John Scopelliti (Philadelphia)

[LcnBios]

That's a great list Christie. I was going to make a topic on Philly's geographical origins but that covers most of it. I believe the Frank Piccolo who was murdered was from Messina (Milazzo).

About Before Bruno, I read the first one awhile ago and there's some good info but it didn't really make me want to pick up the others.

Two other possible early members: Joseph Giammonia and August Carfagno (from Lettopalena in Chieti, Abruzzo).

Anyone have more info on 'New York Mike' Macaluso? First name given as Michele but also as Marco, which makes me wonder if there's any connection with the Luccheses.

[B.]

The Before Bruno books get better as they go. I'll save my usual review, but the bottom line is she collected some great sources, she just didn't bring them together very well and had her own agenda.

The Abruzzi element stands out because a number of high-ranking members were from there. I would assume this is because Reginelli had connections to his paesans and recruited them into the family, but maybe there is more to it, especially when we see other early members crop up with an Abruzzi background. Angelo Bruno's wife was Abruzzi and he talks about having dinner with her uncle when he was in Italy, but I don't know of any mafia or mafia-like groups from that area.

[felice]

I can be wrong but the scafidi's should be from messina

[B.]

I can be wrong but the scafidi's should be from messina

The Philly Scafidis all come from Belmonte Mezzagno.

[Angelo Santino]

@ B... Maybe I'm wrong on "Peter" Maggio, maybe it was another Maggio. I'll check and get back to you.

@JD... Happy to help. If you need anything or want me to try and look up any early figures I'll post the primary source and you (and B.) can make of it what you will.

As for Abruzzesi, to date, I've found nothing to indicate any long term criminal organization from there that was transported to the USA, but the same can be said for Salerno and other places, all of which, when in America, had a criminal element that factored into the LCN. Doesn't mean there wasn't one, just means I havn't found any mention of it and can't comment any more.

The Italian population in Philly was 25% Calabrian, 25% Abruzzi and only 10% Sicilian. The Mafia wouldn't have survived had they kept it Sicilian. There's a difference between Italian Harlem E106st which was a Corleonesi epicenter and Philadelphia which had no equivalent. People were spread out and connected by compaesanismo rather than local clusters. That may be why the Cast. population didn't remain a prominent factor in Philly's evolution.

And then there's mysterious Newark. How Philly ever got a sizable crew in Newark can only be speculated upon. Did it filter over from Trenton, did Joe Ida have a hand in it? I wish I knew. The Newark Family broke up in 1932 (?) and was disbanded, Joe Profaci was said to have gotten some of the members, maybe Philly got some as well. After 1950, you can't consider the city of Philadelphia alone just like you can't consider the city of Pittsburgh alone when it comes to their local Families, each were multi-state networks. The same could be said for other families but these two in particular took it to another level.

[B.]

The Italian population in Philly was 25% Calabrian, 25% Abruzzi and only 10% Sicilian. The Mafia wouldn't have survived had they kept it Sicilian. There's a difference between Italian Harlem E106st which was a Corleonesi epicenter and Philadelphia which had no equivalent. People were spread out and connected by compaesanismo rather than local clusters. That may be why the Cast. population didn't remain a prominent factor in Philly's evolution.

Ah, I didn't realize there was that large of an Abruzzi population. Seems the Philly members from there are more just a coincidence due to their large population, and probably Reginelli's influence in recruiting people from a similar background in Camden.

[Angelo Santino]

In regards to the Bruno books, JD I'd check out Book 3 which I think is more closer to your era.

Book 1: 1880-1931
Book 2: 1931-1946
Book 3: 1946-1959

[Angelo Santino]

The Italian population in Philly was 25% Calabrian, 25% Abruzzi and only 10% Sicilian. The Mafia wouldn't have survived had they kept it Sicilian. There's a difference between Italian Harlem E106st which was a Corleonesi epicenter and Philadelphia which had no equivalent. People were spread out and connected by compaesanismo rather than local clusters. That may be why the Cast. population didn't remain a prominent factor in Philly's evolution.

Ah, I didn't realize there was that large of an Abruzzi population. Seems the Philly members from there are more just a coincidence due to their large population, and probably Reginelli's influence in recruiting people from a similar background in Camden.

Maybe, maybe not. When people wrote about the Camorra they focused on Naples, when they wrote about the Picciotteria it was focused on Reggio, the provinces of Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro, Crotone, Cosenza, Salerno, Casseta are all but ignored. After much scratching away I've been able to find references to many places in those areas but they are quite vague. I can't rule out Abruzzi. I don't know if the Bourbon Dynasty left over a prison in that proximity but if they did then there's a 50/50 chance. But with no proof, it's guesswork. If I ever stumble across anything, believe me I'll send it to you.

[Angelo Santino]

Actually, something else I'd like to add, which may contradict a point I previously made is Williamsburg, BK. All of the census' from 1900-1920 point to it being a Calabrian populated cluster of Italians. Castellammaresi don't factor into the demographics as prominently in Williamsburg outside of mafia books as a sizable demographic. It just shows how strong those compaesani ties were. But the Bonannos kept their group CDG-dominant, Philly wasn't centered/founded like that. It seems there was never much of a centralized stronghold, no powerful dominant crew with longevity in admins. Unlike Elizabeth and their Ribera base or Gambinos with the Palermitans and so forth. Outside of NY, each city had only one family to fall into. As things evolved and Italians Americanized, being from this place or that place lost it's place in daily discussion. But given Philly's spread out jurisdiction, factions remained even as the population Americanized.

I think that's where Scarfo ran into problems when he became boss in the 1980's, he was going to LCN-it "the way it should be" and Philadelphia prior to that was always factionous. Maybe that goes back to all these separate groups which- at some point- fell under Sabella as their area representative.

[B.]

Morello wrote some more recent stuff on Philly history:

Talks about the significant presence from Caccamo early on. George Catania from Caccamo is someone who was supposed to have been a "pre-Prohibition boss" and was killed in 1928, and had been less active throughout the 1920s. There might be a connection between Catania and Catanese, i.e. John Catanese who was an early member. The father of Ralph Puppo (Bruno's son-in-law), Orlando Puppo, had been a mostly unknown member and was from Caccamo.

Claims Vincent Villone was made at age 16 by Joe Ida (this means Villone is "Fingers" who she talked about in her books) and he later sponsored his half-brother Sammy Tamburrino (Riccobene associate who was killed) into the family. This guy Villone sounds like he was just pulling her leg, though, honestly.

Andrea Restuccia was another early member.

"New York Mike" Macaluso was a business partner of Salvatore Sabella

Paul Savarese was an influential member, a barber with a lot of political connections. (attached a photo of him)

[B.]

If anyone wants to check it out, this is a paper Morello wrote in 2015. A lot of interesting stuff to consider:

http://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:422472

Morello seems to believe that the Philly family was started by immigrants from Belmonte and Caccamo. I think she very well could be right.

[Handsome Stevie]

As for the "original" members in 1920, these are the names that Scafidi listed. He states that Joe Traina appointed Sabella as boss of these men, but the family was not limited only to these names:

Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
Dominick Festa
Francesco Barrale
Marco Reginelli
Antonio Pollina
Michael Maggio
John Scopelliti
Mario Riccobene
Salvatore Testa

Is this guy Salvatore Testa Phil Testas father?

[Doobeez]

Gaetano Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
Dominick Festa
Francesco Barrale
Marco Reginelli
Antonio Pollina
Michael Maggio
John Scopelliti
Mario Riccobene
Salvatore Testa

Is this guy Salvatore Testa Phil Testas father?

Curious about the Scafidis also.

Tell you what, since reading those Bruno transcripts in the other thread, I can't seem to read enough about this family.

Searching around last night, found Harry Riccobene's sheet with "Known undesirables" listed, plus one redacted. This is a little past the era we're focusing on in the thread, so if it needs moving, no prob..

[Pogo The Clown]

Is this guy Salvatore Testa Phil Testas father?

Yeah that is his father. The Testa's 3 generation members.

Curious about the Scafidis also.

The Scafidi's are 4 generation members. They produced a lot of made members in this family including two Capos.


Gaetano “Big Tom” Scafidi
Joseph Scafidi
Rocco Scafidi
Salvatore Scafidi
Salvatore Scafidi (Diffeent guy)
Samuel "Sam" Scafidi
Salvatore "Tory" Scafidi
Gaeton "Tommy/Horsehead" Scafidi


Pogo

[Doobeez]

Thank you, Pogo.

7 generations total..wow. Definitely in the genes.