Scarfo jr a good of bad mobster?

[chin_gigante]

The transcripts make clear that Joe Ligambi was taking marching orders from Joey but at the same time was also a street boss with respect and his own power to make decisions. Joe's style seems much more likely to try to get somebody on board with the program than to be trying to stroke someone in order to kill them.

At the time of that conversation Stevie Mazzone was still inside I think, surely wasn't off parole, so those guys had all the power. Scoops has a personal relationship with Junior. They probably felt they could bring him into the fold. Besides, there is no way Philly gets any support to bring back Scarfo Jr. and his crew if they overtly indicated they wanted to kill them. There is plenty of precedent with guys getting made into other families in order to protect them from getting killed. Wouldn't surprise me if they intended to give Jr. a chance to straighten things out in AC. Would Joey have gone along when he got out? That's the $64,000 question and a risk Scarfo and Jr. weren't willing to take. Can't blame them either.

Mazzone was sent to the half-way house in 2007 and released from custody in 2008. Got off parole in early-2011. He got into trouble for showing up at the 2009 Christmas party but wasn't send back for it.

[Fughedaboutit]

seemed like a money maker but not much of a street guy according to Leonetti

[SantoClaus]

Side question, I apologize in advance, any truth to Scarfo SR being behind the hit on Paul Volpe in Canada?

[PHL_Mob]

Joey Merlino hates Nicky Jr with a passion I really don’t think he’d welcome him back even if it means lots of $$. Joey took that shit real personally back in the late 80s and what Scarfo Sr did to his father. Nicky Jr was an ass hole
to Joey too after Chucky got knocked down. That’s also interesting about Scarfo and Todaro sanctioning the Volpe hit. I know Scarfo guys treated the Volpe guys as personas non-grata in AC cuz Volpe didn’t show respect to Scarfo in AC. Scarfo Sr and Todaro were tight though. That’s how Scarfo became close with Joe black Gorgone and his son. They met through the Joe Todaro.

[SantoClaus]

Did they have business in Canada, via Papalia. I heard that he was also in on Volpe’s death. Todaro out of Buffalo? If so, makes more sense, thanks.

[B.]

Merlino had opportunities to hurt Scarfo Jr. years after the shooting and before Scarfo was made into the Lucchese family. I doubt there is any love there, but without a firsthand source reporting it I can't pretend to know what Merlino would or wouldn't have done with Scarfo Jr. in the the 2010s. Philly observed mob protocol by arranging a formal meeting and not taking action toward Scarfo Jr. after he was made into the Lucchese family.

Where does the idea come from that Joey Merlino is a bloodthirsty tyrant? He has done work and participated in a mob war, but people with his kind of longevity stay there through cooperation more than force. Merlino showed he was a shrewd operator under Natale, not purely a "might is right" sort of personality. Everyone from LE to George Anastasia and forum "insiders" were pitching the line that Merlino was in his own faction at odds with Ligambi, only to find out all of these guys were on the same page under Merlino all along.

Both Scarfo and Stanfa era guys have fallen in line with the Merlino regime, even ones who resisted. The biggest issue seemed to be that Scarfo Sr. would not accept the fact that he wasn't the boss (except to the Lucchese family) and forced Scarfo Jr. to do his bidding to reclaim Philly. I don't know what would have happened if John Gambino said, "Joe... you have point. Scarfo Jr. is yours," but for as violent as Philly has been, it has also been a very forgiving family. Look at the Narduccis under Scarfo.

[Ivan]

Look at the Narduccis under Scarfo.

According to Frank Friel, he once asked Frank Narducci Jr. about how he could work for the man who murdered his father. Narducci replied, "Tell me something that will bring him back. Otherwise, I don't want to talk to you."

[B.]

Look at the Narduccis under Scarfo.

According to Frank Friel, he once asked Frank Narducci Jr. about how he could work for the man who murdered his father. Narducci replied, "Tell me something that will bring him back. Otherwise, I don't want to talk to you."

Real talk, as the kids say.

[Fughedaboutit]

Merlino had opportunities to hurt Scarfo Jr. years after the shooting and before Scarfo was made into the Lucchese family. I doubt there is any love there, but without a firsthand source reporting it I can't pretend to know what Merlino would or wouldn't have done with Scarfo Jr. in the the 2010s. Philly observed mob protocol by arranging a formal meeting and not taking action toward Scarfo Jr. after he was made into the Lucchese family.

Where does the idea come from that Joey Merlino is a bloodthirsty tyrant? He has done work and participated in a mob war, but people with his kind of longevity stay there through cooperation more than force. Merlino showed he was a shrewd operator under Natale, not purely a "might is right" sort of personality. Everyone from LE to George Anastasia and forum "insiders" were pitching the line that Merlino was in his own faction at odds with Ligambi, only to find out all of these guys were on the same page under Merlino all along.

Both Scarfo and Stanfa era guys have fallen in line with the Merlino regime, even ones who resisted. The biggest issue seemed to be that Scarfo Sr. would not accept the fact that he wasn't the boss (except to the Lucchese family) and forced Scarfo Jr. to do his bidding to reclaim Philly. I don't know what would have happened if John Gambino said, "Joe... you have point. Scarfo Jr. is yours," but for as violent as Philly has been, it has also been a very forgiving family. Look at the Narduccis under Scarfo.

Merlino sent his message whether he was dead or not, Scarfo Jr was out as far as Philly was concerned.

Joey is actually a much better boss than most give him credit for.

[NJShore4Life]

Before Joey Merlino went away in the late 90s, he was supposedly sending guys to case a hit on Nicky Jr.

Nicky Jr owned and operated a restaurant right there out in the open in Ventnor at the time (town directly next to AC on Absecon Island) so it was not like Nicky Jr. was hard to find those days.

I always wondered how Anthony Persiano hooked up with Nicky Jr as Persiano was always with Louie Turra of 10th and O before hooking up with Nicky Jr. ? Persiano and Louie Turra even had an apartment together in Philly when they were in their 20s thats how close they were.

[West Coast1]

B you summed it up way more eloquent than me.


he could run circles around most guys today.


He should have been kept out, only if his dad realized how smart and talented he is.

[dack2001]

Setting the flash aside, Joey's done more work and been through more than 99% of any family. Back in late 2015/early 2016 after Joe and George beat their case and Joey was done serving his violation, the media with Scott and George Anastasia leading the way made a big deal about their being multiple factions in Philly and wondering whether guys were going to fall in line or go to war. I don't remember forum "insiders" pitching this line though maybe that's what you mean but I do remember some frequent posters speculating about the factions. I also remember some who were deeply skeptical that anyone would go up against Joey, especially Joe Ligambi and George. At the same time that's being reported Joey's entertaining joe, Stevie Mazzone, George and a whole host of others down in Boca with a beautiful lounge singer, living the good life like Rick from Casablanca. Just goes to show he's like the pied piper, where he goes everyone follows.

[Cheech]

B. nice job of making lemonade outta lemons. salude.

[Flushing]

Before Joey Merlino went away in the late 90s, he was supposedly sending guys to case a hit on Nicky Jr.

Nicky Jr owned and operated a restaurant right there out in the open in Ventnor at the time (town directly next to AC on Absecon Island) so it was not like Nicky Jr. was hard to find those days.

I always wondered how Anthony Persiano hooked up with Nicky Jr as Persiano was always with Louie Turra of 10th and O before hooking up with Nicky Jr. ? Persiano and Louie Turra even had an apartment together in Philly when they were in their 20s thats how close they were.

What restaurant? I used to live in ventnor.

[NJShore4Life]

Nicky Jr's restaurant was Amici's in Ventnor on Atlantic Ave.