Philly making ceremonies (1990's-present) and misc. research

[B.]

Other bits that may be relevant:

- In 1975, CI Rocco Scafidi reported to the FBI that Sindone was a "high-ranking member" but didn't specify what rank. To my knowledge Sindone has never been confirmed as a captain and given that he was proposed by Angelo Bruno, he may have been direct with the administration.

- The FBI also learned in 1975 that the family had split into two factions. By 1976, they identified these factions as one led by Phil Testa, Nicky Scarfo, and Frank Narducci, while the other faction was led by Angelo Bruno, John Simone, and Frank Sindone. Scarfo was a soldier at this time, though he was mistakenly believed by some sources to be a capodecina and after the 1977 death of Joe Rugnetta, Phil Testa suggested Scarfo as the new consigliere (as we know the position went to Caponigro, also a soldier, in 1978). Scarfo's address book obtained after the Falcone murder contained contact information for many high-ranking NYC members, particularly from the Genovese family. Despite being a soldier, Scarfo was clearly a power in the family by the mid-1970s. This could lend itself to Sindone being a "high-ranking" soldier as well.

- Given Sindone was described by the FBI as a leading figure in the Bruno-Simone faction in 1976, it is interesting that a year later he was recorded disparaging Bruno to a top associate of the Testa-Scarfo-Narducci faction. It isn't often referenced, but on the 1977 recording of Frank Sindone complaining about Angelo Bruno, Sindone was speaking to Salvatore Merlino. Merlino appeared a number of times on the tapes made in the steak shop, as he was a close friend of Sindone (which may have also been a reason Merlino was involved in Sindone's murder). Coincidentally, both Merlino and Sindone's families came from Messina province in Sicily.

- I have to wonder if the 1970s factionalism was partly "hype". LE surveillance logs from the late 1970s show that Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were visitors to Angelo Bruno's home. Leonetti also claimed that Bruno visited Scarfo in Atlantic City during this period and the two socialized together. We also know Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were not conspirators in Bruno's murder, so if they were a "faction" they weren't the biggest threat to Bruno.

[Pogo The Clown]

I have to wonder if the 1970s factionalism was partly "hype". LE surveillance logs from the late 1970s show that Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were visitors to Angelo Bruno's home. Leonetti also claimed that Bruno visited Scarfo in Atlantic City during this period and the two socialized together. We also know Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were not conspirators in Bruno's murder, so if they were a "faction" they weren't the biggest threat to Bruno.

For what's it's worth Freselone alludes to the factionalism in his book. How Bruno hadn't talked to Testa for like 2 years before his murder.


Pogo

[B.]

I have to wonder if the 1970s factionalism was partly "hype". LE surveillance logs from the late 1970s show that Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were visitors to Angelo Bruno's home. Leonetti also claimed that Bruno visited Scarfo in Atlantic City during this period and the two socialized together. We also know Testa, Scarfo, and Narducci were not conspirators in Bruno's murder, so if they were a "faction" they weren't the biggest threat to Bruno.

For what's it's worth Freselone alludes to the factionalism in his book. How Bruno hadn't talked to Testa for like 2 years before his murder.


Pogo

There is good reason to believe the family was divided as the FBI reported, no question, which is why I say "partly" hype. Surveillance logs show that Testa visited Bruno's house in the late 1970s, so unless he sat there staring at his coffee and awkwardly refused to say a word, they certainly talked. It could be open for interpretation, meaning they literally spoke to each other but didn't make decisions together. And maybe when Fresolone said that Chucky Merlino was "whacked", he meant that he was metaphorically murdered.

I used to consider Fresolone's book one of the most reliable sources but feel differently after revisiting his book the last time. A lot of good information, but a lot of speaking outside of his wheelhouse than I previously remembered, too. He makes many "questionable" statements and that's not including the honest mistakes (i.e. Chucky Merlino murder).

[chin_gigante]

Alternate Philadelphia administrations:

• On tape in November 1977, Philip Testa, Frank Narducci, Harry Riccobene and Nicodemo Scarfo complain about being kept in the dark (specifically Testa and Narducci, as underboss and a capo respectively) as to who Angelo Bruno was going to promote to replace the recently deceased consigliere Joseph Rugnetta. Narducci guessed that Bruno would make Nicholas Piccolo consigliere due to his age and status as a long-time member, while Testa wanted Scarfo to have the job but figured Bruno wouldn’t give it to him because he didn’t think Scarfo was old enough. Riccobene complained how things had changed from every member being able to propose and vote for consigliere to how now only ‘certain people’ would be chosen to ‘give [Bruno] the vote’. Testa then echoed Narducci’s guess that Bruno would promote Piccolo to ‘satisfy’ the Calabrian faction. Later, Nicholas Caramandi recalled that Antonio Caponigro was chosen as consigliere by the Calabrian faction. [I remember reading somewhere as well that Pollina wanted the position, but I can’t find the source.]

• Philip Leonetti recalls that, in the late-1970s, due to the problems Bruno was having with Testa, stemming from their different approaches to LCN, Bruno approached Scarfo and offered him a salary of $1,000 per week (and $500 each per week for Leonetti, Lawrence Merlino and Vincent Falcone) if he would side with Bruno. As part of this conspiracy, Testa would be killed and the position of underboss would go to Frank Narducci, who hoped to eventually succeed Bruno as boss. Testa had been urged to take over the family and even reportedly asked Bruno's permission to start his own family.

• Following the Bruno murder, Caponigro expected to become boss and intended to make either Frank Sindone or Pasquale Martirano his underboss (George Fresolone identifies Martirano while Sindone is identified in Blood and Honour and Mafia Prince).

• When Testa became boss, he named Scarfo consigliere and Peter Casella underboss. However, Leonetti claims Scarfo had expected to be made underboss, and Caramandi recalls Narducci expected the role of consigliere.

• Fresolone writes that Sindone and John Simone were killed because they posed a threat to Testa’s leadership. Fresolone says that Sindone was not involved in the Bruno murder but was in fact a Bruno loyalist who was the popular choice among the capos to succeed Bruno, as opposed to Testa who was installed by the New York families. When recalling the murder of Simone, Salvatore Gravano said that Simone was killed for attempting to take over the family. Leonetti adds that Simone had been sending messages to Paul Castellano through Nicholas Russo that he wanted to take over but insists that Simone was also in on the Bruno murder. Frank Friel repeats that Simone was a threat to Testa’s leadership, but that he was backing Sindone to take over as boss.

• According to Thomas DelGiorno, following Testa’s murder, Casella approached Scarfo and told him he received a message from New York saying Casella was the new boss and Narducci the underboss; again, Narducci hoped to succeed Casella. Leonetti adds that Riccobene also sought to take over as boss at this time but had no support from the capos. However, Fresolone alleges that following Casella’s failed takeover, Narducci was putting his support behind Riccobene. Riccobene later stated in an interview that he could have become boss years prior but hadn't because he didn't want it.

• Following Scarfo’s arrest, Fresolone identifies Martirano as the first choice to take over as acting boss, but Martirano refused because he did not want to have to effectively relocate to Philadelphia to fulfil his duties and cited his health problems when he declined. Albert Pontani was also identified as a potential successor to Scarfo, and in some cases as he was briefly identified as a ‘caretaker’ of the organisation, due to his connections with the Gambino family in Trenton. Prosecutors in the trial of the murder of Frank D’Alfonso also alleged that Joseph Ligambi was Scarfo’s ‘designated heir’.

• After being initiated into the family in 1990, Fresolone was told that he could take over as underboss once the ailing Martirano died. However, Fresolone was pulled from the street before he had the chance to be appointed.

• John Stanfa was picked up on tape discussing how Salvatore Sparacio had attempted to shape the family hierarchy before Stanfa’s ascension to boss. Sparacio wanted to become underboss, while Anthony Piccolo would remain as boss and Stanfa would get the position of consigliere.

• Prosecutors described Luigi Tripodi as a ‘close and trusted adviser whom Stanfa almost named as his underboss’.

• Biagio Adornetto felt he would have made a better underboss to Stanfa than Joseph F Ciancaglini.

• Following the attempted murder of Joseph F Ciancaglini, Stanfa considered promoting Michael Ciancaglini and Joseph Merlino to unspecified hierarchy positions in a plot to keep them close to make killing them easier. Stanfa ultimately didn’t promote either.

• Gaetano Scafidi was picked up on tape discussing how Merlino had been going around describing Michael Ciancaglini as the boss and himself the underboss of Philadelphia. Ralph Natale testified on that from prison he considered himself the unofficial boss.

• Vincent Pagano was picked up on tape in late-1994 saying that he and Frank Martines were lined up to take over if Stanfa was arrested (likely with Martines as acting boss and Pagano as acting underboss). Following Pagano and Martines’ arrest for the attempted murder of John Veasey, Sparacio was identified by sources as Stanfa’s choice to take over.

• After Natale began cooperating with the FBI, he recalled that Ronald Turchi had attempted to subvert him by sending $10,000 to Leonard DiMaria in a bid to become the new boss of Philadelphia. From prison, Natale threatened Turchi to stop.

• Peter Caprio testified that he attempted to take over in 2000, taking advantage of the fact that Merlino and Ligambi weren’t recognised as the heads of the family. Caprio testified that he would become boss, Daniel D’Ambrosia would be initiated and made underboss, and Martin Angelina would be consigliere.

[Ivan]

I remember reading somewhere as well that Pollina wanted the position, but I can’t find the source.

That's in Breaking the Mob. This came up in one of the wiretap discussions, too. Scarfo was one of the ones being recorded and he piped up with "He had to be 90!" when Pollina's approach to Bruno about becoming consigliere was mentioned.

[B.]

Yep, the Pollina bit was part of the same discussion between Scarfo, Testa, Narducci, and Riccobene where they discussed the candidates for consigliere.

[Ivan]

Yep, the Pollina bit was part of the same discussion between Scarfo, Testa, Narducci, and Riccobene where they discussed the candidates for consigliere.

Do you know where there's a transcript of that available? I know I've read it but I can't remember where.

If I remember correctly, Scarfo says very little in the conversation, though he does cut in with his two cents about Pollina's age like I mentioned.

[chin_gigante]

Thanks gents. Checked my copy of Breaking the Mob and sure enough Friel mentions it. Only seen various snippets of that transcript between Narducci, Riccobene, Scarfo and Testa

[Philly d]

what happened to Stanfa's son?

[Pogo The Clown]

what happened to Stanfa's son?

He was shelved by Natale and Merlino when they took over.


Pogo

[NJShore4Life]

He had a Pizza Parlor in Philly years later that has since closed.

[PHL_Mob]

I was down there recently. They sold the lot where Stanfa used to keep the rotwhilers and made it into a used car spot or some shit. Joey Stanfa still owns the old Warfield and the old Continental distributor. There’s some espresso distributor out of there but there’s more cameras than a bank on that building... makes you wonder what’s going on in there- they must be moving pretty good espresso beans

[Philly d]

So joey is still in South Philly?

[PHL_Mob]

South Jersey but he and his sister still own Real Estate in South Philly namely that block on Warfield St and their old house on W Passyunk Ave

[outfit guy]

There was so much written about Sara Stanfa as stunningly beautiful but no pictures surfaced during trial (a murder conspiracy included related to her).