSMUG

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 5:57am

      Alex is always first

      Report Post »  
    • thebarbarian
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 6:05am

      @ darmok.. good points. people need to wake up and for the already awake. to use a phrase the libs abuse… “in times like these”… we need lots of caffine so pass the high test java and wathch the other hand.

      not to be overly technical or anything, but Mafia is a family name and they like to be called the family. i just call them thugs or criminals.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:22am

      @Cheeze:

      Interesting they will go after the La Cosa Nostra; yet the New Black Panthers are left alone…

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • avenger
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 8:46am

      black panthers are on the endangered species list courtesy of owebummer.they will be expunged from that list 1/25/13 ….

      Report Post »  
    • AKMIIKEUS
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 9:16am

      Hey anyone remember when black people were intimidated by white people and couldn’t vote?

      Many black people were not allowed to vote in the 1940′s, 1950′s and 1960’s because the white people in the South used any excuse to not allow black’s to register to vote. They required people to pass a test and pay money to vote (a poll tax).

      I’m sure you remember those days Cheeze, you don’t forget a thing.

      Report Post » AKMIIKEUS  
    • Nation under God
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 10:25am

      It reminds me of our government:

      “The powers of financial capitalism had another far reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements, arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences. The apex of the system was the Bank for International Settlements in Basle, Switzerland, a private bank owned and controlled by the worlds central banks which were themselves private corporations. The growth of financial capitalism made possible a centralization of world economic control and use of this power for the direct benefit of financiers and the indirect injury of all other economic groups.”. (by Stephen gallo) jonesreport, The Globalists Plan for a Coming World Currency ,Mark Matheny
      Sic Semper Tyrannis
      September 23, 2010

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 10:54am

      @Showtime
      Good morning, cheese, Show, 82nd, And all.

      Very interesting Harrison J, Jingle hymer President,.
      Show, just the fact that he lied about the BC being a S.C.A.N is an impeachable offense, like Nixons lie was. Have you contacted Allen West about this?

      Report Post »  
    • GODSAMERICA
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 12:05pm

      @Smug
      Very good point, I missed that distinction that shows the La Cosa Nostra with more integrity and honor than the regular union wannabe mobsters and the WH wannabe be mobsters.

      Report Post » GODSAMERICA  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 12:11pm

      @Amikus
      Yes I recall that era, back when the democrats of the south voted 78-0 against the civil rights law, and when the democratic voting KKK was your parties big deal. Yes sir I’d say the democratic party still has a stranglehold on all things race, thank for sticking your foot in your mouth for us as a reminder though, rflmao at you!

      Report Post »  
    • Nation under God
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:10pm

      Showtime. O’ in prison on Memorial Day. The Drunk B. Takes his place

      Harrison J. Bounel, Obama’s new alias as of Nov. 2009.

      There will be no adoring crowds for Obama on this campaign trail. It’s too many things suppressed, lies told, backgrounds unsubstantiated, and false claims for anybody to stomach. The Czars, a Congress in hiding, canned speeches, some of them the same now as in 2007. Nobody is listening as the last vestages of the long ride Obama has taken since leaving the last 2 years of his Senatorship to run for Office begin to sink to the bottom of the well. We always ask “Are you better now than you were 4 years ago?”
      In this video a debt collector was hired to find out information for a client. During an actual “skip trace” in which the collector tries to locate the real debtor in Chicago. Michelle Obama’s name came up as a neighbor of the debtor in the 1990s. Then he clicked on Michelle’s name and Obama came up, then his aliases with addresses and social security number. One of the aliases is a Harrison J. Bounel with Obama’s social security number used in November of 2009…Harrison J. Bounel… 5046 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Barry Sortero has been wiped out, according to this “skip tracer.” When he clicked on relatives for Harrison J. Bounel, Michelle’s name came up as of October 2010 at that Greenwood Avenue address. The house, it turns out was not owned by the Obamas. It is owned by a Circuit Court Judge from Chicago Judge Ja

      Report Post »  
    • Ranubis
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:14pm

      Forgetaboutit, there ain’t know such ting as da Mafia. It doesn’t exist, day made it up to arrest, poor hard working people like me.

      “Hay Fat Pauly did you take care of dat ting at da butcher shop”

      (in case anyone missed it this was a joke, and yes I’m Sicilian)

      Report Post » Ranubis  
    • Nation under God
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:17pm

      Continued…

      When he clicked on relatives for Harrison J. Bounel, Michelle’s name came up as of October 2010 at that Greenwood Avenue address. The house, it turns out was not owned by the Obamas. It is owned by a Circuit Court Judge from Chicago Judge Jane L. Stuart who was an Obama contributor AND Harvey Weinberg, a tax lawyer with the Law Firm Weinberg, Solomon, Howell & Shane.
      It’s much more convoluted listen to the whole interview:

      From showtime…listen to this….crooks in office…
        http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=77923

      Report Post »  
    • Nation under God
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 1:22pm

      Citizens’ arrest, get all the crooks connected with O’

      Chi-com implant: our O’criminal

      Listen to this…http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=77923

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on May 30, 2011 at 3:41pm

      .
      It’s Philly.
      It’s a dump.
      What else do you need to know?

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
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