Philly mob and money

Discuss all mafia families in the U.S., Canada, Italy, and everywhere else in the world.

Moderator: Capos

CornerBoy
Full Patched
Posts: 1673
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:28 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by CornerBoy »

Teddy Persico wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:36 am
furiofromnaples wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:40 am Bruno and Scarfo controlled the casinos and the syndacates in Atlantic City plus in the 1980s the family was so strong to impose a street tax and with the K&A gang Philly becomed the meth capital of USA and Leonetti said that Scarfo had 3 milions hidden in a wall that was only his part from the street tax.
Ligambi rebuilted the family after a decade of war and made new blood but the family didn't control anymore the unions and had a little presence in drug traffick,after said that for sure the Philly was more active in the traditional LCN rackets but with 20-30 active members I doubt Ligambi made more than 2 or 3 milions during his street boss reign.
$2-3 million over 10+ years seems like a gross underestimate. The family was raking in that kind of money per year just from Joker Poker machines before the 2011 bust. Add his loan shark earnings and whatever he was getting from the kick up and you got a big haul.
no way merlino even has 1,000,000 USD in cash, real estate --net worth less than a million
Q: What doesn't work when it's fixed?
A: A jury!
User avatar
Pogo The Clown
Men Of Mayhem
Posts: 14146
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:02 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Pogo The Clown »

And all that video poker money amounted to little after it was all split up. First the bar and club owners got about half of the profits from the machines. Then just about every active member in Philly got a piece. For example Natale testified that in the mid 1990s the video poker money was split between 10 made members with each receiving about 1.000 per week (about 1,600 in today's money). And if any of these made guys had associates doing their collections they probably got a piece as well. Before the covid shutdown I would imagine that the video poker money is being split by even more made members considering that are more of them around than there would have been when Natale was on the street.


Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
Amershire_Ed
Full Patched
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:20 pm

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Amershire_Ed »

CornerBoy wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:11 pm
Teddy Persico wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:36 am
furiofromnaples wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:40 am Bruno and Scarfo controlled the casinos and the syndacates in Atlantic City plus in the 1980s the family was so strong to impose a street tax and with the K&A gang Philly becomed the meth capital of USA and Leonetti said that Scarfo had 3 milions hidden in a wall that was only his part from the street tax.
Ligambi rebuilted the family after a decade of war and made new blood but the family didn't control anymore the unions and had a little presence in drug traffick,after said that for sure the Philly was more active in the traditional LCN rackets but with 20-30 active members I doubt Ligambi made more than 2 or 3 milions during his street boss reign.
$2-3 million over 10+ years seems like a gross underestimate. The family was raking in that kind of money per year just from Joker Poker machines before the 2011 bust. Add his loan shark earnings and whatever he was getting from the kick up and you got a big haul.
no way merlino even has 1,000,000 USD in cash, real estate --net worth less than a million
Serious question: is that because the rackets have dried up or because Merlino is a gambler and known to spend and not be great with money?
User avatar
Pogo The Clown
Men Of Mayhem
Posts: 14146
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:02 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Pogo The Clown »

I'd say a combination of both. He has been at the top for 25 years so even if the rockets aren't what they used to be he should have been able to accumulate some legit investments or wealth but it doesn't seem he really has any. He had that one failed restuarant in Florida but I can't recall anything else. Hasn't his wife been working a legit job for the last 20 years?


Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
User avatar
SonnyBlackstein
Filthy Few
Posts: 7555
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:21 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by SonnyBlackstein »

Pogo The Clown wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:34 pmHasn't his wife been working a legit job for the last 20 years?
Is he still married to Mrs Chang?

Thought they got divorced?
Don't give me your f***ing Manson lamps.
User avatar
Wiseguy
Filthy Few
Posts: 9580
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2014 11:12 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Wiseguy »

Merlino seems like the kind of guy who spends it as fast as he makes it. He doesn't strike me as being very concerned about accumulating wealth. As long as he has guys down the ladder kicking up to him, or others paying his way to be around him, he has steady streams of income.
All roads lead to New York.
dack2001
Sergeant Of Arms
Posts: 697
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:15 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by dack2001 »

Merlino wouldn't want to put anything in his name. He wouldn't put anything in his wife's name unless his wife's income can float it. Her income was enough to keep their 400,000 house in her name nearly 20 years ago. Daughters going to a fine college, not wanting for anything, he's driving the car, wearing finest clothes, eating where wants, probably doing retail sales for some flooring company while on supervised release...for a guy who was a maiter'd for a year and half in between two decades in the can.... he's doing pretty damn good considering......
User avatar
Pogo The Clown
Men Of Mayhem
Posts: 14146
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:02 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Pogo The Clown »

SonnyBlackstein wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:23 pm
Pogo The Clown wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:34 pmHasn't his wife been working a legit job for the last 20 years?
Is he still married to Mrs Chang?

Thought they got divorced?

Don't recall them getting divorced though I think they may be living apart. Didn't she stay in Philly or Jersey while he was living down in Florida?


Pogo
It's a new morning in America... fresh, vital. The old cynicism is gone. We have faith in our leaders. We're optimistic as to what becomes of it all. It really boils down to our ability to accept. We don't need pessimism. There are no limits.
User avatar
Stroccos
Full Patched
Posts: 3548
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:23 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Stroccos »

dack2001 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:32 pm Merlino wouldn't want to put anything in his name. He wouldn't put anything in his wife's name unless his wife's income can float it. Her income was enough to keep their 400,000 house in her name nearly 20 years ago. Daughters going to a fine college, not wanting for anything, he's driving the car, wearing finest clothes, eating where wants, probably doing retail sales for some flooring company while on supervised release...for a guy who was a maiter'd for a year and half in between two decades in the can.... he's doing pretty damn good considering......
yet he was on a wiretaps crying he couldnt pay the rent?
"if he's such A sports wizard , whys he tending bar ?" Nicky Scarfo
User avatar
Teddy Persico
Straightened out
Posts: 281
Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 10:20 am
Location: Las Vegas

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Teddy Persico »

Pogo The Clown wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:08 pm And all that video poker money amounted to little after it was all split up. First the bar and club owners got about half of the profits from the machines. Then just about every active member in Philly got a piece. For example Natale testified that in the mid 1990s the video poker money was split between 10 made members with each receiving about 1.000 per week (about 1,600 in today's money). And if any of these made guys had associates doing their collections they probably got a piece as well. Before the covid shutdown I would imagine that the video poker money is being split by even more made members considering that are more of them around than there would have been when Natale was on the street.


Pogo
It’s been a long time since I’ve read about this, but someone testified at the trial that the family could make $500-$1000 a week on a machine. The indictment initially charged 8 people with at least one count of being part of an Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business. https://6abc.com/archive/8146349/
The way you talk, you just confuse him.
User avatar
Fughedaboutit
Full Patched
Posts: 1566
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:58 pm

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Fughedaboutit »

Stroccos wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:15 pm
dack2001 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:32 pm Merlino wouldn't want to put anything in his name. He wouldn't put anything in his wife's name unless his wife's income can float it. Her income was enough to keep their 400,000 house in her name nearly 20 years ago. Daughters going to a fine college, not wanting for anything, he's driving the car, wearing finest clothes, eating where wants, probably doing retail sales for some flooring company while on supervised release...for a guy who was a maiter'd for a year and half in between two decades in the can.... he's doing pretty damn good considering......
yet he was on a wiretaps crying he couldnt pay the rent?
You really believe that? LMAO Wiseguys never claim poor. :lol:
"I wanna hear some noise." "Tell Salvie to clean the boat, the whole boat top to bottom" -Nicodemo "Nicky" Scarfo Sr"
User avatar
Fughedaboutit
Full Patched
Posts: 1566
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:58 pm

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Fughedaboutit »

Didn't someone say Dom drives around in a 7 series?
"I wanna hear some noise." "Tell Salvie to clean the boat, the whole boat top to bottom" -Nicodemo "Nicky" Scarfo Sr"
User avatar
Wiseguy
Filthy Few
Posts: 9580
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2014 11:12 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Wiseguy »

Teddy Persico wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 12:56 am
Pogo The Clown wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:08 pm And all that video poker money amounted to little after it was all split up. First the bar and club owners got about half of the profits from the machines. Then just about every active member in Philly got a piece. For example Natale testified that in the mid 1990s the video poker money was split between 10 made members with each receiving about 1.000 per week (about 1,600 in today's money). And if any of these made guys had associates doing their collections they probably got a piece as well. Before the covid shutdown I would imagine that the video poker money is being split by even more made members considering that are more of them around than there would have been when Natale was on the street.


Pogo
It’s been a long time since I’ve read about this, but someone testified at the trial that the family could make $500-$1000 a week on a machine. The indictment initially charged 8 people with at least one count of being part of an Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business. https://6abc.com/archive/8146349/
There's been a lot of figures thrown out about this. Natale said an operation with 50 or 60 machines could generate profits of about $20,000 a week. Or $80,000 a month. This would be $1,300 - $1,600 a month per machine. Other sources had even bigger numbers, saying a machine in a good spot could bring in $500 - $1,000 a week ($2,000 - $4,000 a month) in profit.

Regardless of hypothetical figures, we can look at the actual numbers involved in the case. After their warehouse was raided, and 34 machines seized, in 2001, the Philly mob moved in on machines owned by M&P, originally started by Tony Milicia and Louis Procaccini. They basically "made them an offer they couldn't refuse" - a lowball $63,000 for 34 machines in 21 locations. Procaccini understood he didn't really have a choice, even though the machines and stops were worth more than that.

In one place I read the company, which was started in the mid-1990s, also distributed video games and cigarette and snack vending machines. One article said M&P was taking in about $1 million a year. Another said the company was taking in about $70,000 a month (which would be $840,000 a year).

I don't know if Ligambi, Massimino, and Staino only took over a part of M&P's interests or what but the Staino sentencing memorandum said the 34 machines in 21 stops they took over from M&P took in $7,000 - $10,000 a month in profit in 2001. Or about $84 000 - $120,000 a year ($125,000 - $175,000 adjusted for inflation). This would be about $200 - $300 a month per machine. Again this was profit (apparently after the split with the owner of the stop) and was mainly divided up the principals in JMA - Ligambi, Massimino, and Staino.

JMA apparently did have more more than just those 34 machines because 50 of their machines were seized from 13 locations in 2009.
All roads lead to New York.
User avatar
Stroccos
Full Patched
Posts: 3548
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:23 am

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by Stroccos »

Fughedaboutit wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:59 am
Stroccos wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:15 pm
dack2001 wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:32 pm Merlino wouldn't want to put anything in his name. He wouldn't put anything in his wife's name unless his wife's income can float it. Her income was enough to keep their 400,000 house in her name nearly 20 years ago. Daughters going to a fine college, not wanting for anything, he's driving the car, wearing finest clothes, eating where wants, probably doing retail sales for some flooring company while on supervised release...for a guy who was a maiter'd for a year and half in between two decades in the can.... he's doing pretty damn good considering......
yet he was on a wiretaps crying he couldnt pay the rent?
You really believe that? LMAO Wiseguys never claim poor. :lol:
Yeah he’s a degenerate gambler
"if he's such A sports wizard , whys he tending bar ?" Nicky Scarfo
NJShore4Life
Full Patched
Posts: 1642
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2017 12:30 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Philly mob and money

Post by NJShore4Life »

Dom G bought me two beers and a shot last time I ran into him, he’s a good guy and very generous in my book. Look, it’s just like anything else the best will make a lot and the worst will be brokesters , it’s like any other profession in America.
Post Reply