Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Bruno–Scarfo crime family,[19] the Philadelphia–Atlantic City crime family,[20] the Philadelphia Mafia,[21][22] the Philly Mafia,[23][24][25] or the Philadelphia–South Jersey Mafia,[26][27][28] is an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed and based in South Philadelphia, the criminal organization primarily operates in Philadelphia (especially South Philadelphia) and the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area in general, including South Jersey.[29][30][31][32] The family is notorious for its violence, its succession of violent bosses, and multiple mob wars.
Founded
c. 1911
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, specifically South Philadelphia
c. 1911–present
Primarily the Philadelphia metropolitan area and South Jersey, with additional territory in North Jersey, Delaware, Boston and South Florida[1]
50 made members and 100 associates (2004)[2]
Racketeering, extortion, bookmaking, loan-sharking; gambling, sports betting; fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, labor racketeering and corruption, fencing, illicit cigarette trade, political corruption, smuggling, prostitution, armed robbery, gunrunning, and murder[3]
- Bufalino crime family[4]
- DeCavalcante crime family[5]
- Detroit Partnership[6]
- Gambino crime family[7]
- Genovese crime family[8]
- Lucchese crime family[9]
- Patriarca crime family[10]
- Pittsburgh crime family[11]
- 10th & Oregon Crew[12]
- Junior Black Mafia[13]
- K&A Gang[14]
- Pagans MC[15]
- Philadelphia Greek Mob[16]
- Warlocks MC[17]
- Black Mafia[18]
- Hells Angels MC[15]
- and various other gangs in the Philadelphia area, including their allies
Operating as the Bruno crime family under the 21-year reign of boss Angelo Bruno (1959–1980), the family enjoyed an era of peace and prosperity.[33][34] A complex dispute involving disgruntled subordinates and territory claims by New York's Genovese crime family led to Bruno's murder in 1980. The killing marked the beginning of years of internal violence for control of the Philadelphia family, leading to a gradual decline in the family's stability.
Beginning in 1980, however, Bruno's death led to an internal war for control of the crime family. Bruno was succeeded as boss by his loyal friend, Philip "The Chicken Man" Testa; however, within a year of Bruno's murder, Testa was also murdered, killed in a nail bomb explosion in 1981. When the dust settled from Bruno and Testa's deaths, Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo emerged as boss of the crime family. During Scarfo's reign, the family was known as the Scarfo crime family.[35][22][26][27][28][34][36][37] Scarfo's 10-year reign saw the family grow in power, but also become highly dysfunctional. Unlike Bruno, Scarfo was infamous for his short temper and penchant for violence. Scarfo increasingly involved the family in narcotics trafficking and demanded that all criminals pay a street tax for operating in his territory. Scarfo also did not hesitate to order people murdered over moderate disputes. The dramatic rise in violence attracted increased attention from the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and New Jersey State Police. Increased violence and law enforcement prosecutions also convinced several mobsters to cooperate with the government in order to escape death or prison. Scarfo's downfall came in 1988, when he and most of his top allies were arrested and sentenced to long prison terms.
With Scarfo's imprisonment, the Mafia hierarchy was convinced that Scarfo was unfit for the position of boss. Once Scarfo was deposed due to rising tensions within the family, John Stanfa was named boss of the Philadelphia family in 1991. A faction of young mobsters led by Joey Merlino disputed Stanfa's ascension, however, launching another war in the family by 1992.
The war ended in 1994, when Stanfa and most of his supporters were arrested by the FBI, though less intensified fighting continued until 1996 and began to involve violence from outside the family until the early 2000s. Merlino subsequently took control of the family and has allegedly been running the family to varying degrees ever since. The Philadelphia family has been weakened over the past 30 years due to internal violence, government turncoats, and law enforcement action following the passage of the RICO Act. Despite this, the family still remains one of the most active and powerful Mafia groups in the United States.
In popular culture[edit]
In 2006, the film 10th & Wolf was released, and marketed as the true story of the Philadelphia Mafia.