Philly making ceremonies (1990's-present) and misc. research

[Ivan]

Speaking of that does anyone have a pic of fresolone? Never been able to find one of him

I don't believe so, he's like D'Aquila and Maranzano.

[chin_gigante]

Hierarchy appointments from the start of the Natale-Merlino era to the 2001 RICO trial

• Merlino is released from prison Nov 1994 and initiates Ralph Natale into the family, immediately making him boss with some backing from New York

• Merlino becomes underboss and Steven Mazzone is promoted to capo (‘Ralph Natale info’, LCNBios)

• Ronald Previte is called in to a meeting with Natale and Mazzone late-1994 and told that he’ll be Natale’s man in South Jersey (George Anastasia, The Last Gangster)

• By 1995 the hierarchy of the family is reported to consist of Natale as boss, Merlino as underboss, Mazzone and Previte as capos and Ronald Turchi as consigliere (Anastasia, ‘Old style marks new mob leaders’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 02 Apr 1995)

• Turchi is demoted by Natale fall 1996* (Kitty Caparella, ‘Burning his bridges?’, Philadelphia Daily News, 28 Jan 1997)

• John Ciancaglini was falsely reported to have taken over as consigliere by Oct 1996** (Caparella, ‘Burning his bridges?’; Andy Petepiece, Gangland News, 29 Jun 1998)

• Natale replaces Turchi with Mazzone as consigliere (The Last Gangster; ‘Ralph Natale info’)

• Borgesi was promoted to capo by Natale, therefore likely taking over Mazzone’s crew when he moved up (‘Ralph Natale info’)

• Natale offered to take Nicodemo S Scarfo into the family and make him a capo in Atlantic City, however the Scarfos refused this (The Last Gangster)

• Joseph Sodano, released from prison 1994, was capo of the North Jersey crew and by mid-1996 was refusing to attend meetings with Natale and Merlino (The Last Gangster; Larry McShane, Dan Pearson, Last Don Standing)

• Sodano was reported to be a ‘made member or soldier of the North Jersey crew’ at the time of his death, citing information from the indictment of Vincent Centorino (Stacey Gautier, ‘Area man is charged with mob murder’, The Express-Times, 02 Apr 2001)

• However, it’s unclear whether the above article was specifically quoting the indictment citing Sodano as a ‘soldier’ at the time of his murder, or whether the indictment simply listed Sodano as a ‘made member’ (which would apply to anyone in the hierarchy) and the author of the article assumed that this automatically meant soldier (based on amount of other sources identifying Sodano as capo at the time of his death, I’d argue the latter seems more likely)

• Sodano is killed Dec 1996 and in early Jan 1997 Natale promotes Peter Caprio to capo of the North Jersey crew (The Last Gangster)

• Joseph Licata is released from prison 1997 and in Sep 1998 is indicted as a capo (Anastasia, ‘Alleged mob chief, 5 others arrested’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 23 Sep 1998)

• It was incorrectly reported that Caprio had become capo of the North Jersey crew after Licata’s arrest*** (Anastasia, ‘As his men go to jail, focus falls on Merlino’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 23 May 1999)

• Natale returns to prison for violating his parole Jun 1998

• Merlino informed Previte that he was ‘taking over’ Oct 1998 and a few days later told him he was planning to make Robert Luisi a capo in Boston (Caparella and Joseph R. Daughen, ‘Can the mob survive?’, Philadelphia Daily News, 08 Jul 1999)

• Philip Ligambi incorrectly reported to be consigliere and Joseph Ligambi incorrectly reported to be a capo Feb 1999** (Caparella, ‘Cops: Merlino showing who’s boss’, Philadelphia Daily News, 24 Feb 1999)

• Merlino identified as acting boss, Joseph Ligambi as underboss, Mazzone as consigliere, Borgesi, Caprio and Previte as capos and Luisi as a soldier May 1999 (‘As his men go to jail, focus falls on Merlino’)

• Anastasia had access to a fall 1998 chart compiled by LE, which was likely the basis of his above article (Anastasia, Joseph A. Slobodzian, ‘Merlino arrested on drug charges’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 Jun 1999)

• Anastasia later writes that Mazzone became underboss and Borgesi consigliere following Natale’s arrest, however, this conflicts with his previous information (The Last Gangster)

• In his 2011 indictment, Ligambi is identified as having served as underboss prior to becoming the acting boss; therefore, I think it’s likely Mazzone and Borgesi moved up to acting underboss and acting consigliere following Merlino’s arrest, rather than Natale’s, based on this identification of Ligambi as underboss in 1998 by LE sources, Anastasia and Ligambi’s 2011 indictment****

• Previte flips, Merlino and Luisi are arrested and Natale is also charged Jun 1999

• Luisi was promoted to capo 1999 according to his indictment (‘Merlino arrested on drug charges’)

• Ligambi reportedly took over as acting boss Jul 1999 (Caparella, ‘Philly’s new Mr. Mob position goes to survivor’, Philadelphia Daily News, 17 Aug 1999)

• Ralph Natale flips Aug 1999, at which point it seems safe to assume Philadelphia itself automatically recognised Merlino as the official boss, while it may have taken New York much longer

• In 2000, Caprio attempts to take advantage of Ligambi and Merlino’s lack of recognition by plotting to lure Ligambi, Mazzone and Borgesi to a meeting and killing them (Anastasia, ‘Mobster tells of plot to kill 3 top cohorts’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 Jul 2000)

• In accordance with his plan, Caprio would become boss, Martin Angelina consigliere and Daniel D’Ambrosio would be inducted and made underboss (Caparella, ‘Turncoat plotted mob takeover’, Philadelphia Daily News, 08 Jun 2001)

• Luisi flips Feb 2000

• Caprio is arrested Mar 2000 and flips May 2000

• Mazzone and Borgesi are indicted as acting underboss and acting consigliere, respectively, Mar 2000

• Michael Lancellotti is ‘identified as both a capo, or captain, and a soldier’ by LE sources Apr 2000, indicating perhaps that he became acting capo for Borgesi when he moved up to acting consigliere (Caparella, ‘“High anxiety” vexes mob’, Philadelphia Daily News, 04 Apr 2000)

• Joseph Massimino is indicted as a soldier Feb 2001 (Anastasia, ‘21 arrested on charges of gambling’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 Feb 2001)

• Vincent Centorino is indicted as acting capo of the North Jersey crew Apr 2001 (‘Area man is charged with mob murder’)

• Ligambi was videotaped meeting with North Jersey mob figures in an Atlantic City casino summer 2000 and his inner circle was identified as containing Lancellotti, Massimino, Gaeton Lucibello and Anthony Staino; though at the time of Merlino’s sentencing Dec 2001 it was considered too soon too identify a family structure under Ligambi (Anastasia, ‘Underboss sentenced as war on mob continues’, Philadelphia Inquirer, 06 Dec 2001)

* The length of Turchi’s time as consigliere is confusing. Anastasia writes that Turchi lasted ‘less than a year’ in the role (The Last Gangster). Turchi was demoted by fall 1996 but Anastasia himself first reported Turchi as consigliere Apr 1995, and Natale gives the impression that he promoted Turchi almost immediately (Last Don Standing)

** Oct 1996 was one of the three conflicting dates Natale provided for Ciancaglini’s induction, likely explaining the confusion around his position (Philip Ligambi being recently initiated also likely explains his being falsely reported as consigliere)

*** It’s possible that both Caprio and Licata were capos 1997-1998 or that the identification of Licata as a capo was simply a reference to the rank he carried when he went to prison during the Stanfa regime

**** Whether Ligambi was named underboss or acting underboss following Natale’s arrest is interesting; as Natale’s say in the family was effectively removed during his incarceration it could be likely that Ligambi was official underboss in so much as Merlino’s title of ‘acting boss’ was a formality more than anything else (i.e. Domenico Cefalu being acting boss of the Gambino family for Peter Gotti); however, as Natale was still recognised by New York as the official boss it’s possible that Ligambi was technically an acting underboss (i.e. John Misuraca as underboss to Giuseppe Magliocco)

[chin_gigante]

Chart I've compiled based on active membership just before Merlino was arrested in 1999. Obviously it's not definitive, there could be a handful of other active members, the crew assignment might not be as cut and dry, but it's based on everything I've done in this thread so far:

BORGESI CREW-page-001.jpg

[Pogo The Clown]

Another great breakdown Chin. Pretty remarkable that such a small family was able to survive the onslaught of 1999-2000. They lost 3/4 of the active members on the street during that time with the Boss and 3 of the 4 Capos defecting (plus another member in Tommy Scafidi). Philly has proven to be incredibly resilient.


Pogo

[Chucky]

I'm pretty sure Joe Crutch was a made guy around this time

[NJShore4Life]

Another great breakdown Chin. Pretty remarkable that such a small family was able to survive the onslaught of 1999-2000. They lost 3/4 of the active members on the street during that time with the Boss and 3 of the 4 Capos defecting (plus another member in Tommy Scafidi). Philly has proven to be incredibly resilient.


Pogo

As long as there is South Philly- there will always be the Philly LCN family in some way , shape , or form.

[chin_gigante]

I'm pretty sure Joe Crutch was a made guy around this time

My speculative theory is that Ligambi made Joe Crutch in 2000 (there's more on that on my first post in this thread), but if he wasn't made then I'll agree that he was almost certainly made by Natale or Merlino prior to the big indictment.

[scott22]

Amazing research as always, Chin!

Regarding Ronnie Turchi's reign as consigliere under Ralph Natale;

A few years ago I wrote the proposal for Last Don Standing before leaving the project after it sold and Ralph said Ronnie was his consigliere for his first two years as boss (from fall 1994 to late summer 1996) and that GA undershot that "less than a year" time-frame estimate in LG.

Scott

[Targenmantarian]

Another great breakdown Chin. Pretty remarkable that such a small family was able to survive the onslaught of 1999-2000. They lost 3/4 of the active members on the street during that time with the Boss and 3 of the 4 Capos defecting (plus another member in Tommy Scafidi). Philly has proven to be incredibly resilient.


Pogo

As long as there is South Philly- there will always be the Philly LCN family in some way , shape , or form.

People talk a lot of shit on Philly. But they are smart/dumb. Other families took those hits and got selective or gave up and folded. Philly may not make the greatest people but they try and find loyal ones and they actually make them. And it's a chicken egg situation wherein if you know that a decade or maybe even a little less of loyal service will get you made then you're far more apt to eat a non life prison Sentence or continue to toe the line.

A lot of defectors arise from lifelong associates who are frustrated that they'll never be made. Especially when they see the family in shambles. At that point they realize they'll never make it.

[Targenmantarian]

Asaros cousin or the Genovese rat that got Merlino and the guy from Springfield are prime examples. Both were mega butter they'd never get their button and it showed in their motivations.

[chin_gigante]

Was skimming through Last Don Standing again (Natale gives remarkably little info about his time as boss in that book) and got frustrated so here's a list of just some of the inaccuracies or questionable claims in it:

Natale claims that Felix DiTullio introduced him to Angelo Bruno around the age of 14 and that he showed Bruno respect as a boss (this would have taken place around 1949, before Bruno was even a member)

Natale claims that when he was 20 (so 1955 or early 1956) he drove Angelo Bruno to The Waldorf Astoria in New York and was introduced to Carlo Gambino, whom Natale immediately recognised as the most powerful boss in New York (either Natale's timeline is off or the whole thing is fabricated as neither Bruno nor Gambino were bosses at that point)

Marco Reginelli is incorrectly identified as the boss rather than the underboss

Antonio Pollina is confused for Joseph Ida; the book claims Ida was 'part of the family's ruling elite' at the time of Reginelli's death and was the one who wanted Bruno killed to take over

Ignazio Denaro is misidentified as Ignazio Dante

It is claimed that Bruno took part in the murder of a man spreading rumours that former boss Salvatore Sabella was cheating on his wife (I don't know whether this was confused for the story of Bruno, Philip Testa and Frank Nicoletti killing a man for a slight against Nicoletti's wife; Natale claimed DiTullio was the shooter in the murder of the man who spread rumours about Sabella)

Natale claims the family effectively existed as two factions prior to Bruno becoming boss - Philadelphia and South Jersey - and they were united under Bruno (this could explain the misidentification of Reginelli as boss)

Natale claims Bruno named Philip Testa underboss after taking over, skipping over Denaro

Natale claims Testa murdered extortionist Pauly Tropea around the time he was inducted (he just says this was a year after Alfred Iezzi 'touted' him for membership so its unclear whether Testa was made at the time of the Tropea murder or still proposed) and that he was assigned to Bruno's crew (if I'm remembering correctly it's been established that Testa was made before Bruno and if Bruno was a capo it was during Antonio Pollina's brief stint as boss, so this is completely wrong)

Natale claims he was made at a secret ceremony in 1966 by Bruno and Carlo Gambino (hahahahahaha)

Natale claims Mike Ciancaglini committed his first murder at 16

Natale claims Mike Ciancaglini was the shooter in the Felix Bocchino murder (we know it was Steven Mazzone)

[dack2001]

That book is garbage. Natale truly was a legend in his own mind. His associates were a narrow group and mostly in the bartenders union and drug end of things. His connection with Bruno was the only thing he had going for him and he played it well when he was getting out of prison.

He seemed to deliberately not want to talk about his time as boss. Wonder if that was an editorial decision or Ralph thought that was better for his long term survival....Larry McShane should be ashamed.

[Ivan]

What do you guys think of Natale's claim that Felix Bocchino and Anthony Ferrante were involved in the Bruno hit conspiracy?

Of all his claims, this one stuck out to me as plausible and non-retarded, but I dunno after reading the above list.

Also can someone get me up to speed on hits Bruno and Testa were personally involved in when younger? If there's a list or something like that somewhere I would be greatly appreciative.

[dack2001]

I think Natale gets away with this because those guys were close to Bananas and would have done anything they were told and nobody is around now to say different so Natale can write whatever he wants. Tony Meats was Bananas cousin and they were in the boxing racket together. Bocchino gave the shotgun used to kill Bruno to Blackie Napoli who gave it to Bananas. Both got made in 1982. They don't get in if they were suspected of treason. Blackie Napoli would have been suspected before those guys but I think he had enough relationship with Scarfo that what he said was trusted. Bananas was always a very strict top down guy that i doubt he would have brought in guys on such a high level conspiracy, especially since they were with him regardless.

[chin_gigante]

If I'm remembering correctly Leonetti also identified Bocchino and Ferrante as providing the gun for the Bruno murder