Scarfo Jr's relationship with Philly?

[Curiosity]

Hi guys, I’ve recently came across some information while doing some “stalking” on Facebook that confused me. I’ve came across a photo I believe is of Stevie and Johnny Gongs and (possibly) Big Vince Filipelli. I’m more interested in 80s Philly so I only know the names based on what people commented on the photo. This photo was posted on a personal account but it’s public and a relative of the Casasanto’s was tagged.. I wouldn’t have mentioned it here if it wasn’t for the fact that the person who posted it commented that it was took at Nicky Scarfo Jr’s 35th birthday party.

So, here’s my question: what all do we know about the relationship of Nicky Scarfo Jr and the members of the Philly mob circa late 90s/early 2000s? I’ve always thought that Scarfo Jr’s relationship with Philly was practically nonexistent following Fresolone flipping and the North Jersey Scarfo mob going to prison. Anyone have any better insight? Thanks!

[joeycigars]

Hi guys, I’ve recently came across some information while doing some “stalking” on Facebook that confused me. I’ve came across a photo I believe is of Stevie and Johnny Gongs and (possibly) Big Vince Filipelli.

Post the Picture for more info,

[Chucky]

In one on the memos relating to the Scarfo fraud case, it said that Nicky Jr. was hesitant to meet with Sal Pellulo in South Philly, and approached Joe Ciancaglini Jr. at some point, in a similar way to how he approached Lou Fazzini later on (Stefanelli tapes).

[NJShore4Life]

Its a picture of both Casasanto brothers with Big Vince Filipelli at Nicky Scarfo Jr's 35th Bday party back in the day. I have seen it too.

[B.]

Eventually Filipelli was in the fold under Staino, but what was his status with the organization circa 2000 when this party would have happened? I don't remember whether any Philly members were connected to Filipelli's bust in the mid-late 2000s, but by the early 2010s Staino was recorded saying Filipelli was from the old regime and had been brought into the new regime. It seems possible that in 2000 he was more or less on his own, which is why he was friendly with Scarfo.

Johnny Casasanto was continually at odds with the Ligambi/Merlino regime and three years after Scarfo's 35th birthday he would obviously be killed. Different reasons have been stated for his murder, one of them being an affair with Merlino's wife, but a friendship with Scarfo Jr. may have factored in as well for all we know. Speculators are always looking for a one size fits all motivation for mob murders but often there are multiple reasons leading up to it and this could have been one of them. Anyway, he was not a representative of the leadership, or much of anyone, in the Philly family.

So, I don't think you can look at Filipelli/Casasanto as any indication one way or another of Scarfo's relationship with the Philly family. Given the way that Scarfo was trying to recruit Philly members/associates up until the time of his most recent indictment, it doesn't seem crazy that the Scarfos were trying to court Filipelli and the Casasantos earlier on, much as they did Joe Grande, Joe Ciancaglini Jr., and Lou Fazzini.

The other possibility is that given the Philly family's legal problems at the time, they weren't worried about Scarfo Jr. (who I don't believe was made yet) mingling with a few low-level guys. It would be years before Scarfo Jr. would become a Lucchese captain, try to establish himself in AC again, and recruit three made members of Philly, which no doubt escalated the level of threat he posed.

[Wiseguy]

I always thought it was very strange in the Operation Heat affidavit where it talked about that August 2007 meeting between Joseph M. Perna and Scarfo Jr. where Scarfo was informed he was being demoted because of his "alleged boasting that he was assuming a leadership role in the Philadelphia family." And that Scarfo supposedly wanted to be released from the Lucchese family back to Philly but the Luccheses said no.

As we know, Scarfo was chased out of the Philadelphia family, after almost being killed, and his father had to get him made into the Luccheses to protect him. I don't understand why he would think he'd have the clout and be safe to join Philly when Merlino and his followers were still running things.

[NJShore4Life]

Nicky Jr was a stranger in a strange land up in North Jersey with the Lucchese's, he even eventually ended up moving back to the AC area (first Ventnor upon release from prison, then that 700K house in Egg Harbor Twp from the FirstPlus money, and then lastly Galloway Twp before he was taken away by the Feds). I feel like he always wanted to be back in the AC area because that's where he was raised.

[NJShore4Life]

And as we all know AC area is Philly LCN.....

[Chucky]

So, I don't think you can look at Filipelli/Casasanto as any indication one way or another of Scarfo's relationship with the Philly family. Given the way that Scarfo was trying to recruit Philly members/associates up until the time of his most recent indictment, it doesn't seem crazy that the Scarfos were trying to court Filipelli and the Casasantos earlier on, much as they did Joe Grande, Joe Ciancaglini Jr., and Lou Fazzini.

The other possibility is that given the Philly family's legal problems at the time, they weren't worried about Scarfo Jr. (who I don't believe was made yet) mingling with a few low-level guys. It would be years before Scarfo Jr. would become a Lucchese captain, try to establish himself in AC again, and recruit three made members of Philly, which no doubt escalated the level of threat he posed.

Grande seems like he was the only one who was willing to be with Scarfo. Seems like Merlino and Ligambi took Scarfo's threat seriously, by 2010 anyway, given that it led to the meeting with John Gambino. From reading that transcript it seemed like Ligambi and Licata wanted to invalidate Scarfo Jr.'s membership since he was never formally released by Philly.

Late 90s may have been a different situation, Scarfo Jr. was not a Lucchese member yet, and Licata's comments about his membership, he said it was a slap in the face, make it clear it rubbed people the wrong way. In Scott's book, Leonetti says that Nicky Jr. mentioned John Ciancaglini shaking him down, I highly doubt any of Merlino's people were friendly with Scarfo Jr. around the time of his 35th birthday.

Also, Staino's comments on Filipelli were from 2004, so he may have came back in the fold fairly quickly.

[JeremyTheJew]

So, I don't think you can look at Filipelli/Casasanto as any indication one way or another of Scarfo's relationship with the Philly family. Given the way that Scarfo was trying to recruit Philly members/associates up until the time of his most recent indictment, it doesn't seem crazy that the Scarfos were trying to court Filipelli and the Casasantos earlier on, much as they did Joe Grande, Joe Ciancaglini Jr., and Lou Fazzini.

The other possibility is that given the Philly family's legal problems at the time, they weren't worried about Scarfo Jr. (who I don't believe was made yet) mingling with a few low-level guys. It would be years before Scarfo Jr. would become a Lucchese captain, try to establish himself in AC again, and recruit three made members of Philly, which no doubt escalated the level of threat he posed.

Grande seems like he was the only one who was willing to be with Scarfo. Seems like Merlino and Ligambi took Scarfo's threat seriously, by 2010 anyway, given that it led to the meeting with John Gambino. From reading that transcript it seemed like Ligambi and Licata wanted to invalidate Scarfo Jr.'s membership since he was never formally released by Philly.

Late 90s may have been a different situation, Scarfo Jr. was not a Lucchese member yet, and Licata's comments about his membership, he said it was a slap in the face, make it clear it rubbed people the wrong way. In Scott's book, Leonetti says that Nicky Jr. mentioned John Ciancaglini shaking him down, I highly doubt any of Merlino's people were friendly with Scarfo Jr. around the time of his 35th birthday.

Also, Staino's comments on Filipelli were from 2004, so he may have came back in the fold fairly quickly.

the reason for the Ligambi and Gambino meeting was bc of Scarfo jr? thats interesting bc id think a luke member would of wanted to be there as well. This was the Scalfidi or something like that tapes right?

where can i read the transcripts?

[Chucky]

The Stefanelli tapes, they've only been around for 5 or 6 years now, try google or this board.

You've been around forever, yet you're still clueless on every topic, it's quite remarkable.

[Rocco]

I always thought it was very strange in the Operation Heat affidavit where it talked about that August 2007 meeting between Joseph M. Perna and Scarfo Jr. where Scarfo was informed he was being demoted because of his "alleged boasting that he was assuming a leadership role in the Philadelphia family." And that Scarfo supposedly wanted to be released from the Lucchese family back to Philly but the Luccheses said no.

As we know, Scarfo was chased out of the Philadelphia family, after almost being killed, and his father had to get him made into the Luccheses to protect him. I don't understand why he would think he'd have the clout and be safe to join Philly when Merlino and his followers were still running things.

Scarfo did not ask to be released from the Luchese family that I remember.? If I remember it correctly he asked Little Joe if he word back about permission to move to FL. He was the odd man out in the NJ Luchese crew by that point. He was no longer friends with Merola at that point as well. He didn't have any friends in North Jersey from any of the LCN family crews up there. He also knew that Little Joe was friendly with Merlino as well. I believe he knew the demotion was coming for sometime or he would not have been trying to relocate to FL. Mike Perna was making moves from prison for a longtime to get Ralph bumped up to Capo before Mike T was released. When news came that Marty had a chance and then was being released the Perna faction needed Ralph as Capo asap. That's my two cents with north jersey lcn gossip added in. Not that far fetched.

[Rocco]

So, I don't think you can look at Filipelli/Casasanto as any indication one way or another of Scarfo's relationship with the Philly family. Given the way that Scarfo was trying to recruit Philly members/associates up until the time of his most recent indictment, it doesn't seem crazy that the Scarfos were trying to court Filipelli and the Casasantos earlier on, much as they did Joe Grande, Joe Ciancaglini Jr., and Lou Fazzini.

The other possibility is that given the Philly family's legal problems at the time, they weren't worried about Scarfo Jr. (who I don't believe was made yet) mingling with a few low-level guys. It would be years before Scarfo Jr. would become a Lucchese captain, try to establish himself in AC again, and recruit three made members of Philly, which no doubt escalated the level of threat he posed.

Grande seems like he was the only one who was willing to be with Scarfo. Seems like Merlino and Ligambi took Scarfo's threat seriously, by 2010 anyway, given that it led to the meeting with John Gambino. From reading that transcript it seemed like Ligambi and Licata wanted to invalidate Scarfo Jr.'s membership since he was never formally released by Philly.

Late 90s may have been a different situation, Scarfo Jr. was not a Lucchese member yet, and Licata's comments about his membership, he said it was a slap in the face, make it clear it rubbed people the wrong way. In Scott's book, Leonetti says that Nicky Jr. mentioned John Ciancaglini shaking him down, I highly doubt any of Merlino's people were friendly with Scarfo Jr. around the time of his 35th birthday.

Also, Staino's comments on Filipelli were from 2004, so he may have came back in the fold fairly quickly.

the reason for the Ligambi and Gambino meeting was bc of Scarfo jr? thats interesting bc id think a luke member would of wanted to be there as well. This was the Scalfidi or something like that tapes right?

where can i read the transcripts?

That meeting was mob protocol 101. Philly couldn't lay a finger on Scarfo Jr because he was a made Lucchese member even though he was a loan duck within the family. I believe they were trying to get Scarfo Jr shelved by the Lucchese family via the Gambino's so they could kill him. By the time they had that meeting in 2010 in Kenilworth NJ Scarfo Jr had zero juice in the Lucchese family and pretty much the entire Lucchese NJ crew were already under indictment from the Dec 2007 arrest. Merlino knew from Little Joe that Scarfo had no friends in N Jersey. I believe its part of the reason why Scarfo JR relocated to South Jersey and started assembling as crew of his own. BUT it was clear from the 2007 tapes that Matty Madonna had no issues with Scarfo Jr. which is probably why he wasn't shelved. I still think Merlino used his friendship with Joe Perna to get at Scarfo jr and keep tabs on him.

** Imagine being in a mob crew just demoted to soldier from capo and your new Capo's son is good friends with Merlino(the guy who shot you with a Mac 10). You would want to move to FL too !

[Pogo The Clown]

Also, Staino's comments on Filipelli were from 2004, so he may have came back in the fold fairly quickly.

In The Last Gangster GA talks about how the Stanfa guy's coming out of prison in the late 90s were welcomed back into the fold. Filipeli got out in 1998 so he was probably one of them.


Another reason for the Gamino-Philly meeting was a dispute between Philly and the DeCavalcante family.


Pogo

[NJShore4Life]

Big Vince Filipelli was arrested in 2006 back in the game operating in the Philly area. So it’s safe to say that by 2004-2005 timeframe he was back in the fold with the Philly LCN family under Ligambi operating bookmaking and loans in Cherry Hill suburb of Philly.

http://www.njsp.org/news/pr102506.html