Current Philadelphia Members

[chin_gigante]

Inspired by the thread on current Chicago players, I’ve put together this breakdown on current Philadelphia members and possible/ suspected members. Residences and a couple of ages are based off of what comes up on White Pages.

Joseph Merlino, 58:
- Still the reputed boss
- Visited in prison by associates Steven Frangipani and Anthony Giraldi
- Released from federal custody 27 July 2020
- Under supervised release for a year
- Resides in Boca Raton, Florida

George Borgesi, 56:
- Former acting consigliere
- Prosecuted as a captain in the Ligambi trial
- Described by George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser as the guy who appears to be running things on the street
- Claims to be ‘off the totem pole’ and only involved in legitimate businesses
- Anastasia speculates that if Borgesi was involved in anything illegal he would already have been in trouble for it
- Frequents the clubhouse on 9th and Catherine
- Resides in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania

Martin Angelina, 58:
- Former acting underboss
- Prosecuted as a captain in the Ligambi trial
- Released from federal custody 10 July 2015
- Said to have been involved in a dispute with Borgesi shortly after being released
- More recently said to have taken a step back or gotten more low-key
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John Ciancaglini, 64:
- Identified as a captain in 2014
- Said to be a street boss running the family with Steven Mazzone and Phillip Narducci in 2015
- Allegedly took a step back in recent years or became more low-key following some health issues
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Joseph Ciancaglini, 86:
- Former Scarfo captain
- Released from federal custody 04 May 2015
- Sometimes identified as consigliere and floated as a contender to be boss since his release
- Observed socialising with his son John and others
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dominic Grande, 41:
- Captain
- Inducted after Steven Mazzone got off supervised release
- Sponsored for membership by Anthony Nicodemo and Joseph Grande
- Identified as the shooter in the 2012 murder of Gino DiPietro
- Accompanied Merlino and Michael Lancellotti to the party in New York in 2014
- Identified as captain and unindicted co-conspirator in the Piccolo-Servidio drug case
- Floated as the next generation of what’s left of the family
- Occasionally visits the social club on 9th and Catherine
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Francis Iannarella, 73:
- Former Scarfo captain
- Released from federal custody 08 July 2016
- Observed socialising with high-ranking guys since getting off supervised release, leading to speculation that he holds a hierarchy position
- Frequents the social club at 9th and Catherine
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Michael Lancellotti, 58:
- Alleged street boss
- Recovered from a bout with cancer and took a step up in terms of active involvement in the family
- More recently been said to have taken a step back and is battling health problems again
- Occasionally visits the social club on 9th and Catherine
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Joseph Licata, 78:
- Captain
- Acquitted in the Ligambi trial 2013
- Still reportedly in charge of the North Jersey crew
- Resides in Florham Park, New Jersey

Joseph Ligambi, 81:
- Former acting boss; floated as possible consigliere
- Said to have stepped down to the rank of consigliere after beating his case in 2014
- Stepped up to the role of acting boss again by 2016 but was said to be effectively semiretired and functioning more in ‘consigliere mode’ (this coincides with the period where Lancellotti was said to be street boss)
- Allegedly retired in 2019
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Steven Mazzone, 56:
- Former street boss; sometimes referred to since then as the underboss
- Identified as consigliere in 2010
- Merlino’s choice to run the family during the Ligambi trial
- Allegedly taken a step back in recent years or become more low-key
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Damion Canalichio, 50:
- Soldier inducted under Ligambi
- Finishing up a sentence
- Residing in a half-way house run by Philadelphia RRM
- Release date 06 October 2020

Vincent Centorino, 90:
- Soldier in the North Jersey crew; former acting captain
- Attended the 2009 Christmas party
- Resides in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey

Joseph Ciancaglini Jr, 62:
- Former underboss
- Inactive since his 1993 shooting
- In the late 2000s, Nicodemo Scarfo Jr attempted to get him to join his plot to take over the family
- Resides in Voorhees, New Jersey

Martin Curro, 71:
- Soldier
- Brother of former consigliere Joseph Curro
- First identified as a member by Philadelphia PD in 2009
- Attended the 2009 Christmas party
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Eric Esposito, 50:
- Soldier
- Inducted under Ligambi, taken to the ceremony by Michael Lancellotti
- Released from federal custody 08 September 2017
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Louis Fazzini, 53:
- Soldier in the North Jersey crew
- Inducted under Ligambi
- Attended the 2009 Christmas party and the 2010 meeting with the Gambinos
- Released from federal custody 24 April 2015
- On the payroll of a crooked scrap metal dealer until 2018
- Resides in West Caldwell, New Jersey

Vincent Filipelli, 67:
- Stanfa soldier
- Aligned with the Merlino family after being released from prison in the 1990s
- Answered to Anthony Staino in the 2000s
- Released from federal custody 09 August 2011
- Frequents the social club at 9th and Catherine
- Resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Robert Gentile, 84:
- Boston soldier
- Suspect in the unsolved Gardener Heist
- His legal counsel has claimed he was showing signs of dementia in 2017 but the government disputed this
- Released from federal custody 15 March 2019
- Resides in Manchester, Connecticut

Joseph Grande, 60:
- Scarfo soldier
- Uncle of Dominic Grande and accompanied him to Salvatore Piccolo’s sentencing
- Possibly assigned to Michael Lancellotti upon his release
- Aligned himself with Merlino and Ligambi in 2010 rather than taking an offer to be captain in a Scarfo-led Philadelphia family
- Resides in Blackwood, New Jersey

Gaeton Lucibello, 67:
- Former captain and consigliere; prosecuted as a soldier in the Ligambi trial
- Cited for violating his parole by meeting with Salvatore Mazzone
- Released from federal custody 15 February 2018
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salvatore Mazzone, 55:
- Soldier
- Younger brother of Steven Mazzone
- Inducted after his brother got off supervised release
- Resides in Philadelphia, PA

Nicholas Milano, 59:
- Scarfo soldier
- Formerly friends with John Alite and John Casasanto
- Considered inactive as of 2009
- Resides in Philadelphia, PA

Phillip Narducci, 57:
- Scarfo soldier
- Identified as a street boss in 2015 and a faction head in 2016
- Released from federal custody 28 February 2020
- Claims his past is his past and wants to focus on legitimate businesses
- Resides in Mullica Hill, New Jersey

Nicholas Olivieri, 73:
- Soldier in the North Jersey crew
- Considered active as of 2009
- On the payroll of a crooked scrap metal dealer until 2018
- Resides in Jackson Township, New Jersey

David Pepicelli, 58:
- Boston soldier
- Cousin of former captain Robert Luisi
- Involved in the 1999 shooting death of David Stivaletta
- Convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 2004 and sentenced to 7 to 10 years
- Resides in Boston, Massachusetts

Paul Pepicelli, 60:
- Boston soldier
- Brother of David Pepicelli
- Convicted of assault and battery in connection to the Stivaletta murder in 2004
- Released from prison by March 2008
- Both Pepicelli brothers have been involved in producing films
- Resides in Saugus, Massachusetts

Robert Puleo:
- Boston soldier
- Nicknamed Bobby Blur
- No age, residence or status known about Puleo

Anthony Pungitore, 65:
- Scarfo soldier
- Considered active in 2009
- Involved in real estate with his brother
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Joseph Pungitore, 64:
- Scarfo soldier
- Unsuccessfully tried to get Joseph Grande killed in 2010
- Relocated to Florida for a time and identified in 2016 as a faction head
- Involved in real estate
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Domenic Rugnetta, 96:
- Bruno soldier
- Nephew of former consigliere Joseph Rugnetta
- Inactive since the Scarfo era
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salvatore Scafidi, 58:
- Scarfo soldier
- Returned to federal custody shortly after initial release
- Released from federal custody 19 August 2014
- Resides in Coconut Creek, Florida

Joseph Servidio, 60:
- Soldier in the North Jersey crew
- Inducted after Steven Mazzone got off supervised release
- Sentencing on drug charges delayed due to COVID-19

Anthony Staino, 63:
- Former captain and acting underboss
- Released from federal custody 23 December 2019
- Claims to be moving on with his life
- Resides in Swedesboro, New Jersey

Joseph Stanfa, 50:
- Stanfa soldier
- Inactive since the Stanfa era
- Resides in Sewell, New Jersey

Paul Tanso, 55:
- Boston soldier
- Released from federal custody 13 January 2004
- No knowledge of Tanso’s activities since the 1990s
- Resides in Malden, Massachusetts

Luigi Tripodi, 82:
- Former Stanfa captain
- Inactive since the Stanfa era
- Resides in Bensalem, Pennsylvania or Cape Coral, Florida

Shawn Vetere, 52:
- Boston soldier
- Observed meeting with members in Philadelphia in recent years
- Resides in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Giuseppe Gallara, 53:
- Stanfa soldier
- Imprisoned for life
- Located at FMC Rochester, Minnesota

Frank Martines, 66:
- Former acting underboss
- Imprisoned for life
- Located at FCI Allenwood Medium, Pennsylvania

Joseph Massimino, 70:
- Former underboss
- Incarcerated at FCI Butner Low, North Carolina
- Release date 27 September 2024

Anthony Nicodemo, 48:
- Soldier
- Inducted under Ligambi after the murder of John Casasanto
- Serving a 25- to 50-year sentence for the murder of Gino DiPietro
- Located at SCI Coal Township, Pennsylvania

Salvatore Piccolo, 69:
- Soldier in Dominic Grande’s crew
- Incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
- Release date 01 November 2028

John Stanfa, 79:
- Former boss
- Imprisoned for life
- Located at FCI Schuylkill, Pennsylvania

Possible/ suspected members

Anthony Accardo, 60:
- Frequents the clubhouse on 9th and Catherine
- Long-time Merlino associate
- Name floated as a possible candidate for a 2015 induction ceremony
- Resides in Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Joseph Baldino, 35:
- Nephew of Phillip Narducci and murdered fringe Merlino associate Frank Baldino
- Pled guilty to promoting gambling in the Borgata Casino poker room case
- Baldino and Michael Emma were charged with assault in relation to a 2009 brawl at the Melrose Diner
- Name floated as a possible candidate for a 2015 induction ceremony
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Anthony Borgesi, 55:
- Younger brother of George Borgesi
- Name floated as a possibly candidate for a 2015 induction ceremony
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Frank DePasquale, 60:
- Cousin of the Ciancaglinis
- Related to the Tripodis through the marriage of a sister
- Practicing lawyer
- Attended the 2009 Christmas party
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Vincent Iannece, 57:
- Son of late soldier Charles Iannece
- Washed out the van used in the murder of Salvatore Testa
- Merlino associate during the war with Stanfa
- Name has come up as a conspirator in the James Diaddorio murder
- Also had links to Michael Brennan, who was murdered in 1994
- Despite his name frequently popping up on forums as a member I haven't been able to find any source that will identify him as such
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Albert Lancellotti, 42:
- Nephew of Michael Lancellotti
- Resides in Middletown, Delaware
- One article by Julie Shaw from 2013 noted that Michael Orlando testified Albert Lancellotti as a member
- However, Orlando entered the witness protection programme around September 2003
- If Lancellotti was inducted after the John Casasanto murder like Anthony Nicodemo and Damion Canalichio, Orlando would not know about it
- I haven’t found audio or transcripts of Orlando’s testimony in 2013 but I have heard some of his testimony from 2012 where he identified Michael Lancellotti as a member but not Albert
- I can’t say for sure, but it seems most likely to me that Shaw confused Albert for Michael

Philip Ligambi, 76:
- Brother of Joseph Ligambi
- Incorrectly identified by Kitty Caparella as the consigliere in 1999
- Photographed at Anthony Staino’s wedding
- Resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Vito Malgeri:
- North Jersey crew associate around Vincent Centorino
- Joseph Licata was considering proposing Malgeri for membership
- Licata decided to take Malgeri from Centorino and assign him to Louis Fazzini to see if he was worth proposing

David Salvo, 57:
- Long-time Borgesi associate
- Formerly served as Joseph Ligambi’s driver
- Name floated as a possible candidate for a 2015 induction ceremony
- Resides in Margate City, New Jersey

Michael Salvo, 59:
- Long-time Borgesi associate
- Brother of David Salvo
- Authorities believed Salvo’s car was used to dump the body of Ralph Mazzuca in 1995
- Name floated as a possible candidate for a 2015 induction ceremony
- Resides in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania

[Pogo The Clown]

Great work putting all this together.


Pogo

[B.]

You're the man on Philly.

What gets me is how many of these guys share relatives in one way or another.

[JohnnyS]

Nice breakdown Chin.

[JohnnyS]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

[chin_gigante]

In doing the research for this post I found another couple of interesting tidbits from Schratwieser's inactive Twitter account. Didn't fit in with the structure of the post but I'll share them here:

04 Sep 13:

Old Scarfo Family fella yelling at Ligambi regime fella at 12th & Jackson this a.m. Insider: big beef on gambling pick-ups

Someone then replies asking for more details and Schratwieser says this:

No names for now. All I'll say is Two brothers vs. Two brothers. Not seeing eye 2 eye.

Based on who was on the street in 2013 it seems pretty easy to narrow down who the brothers would be on the Scarfo side. Seems like it has to be the Narduccis or the Pungitores. The Ligambi regime brothers seems a bit more difficult. If they're members I can only think of the Mazzones. If they were associates that opens more possiblities. Could be the Wagners, the Salvos, maybe Joey Baldino and his brother Frank (who are nephews of the Narduccis)...

01 Mar 16:

Trouble at S. Philly mob clubhouse. Wiseguy gets "cracked" by underboss for favor he didn't do.

Schratwieser later adds:

S. Philly Mob clubhouse turmoil. Wiseguy smacked over favor he didn't do for jailed Mob hit man.

Again, he's asked for names and he replies with this:

Ask the guys at 11th & Jackson. They know. no charges. No names from me.

This was soon after the big Fox29 2016 report on the mob and the different factions and Mazzone was most likely to be referred to as the underboss around that time, so I'd say he's the one doing the smacking here. Don't know whether Schratwieser is using 'wiseguy' to mean member or not; it seems like if it was a member it would be a bigger deal. Think Anthony Nicodemo is a solid guess for who the jailed hit man is who failed to get a favour.

[chin_gigante]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

Haven't seen any reference to Joe Fudge as a member before. Definitely wasn't made under Scarfo anyway. I know about him being drilled by Veasey but where did you see he was made?

[JohnnyS]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

Haven't seen any reference to Joe Fudge as a member before. Definitely wasn't made under Scarfo anyway. I know about him being drilled by Veasey but where did you see he was made?

DeSimone had multiple criminal convictions, was a reputed member of the Bruno/Scarfo crime family, and went by the street name “Joe Fudge.”

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4 ... rol-board/

[JohnnyS]

His name kept coming up when I was looking into John Brescio. There's quite a few articles out there from last year mentioning him.

https://pennrecord.com/stories/51506400 ... mob-figure

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/10/r ... -says.html

[Rocco]

Impressive. Here is the article on Fazzini and scrap metal place. Looks like Nicky O is still in the mix as he was on the payroll as well. Nicky's son is partners in a few restaurants on the Asbury Boarkwalk.
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/ ... 714194002/

Mention Lou and Nicky towards the bottom

[chin_gigante]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

Haven't seen any reference to Joe Fudge as a member before. Definitely wasn't made under Scarfo anyway. I know about him being drilled by Veasey but where did you see he was made?

DeSimone had multiple criminal convictions, was a reputed member of the Bruno/Scarfo crime family, and went by the street name “Joe Fudge.”

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4 ... rol-board/

Interesting. Might be on to something there

[NJShore4Life]

https://www.facebook.com/nick.o.sr1

[Fughedaboutit]

Good work.

Neither Ligambi's brother or Borgesi's have ever been confirmed as "made"?

[Pogo The Clown]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

Haven't seen any reference to Joe Fudge as a member before. Definitely wasn't made under Scarfo anyway. I know about him being drilled by Veasey but where did you see he was made?

DeSimone had multiple criminal convictions, was a reputed member of the Bruno/Scarfo crime family, and went by the street name “Joe Fudge.”

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4 ... rol-board/

Interesting. Might be on to something there

Great find. From the wording (WAS a reputed member) I take it he is dead?


Pogo

[JohnnyS]

Joseph "Joe Fudge" DeSimone said to have been a Bruno/Scarfo era soldier. He was once attacked with a power drill by John Veasey.

Haven't seen any reference to Joe Fudge as a member before. Definitely wasn't made under Scarfo anyway. I know about him being drilled by Veasey but where did you see he was made?

DeSimone had multiple criminal convictions, was a reputed member of the Bruno/Scarfo crime family, and went by the street name “Joe Fudge.”

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4 ... rol-board/

Interesting. Might be on to something there

Great find. From the wording (WAS a reputed member) I take it he is dead?


Pogo

He's still alive as of 2019. He claims to have went legit and works as a business consultant.