by B. » Mon Jul 04, 2022 6:56 pm
- Tony Piccolo was probably one of the biggest local factors, who became Stanfa's consigliere and confidant. What makes this interesting is we now know Scarfo and Amuso still considered Scarfo the official Philadelphia boss until at least 2010, so we can infer Piccolo no longer recognized his cousin and willingly stepped aside for Stanfa. He was recorded expressing sadness over all the people killed in the 1980s and had been fending off Mike Ciancaglini for a couple years, so combined with the Scarfo Jr. and Fresolone case, may have just wanted some relief. Obviously he got none.
- Stanfa was recorded ranting about how Sparacio wanted Piccolo to be boss, Sparacio to be underboss, and Stanfa to be consigliere. Stanfa said where he comes from you'd get killed for trying to make those suggestions. So it doesn't seem Stana initially had any support from Sparacio to be boss.
- Goodfella Tapes says Stanfa had the backing of the Gambino and Genovese Families but I don't know the source of the info and as great as Anastasia is his books sometimes have small errors as we're all prone to make (or big ones, like the "Scarfo banishment" myth). There's also a big difference between some Gambino members (i.e. the Gambino brothers) supporting Stanfa vs. the Gambino Family oficially recognizing him. We know via DiLeonardo that John Gotti didn't recognize Stanfa or the Philly Family but I don't know if that was true from the beginning or if Gotti dropped support later. DiLeonardo has said the Corozzos continued to associate with Philadelphia despite the ruling.
- Goodfella Tapes cites Leonetti as saying Stanfa was inducted into the Philly Family though we don't know if Leonetti had specific knowledge of Stanfa's induction ceremony via Scarfo or if he was just communicating in general that Stanfa was a Philadelphia member (i.e. Leonetti didn't know whether it was a transfer or induction). A report from the 1980s says Stanfa was made in Sicily and Nino Giuffre talked about how Stanfa sponsored him for membership in the Caccamo Family and participated in the ceremony, showing they at least recognized him as one of their own.
- A big factor is also that Stanfa and his supporters were made, whereas most if not all of his enemies weren't at the time he became boss. No matter how weak Stanfa's faction was, they had membership on their side. Piccolo was recorded cautioning Stanfa not to make Ciancaglini or Merlino for that reason and his words were wise, as it legitimized their faction and the rest is history.
- Tony Piccolo was probably one of the biggest local factors, who became Stanfa's consigliere and confidant. What makes this interesting is we now know Scarfo and Amuso still considered Scarfo the official Philadelphia boss until at least 2010, so we can infer Piccolo no longer recognized his cousin and willingly stepped aside for Stanfa. He was recorded expressing sadness over all the people killed in the 1980s and had been fending off Mike Ciancaglini for a couple years, so combined with the Scarfo Jr. and Fresolone case, may have just wanted some relief. Obviously he got none.
- Stanfa was recorded ranting about how Sparacio wanted Piccolo to be boss, Sparacio to be underboss, and Stanfa to be consigliere. Stanfa said where he comes from you'd get killed for trying to make those suggestions. So it doesn't seem Stana initially had any support from Sparacio to be boss.
- Goodfella Tapes says Stanfa had the backing of the Gambino and Genovese Families but I don't know the source of the info and as great as Anastasia is his books sometimes have small errors as we're all prone to make (or big ones, like the "Scarfo banishment" myth). There's also a big difference between some Gambino members (i.e. the Gambino brothers) supporting Stanfa vs. the Gambino Family oficially recognizing him. We know via DiLeonardo that John Gotti didn't recognize Stanfa or the Philly Family but I don't know if that was true from the beginning or if Gotti dropped support later. DiLeonardo has said the Corozzos continued to associate with Philadelphia despite the ruling.
- Goodfella Tapes cites Leonetti as saying Stanfa was inducted into the Philly Family though we don't know if Leonetti had specific knowledge of Stanfa's induction ceremony via Scarfo or if he was just communicating in general that Stanfa was a Philadelphia member (i.e. Leonetti didn't know whether it was a transfer or induction). A report from the 1980s says Stanfa was made in Sicily and Nino Giuffre talked about how Stanfa sponsored him for membership in the Caccamo Family and participated in the ceremony, showing they at least recognized him as one of their own.
- A big factor is also that Stanfa and his supporters were made, whereas most if not all of his enemies weren't at the time he became boss. No matter how weak Stanfa's faction was, they had membership on their side. Piccolo was recorded cautioning Stanfa not to make Ciancaglini or Merlino for that reason and his words were wise, as it legitimized their faction and the rest is history.