Reputed Philly mob boss, 12 others arrested

[Pogo The Clown]

Reputed Philly mob boss, 12 others arrested
By 6abc

PHILADELPHIA - April 1, 2021

Thirteen Members and Associates of the Philadelphia Mafia Indicted on Federal Racketeering and Related Charges

The superseding indictment accuses alleged mob leader Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancellotti, reputed underboss Steven Mazzone and the others of running illegal gambling operations or loan sharking.

RELATED: Read the full indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office

Thirteen people were arrested Thursday, including Lancelotti, who pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance. Two other defendants were already in federal custody.

Lancellotti's attorney, Joseph Santaguida, said the case against his client is not strong and he should be granted bail at a hearing later this week.

The arrests were the largest action taken against Philadelphia's crime family in a decade.

"They used violence and the threat of violence to exert control over others," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a news conference, noting that organized crime in Philadelphia had shown "a remarkable ability to reorganize and reinvent itself."

U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said the arrests should serve as a warning to the city's Mafia that law enforcement hasn't forgotten about them.

"Today, we make clear that such activity will not be tolerated by my office and that La Cosa Nostra remains a priority for the Department of Justice," McSwain said.

Lancellotti, Mazzone and the others provided illegal gambling devices including video poker machines to bars, restaurants and convenience stores in and around Philadelphia, according to the indictment. The group then allegedly forced another illegal gambling ring to sell their business to them after authorities seized their own machines.

Other defendants described as captains were George Borgesi, John Ciancaglini and Dominic Grande. Four other defendants were described as members of the family: Anthony Accardo, Salvatore Mazzone and Anthony Borgesi.

Lancelotti is the alleged street boss for long running Mob Boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino. Merlino is currently residing in Florida since his release from Federal custody in July of last year.


Full list of defendants:

Name: Michael Lancellotti
aka: "Lance"
Age: 61
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 39 (Conspiracy to Make Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 42 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 43 (Conspiracy to Conduct an Illegal Gambling Business); Count 44 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Count 49 (Illegal Sports Bookmaking Business); Count 50 (Obstruction of Justice); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Steven Nazzone
aka: “Stevie”
Age: 56
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 43 (Conspiracy to Conduct an Illegal Gambling Business); Count 44 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Count 48 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device & Sports Bookmaking Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: George Borgesi
aka: "Georgie"
Age: 57
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 26 (Financing Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 27 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Counts 28-37 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 38 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions)

Name: Dominic Grande
aka: “Baby Dom”
Age: 41
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 40 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 41 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 47 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: John Ciancaglini
aka: "Johnny Chang"
Age: 65
Residence: Swedesboro, N.J.
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Counts Two-12 (Racketeering); Counts 13-23 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 24 (Conspiracy to Make Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 25 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 39 (Conspiracy to Make Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 43 (Conspiracy to Conduct an Illegal Gambling Business); Count 44 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Count 49 (Illegal Sports Bookmaking Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Anthony Accardo
aka: "Cujino"
Age: 58
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 45 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Count 46 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Anthony Borgesi
aka: N/A
Age: 54
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 47 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Count 49 (Illegal Sports Bookmaking Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Salvatore Mazzone
aka: "Sonny"
Age: 55
Residence: Philadelphia
Charge: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 26 (Financing Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 27 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Counts 28-37 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 38 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Count 42 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions)

Name: Louis Barretta
aka: "Sheep"
Age: 56
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 49 (Illegal Sports Bookmaking Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Victor DeLuca
aka: “Big Vic”
Age: 56
Residence: Clementon, N.J.
Charges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 49 (Illegal Sports Bookmaking Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Racketeering Forfeiture); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: Joseph Malone
aka: N/A
Age: 70
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count 48 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device & Sports Bookmaking Business)

Name: Anthony Gifoli
aka: “Tony Meatballs”
Age: 73
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Count 47 (Illegal Electronic Gambling Device Business); Notice of Forfeiture (Illegal Gambling Business)

Name: John Romeo
aka: N/A
Age: 58
Residence: Glendora, N.J.
Charges: Count 24 (Conspiracy to Make Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 25 (Conspiracy to Collect Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means); Notice of Forfeiture (Extortionate Credit Transactions)

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[Frank]

Is this april fools

[PolackTony]

[givememysocks]

You should have made this a buffalo indictment

[Ivan]

This actually hooked me for like 30 seconds. Jesus Christ I'm an idiot. Anyway this is much better than your usual "old incarcerated boss finally dies" pranks. Keep up the good work!

[JohnnyS]

[Ivan]

Merlino himself not being indicted was a nice touch

[Adam]

Sorry, but the April Fool's fake indictment got old ten years ago.

[Pmac2]

got me lol

[Bricktop]

Sorry, but the April Fool's fake indictment got old ten years ago.

Yeah.

[DonnieB]

If this came from anyone else today we would have all been fooled.....kudos to Pogo for keeping up traditions and the fine layout of his press release

[Rocco]

I was gonna say Mazzone lucked out..they arrest some poor mope name Steven Nazzone instead ...lol

[Pogo The Clown]

Merlino himself not being indicted was a nice touch

I liked it. The key to these is not to make the claim too grandiose so as to immediately raise suspicions.


Pogo

[Ivan]

Merlino himself not being indicted was a nice touch

I liked it. The key to these is not to make the claim too grandiose so as to immediately raise suspicions.

He's just too well-insulated!

[jimmi_beans8]

lotta effort jus for making up shit