Was Salvatore Sabella Removed as Boss Due to a Failed Assassination Attempt or Internal Conflict?

[JogodoBicho]

Recently uncovered FBI documents have provided intriguing insights into the circumstances surrounding the removal of Salvatore Sabella (also referred to as "Sabelli") from his position as boss of the Philadelphia Crime Family. According to these documents, Sabella's demotion appears to have been directly related to a poorly executed assassination attempt that occurred on Memorial Day in 1927 or 1928.

Captura de tela 2025-03-25 160616.png

The documents indicate that the intended target was Musky Zanghi, a prominent gangster at the time. However, the assassination was poorly planned, notably carried out during daylight hours at the intersection of Christian Street and 8th Street, contrary to customary operational practices. This tactical miscalculation resulted not only in the injury of Zanghi but also in the unintended death of Vincent Coccozza, a friend of Zanghi who was killed after being mistakenly targeted by the assailants.

Following the incident, authorities arrested John Scopoletti, Dominick Festa, Dominick Pollina, John Avena, and Sabella himself. Although each defendant faced trial separately to mitigate the risk of mass acquittals, none were convicted in connection with the shooting. Salvatore Sabella specifically was acquitted on March 7, 1933.

Zanghi was subsequently murdered in New York City in August 1934.

Despite his acquittal, internal LCN dynamics appeared to swiftly turn against Sabella. An informant's report explicitly cites Sabella’s demotion as directly related to his poor judgment in planning and executing the 1927/1928 assassination attempt.

Further FBI documentation, however, raises additional questions about the motivations behind Sabella’s removal. It is suggested that Sabella was initially appointed as the boss by Giuseppe Traina, a figure associated with what later became known as the Gambino Crime Family in New York. Sabella's appointment from an external source, rather than emerging from within Philadelphia's local ranks, may have compromised his legitimacy and internal support, further contributing to his demotion.

Captura de tela 2025-03-25 164943.png

It is also noteworthy that Sabella, continued to be actively engaged in organized crime, specifically loan sharking, many years after his formal demotion, suggesting his continued operational significance within the organization despite no longer serving as its boss.

Given the peculiar nature of these events, it seems unusually simplistic that a single poorly executed assassination attempt alone would result in the demotion of a boss. Rather, these circumstances strongly indicate the likelihood of deeper, underlying internal divisions.

In this context, is it indeed plausible that Sabella’s removal was due solely to operational incompetence, or is it more likely reflective of deeper internal rivalries stemming from his externally orchestrated appointment?

Furthermore, have similar instances occurred historically within organized crime, or does this situation stand out as uniquely atypical?

[B.]

Tony Lima claimed he successfully deposed Frank Lanza for discussing a murder contract assigned to Lima in front of other members who weren't part of the contract, a protocol error Lima used against him. It's "controversial" whether Lima truly deposed Lanza circa ~1930 as some accounts have Lanza as boss until his natural death in 1938 but it's the closest thing that comes to mind, a story of a boss mishandling a murder contract and allegedly being deposed or losing face.

Sources differ on the exact year Sabella was deposed. The Calabrian faction FBI informant (not made but very well-informed) believed Sabella was replaced by Avena as early as 1926 and Joe Bruno in 1928 but that's obviously an error. Riccobene told the FBI in other reports that Sabella was demoted for "poor judgment" so I assume he's the same source in the excerpt you shared placing it around 1928. However in some of his later interviews he said Sabella was still boss during the Castellammarese War and brought a team of shooters to New York which would place him in charge still in 1930-31 but Riccobene also thought the Castellammarese War started much earlier, around 1927.

As is typical, there was probably more going on than just one issue. Members were likely already unhappy with Sabella so if the shooting was the reason for him being deposed it was probably just an excuse or the last straw. Think of Joe Bonanno's downfall, where there were a bunch of issues going back years. There is usually a straw that breaks the camel's back and we see this with demotions as well as murders.

Traina by the way was the consigliere of D'Aquila's Family and Nicola Gentile said that Traina stood in as D'Aquila's "sostituto" as capo dei capi as well, Traina being the acting capo dei capi when D'Aquila couldn't attend national meetings. So in addition to Traina being close to his compaesani in the Philly Family and standing in as a de facto avugad (something he continued to do for decades even as a capodecina), his involvement in Sabella's rise as boss was likely as D'Aquila's sostituto. I doubt it was as simple as Traina/D'Aquila "appointing" Sabella as the Philadelphia Family still had to elect him internally, they just may have been encouraged/pressured to do so by the national leadership. Traina was also reportedly involved in Angelo Bruno's election as boss and mediated many issues in the Philly Family during the decades in between. I don't think the Family would have taken issue with Traina's involvement given the largest and most dominant faction of the Family at that time were the Belmontesi which included paesans and even relatives of Traina plus the Family welcomed his assistance throughout most of its existence.

[JogodoBicho]

Tony Lima claimed he successfully deposed Frank Lanza for discussing a murder contract assigned to Lima in front of other members who weren't part of the contract, a protocol error Lima used against him. It's "controversial" whether Lima truly deposed Lanza circa ~1930 as some accounts have Lanza as boss until his natural death in 1938 but it's the closest thing that comes to mind, a story of a boss mishandling a murder contract and allegedly being deposed or losing face.

Sources differ on the exact year Sabella was deposed. The Calabrian faction FBI informant (not made but very well-informed) believed Sabella was replaced by Avena as early as 1926 and Joe Bruno in 1928 but that's obviously an error. Riccobene told the FBI in other reports that Sabella was demoted for "poor judgment" so I assume he's the same source in the excerpt you shared placing it around 1928. However in some of his later interviews he said Sabella was still boss during the Castellammarese War and brought a team of shooters to New York which would place him in charge still in 1930-31 but Riccobene also thought the Castellammarese War started much earlier, around 1927.

As is typical, there was probably more going on than just one issue. Members were likely already unhappy with Sabella so if the shooting was the reason for him being deposed it was probably just an excuse or the last straw. Think of Joe Bonanno's downfall, where there were a bunch of issues going back years. There is usually a straw that breaks the camel's back and we see this with demotions as well as murders.

Traina by the way was the consigliere of D'Aquila's Family and Nicola Gentile said that Traina stood in as D'Aquila's "sostituto" as capo dei capi as well, Traina being the acting capo dei capi when D'Aquila couldn't attend national meetings. So in addition to Traina being close to his compaesani in the Philly Family and standing in as a de facto avugad (something he continued to do for decades even as a capodecina), his involvement in Sabella's rise as boss was likely as D'Aquila's sostituto. I doubt it was as simple as Traina/D'Aquila "appointing" Sabella as the Philadelphia Family still had to elect him internally, they just may have been encouraged/pressured to do so by the national leadership. Traina was also reportedly involved in Angelo Bruno's election as boss and mediated many issues in the Philly Family during the decades in between. I don't think the Family would have taken issue with Traina's involvement given the largest and most dominant faction of the Family at that time were the Belmontesi which included paesans and even relatives of Traina plus the Family welcomed his assistance throughout most of its existence.

Thank you very much for the insightful information you've shared; your contributions continue to impress me, and I'm consistently amazed by the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

Another point worth considering relates to Sabella's situation, as noted in the 1970 "Report on Organized Crime" by the Pennsylvania Crime Commission. According to the report, Sabella was deported to Italy following the incidents during Memorial Day of 1927/1928. Although there remains some controversy regarding whether this deportation actually took place, it could nonetheless explain, at least partially, why Sabella was removed or stepped down from his position as boss.

[B.]

Thank you for the kind words, man. Always great to see intelligent, analytical threads like this. Glad to have you here.

Regarding bosses being deposed, Cosa Nostra allows its members to vote to have a boss taken down and both American and Sicilian sources have referred to it. Phil Amari was voted out as boss for example. At one point in San Jose the Family was discussing holding a meeting to vote Joe Cerrito out. Apparently this was up for discussion for a considerable time as earlier on consiglio chairman Stefano Zoccoli was recorded telling Jimmy Lanza he could go to New York and request having Cerrito deposed.

I'm sure Philadelphia followed this process with Sabella regardless of the exact when and why.