PHILADELPHIA FAMILY

The Philadelphia family was started,not in America, but in Sicily. The first boss, Salvatore Sabella, was a member of the Sicilian Mafia before being sent by Sicilian Mafia bosses to Philadelphia, to get the cities rackets up and running. From 1911-1927, Sabella was boss. Joseph Bruno was boss from 1927-1946. Right from the start of his reign John Avena challenged him position of boss. Joseph Bruno held on to the power, he died of natural causes in 1946. Bruno's underboss, Joseph Ida, became boss and tried to keep out of the lime light. Ida was present at Apalachin. In 1959, he was convicted on a narcotics charge and was deported back to Sicily. Angelo Bruno stepped up to become boss. Angelo was responsible for bringing the Philly family intot the public eye. It was also Angelo who started Atlantic City off to become the success that it is today. Bruno's consigliere, Antonio "Tony Bananas" Caponigro, complained day and night that Bruno didn't use enough violence in achieving the goals of the family. Bruno was assassinated on March 21,1980. Gunned down in his car outside his home, Bruno's driver watched as he was pumped with slugs. The five New York family bosses chose Phil Testa as the next boss, he made Pete Casella underboss, Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo consigliere. Scarfo, had been banished to Atlantic City by Angelo Bruno, but was now back. On March 15, 1981, Phil was blown up by a bomb packed with roofing nails and explosives. Casella and Narducci were behind the murder. Casella called a family meeting proclaiming he had been named boss by the New York families. Nicky Scarfo checked up on the matter and found out Casella was lying. Shortly there after, Scarfo was named boss. During a four year period thirty mobsters/associates died in mob-related deaths. In 1989, Scarfo was convicted of murder, using informants, Tommy Delgiorno, Nick Caramandi, Gino Milano, Larry Merlino, and underboss/nephew, Phil Leonetti. Control of the family then went to John Stanfa in 1991 while Scarfo was in prison. Stanfa was directly from Sicily and was thought to have been the best choice for boss, but later turned sour. Making imprisoned mobsters sons into capos, Stanfa tried to get in good with the American mafioso. Then a power struggle broke out between Stanfa and Joey Merlino. Stanfa was convicted on narcotics and racketeering charges in 1994. Ralph Natale became boss after Stanfa was sent to prison. Ralph was sent to prison for violating parole in 1998. It's assumed Joey Merlino is now boss.



Angelo Bruno Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo John Stanfa

Mafia History | |Castellammarese War | | Syndicate | | The Five New York Families | | Other Italian Crime Groups | | Structure of the Mafia Family | | Bios | | Murder, Inc. | | Atlantic City Conference | | Gangster Flicks || Mobspeak Glossary | | Friends of Mine   | | Home