All Blog Posts Tagged 'Philadelphia' (54)

By David Amoruso

A former mobster, a professional MMA fighter, and a writer-director have joined forces to bring the public much laughter with a brand-new YouTube Channel and podcast. The move away from the Mafia underworld was the best decision they ever made. “We just want to enjoy life and have a laugh.”

They make…

Estimate members: Around twenty active members.

First Boss: Salvatore Sabella started the family in 1911.

Primary activities: Extortion, bookmaking, gambling, drug…

By David Amoruso

Philadelphia crime family soldier Philip Narducci (photo above) was hit with extortion charges on Thursday. Prosecutors claim Narducci and fellow mobster James Gallo were extorting and threatening a man who had borrowed money from Narducci.

Though 56-year-old Narducci is said to have fronted the…

By David Amoruso

As a vor v zakone, mob boss Razhden Shulaya (above) was an official member of a century-old criminal tradition. As such, he was treated as Russian Mafia royalty. He used that position to run a sprawling organization involved in kidnapping, assault, fraud, extortion, and money laundering throughout the…

By David Amoruso

Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino joked around with reporters outside Manhattan federal court yesterday. How could he not? Two years ago, he was indicted in a huge conspiracy case involving members and captains of five different Mafia families. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to just 2…

By Gangsters Inc. Editors

When vandals attacked Philadelphia Mafia capo Dominick Grande’s South Philly home, smashing all the windows, and yelling “Fuck Joe!”, news reporter Dave Schratwieser was on the scene and…

By David Amoruso

The summer has arrived and before the boys from Philly pack their stuff to enjoy the shore, crime reporters George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser discuss a dark cloud hanging over them as well as why mob boss Joey Merlino was meeting with Robert De Niro.

Right off the bat, the two get to business.…

By Gangsters Inc. Editors

Philadelphia Mafia boss Joseph Merlino’s…

By David Amoruso

At 6’4” Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran literally was a towering figure. But to those who knew him in the American underworld, he was even taller. A fearsome force who had honed his deadly skills as a combat-hardened rifleman during the Second World War fighting the Nazis. Back home, he became a Mafia hitman,…

By David Amoruso

Joseph Merlino’s bet paid off big time! The alleged boss of the Philadelphia crime family…

By David Amoruso

Organized crime in New Jersey goes way back and features some of the most colorful characters and powerhouses one can imagine. Gangsters Inc. sat down with mob author Scott Deitche, who details this rich and violent history in his new book Garden State Gangland: The Rise of the Mob in New…

By David Amoruso

Philadelphia Mafia boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino took a huge gamble and won big yesterday when his high-profile racketeering case ended in a mistrial. After three weeks, followed by almost 30 hours of deliberations, the jury remained hopelessly deadlocked.…

By David Amoruso

Is the stress of a long life in the Mafia finally becoming too much for Philadelphia mob boss…

By David Amoruso

It was one of the biggest art heists in the world, the largest one in the United States. $500 million worth of paintings were stolen from Boston’s Gardner Art Museum. Investigators soon found that the theft had the Mafia’s fingerprints on it.

• Read: …

By David Amoruso

It’s the scream that hits you. Then the gunshots. Followed by the realization that you’ve just watched and heard a mob hit. When Philadelphia crime family underboss Joseph “Joey Chang” Ciancaglini was shot in his diner in March of 1993 federal agents were watching and listening as well. It did little to help Joey Chang,…

By Gangsters Inc. Editors

Mob author George Anastasia and crime reporter Dave Schratweiser discuss the government's racketeering case against Philly Mafia boss Joseph Merlino. The flamboyant Don was caught on tape talking about committing murder and…

By David Amoruso

They may both be standup guys, but if it’s up to Genovese family capo Eugene “Rooster” Onofrio, he won’t stand trial alongside codefendant and Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino. Apparently, Onofrio's legal team is making moves this week, claiming the 75-year-old capo wants to be tried separately from Merlino in the…

By Gangsters Inc. Editors

The high-profile case against infamous Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino got a lot weaker yesterday after it became known that a mob informant accidentally deleted a treasure trove of criminal recordings…

By David Amoruso

Move over SEAL Team Six! You guys have tried and failed. You’ve been like “pussycats” while fighting terrorists! At least, that’s what former Philadelphia Mafia boss Ralph Natale…

By David Amoruso

Razhden Shulaya’s influence reached far. As a bona fide “Vor” – the Russian Mafia’s equivalent of a made guy – he was feared and revered by his underlings and had powerful connections in the Eastern European underworld. But…