Mob Hits in Jersey

[willychichi]

For all of New Jersey's storied connections to the Mafia, high-profile mob hits have been few and far between on our native soil. Here are three of the most infamous.

Once known as the "Fining Squire" for his punishment of choice, Somers Point Municipal Judge Edwin Helfant was approached by Philly mob boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo in 1970 with a proposal: Help arrange a light sentence for his colleague, Nicholas "Nick the Blade" Virgilio, who was facing a murder rap, in exchange for $12,500.

But Helfant apparently never passed the money on to the sentencing judge and Virgilio drew a 12- to 15-year sentence. On Feb. 15, 1978, Helfant and his wife were seated in the cocktail lounge of Atlantic City's Flamingo Hotel, when Virgilio, wearing a ski mask, shot him five times in the head; Scarfo drove the getaway car. The two men weren't indicted until 1987, but were convicted of murder. Virgilio died in 1995 of a heart attack at age 67 in federal prison; Scarfo, 86, remains in federal prison, with a 2033 release date.

Read More: http://www.nj.com/inside-jersey/index.s ... e-featured

[rayray]

Scarfo/Leonetti hit on Vincent Falcone at the Jersey Shore, 1979.


http://articles.philly.com/1988-10-26/n ... ph-salerno