Harry Riccobene

[rayray]

B., as always good post!


Reading the little info about Harry Riccobene, it seems that he was always a jack of all trades and running as a semi-independent after a short time from being made--in other words, not working under a capo. I'm going from memory, but being made very young by Sabella and saying he was taken to NYC as a shooter, since Sabella supported Maranzano, then in true to form type criminal, he denied it. I also vaguely remember him saying that he didn't want his brothers made because he didn't want them to have to follow the same rules and get locked in like he was to cosa nostra. I wonder if his father was involved? To be made that young, 16/17 years old...even if smart or a killer..gotta be something more? I don't care how fast they grew up back then, that's barely enough time to prove yourself. Was he made to be protected?

And if he was informing in the 50's 60's then I guess he would have been doing it during his incarcerated years? When did Harry get out from that long stretch? 1974/75? That was the Cleveland drug bust if I'm not mistaken. And to have Bruno watch his rackets all those years, then he came out still loyal, Bruno must have done him right.

I'm having a hard time seeing him as a snitch...to be a snitch and still spend 20 years in prison? During the mafia golden years?

Frankie Flowers...not being made..did he turn it down or did Bruno not make him for some other odd reason? I'm trying to understand if there was some kind of thought of NOT being made as a plus to these guys...the Riccobene brothers and Flowers.

[Pogo The Clown]

I wonder if his father was involved?

His father Mario Sr was a member. One of the original members of the family. Mario Sr. was made before the electric light bulb.


Pogo

[PHL_Mob]

This is after the fact in terms of him being potentially being an informer pre-Riccobene/Scarfo War, but wouldn't the sheer fact that he got on TV for that Bill Kurtis program (I think that was the program he was interviews on about Scarfo hit men and the Philly Wars) and proceeded to be interviews about the Riccobene War make him a rat? I mean he was talking about Scarfo and hits and the inner-workings of the Wars and the organization. Even though it was all information that was widely known and confirmed from court testimony it was still Harry getting mic'd up and confirming on screen that it all happened and what not.

On another note, with regards to him being an informer pre-Riccobene War, this isn't hard evidence, but I remember reading in Fran Friel's book (Head OC Detective for Philly PD) that Friel would always talk with Harry about OC history and discuss local LCN history and people and what not and always said Harry was very polite to him and talked to him more than any other LCN member or associate that he came into contact with, which in my opinion, as far as LCN goes, is crossing the line.

[B.]

I believe Harry said that his father was made in Enna before he came to the US and that he was a member of the Philly family before Sabella joined. He also says his grandfather was a member in Sicily. Mario Sr. was a contractor who supposedly had few criminal involvements, just involvement in card games and maybe other minor gambling. Harry claims that his father wasn't even aware of his (Harry's) induction until after it happened.

Harry was under Gaetano Scafidi before he went to prison, but Scafidi died and it's not clear if Riccobene was assigned to another crew from prison or what. At one point he was given the chance to take over as captain of the Iezzi crew but apparently turned it down. It's possible when Bruno took over, he put Riccobene direct with him. For all we know Riccobene was under a captain in the 1970s/1980s even though he had a lot of independence.

PHL -- in addition to what you mentioned, Riccobene gave extensive information to Celeste Morello for her books on the early Philly mob. A lot of the information he provides matches up almost perfectly with an informant who gave info in the 1950s and/or 60s, when Riccobene was in prison and by all accounts extremely bitter toward the organization.

[rayray]

All good points regarding Harry being a Rat....Hard to argue if the info he gave a writer matches the same info that was given to the Gov't in the 50's and 60's.

When you watch that Bill Kurtis interview, notice how Harry was almost giddy talking about mob stories, it's like he REALLY LOVED IT, like all of it, war or not. I noticed that with Phil Leonetti too, particularly when Phil had on that goofy wig...he loved talking about that Falcone murder and trial.

[dixiemafia]

I think Harry just didn't want his guys made so he could keep the power within his group. That's just the way he always came across to me, but I don't know hardly crap about Philly.

[Geekgang666]

Did Harry Riccobene had a father who was a member in the Philly mob?

[Pogo The Clown]

Mario Sr. was made before the electric light bulb.

That was a Ritchie Aprile line for those who missed it.


Pogo

[Dwalin2014]

Don't want to start trolling with flame, but in your opinion, is it a coincidence that Riccobene sent Bruno Christmas presents as symbol of allegiance? He already looked too much like Santa Claus, at least when he grew that beard

[Pogo The Clown]

Bruno was a nice kid so Harry, like Santa, sent him a nice present every Christmas. Scarfo was naughty and wanted a pesent every week so Harry gave Frank Monte lumps of coal.


Pogo

[Dwalin2014]

Bruno was a nice kid so Harry, like Santa, sent him a nice present every Christmas. Scarfo was naughty and wanted a pesent every week so Harry gave Frank Monte lumps of coal.


Pogo

And then Santa died in jail...So if somebody asks you "Do you believe in Santa Claus?", you can say "I did until 2000, but now he is dead and who knows whether he did appoint an acting Santa before dying. If he did, he doesn't want to expose himself, the feds hate Christmas and want to send every next Santa Claus away for life on RICO charges..."