THE BLACK HAND FORUM

Yeah this case would of taken out the leadership until the 90's. With Capognigro potentially becoming the boss I could see him wanting to induct new blood so I could see people getting made like the guys in North Jersey as well as the Merlinos, Leonetti, Testa, Pungitore and Frank Narducci and Wayne Grande because they were a little older and had the mob pedigree.

It would have been interesting for sure. Looking at this indictment it was mainly gambling and loansharking so these guy's would have been out by the late 80s/early 90s. The entire trajectory of the family would have been totally different. Scarfo never becomes Boss (at least not in the 80s) and neither do Stanfa, Natale or Merlino. Most of the guy's made in the 80s and early 90s never get made (at least not until well into the 90s) and most of the guy's that ended up flipping don't flip. It would be a totally different family today.


Pogo

[quote="Pogo The Clown"]Great find. It would have been interesting how things would have turned out for sure. I think if Caponigro had not made his move and things would have played out the family would have been a lot stronger going into the late 80s and 90s. It certainly would be a totally different family today.


Pogo[/quote]

With all the power plays I think even if caponigro stood pat something else would have happened phil testa was still underboss so he was next in line and testa and Bruno were feuding and chickie narducci seemed like he was set on making a move at some point but your right it would have been different I don't know if nicky would have ever got his chance in that situation

Great find. It would have been interesting how things would have turned out for sure. I think if Caponigro had not made his move and things would have played out the family would have been a lot stronger going into the late 80s and 90s. It certainly would be a totally different family today.


Pogo

http://www.ipsn.org/court_cases/us_v_riccobene-appeal-1983-05-20.htm

Good document, goes into the charges against the remaining defendants and how those charges were levied. Gives a little bit of insight into 1970's Philadelphia, though I'm sure most have seen it before. I take it that Bruno, SImone, and Sindone would of been indicted had they not of been killed in 1980.

So to answer the "If Bruno wasn't killed thread" that will be up on BB tomarrow, By May of 1983 all of the top Philly guys would of been in jail. Would of been interesting to see how that would of played out. Maybe if Capognigro was patient he could of slid into the boss position unopposed considering how all of Brunos top guys would of went away and people were eager for new leadership. Also if not for the sudden shifts of power and the deaths, with the bug they had in the clubhouse used by Pat Spirito and others it seems like their could of been a gangplank 2 in short time. Philly could of easily ended up like Cleveland in the 80's.