A once powerful associate of the New England Mafia turned rat John “Sonny” Castagna passed away at the age of 72. He was once described as one of the most treacherous men in Hartford but after being indicted along with a Patriarca crime family crew for running gambling parlors in 1991 he decided to flip. Along with his son John “Jackie” Johns who also flipped became key witnesses in a federal racketeering case that annihilated the New England mafia known as the Patriarca Family. Over the past six years Castagna had been living in a retirement complex in Florida under the name John Serreno in the witness protection program. The Florida complex stated it was dedicated to expressing christian compassion, love, and concern for aging adults providing them with an atmosphere to enjoy independent well being seemed to be a nice and quiet place for the former mobster to spend his final days.

“John Castagna”

Although even into his finals days many believe that Castagna had not completely confessed all of his sins to the feds. The former mobster was again under investigation this time his suspected role in the murder of a local boxer named Eric Miller back in 1988. The young boxer had gotten into a confrontation with then Patriarca family underboss William “The Wild Guy” Grasso slugging him in the head knocking him out cold in front of a crowd in South End. A former Grasso associate said that anyone associated with the mafia knew the unwritten rule that anyone that hit a made member of La Cosa Nostra with out permission signed their own death warrant. Billy Grasso was all about the rules and La Cosa Nostra and we all knew as soon as we heard that the Miller kid was gone he said.
 

Authorities had recently reopened the case and believed that Grasso had given the order to kill Miller to Castagna and Johns and they carried it out. According to Millers girlfriend he took a call from Johns at his apartment the night he was shot. Both Castagna and Johns were friendly with Miller before the altercation with Grasso had taken place. Johns and Castagna were questioned by defense lawyers during the racketeering trial against the Patriarca family offering less then certain testimony but were never charged for any part in the mob hit. Hartford Police decided to take another look at the case and possibly compel testimony along with a Grand Jury although they have now lost one of their key leads with the passing of Castagna.

Reputed Ndrangheta or Calabrian mafia leader Carmelo Bruzzese captured in Toronto is now facing deportation back to Italy. Italian authorities raided the home of Bruzzese in Italy locating a sophisticated secret bunker containing water , food, and a air filtration system but the mobster was no where to be found. He had fled to Canada living along with his Canadian daughter and grandchildren where he had strong mafia ties going back several years. Canada’s Immigration Task Force now wants him to be deported because his status as a mafia leader makes him ineligible to be in Canada. Authorities in Italy claim that Bruzzese is a key link between the Calabrian mafia and Sicilian mafia in both Italy and Canada. A police source said that he mixes with the hierarchy of both organized crime groups as they co-operate and compete on numerous ventures. He is also known to be a close contact to the Sicilian based Rizzuto crime family in Montreal and mob boss Vito Rizzuto.

“Carmelo Bruzzese”

Bruzzese the reputed boss of a Grotteria mob clan in Italy directed drug trafficking , murders, corruption along with many other mafia related crimes. Italian prosecutors claim the Rizzuto family from Montreal has maintained close ties to Italy which included those with Bruzzese. It was during mafia investigations into the Rizzuto families Italian connections in 2007 that the transatlantic connections of Bruzzese were found. Many mob insiders in Canada believe the recent attacks on the Rizzuto family were backed by the rival Calabrian mafia clans in Toronto attempting to wrestle control on Montreal from Vito Rizzuto which has lead to a bloody mafia war. It is unclear as to any part Bruzzese may have had in these recent attacks or his current relationship with the Rizzuto family and boss Vito Rizzuto. In Italy he was repeatedly seen meeting with other powerful mafia bosses and was caught on wiretaps discussing mob business. While in Canada he often spent time in cafes north of Toronto which were known to be frequented by mob figures from the Ndrangheta according to police sources. It was said he was so respected in Toronto that when he entered one of these cafes patrons would stand up in a sign of respect until he sat down often at the head of the table or a seat that denoted authority.
 

This latest Montreal mafia war has caused the Canadian government to take a much tougher stance against Italian mafia groups recently attempting to have many of them deported back to Italy where mafia laws are much stronger. Mobsters from the various mafia families in Italy are aware of the lack of laws Canada has to use against them and more and more over years have established roots there to take advantage. Mr Bruzzese is currently in a Refugee Board detention review and Italian authorities want him to remain in prison until a decision is reached in a deportation hearing because he is a likely risk to flee.

The Detroit mafia also known as the Detroit partnership has always been a very low key La Cosa Nostra family avoiding much of the media attention attached to other families in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. With much of its membership and hierarchy having family ties the Detroit mob family has been with out much of the turncoats and rats that have decimated many of the other remaining mob families across the country. This has allowed the Partnership to maintain a stable leadership base over the years being run by some of the more successful mob bosses in history. Although like all of the mafia families across America the Detroit mob has lost some of its power base and former luster and many believe may be moving into its final stage of power as a new era is set to begin.

“Jack Giacalone” 

For first time in over thirty years a new boss is set to take the reigns of the Partnership as current aging boss Giacomo “Jack” Tocco is believed to soon step down. The current street boss and acting boss Jack “Jackie the Kid” Giacalone is set to officially take control of the Detroit mob many believe with in the next couple of years. Jackie the kid is the son of former Detroit mafia underboss Vito “Billy Jack” Giacalone and nephew of infamous Detroit mobster Anthony “Tony Jack” Giacalone. Jack Giacalone is known for being much more like his uncle then his father with a more flashy and egotistical side unlike many of the previous mob bosses in Detroit. Mafia insiders believe that once the younger and more hands on Giacalone takes over the way the Partnership conducts business will under go a change.
 

Jack Tocco known as more of a boardroom boss preferred being very low key and under the radar staying more hands off on the streets allowing underlings to do the families dirty work with little direct access to him. Using a business degree he earned from University of Detroit Jack Tocco built a very profitable business portfolio as head of the organized crime family and avoided any major convictions only spending 2 years in prison for a single charge over his thirty plus year run. Jack Giacalone differs from this business style of Tocco and is a more traditional style of mafioso having a much bigger street level presence. He is seen as a much more daring and aggressive leader and unlike former low key leaders like the Tocco’s and Zerilli’s not as worried about heat from law enforcement. Many mob insiders believe that once Jackie the Kid is in full control of the family we may see a move to grow the family in size and scope.
 

But by pushing the boundaries and making an evolutionary change in the way the Detroit mafia does business Jack Giacalone may speed along its inevitable downfall. With the recruiting pools drying up one has to wonder how much longer the mafia in Detroit has left before resembling more of a street gang then a mafia family or becomes completely defunct. Only time will tell if a new and more ambitious leader like Jack Giacalone is just what Detroit La Cosa Nostra needs to retain its power over the coming years and maybe even usher in a new era of growth. Or is it just too little too late and the Detroit mob like many other current mob families will simply continue to fade away.

Michele Morelli an alleged mafia hit man for the Sacra Corona Unita was caught on camera seemingly running out of bullets as he attempts to finish off a mob hit. The Sacra Corona Unita or Puglian Mafia is a often lesser known Italian mafia organization as its size and power is not as sizeable as Cosa Nostra or the Ndrangheta. CCTV video captured Morelli as he went to finish off his victim Michele Di’ Bari. Morelli aimed the gun at the head of Di Bari and pulls the trigger several times but seems to have run out of bullets before he could finish the victim causing him to flee. Morelli was captured by Italian authorities several days after the incident. Here is the actual CCTV mafia hit video.

The feds hope that a different jury in the same case against Philadelphia mobsters will lead to a different result. The retrial of reputed Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and his nephew and fellow mobster George Borgesi is set to begin on October 15 and is expected to last anywhere from six to eight weeks. The ground work for the retrial has begun with a pre-trial hearing in which many pre-trial motions and arguments are to be heard by U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno. Both defendants are facing racketeering conspiracy charges that the case is fundamentally build around with Ligambi facing two added gambling charges. This retrial could prove to be a death struggle for the 73 year old Ligambi who could face from 10 to 20 years behind bars if he is convicted of racketeering conspiracy. The stakes are not quite as high for the 50 year old Borgesi but after spending the last 13 years in prison on a previous conviction he could be facing up to another decade in prison if convicted again.

One of the key issue’s being heard in pre-trial motions is the amount of evidence from the first case that will be allowed to be used by the government during the retrial. Prosecutors argue that the conspiracy law grants them substantial leeway and they want permission to basically present the same case used in the original trial. Lawyers for the defendants argue that the prosecution should be limited as to what they can present the second time around. The witnesses , trial exhibits, and recordings used by the government in first Philadelphia mob case would be largely the same as was used in original trial according to U.S. Attorney Frank Labor in his pre-trial motion. Judge Robreno has yet to rule on the motion but any ruling limiting what the prosecution can reuse would be a small victory for the defense.
 

In the trial earlier this year Ligambi was found not guilty on five of nine charges against him and Borgesi not guilty on thirteen of the fourteen charges he faced but the jury hung on the conspiracy charges for both. Of the overall 62 counts in the case the jury came back with not guilty verdicts on 46 counts against the seven defendants. But even with the amount of not guilty verdicts four out of the original seven defendants are now serving prison sentences. The four mobsters convicted included reputed Philadelphia mob underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino , mob captain Anthony Staino, mob soldier Damion Canalichio , and mob associate Gary Battaglini. Reputed Philadelphia mafia capo Joseph “Scoops” Licata so far is the only one of the defendants to escape with a not guilty verdict and is back on streets of Philadelphia.

Bonnano crime family capo and one time ruling panel member turned rat Ricard “Shellack Head” Cantarella along with his wife and son avoided prison time for their cooperation as many expected. Richard Cantarella who pleaded guilty to three murders was a key witness against former Bonanno family bosses Joseph Massino and Vincent Basciano. He decided to turn against his Mafia family in order to embrace and save his real family. His son Paul Cantarella a Bonnano family soldier was facing up to 20 years in prison for racketeering and wife Castelli was facing up to a year in prison for money laundering. The modern mob family decided to turn on the mafia and entered the witness protection program in 2002. Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis noted that the Cantarella family had made mafia history by helping dismantle the Bonanno family and that this was a very unusual sentencing proceeding before letting the three off with no prison time.

Richard Cantarella said after sentencing the best thing he did was get his son out of the mob lifestyle and any chance of his male grandchildren possibly getting into it as well. He said it is a very cunning and treacherous life and who knows how they would of turned out. His son paul said that he had made some bad decisions and would like to put them behind him. Cantarella’s wife Castelli said her husband did all the talking for them and she simply thanked the court for giving her family a second chance.

Richard “Richie Nerves” Fusco the reputed consigliere of the Colombo crime family has passed away at the age of 77. Fusco had just completed serving a four month stint in prison after copping a plea to extortion charges that could of netted him up to two years but got a lighter sentence due mostly to medical reasons. Suffering from many ailments including kidney disease Fusco collapsed and died at his brother-in-laws post funeral luncheon last Friday. Fusco took over as consigliere for the Colombo family as a favor to long time pal and imprisoned Colombo boss Carmine “Junior” Persico back in 2008 after then acting boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli and under boss John “Sonny” Franzese were charged with racketeering.

“Richard Fusco”

Fusco was a staunch ally of Persico during the bloody Colombo war in 1991-93 and served 14 years in prison for his efforts in the intra-family violence. According to mob sources he jumped into the role of consigliere with a vengeance and immediately began conducting mob meetings in Brooklyn at his social club. He had these meetings every Tuesday and Thursday as those were the days he traveled there for dialysis treatments. This dedication to the Colombo family and the Mafia led him to what would be his last ever prison term earlier this year as he tried to shake down the Gambino crime family for medical expenses of $150,000 for a Colombo family associate that was stabbed by a mob rival in a dispute. Fusco was one of the last remaining members of the old guard with in the Colombo family and a dying breed of old school mobster.

Nicodemo Scarfo Jr the son of former Philadelphia mafia boss Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo is headed to trial in October but his wife and cousin are not as they have pleaded guilty for their parts in th FirstPlus Financial scheme. Nicky Jr was part of a scam that attempted to siphon over $12 million dollars from the Texas based FirstPlus Financial Group Inc. His wife Lisa Marie Scarfo plead guilty to mortgage fraud using money obtained from the FirstPlus takeover , she now faces up to five years in prison. John Parisi pleaded guilty and admitted that he conspired to defraud the financial group along with his cousin Nicky Scarfo and he faces up to five years in prison. Authorities claim the group headed by Scarfo used intimidation to take over the company back in 2007 and then used shell companies to steal proceeds.

“Nicky Scarfo Jr”

Back in 1989 the younger Scarfo was shot eight times as he was having dinner at Dante’s& Luigi’s Restaurant in South Philly in what was considered an attempted mob hit. With little protection left in the Philadelphia mafia after his father was convicted he relocated to New Jersey and as a favor to his father was inducted as a member of the Lucchese crime family of the New York mafia at rank of soldier protecting him against any further attempts on his life. Scarfo’s father Nicky Sr and former Lucchese family boss Victor Amuso who are both currently serving life sentences were named as unindicted co-conspirators in the case.

Francis “BF” Guerra a long time associate of the Colombo crime family was sentenced to 14 years in prison on a drug conviction. Authorities claimed he fraudulently obtaining and selling the prescription drug Oxycontin after an investigation back in 2010-2011. Guerra was recently acquitted by a jury of two mob hits but U.S. District Judge Sandra Townes she believed the government by a preponderance of evidence had proven he committed the murders. The judge then said she was permitted to consider the violent crimes and his future dangerousness when handing down the stiff 14 year sentence. Gerald McMahon the defense attorney for Guerra said it was a disgrace for judge Townes to tell a jury who said he was not guilty of the murders that he was.

“Francis Guerra”

Feds claimed that Guerra murdered Michael Devine back in 1992 on orders from then acting boss Alphonse Persico the son of official Colombo family boss Carmine Persico Jr. Devine was killed because he had a relationship with Alphonse Persico’s wife. Guerra was also allegedly responsible for the mafia hit on then Colombo family underboss Joseph Scopo during the bloody Colombo family war one of the most violent feuds in mob history. Scopo was part of a faction that was attempting to take control of the mafia family from the Persicos. The murder of Scopo was key to Guerra and his co-conspirators winning the war and the Persico faction maintaining control of the Colombo family. But at trial Guerra claimed that he was home playing the board game clue at the time Scopo was murdered. The jury bought the “Col. Mustard” claim and he was cleared of the Scopo hit along with the murder of Devine.
 

U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said that Guerra chose a life years ago in organized crime which has always been more about money then honor and murder was his stock in trade. She said that this sentence is a harsh warning to others thinking of attempting to illegally traffic these dangerous drugs. It is also a warning to other associates and members of organized crime that they too will be held accountable for such crimes.

New Jersey is finally turning up the heat on a racketeering case against the Lucchese crime family of the New York mafia. In may of 2010 thirty four members and associates of the Lucchese family were indicted for racketeering with charges of gambling and money laundering topping the list. Among the arrested were Lucchese family leaders Matthew Madonna and Joseph DiNapoli who once served as part of a family leading ruling panel that ran the crime family before current boss Steven “Stevie Wonder” Crea was named official boss. Also arrested was Ralph V. Perna which feds claim is a Lucchese family captain who ran the families New Jersey based crew and operations. The case which was called “Operation Heat” focused on a $2.2 billion dollar illegal sports betting business run from a wire room in Costa Rica using the internet according to prosecutors.

“Matthew Madonna and Joseph DiNapoli”

For first time in more the two years a status conference was held and defense pre-trial motions are now due by the end of October. After which another conference all will be held in December and the trial is expected to begin sometime early in 2014. The prosecution is expected to present hundreds of house of wiretap conversations including some from a bug placed in the car of Perna’s son Joseph who often drove around DiNapoli and Madonna to mob meetings and once even to a mob making ceremony held in New Jersey. Prosecutors claim some of these secretly recorded conversations can establish the leadership roles held by both Madonna and DiNapoli. During one conversation Madonna is heard discussing the Jersey based crew of the Lucchese family and its unsettled and Waring factions comparing them to the “Hatfields and McCoys” and explaining how crime family leaders tried to step in and settle the disturbance. Another recording has DiNapoli caught talking about a bookmaking operation that him and Madonna had piece of saying “I got 25 percent of this thing, me and matty”.
 

There are also some violence and threats of violence detailed in affidavits using snippets pulled from recorded conversations including Perna and his sons John and Joseph. Jose Perna was caught on wiretap setting up an assault plan on a non-paying gambling client saying “Go and find this kid … and make an example now … bust his head, I don’t give a (expletive) if it’s three in the morning and I don’t care if you gotta break his front (expletive) door down”. There are also many more recordings some of which have the Perna family discussing the inner workings of the Lucchese family and the brothers talking about the growing role their father was playing in the crime family. The biggest pre-trial issue are these witetap recordings as the defense plans to file motions to have most if not all of them thrown out. Many insiders believe if these tapes and recordings are ruled to be admissible the defendants may scramble to try and work out plea deals.

Richard Uva and Victor Amereno both alleged members of the Gambino crime family have been sentenced for their parts in a large scale illegal gambling operation in Connecticut. Uva was said to be the second in command to Dean DePreta the head of the Gambino family operations in Connecticut according to assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen. Uva helped supervise a network of bookmakers for a large scale sports bookmaking operation along with illegal card playing clubs in the area. According to the FBI the illegal sports betting operation brought in a total revenue of approximately $1.7 million dollars from mid 2010 to June of 2011. Uva also admitted to being involved in an extortion scheme where he collected tribute payments on behalf of the Gambino family and New York mafia from local independent bookmakers in Connecticut.

There were twenty people in total charged in connection with the illegal bookmaking operation and 18 defendants have pleaded guilty so far and agreed to forfeit almost $1.4 million dollars. Uva was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison with 3 more years of probation following his release and has to forfeit $250,000. Amereno was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of probation and has to forfeit $15,000. Earlier this month ring leader DePreta was sentenced to 71 months in prison.

Reputed Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and his nephew and consigliere George Borgesi are once again facing racketeering conspiracy charges at their retrial. Authorities claim that Ligambi took over control of the Philly mafia in 1999 from then boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino after he was sent to prison. Ligambi was acquitted back in February by a jury of five out of the original nine charges he was indicted on in the first Philly mob trial but the jury deadlocked on the remaining four including racketeering conspiracy. If convicted in the retrial Ligambi could face anywhere from 10 to 20 years in prison. The racketeering conspiracy is built around principle gambling charges and so far don’t contain any violent crimes against either Ligambi or Borgesi.

“Joseph Ligambi (left) and George Borgesi (right)”

Prosecutors are hoping to have history on their side with Louis “Bent Finger Lou” Monacello as government witnesses usually do better in retrial appearences. Monacello’s testimony in the first trial did not go over well and was often filled with sarcasm and anger and one trial insider believes he may have been taken to “witness school” and this time around he may be much more focused. The one time top Borgesi associate who is now referred to by Borgesi as “Fat Finger Lou” could get his former mob pal the finger if the jury buys what he is selling this time around. The wild card in the retrial may be former mafia associate and Borgesi cell mate Anthony Aponick who cut a deal with the feds promising to deliver up Georgie Boy but was not called in to testify in the orginal trial. Many believe his questionable credibility caused him to be held out of the original trial and this may be a sort of hail mary attempt by prosecution to use him this time around as they try and prove the conspiracy charge.
 

The prosecution may have to face off against one of its own witnesses at retrial. Frank “Frankie the Fixer” DiGiacomo was called as a witness by prosecutors in previous trial but much of his testimony undermined that of fellow witness Lou Monacello. Seems unlikely the prosecution would call him to testify at the retrial leaving him open to being called as a witness by the defense.

Italian authorities have seized assets from three more associates of Cosa Nostra mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. The head of the Sicilian Mafia and the so called “boss of bosses” Denaro has been on the run since 1993 and is one of the top ten most wanted criminals in the world. One of the most powerful mafia bosses in Italy Denaro has been a top target of authorities who hope these massive asset seizures may influence one of his associates to betray him leading to his capture. The initiative to close off support for the fugitive mob boss by attacking his financial resources has been ongoing since 2009 and continues to grow. Italian authorities will not comment on whether or not they are any closer to locating Denaro or if his arrest is in any way imminent.

“Matteo Messina Denaro”

The current asset seizure included a three people one of which was a relative of Denaro worth more the 1.8 Million-euro’s or $2.4 Million dollars. In total assets worth more then $4 Billion dollars have been seized from reputed associates of Messina Denaro since 2009 in form of money, properties, and businesses. With such massive seizures taking place many mafia experts believe it is only a matter of time that the net closes around Messina Denaro and he is eventually captured. So far those results are yet to be seen and its unclear if its has brought authorities any closer to the Sicilian mafia boss of bosses who’s vast network of associates and assets is perhaps stronger then ever expected.

Theodore “Teddy” Persico Sr a long time Colombo crime family capo and brother of imprisoned for life Colombo boss Carmine “Junior” Persico is back on the streets after serving the last 22 years in prison. He was arrested back in 1993 outside St Patrick’s Cathedral on Palm Sunday at a meeting of Persico faction mobsters. He was a point man for the Persico faction during a bloody Colombo family mafia war against a rival faction led by Victor “Little Vic” Orena that lasted about two years. Teddy Sr was convicted in 1994 for racketeering and murder conspiracy. Prosecutors claimed he was involved in a number of murder plots against the Orena faction but was not implicated in any of the 12 murders that took place during the mafia war from 1991-1993. Teddy Sr spent the last six years of his prison sentence in a prison hospital due to undisclosed ailments before being released and spending two months in a Brooklyn half way house.
 

A law enforcement source confirmed they would be keeping an eye on Theodore who after doing his time now has more respect then ever. Being the only Persico currently out on the streets he could be called upon to get the Colombo family back on track as he once was part of a Colombo family ruling panel. His son and Colombo family mobster Theodore “Skinny Teddy” Persico recently agreed to a plea deal is slated to be sentenced to 12 years in prison. But others believe that the Persico’s power with in the Colombo family is slowly coming to an end and that Teddy Sr is not looking for any trouble and has been keeping to himself and staying close to home in Valley Stream since he has been back on the streets. Whether Carmine will look for his brother to step in and re-establish control is still unknown but one thing is for sure the Colombo crime family has plenty of leadership openings.

With the retrial of Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph Ligambi underway many have begun to speculate on who is next in line to lead the Philly mafia. Whether or not he is found guilty this time around there could be a shake up on the streets as to who takes the lead of the Philadelphia mob. Many still debate as to whether Ligambi was officially the boss or more of an acting boss for Joey Merlino while he was away doing time in either case his hold on the reins in Philly seems to be at an end. Merlino is now living the good life in Florida since his prison release and seems to be done with the Philly mob although some are not so quick to dismiss his involvement. Current acting boss Steve Mazzone and part of the old Merlino crew could be next in line to take the lead but there are plenty of others looking for a piece of the pie.

“Joseph Ligambi”

Mobsters from the Nicky Scarfo organization are now back on the streets in Philadelphia after serving long prison terms and mob experts like George Anastasia believe they want back in and think they have a lot coming to them. If Ligambi gets convicted the Mazzone crew may have a fight on their hands from these “old heads” of the Scargo regime if they want control of the Philly mafia. If Ligambi makes it back on to the streets and escapes his retrial he may also find it hard to get these older mobsters to fall in line. The whole mob dynamic on the streets of Philly is now in flux and that could bring with it violence as it has in the past. With more people wanting a piece of an ever shrinking pie in Philly it causes a problem because more times that pie has to be split the smaller the share is.

“Steve Mazzone”

Mob experts don’t believe Merlino’s old crew which includes current acting boss Mazzone will be able to mesh with the older wiseguys from the Scarfo era. Many believe that Philip Narducci could be the heir apparent being known as a no nonsense mobster from the Scarfo days. He has the personality and the ability to take over with the backing of the rest of the Scarfo era mobsters who have the street cred and status to take over according to Anastasia. It is still unclear as to if the old school guys on streets actually think there is enough left to the Philadelphia crime family to be worth fighting over or if they just decide to do their own thing and let the current crew led by Mazzone move forward if Ligambi goes away.

“Scarfo era mob crew – front left “Philip Narducci”

The next boss of the Philadelphia mob will likely be decided shortly after the Ligambi retrial ends and whether or not that transition is a bloody one is yet to be seen. Some mob experts from both New York and Philly believe the New York Mafia bosses may step in and ultimately decide who the next Philly mob boss is.

Yet another murder in the ongoing bloody Montreal mafia war as mobster Moreno Gallo is gunned down at an Italian restaurant in Mexican coastal city of Acapulco. Men dressed in black entered the restaurant and shot Gallo multiple times execution style according to Mexican officials. Gallo once considered an Allie of the Rizzuto crime family had fallen out of favor with the clan following the death of patriarch Nicolo Rizzuto. It is believed that Gallo sided with fellow mobster Joseph Di Maulo who was murdered last November in an attempt to wrestle control of the Montreal underworld from the Rizzuto family. The alliance formed to take down the Rizzuto’s is believed to have also included former Bonanno family boss from New York Salvatore Montagna killed in 2011 and Montreal mobster Raynald Desjardins imprisoned for murder of Montagna. This break away faction from the Rizzuto family was believed to have been backed by the Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia. Before the take down of the Rizzuto’s could be completed the alliance of mobsters had an internal feud and turned on each other leading to death of Montagna.

“Moreno Gallo”

Gallo’s murder comes on the third anniversary of the execution style killing of Nicolo Rizzuto and many believe this is no coincidence. Mob experts say the murder of Gallo is likely a message sent from Acapulco all the way back to Montreal by Montreal mafia boss Vito Rizzuto as he continues to strike back at his enemies. Since his return back to Montreal after completion of his prison term in United States Vito Rizzuto seems to have taken back his leading role of the Rizzuto family and the Montreal Mafia. The bloody Montreal mafia war brought about from the failed attempt to overthrow the powerful Rizzuto family has lead to dozens of murders and it doesn’t seem to be over just yet. If Vito Rizzuto is behind this mob hit as well and continues to settle scores against those responsible for the strike against his mob clan and murders of his father and son among other Rizzuto family members no one seems safe and out of his reach.

“Moreno Gallo murder scene”

Prosecutors are out to prove that Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace the former consigliere for the Colombo crime family ordered the killing of NYPD cop Ralph Dols. Dols was shot to death outside his home in 1997 by a Colombo family hit squad. Prosecutors claim Cacace ordered Dols death because he had married the mobsters ex-wife Kim Kennaugh which Cacace seens as am embarrassment. Cacace was a ruthless force with in the Colombo family and when he gave an order it was carried out without question said prosecutor Sam Nitze. Nitze said of the mobster who carried out the brutal mob hit that an order from Cacace was one they had no choice but to follow. Nitze said that the defendant may not have pulled the trigger himself but he is to be held responsible since he gave the order.

“Joel Cacace”

The prosecution has lined up an array of former mobsters turned rat to take the stand against Cacace. Among them are Dino Calabro who admitted to his role in the Dols killing and Joseph Competiello who was also involved in the murder. Former Bonanno family underboss now in the witness protection program Salvatore “Good Looking Sal” Vitale also was called to testify about the basic’s of mob activity. Colombo mobsters Dino Saracino and Tommy Gioeli were also charged in the Dols murder but were acquitted last year. Attorney Susan Kellman claims there is no evidence to link her client Cacace to the Dols murder and prosecutors are hoping that he is found guilty solely because he is associated to organized crime. Kellman called the witnesses being called by prosecutors animals , maniacs, and soulless killers looking to save themselves by lying about her client.
 

Cacace is facing an additional 10 years in prison for his part in the 1987 murder of mafia prosecutor William Aronwald. It is believed that Cacace on order from Carmine Persico helped set up the hit on Aronwald but it was botched and his elderly father was killed instead. Cacace then had fellow mobster Eddie Carnini killed because of the botched slaying and shacked up with Carnini’s widow Kennaugh.

Jurors at the racketeering retrial of reputed Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and fellow mobster George Borgesi were teased with tales of modern day contract slayings and mafia shakedowns and swindles. But instead of these mob tales they have been treated to a long and slow lesson on how the illegal video gambling business works along with stories from the glory days of the Philly mafia. Even though there are no new fireworks to speak of so far during the retrial the prosecutions hopes the simple rerun will be enough to get this new jury to buy into the racketeering conspiracy charges that remain for both defendants. The broader racketeering case from previous trial which produced convictions against mob underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino and capo Anthony “Ant” Staino among others failed to do so for Ligambi and Borgesi as they were acquitted of most of charges against them.

“Ligambi (left) and Borgesi (right)”

Multiple witnesses so far as in previous trial have outlined their business dealing with many low level Philly mobsters but few of them have mentioned dealings with either Ligambi or Borgesi. Lawyers for Ligambi and Borgesi continue to argue that they had nothing to do with the crimes committed by Staino , Massimino, and others who were previously convicted and that the days of violent mafia activity in Philadelphia are the past. Liagmbi’s lawyer Edward Jacobs Jr argued that the indictments against his client alleges none of the violent acts seen in previous cases against Philadelphia mobsters of the past. George Borgesi’s lawyer Christopher Warren said “How can you have a mafia trial with no violence , murders, or money”. Prosecution continues to call more witness to the stand which will include more mob turncoats like Louis “Bent Finger Lou” Monacello who also testified during the previous trial and tapes made by now deceased New York mob rat Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli. Stefanelli a soldier in Gambino crime family secretly wore a wire for two years as an FBI informant which included tapes of a meeting between heads of Gambino family and Ligambi and company before committing suicide in March of last year.
 

Even though it seems like mob trial Deja vu the prosecution believes it has enough evidence for a new jury to convict both Ligambi and Borgesi on conspiracy.

Frank “Bobo” Marrapese a capo for the New England mafia also known as the Patriarca crime family plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy and was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was arrested back in 2011 for his role in an illegal gambling operation while he was on parole for a previous murder conviction. Marrapese will be credited for time served for the 2.5 years he has spent in prison since his arrest. Although he looked like an ordinary 70 year old senior citizen in court he has a reputation for being a vicious enforcer for the New England mob. He was caught on a secret wiretap in February 2011 in a conversation with mob associate Thomas “Red Ball” Hartley saying “People know about me and what im about, people soil their pants when they hear my name”.

“Frank Marrapese”

Marrapese spent 25 years in prison for the 1975 murder of mafia associate Richard A. “Dickie” Callei. The hit went unsolved for several years with Marrapese as a prime suspect before he was finally convicted for it in 1987. He was also charged with the mob murders of Anthony “The Moron” Mirabella and Ronald McElroy in the 1980′s but was found not guilty in both cases. Only five years out of prison and Marrapese had already resumed his criminal ways running the illegal sports gambling operation along with fellow mobsters Edward Lato and Alfred “Chippy” Scivola Jr. Both Lato and Scivola are currently in prison after pleading guilty to their parts in a mob shakedown scheme of Providence strip clubs.
 

The New England mafia is thought by many to be on the ropes and almost completely dismantled from recent convictions by the feds. Marrapese is another of the few remaining active Patricarca family mobsters taken off the streets in last couple of years. With many of its leaders now in prison and its remaining hierarchy aging many wonder how stable the La Cosa Nostra family in New England is currently and if any power remains.

In 2010 high ranking members of the Philadelphia mafia family and the Gambino crime family from New York sat down for lunch at La Griglia a nice upscale restaurant in New Jersey. A social gathering between mob families labeled by prosecutors as a mafia “board of director’s” meeting. But no one realized they were being recorded on a secret witetap being worn by Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli a former Gambino family mobster from North Jersey who had turned rat. The meeting was attended by three members of the Philly mob including Joseph Ligambi and capo Joseph “Scoops” Licata and six members from the Gambino family including Stefanelli and John Gambino part of the family ruling panel at the time.

“Joseph Ligambi”

During the meeting Stefanelli introduced John Gambino as a “caporigeme with the administration” which indicated he was a not only a captain but also a part of the Gambino families current ruling panel according to testimony from former FBI agent and mob expert Joaquin “Big Jack” Garcia. Licata in turn introduced Ligambi as “our acting boss” indicating that he was currently the head of the family according to Garcia. Both men can clearly be heard on the Stefanelli wiretap recordings making these introductions along with Ligambi and other talking about fellow mobsters , making ceremonies, and mobsters that previously turned rat. At one point Ligambi refers to former mobster Pete “Pete the Crump” Caprio who had flipped on Philly mafia as “that piece of s–t”.
 

Prosecutors believe that these wiretap tapes should be enough evidence to prove their racketeering conspiracy charges against Ligambi. Although these same tapes were played for the jury at the previous trial which ended in a hung jury. Prosecutors hope this jury will see things differently and buy into their belief that these tapes clearly establish Ligambi in his role as boss of the mafia in Philadelphia. But the tapes do not contain any discussions about illegal gambling or loansharking which the racketeering conspiracy charge is built around which may be a problem once again at this retrial.