I don't fan boy often but Mafia Prince is legit one of my favorite books. I listened to the audio version twice and I'm going to listen to it again soon.
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That 15 year span from 1980-1995 in Philly was insane. Bruno and Testa wacked less than a year apart, Scarfo’s bloody reign through the late eighties, and then the Stanfa-Merlino war right after.
I dated Scarfos neice back in the early 90s she was a cool woman because who she was affiliated with I didn't take her long and I didn't want to get in trouble.
Vince Falcone was one of the shooters in the Pepe Leva hit. He wasn’t some civilian, he was a gangster in the Nicky Scarfo crew when Scarfo was a soldier
1:23:44 Tony Buck Piccolo was not Scarfo's Uncle. Tony was the son of Scarfo's uncle Mikey Buck Piccolo . Which would make Tony Buck his first cousin. Which is why Tony Buck was also called "Cousin Tony" by Scarfo and leonetti. Served as Acting boss when Scarfo got jammed up and Consigliere to Stanfa until they both went to the can.
Your confusing Nicky’s Scarfo uncles wit his cousin. Antony piccolo who became Scarfo acting boss and later stanfas consigliere is the son of Michael piccolo ( Nicky’s uncle ). His uncles would of been in their 90s in 1991.
This the episode I've been waiting on, TBH, Burnie is an organized crime expert, Full Stop. But, Because of Mafia Prince and so much more, I've always wanted to see Burnie and Doc cover Nick Scarfo during THIS stretch of their careers. Thank for all the great content across all forms of media
This is a great documentary on Nicky I heard plenty of stories about Scarfo. But this is authentic you talk to his nephew and wrote the book. You get no more authentic than that. Great content
I moved to Philadelphia in October 2023. I'm from South Georgia. I truly did not realize that the Mafia still existed. I moved up here bc my youngest son lives here and did research and found one of the best neurosurgeons in the country up here. I have encountered pur kindness so far. Although, all of my doctors appointments seem to be in center city and nobody wants to take me so I have to take the train. I've watched a lot of mafia movies but they were just that, movies.
Surprised Scott had not heard this but according to Phil Leonetti the Joe Rugnetta daughter story with Nicky Scarfo wasn't with Scarfo. It was with Chuckie Merlino, Chuckie said he wouldn't go out with Joe's homely daughter. Maybe Joey could confirm the story.
I did time with a guy in the Pennsylvania prison system who was locked up with Harry At SCI Dallas. He said that Harry was a great guy who liked to joke around. He also said that he was absolutely fearless.
@@xavierjames8085how was Nicky Scarfo the boss after Johnny“keys” was killed, if Phil testa was alive and clearly the boss? It all a matter of looking up dates of when it happened. Sammy had nothing to do with Nicky becoming boss.
@@xavierjames8085 Johnny Keys was killed in October 1980, Testa was still the boss. That was 6 months before Scarfo even became the boss. That hits got fuck all to do with Nicky becoming boss. Just another one of Sammy’s revisionist history tales.
It wasn't a fork it was a butter knife stabbed him right in the heart why dude died he actually wasn't trying to kill him dude had at least 6 inches and had about 80 to 100 pounds on him just correcting that and your book would be a great movie ive read it definitely outstanding job
If you were my professor I would have graduated..and also, pretty crazy that I JUST PLACED an order for Mafia Prince yesterday and found this podcast today..from the Archeologists!
Joey said Phil LOVED being called "Crazy Phil" he said his mom even loved it. He said they would talk about him everyday on the news. So Maybe Phil is trying to save face in the interviews and books. He comes off very calm and reserved so it's easy to believe his word.
I worked for Phil and Nicky. You nailed it. He loved it because he was not a physically tough guy. Oh, he'd shoot you, but he never had a fist fight in his life - never had to. I worked for Scarf Inc, pouring concrete. Until Phil skimmed from my paycheck, and wouldnt make it right. Was on a five guy crew pouring sidewalks and setting curbs on all the casino jobs that Nicky and Phil muscled in on. It was Chris Scarfo, Chuck Ayers, Ugly Bobby, Pen Nife (Nick the Blade's kid - and yes, thats how he spelled it) & me. And as nick names go, Nicky was a big fan of them, that much was true. One of the few things that lying, weasel, thief rat fink Phil didnt lie about, just to save his own ass. Because Nick got a kick out of me (and I really liked Nick too - always nice to me, even gave me the dumptruck to drive to and from work every day) he, in the tradition of south Philly, gave me a nick name - Rembrandt. He liked the way I finished concrete. Phil was the guy I didnt like, or trust & in the end, he proved that my intuition about him was right. I knew a lot of things that he lied about, and his uncle paid the price. Just look at what he did with Vince. He gladly shot him (in the back) BECAUSE he did want his girlfriend. THAT is what kind of cowardly, back stabbing (& shooting) scumbag he was - and still is. People demonize Nick, but Phil is just as bad - worse in my opinion, because like Sammy the Bullshitter, he lied about a lot of things to get out of life behind bars and sent a lot of his "family" away just so the feds could bring their case to court. So yeah, you were right, he loved the nickname, but should have never been given it in the first place. He wasnt crazy, he should have been given Jimmy Fratiani's nickname - the weasel. Or as Nick said in his letter home from prison to his mother, "that lying, rat fink weasel." Just though I'd share that with you because you intuited what you did about Phil. Too bad Bernstein believed every word Phil told him just to sell books, like the feds did just to make a case.
Joey also said "never met him, don't know who that is" when asked about Phil Narducci, so I'd say he has no credibility, he's just trying to make all informants look bad, so I don't believe it. You are a Joey "d#@$ rider"
Ive bought quit a few mafia books mafia prince was one of the very first and i just learned something new i had no idea jersey was known for blue berries
A misconception about testa's murder is that scarfo just willie nilly decided he should go. After testa broke up with chuckie's daughter, chuckie was able to turn a lot of soldiers against Salvie. Guys like faffy and Tommy Del Co signed chuckie's move to have him taken out and started beefing about him to nicky constantly. Knowing how paranoid nicky was they lit the match and fed the fire inside his head.
Gentlemen, TREMENDOUS episode. Love Philly LCN episodes. Especially the 80’s. LOVE the mafia prince book. Love your analysis, as always. Give “That’s What Friends are For” a chance. That’s an awesome song. Top selling record in 1986. Not cheesy, at all LOL.
Mafia Prince is a great book. Its in my top 3(jerry capecis books on Al D'arco and Roy Demeo are my other 2.) Does Scott have any plans on any new books? The members only podcast has gotten a lot of FOIA docs on Angelo Bruno and is doing a great deep dive series with tons of info ive never heard of. Hes working on part 3 which is going to focus on Brunos hits he did before becoming boss. He claims hes found 9 cases with bruno being directing involved with him being the triggerman on 3-4 of them. Also in that series it seems Bruno and Phil Testa were actually very close for years. It wasnt until the last year or two that there was tension between the two. I think scarfo even respected bruno up until that same time period.
The book on the Chin is great too and “Deal with the Devil” about Greg Scarpa and his relationship with Lynn DelVechio. The great thing about Scarpa cooperating for as long as he did was - a lot is known about the Colombo’s entire family history. A lot isn’t even known tho or talked about generally but they mention it in that book. Their capos had some absolutely ingenious scams and rackets. Aside from the Franzese’s. I’m not even talking about them. After I read that book tho it made me firmly believe that the Colombo’s had the best earners out of any family. If Persico was on the street his entire reign I bet he’d have a net worth somewhere in the 9 digits.
@@BostonsF1nestit’s cool to finally hear someone bring up Deal with the Devil. I agree that it should be talked about when people mention top 10 or TOP 5!!
It's been said that if Scarfo werent such a homicidal maniac, he may of stayed boss much longer and the state of the Philadelphia family may be much stronger. But who knows! Good job guys.
Love you guys and your efforts. Do a Nove Tocco episode! Also, do a episode about the partnership wiseguy doing life for killing those two goons at that betting spot in the early 1990s
Also, just a minor critique on setting the record to a point Scott had made. According to your coauthor Phil Leonetti, Scarfo had told HIM that when Scarfo went to NY to talk to The Chin; Fat Tony and Bobby Manna after the Bruno hit, that Chin was pushing for Scarfo to take the big seat in the family, but that he rather deferred to Testa citing protocol. Apparently Chin THEN said to Scarfo, "Well then he better make YOU underboss"!.....which as we know, he didn't.
When Riccobenne was shot in the phonebooth, Grandy EMPTIED a revolver into Harry the hunchback Riccobenne and Harry STILL took the gun away from Grandy, after being shot FIVE times. Wayne Grandy ran off scared outta his mind. When the police showed up, Harry was still holding the gun. Harry the Hunchback told the cops that Grandy was done with the weapon, so, Four foot Nothing, Harry the Hunchback Riccobenne took the weapon away from him. What Harry did that day to Wayne Grandy is the most GANGSTER shit I've ever heard of in ALL my Damn life
@@woowaptibam5253 Miniature John Wick spent a lifetime punching above his weight. When Scarfo was in his prime, Mini Wick told Little Nicky to go EAD! Don Riccobenne had that DAWG in him
Scott is correct. The developer of Penns Landing was James Rouse. He was a very prominent real estate developer. In fact, he designed the Inner Harbor in Baltimore as well as a planned community in Maryland known as Columbia. It wasn’t Rouse who wired up though. It was one of his Vice Presidents
Another great one boys good job please dont stop also mob archeologist hasnt made videos in 5 months any reason why have you heard ? And are they done making videos?
Nicky had every right to be paranoid. 2 bosses had been killed and multiple other administration figures in the past two regimes.Who wouldn’t be thinking everybody’s aiming for the top after that?
Bruno's downfall was the fact that he passed a rule that prohibited members of his Philly Crime Family from drug dealing activities. On the hand, Bruno allows other members of different crime families operates drugs dealing in Philly crime family jurisdiction sort of speak in exchange for percentage. Bruno was receiving drug dealing proceeds but denied members of his crime family the opportunity to make money from dealing drugs. His logic prostrated ranking and files of Philly crime family's members which resulted in Bruno's death.
Phillip ( it’s my uncles fault) Leonetti said he left the life because he got sick of his uncle killing everyone. No he flipped became he got sentenced to 45 years and never did any prison time before that. Just like Sammy. Two cowarss
Phil was like 34 years old when that happened and he didn’t testify against anyone in his own family. Why the fuck would he wanna spend his life in prison? You’d be an idiot not to take the chance to get out when he did. His uncle was already sentenced to life when he flipped. Phil was young, had a wife and son to look after. I support him 100%. All told he did about 8 years in prison after being arrested in 87. Why throw your life away for nothing?
Living Life as a Regular Schnook is a Heaven-Send😇 after going through a Bloodlustfully Era,(Nutcase of a Family Member leading the Charge), I Don't Blame Phil at all for throwing in the towel when you're Surrounded by Death☠ and chaos 😬and having to be in Survival Mode 24/7 just to stay amongst the Living it wears on your Pysche 🧠& that can be a tough weight to Bear, Especially when you can't convince the guy running the thing to dial it down a few notches, Scarfo brought himself down by Behaving the way he did, What kinda message do you send by killing someone Everyone Respect's(Not a Very Good one), Scarfo was a Damn Mess, Talk about Napolean Complex, Scarfo needed his own Dr.Melfi 😂🤣😅😆.
What the Detroit Partnership was doing from 1975-2000 was so light years ahead of Philadelphia when it comes to making money and doing LCN the way it should be run to the opposite is mind boggling🤯 It’s was like comparing the Board Members of a Fortune500 Co. to a ‘Glorified Crew’ of the East Coast LCN💯 Bruno should of stepped aside in 1975… he was financially set, had lost his zest and ambition, was becoming openly two-faced and hypocritical and lost the pulse of his own Borgata…
I grew up with these stories my uncle GOVENOR WORKED AS A KID IN TRENTON NJ FOR PHILLY CAPO AND BRUNOS COUSIN CHARLIE COSTELLO, than as he got older he was JHONNY keys driver and was straightned out by him than shelved after keys death also my father and uncles on my mothers side were very tight with the PONTANIs and at 1 time pat the cat who every1 disliked but he made a lot of money, they sold a lot of meth pagan purple it was called…. WHEN BRUNO FIRST CAME TO USA HE LANDED IN TRENTON PRIOR TO GOING TO ITALIAN MARKET IN PHILLY HE HAD ALOT OF FAMIly HERE S AND SOME OF HIS BIGGEST MONEY GUYS WERE HERE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THe GAMBINOS and PHILly GUYS, THEY HUNG TOGETHER IT WAS WEIRD LOL GREAT SHOW AS ALWAYS BRO
I was especially interested in your answer to why didnt Salvie run? I totally agree with you but I have often wondered why, especially after that kiss of death, he didn’t kill Scarfo first. Maybe it’s the same answer.
Alwaysxbeen fascinated w the Sal Testa betrayal and hit.....my take is that part of Salvie still had faith that Nicky loved him like a son even though all the signs were there he was gonna be wacked
Funny u say that.. I grow up in Hammonton NJ. I always remember a gated lake front house 🏡 by the hospital 🏥 called Kessler Memorial Hospital which was mob owned apparently a high ranked mobster. I remember a dead horse was found in that lake 🤦🏽♀️
Cool shit Scott. If you do get Mafia Prince made into a movie, consider casting Stephen Graham as Nicky Scarfo (watch his scene in The Irishman where he goes ballistic on Pacino in jail and you'll see what I mean). Frankie Valli would have been even better but he's too old now. This is extreme nitpicking, but Tony Piccolo was Scarfo's cousin, not his uncle.
Joey Merlino said some of the lies Phil said in is book. Joey said Phil really loved his name crazy Phil every time he read about himself in the paper. Was some chapter’s Phil left out in the book and his new name is scared shitless Phil
Bruno was old school Sicilian mobster and left bodies with messages. Scarfo was getting choked out. No way he could let a civilian put his hands on him.
I am confused Lionetti said it already buried the body and was using him to take the vehicle back from what he said he was not in the vehicle the same time the body was
Bernstein is no joke! I remember being a kid in philly and hearing scarfo name everyother day on local news. Jimmy good too. Im talking non associated content creators
Sometimes Jimmy is on a diffrent page if the book Scarfo and Bruno were a part part of the group that was jailed for not testifying when they were given immunity. They spent along period of time in prison together, Nicky was highly respected in New York . Especially with Bobby mamma and the Genovese. .so the narrative that he was banished that the doctor wouldn’t let go of was never considered legitimate by historians just reported over and over in books. Testa was also close to Bruno and Nicky and they were often seen all dining together. Nicky knew how to play the game he just let his manic paranoia come to the forefront after he became boss
The funny thing is is the Gambino's got John stanfa into the Bruno crime family and the Gambino's in Bruno had a alliance but after John was a part of the plot then the Genovese got Philadelphia proxy vote so essentially the Gambino's messed up play someone in the Bruno organization and lost their proxy vote
Theory for all enthusiasts and Bernie and Frank:::: I would venture to say, that Stanfa was NOT involved in the Bruno plot, nor was he aware of the hit. This is a theory only based on logic determined by relationships/partnership and money. According to the popular storyline, Caponigro was ONLY given the greenlight by Funzi Tieri who claimed to have spoken for the Genovese Family as well as the greater Commission. That being assumed, that he was setting up a grand triple-cross against Caponigro, one would guess that the remaining heads of the Commission were in the dark. Had Castellano been in the loop I'm prettu sure he would have vetoed it because at that time still, Bruno was throwing his vote on the Commission in the favor of the Gambinos. The Genovese knew what they were doing the whole time. Back to Stanfa....I think that he ALSO may have been targeted(he WAS hit with pellets afterall...granted it was buckshot)in the Bruno hit. I wonder if its in the police report as to balistics on how many shots were fired by Caponigro. Stanfa has claim that he bolted from the vehicle....perhaps not actually wanting to be shot directly at this point, by a shotgun MAYBE now aimed at his face. Anyways the bottom line is, why WOULD the major plotters clue in a zip who was related loosely to the Gambinos??....though Stanfa WAS requested to become(Id imagine eventually) made into the Bruno Family. Also, one would imagine that the Cherry Hill Gambinos(also zips) were operating a MEGA-multi million dollar drug ring operation in Bruno's territory....an arrangement that im SURE went off-book to benefit Castellano and Bruno.....In summary, why would Stanfa compromise his life and familial relationships within the Gambino family and especially the Sicilian wing of the Gambinos as well as having a good trajectory at becoming fully initiated with Bruno?....I mean shit, being the Boss's chauffeur doesn't exactly mean you're going DOWN the corporate ladder!......thoughts??
And nicky had to mediate on chuckys behalf of him not being made but Bruno said quote "we're not killing the kid for this "mafia prince and Phil gets out on his interview on podcast
Natale claimed that he was made by Bruno and Gambino in a backroom in New York. He also claimed he was tight with Tony "Batters" Accardo from the Chicsgo Outfit.
Yea lol the only guy to ever get in a physical altercation with Accardo who lived to tell the story. Some ppl robbed his house once and Tony went scorched earth and killed about 8 ppl including the guy who was house sitting that weekend.
Not all of us are "piling on you" for wrong dates or nitpicking. We are just clarifying for people who read the comments section. That being said, more comments(positive or negative) ultimately help your channel as viewers are leaving impressions and interactions.
James you were 100% right when you tried to state that Scarfo was already serving in jail serving a 14 year sentence for extorting the developer, but Scott cut you off saying he’s just stating chronological facts to you that everyone was arrested off the streets including Scarfo. You were 100# wrong!!! Start doing your homework Scott we all know you did the book with Phil(gift wrapped) to from a desperate RAT.
I grew up in Ducktown, and Nicky was a really sweet guy to the people that I knew yeah he definitely was a gangster and a killer, but he did have another side, and Philly Leonetti pretty much, threw him under the bus personally, and professionally as a gangster
Everyone always asks why Petey Casella got a pass, when Capronegro certainly did not. Pete had a cousin named Matty. Matty was a soldier in the northern jersey Genovese crew, his restaurant was actually called Casella's. Thats where Bobby Manna and others got caught on a wire plotting the John and Gene Gotti hit. Casella was a close friend of Manna and was briefly acting capo when funzi tieri died. So im assuming Matty went to Bobby to talk to the Chin, and thats how Pete Casella got retired to Florida and not stuffed in a trunk with $20 bills stuck up his rear, somewhere in the south bronx.
You have it wrong about Phil going for a ride with his uncle when Phil was a boy !!!!! There was no body in the truck he was only returning the truck to Philly …. STOP saying that … i grew up 50 feet from them.
I don't fan boy often but Mafia Prince is legit one of my favorite books. I listened to the audio version twice and I'm going to listen to it again soon.
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Mafia Prince-Hands down THE BEST BOOK EVER detailing mafia related content. Please sir-write another book, please!
Thank you!
That 15 year span from 1980-1995 in Philly was insane. Bruno and Testa wacked less than a year apart, Scarfo’s bloody reign through the late eighties, and then the Stanfa-Merlino war right after.
And the unmade Natale became boss
And Merlino's war with the 10th and O Crew after that.
Damn Philly was on fire
😅
I dated Scarfos neice back in the early 90s she was a cool woman because who she was affiliated with I didn't take her long and I didn't want to get in trouble.
Another great episode guys...can never get enough of the Little Nicky Scarfo shenanigans and stories
Mafia Prince is my personal favorite mafia book.
Mafia Prince is an excellent read!! Great content and good job fellas!! Really enjoy your channel!!
Vince Falcone was one of the shooters in the Pepe Leva hit. He wasn’t some civilian, he was a gangster in the Nicky Scarfo crew when Scarfo was a soldier
He was an associate. He could never be made
Alfredo Ferrara Was the shooter in that murder. Vince was the second shooter in the Demarco hit
@@BostonsF1nestHe was Italian but he complained a lot
@@BostonsF1nestAnd then Vincent ended up with a big headache and wrapped up in carpet
@@gchijioke12 he was Argentinian
1:23:44 Tony Buck Piccolo was not Scarfo's Uncle. Tony was the son of Scarfo's uncle Mikey Buck Piccolo . Which would make Tony Buck his first cousin. Which is why Tony Buck was also called "Cousin Tony" by Scarfo and leonetti. Served as Acting boss when Scarfo got jammed up and Consigliere to Stanfa until they both went to the can.
Your confusing Nicky’s Scarfo uncles wit his cousin. Antony piccolo who became Scarfo acting boss and later stanfas consigliere is the son of Michael piccolo ( Nicky’s uncle ). His uncles would of been in their 90s in 1991.
Top show guys, great mob candy 👍🏻
This the episode I've been waiting on, TBH, Burnie is an organized crime expert, Full Stop. But, Because of Mafia Prince and so much more, I've always wanted to see Burnie and Doc cover Nick Scarfo during THIS stretch of their careers. Thank for all the great content across all forms of media
This is a great documentary on Nicky I heard plenty of stories about Scarfo. But this is authentic you talk to his nephew and wrote the book. You get no more authentic than that. Great content
I moved to Philadelphia in October 2023. I'm from South Georgia. I truly did not realize that the Mafia still existed. I moved up here bc my youngest son lives here and did research and found one of the best neurosurgeons in the country up here. I have encountered pur kindness so far. Although, all of my doctors appointments seem to be in center city and nobody wants to take me so I have to take the train. I've watched a lot of mafia movies but they were just that, movies.
Surprised Scott had not heard this but according to Phil Leonetti the Joe Rugnetta daughter story with Nicky Scarfo wasn't with Scarfo. It was with Chuckie Merlino, Chuckie said he wouldn't go out with Joe's homely daughter. Maybe Joey could confirm the story.
Awesome show guys u both are great and I'm a huge fan keep the content coming¡
I'm just starting this video. You guys have been putting out great content lately. Top notch. 👍
Much appreciated!
An incredible book! Ive listened to the Audible 10 times....just the way it's written and relatability across audiences is phenomenal
The developer was Willard Rouse, the counselman in the deal was Leland Belloff I believe.
I did time with a guy in the Pennsylvania prison system who was locked up with Harry At SCI Dallas. He said that Harry was a great guy who liked to joke around. He also said that he was absolutely fearless.
Gravano said in his last livestream that he's trying to do a video with Leonetti for his "Table in the Back" series. That would be something.
Lol Sammy helped win the war for Scarfo didn’t you hear? Such BS
@@BostonsF1nesthe did .. he killed Johnny keys which made Nicky the boss wtf 😂😂 you guys hate so much you don’t even know regular known facts lmao
@@xavierjames8085how was Nicky Scarfo the boss after Johnny“keys” was killed, if Phil testa was alive and clearly the boss? It all a matter of looking up dates of when it happened. Sammy had nothing to do with Nicky becoming boss.
@@xavierjames8085 Johnny Keys was killed in October 1980, Testa was still the boss. That was 6 months before Scarfo even became the boss. That hits got fuck all to do with Nicky becoming boss. Just another one of Sammy’s revisionist history tales.
@@BostonsF1nestyou are absolutely correct!
It wasn't a fork it was a butter knife stabbed him right in the heart why dude died he actually wasn't trying to kill him dude had at least 6 inches and had about 80 to 100 pounds on him just correcting that and your book would be a great movie ive read it definitely outstanding job
Great interview Scott. I love your insight. I can’t get enough info on the Philly mob. Phils book was phenomenal
If you were my professor I would have graduated..and also, pretty crazy that I JUST PLACED an order for Mafia Prince yesterday and found this podcast today..from the Archeologists!
Just have to say, Mafia Prince is an absolutely excellent book. If u like mob stories, this is THE book. Fascinating story. Great work Mr. Burnstein!
Scott appreciates the kind words!!
Great content as usual!
Joey said Phil LOVED being called "Crazy Phil" he said his mom even loved it. He said they would talk about him everyday on the news. So Maybe Phil is trying to save face in the interviews and books. He comes off very calm and reserved so it's easy to believe his word.
Absolutely agree with you
I worked for Phil and Nicky. You nailed it. He loved it because he was not a physically tough guy. Oh, he'd shoot you, but he never had a fist fight in his life - never had to.
I worked for Scarf Inc, pouring concrete. Until Phil skimmed from my paycheck, and wouldnt make it right. Was on a five guy crew pouring sidewalks and setting curbs on all the casino jobs that Nicky and Phil muscled in on. It was Chris Scarfo, Chuck Ayers, Ugly Bobby, Pen Nife (Nick the Blade's kid - and yes, thats how he spelled it) & me. And as nick names go, Nicky was a big fan of them, that much was true. One of the few things that lying, weasel, thief rat fink Phil didnt lie about, just to save his own ass.
Because Nick got a kick out of me (and I really liked Nick too - always nice to me, even gave me the dumptruck to drive to and from work every day) he, in the tradition of south Philly, gave me a nick name - Rembrandt. He liked the way I finished concrete. Phil was the guy I didnt like, or trust & in the end, he proved that my intuition about him was right.
I knew a lot of things that he lied about, and his uncle paid the price. Just look at what he did with Vince. He gladly shot him (in the back) BECAUSE he did want his girlfriend. THAT is what kind of cowardly, back stabbing (& shooting) scumbag he was - and still is.
People demonize Nick, but Phil is just as bad - worse in my opinion, because like Sammy the Bullshitter, he lied about a lot of things to get out of life behind bars and sent a lot of his "family" away just so the feds could bring their case to court.
So yeah, you were right, he loved the nickname, but should have never been given it in the first place. He wasnt crazy, he should have been given Jimmy Fratiani's nickname - the weasel. Or as Nick said in his letter home from prison to his mother, "that lying, rat fink weasel."
Just though I'd share that with you because you intuited what you did about Phil. Too bad Bernstein believed every word Phil told him just to sell books, like the feds did just to make a case.
Rembrandt, what was Phil Leonetti like on a day to day basis? What specifically were some of his personality quirks, good or bad. Thanks!
Joey also said "never met him, don't know who that is" when asked about Phil Narducci, so I'd say he has no credibility, he's just trying to make all informants look bad, so I don't believe it. You are a Joey "d#@$ rider"
Ive bought quit a few mafia books mafia prince was one of the very first and i just learned something new i had no idea jersey was known for blue berries
SCOTT, are you going to write anymore Philly mob books ???
A book covering Salvatore Testa would be awesome .
A misconception about testa's murder is that scarfo just willie nilly decided he should go. After testa broke up with chuckie's daughter, chuckie was able to turn a lot of soldiers against Salvie. Guys like faffy and Tommy Del Co signed chuckie's move to have him taken out and started beefing about him to nicky constantly. Knowing how paranoid nicky was they lit the match and fed the fire inside his head.
Gentlemen, TREMENDOUS episode. Love Philly LCN episodes. Especially the 80’s. LOVE the mafia prince book. Love your analysis, as always.
Give “That’s What Friends are For” a chance. That’s an awesome song. Top selling record in 1986. Not cheesy, at all LOL.
This was a fantastic episode, such a crazy time and amazing story!!
Just started checking you guys out. Love it. Love the Terror hat!!!! 🤘
Mafia Prince is a great book. Its in my top 3(jerry capecis books on Al D'arco and Roy Demeo are my other 2.) Does Scott have any plans on any new books?
The members only podcast has gotten a lot of FOIA docs on Angelo Bruno and is doing a great deep dive series with tons of info ive never heard of. Hes working on part 3 which is going to focus on Brunos hits he did before becoming boss. He claims hes found 9 cases with bruno being directing involved with him being the triggerman on 3-4 of them.
Also in that series it seems Bruno and Phil Testa were actually very close for years. It wasnt until the last year or two that there was tension between the two. I think scarfo even respected bruno up until that same time period.
HOLY CRAP we have the same top 3!!!
The book on the Chin is great too and “Deal with the Devil” about Greg Scarpa and his relationship with Lynn DelVechio. The great thing about Scarpa cooperating for as long as he did was - a lot is known about the Colombo’s entire family history. A lot isn’t even known tho or talked about generally but they mention it in that book. Their capos had some absolutely ingenious scams and rackets. Aside from the Franzese’s. I’m not even talking about them.
After I read that book tho it made me firmly believe that the Colombo’s had the best earners out of any family. If Persico was on the street his entire reign I bet he’d have a net worth somewhere in the 9 digits.
@@BostonsF1nestit’s cool to finally hear someone bring up Deal with the Devil. I agree that it should be talked about when people mention top 10 or TOP 5!!
It's been said that if Scarfo werent such a homicidal maniac, he may of stayed boss much longer and the state of the Philadelphia family may be much stronger.
But who knows!
Good job guys.
Looking forward to watching this later. You guys have been putting out great stuff lately.
Much appreciated!
Scott ur soo much more then Mafia Prince.... Ur still relevant in this genre.... ur actually at the top of the heap..
An 8 episode limited series done on mafia Prince would be the best mob content of all time if done correctly.
A great one guys keep them coming.
love youz guys, I literally finished reading "Blood and Honor" this morning, and I'm going to ask my wife to get me "Mafia Prince" for Christmas
Thanks!!
Love your content great look into history
Love you guys and your efforts. Do a Nove Tocco episode! Also, do a episode about the partnership wiseguy doing life for killing those two goons at that betting spot in the early 1990s
As always great job fellas.
You should interview Dan Dorsky and Mike Campi. They were just interviewed by VladTV and got a great new book coming out.
According to Phil it was Chuckie and not Nicky who spurned Rugnettas Daughter.
In valeutainmemt interview yes but not his book
Correct
Yup
What you said is correct. Scott must of been sneaking coke on that one. Lol
Sniffing
Also, just a minor critique on setting the record to a point Scott had made. According to your coauthor Phil Leonetti, Scarfo had told HIM that when Scarfo went to NY to talk to The Chin; Fat Tony and Bobby Manna after the Bruno hit, that Chin was pushing for Scarfo to take the big seat in the family, but that he rather deferred to Testa citing protocol. Apparently Chin THEN said to Scarfo, "Well then he better make YOU underboss"!.....which as we know, he didn't.
Phil smiles in his interviews when the murders are mentioned. And I've never seen any remorse expressed
Great episode Jimmy “The Doc” Bucellato is acting “Captain” with Gambino Family
I’ve always heard it was with a butter knife. The fork makes it way more wild. Also, wear some suits with ties once an a while.
When Riccobenne was shot in the phonebooth, Grandy EMPTIED a revolver into Harry the hunchback Riccobenne and Harry STILL took the gun away from Grandy, after being shot FIVE times. Wayne Grandy ran off scared outta his mind. When the police showed up, Harry was still holding the gun. Harry the Hunchback told the cops that Grandy was done with the weapon, so, Four foot Nothing, Harry the Hunchback Riccobenne took the weapon away from him.
What Harry did that day to Wayne Grandy is the most GANGSTER shit I've ever heard of in ALL my Damn life
Harry Ricobene was a badass! There's another couple stories of him holding his own!
@@woowaptibam5253 Miniature John Wick spent a lifetime punching above his weight. When Scarfo was in his prime, Mini Wick told Little Nicky to go EAD! Don Riccobenne had that DAWG in him
@@jedgarren2901 His mom was even pretty badass herself!!
Scott is correct. The developer of Penns Landing was James Rouse. He was a very prominent real estate developer. In fact, he designed the Inner Harbor in Baltimore as well as a planned community in Maryland known as Columbia. It wasn’t Rouse who wired up though. It was one of his Vice Presidents
Another great one boys good job please dont stop also mob archeologist hasnt made videos in 5 months any reason why have you heard ? And are they done making videos?
Great episode fellas.
And its THIS....and he made the sign of the gun 👉
Nicky had every right to be paranoid. 2 bosses had been killed and multiple other administration figures in the past two regimes.Who wouldn’t be thinking everybody’s aiming for the top after that?
Plus riccobene defied him once he became boss
man i must say the phily mob, the de meo crew and the detroit mafia are some of the most intriguing subjects
Bruno's downfall was the fact that he passed a rule that prohibited members of his Philly Crime Family from drug dealing activities. On the hand, Bruno allows other members of different crime families operates drugs dealing in Philly crime family jurisdiction sort of speak in exchange for percentage.
Bruno was receiving drug dealing proceeds but denied members of his crime family the opportunity to make money from dealing drugs.
His logic prostrated ranking and files of Philly crime family's members which resulted in Bruno's death.
Rocco Marinucci also recruited a kid named Teddy DiPretoro to help him whack Phil Testa.
Phillip ( it’s my uncles fault) Leonetti said he left the life because he got sick of his uncle killing everyone. No he flipped became he got sentenced to 45 years and never did any prison time before that. Just like Sammy. Two cowarss
Phil was like 34 years old when that happened and he didn’t testify against anyone in his own family. Why the fuck would he wanna spend his life in prison? You’d be an idiot not to take the chance to get out when he did. His uncle was already sentenced to life when he flipped. Phil was young, had a wife and son to look after. I support him 100%. All told he did about 8 years in prison after being arrested in 87. Why throw your life away for nothing?
Let's do something on the Bufalino family
U shud do some merch!! I’d totally grab some!! Have some of the boys sign some hats…hot cakes!! 🔥
Kelly Anne Conway grew up in South Jersey and worked the Blueberry Fields. Won a Beauty Contest! Matt NYC
What is the “FBN profile” that is mentioned?
Federal Bureau of Narcotics
Living Life as a Regular Schnook is a Heaven-Send😇 after going through a Bloodlustfully Era,(Nutcase of a Family Member leading the Charge), I Don't Blame Phil at all for throwing in the towel when you're Surrounded by Death☠ and chaos 😬and having to be in Survival Mode 24/7 just to stay amongst the Living it wears on your Pysche 🧠& that can be a tough weight to Bear, Especially when you can't convince the guy running the thing to dial it down a few notches, Scarfo brought himself down by Behaving the way he did, What kinda message do you send by killing someone Everyone Respect's(Not a Very Good one), Scarfo was a Damn Mess, Talk about Napolean Complex, Scarfo needed his own Dr.Melfi 😂🤣😅😆.
What the Detroit Partnership was doing from 1975-2000 was so light years ahead of Philadelphia when it comes to making money and doing LCN the way it should be run to the opposite is mind boggling🤯
It’s was like comparing the Board Members of a Fortune500 Co. to a ‘Glorified Crew’ of the East Coast LCN💯
Bruno should of stepped aside in 1975… he was financially set, had lost his zest and ambition, was becoming openly two-faced and hypocritical and lost the pulse of his own Borgata…
I grew up with these stories my uncle GOVENOR WORKED AS A KID IN TRENTON NJ FOR PHILLY CAPO AND BRUNOS COUSIN CHARLIE COSTELLO, than as he got older he was JHONNY keys driver and was straightned out by him than shelved after keys death also my father and uncles on my mothers side were very tight with the PONTANIs and at 1 time pat the cat who every1 disliked but he made a lot of money, they sold a lot of meth pagan purple it was called…. WHEN BRUNO FIRST CAME TO USA HE LANDED IN TRENTON PRIOR TO GOING TO ITALIAN MARKET IN PHILLY HE HAD ALOT OF FAMIly HERE S AND SOME OF HIS BIGGEST MONEY GUYS WERE HERE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THe GAMBINOS and PHILly GUYS, THEY HUNG TOGETHER IT WAS WEIRD LOL GREAT SHOW AS ALWAYS BRO
I never knew Stanfa was brought over by the Gambinos,brilliant video chaps👍.
Jimmy Buccellato is the Newly appointed Don of Philadelphia
I was especially interested in your answer to why didnt Salvie run? I totally agree with you but I have often wondered why, especially after that kiss of death, he didn’t kill Scarfo first. Maybe it’s the same answer.
Alwaysxbeen fascinated w the Sal Testa betrayal and hit.....my take is that part of Salvie still had faith that Nicky loved him like a son even though all the signs were there he was gonna be wacked
I cant play this video for some reason. I've clicked on 12 other things and they play but this will not play
Funny u say that.. I grow up in Hammonton NJ. I always remember a gated lake front house 🏡 by the hospital 🏥 called Kessler Memorial Hospital which was mob owned apparently a high ranked mobster.
I remember a dead horse was found in that lake 🤦🏽♀️
I thought it was Salvatore merlino with daughter. Nicky stood up for Sal with Rugnetto daughter. Was not Nicky
Cool shit Scott. If you do get Mafia Prince made into a movie, consider casting Stephen Graham as Nicky Scarfo (watch his scene in The Irishman where he goes ballistic on Pacino in jail and you'll see what I mean). Frankie Valli would have been even better but he's too old now.
This is extreme nitpicking, but Tony Piccolo was Scarfo's cousin, not his uncle.
Young Tony Danza would have made a great Phil Leonetti too. Danny DeVito as Harry the Hunchback and Mark Ruffalo as Salvie Testa.
Testa only held 1 making ceremony
Scarfo promoted his uncle Nicky Buck consigliere in 82. Tony Buck was Scarfo's cousin. Tony was Mikey Bucks son.
He stabbed William Dugan, a longshoreman with a butter knife, and it was as he was being choked by Dugan
Joey Merlino said some of the lies Phil said in is book. Joey said Phil really loved his name crazy Phil every time he read about himself in the paper. Was some chapter’s Phil left out in the book and his new name is scared shitless Phil
Got that good drip going. Lol
Bruno was old school Sicilian mobster and left bodies with messages. Scarfo was getting choked out. No way he could let a civilian put his hands on him.
Wow, i didn't know Artie Lange was Scott's cohost. Awesome.
I am confused Lionetti said it already buried the body and was using him to take the vehicle back from what he said he was not in the vehicle the same time the body was
I thought the last commission hearing with Gotti days said that no one born overseas could ever be the dawn of an American family .
I read that Bruno and testa made their bones together in the 40s killing somebody involved in a poison gang , have u heard that?
Pepe ulongo was the guys name . Nobody was ever charged tho
Long John and Shotsie Sparacio were made in Scarfo's first making ceremony in April of 1981
Oh...u wrote Mafia Prince Scott? I wanna read that matt nyc
Bernstein is no joke! I remember being a kid in philly and hearing scarfo name everyother day on local news. Jimmy good too. Im talking non associated content creators
Danny DeVito would make a perfect Harry The hunchback ricobene in a movie. He has a Jersey accent also lol
Sometimes Jimmy is on a diffrent page if the book
Scarfo and Bruno were a part part of the group that was jailed for not testifying when they were given immunity.
They spent along period of time in prison together, Nicky was highly respected in New York . Especially with Bobby mamma and the Genovese.
.so the narrative that he was banished that the doctor wouldn’t let go of was never considered legitimate by historians just reported over and over in books.
Testa was also close to Bruno and Nicky and they were often seen all dining together.
Nicky knew how to play the game he just let his manic paranoia come to the forefront after he became boss
Scarfo deserves a movie
Mafia prince deserves a movie!
Definitely(💯)
I wrote a mini series of Scarfos life using mafia prince among other historical info. Where's the producers at?
It is insane there isn’t one!
phil wanted way too much money for the life rights i heard he was asking north of 10 mil but i feel like it would bring that back tenfold
The funny thing is is the Gambino's got John stanfa into the Bruno crime family and the Gambino's in Bruno had a alliance but after John was a part of the plot then the Genovese got Philadelphia proxy vote so essentially the Gambino's messed up play someone in the Bruno organization and lost their proxy vote
Theory for all enthusiasts and Bernie and Frank:::: I would venture to say, that Stanfa was NOT involved in the Bruno plot, nor was he aware of the hit. This is a theory only based on logic determined by relationships/partnership and money. According to the popular storyline, Caponigro was ONLY given the greenlight by Funzi Tieri who claimed to have spoken for the Genovese Family as well as the greater Commission. That being assumed, that he was setting up a grand triple-cross against Caponigro, one would guess that the remaining heads of the Commission were in the dark. Had Castellano been in the loop I'm prettu sure he would have vetoed it because at that time still, Bruno was throwing his vote on the Commission in the favor of the Gambinos. The Genovese knew what they were doing the whole time. Back to Stanfa....I think that he ALSO may have been targeted(he WAS hit with pellets afterall...granted it was buckshot)in the Bruno hit. I wonder if its in the police report as to balistics on how many shots were fired by Caponigro. Stanfa has claim that he bolted from the vehicle....perhaps not actually wanting to be shot directly at this point, by a shotgun MAYBE now aimed at his face. Anyways the bottom line is, why WOULD the major plotters clue in a zip who was related loosely to the Gambinos??....though Stanfa WAS requested to become(Id imagine eventually) made into the Bruno Family. Also, one would imagine that the Cherry Hill Gambinos(also zips) were operating a MEGA-multi million dollar drug ring operation in Bruno's territory....an arrangement that im SURE went off-book to benefit Castellano and Bruno.....In summary, why would Stanfa compromise his life and familial relationships within the Gambino family and especially the Sicilian wing of the Gambinos as well as having a good trajectory at becoming fully initiated with Bruno?....I mean shit, being the Boss's chauffeur doesn't exactly mean you're going DOWN the corporate ladder!......thoughts??
And nicky had to mediate on chuckys behalf of him not being made but Bruno said quote "we're not killing the kid for this "mafia prince and Phil gets out on his interview on podcast
Faaark it sounds like you’re racking up lines while on the Mike.
Natale claimed that he was made by Bruno and Gambino in a backroom in New York. He also claimed he was tight with Tony "Batters" Accardo from the Chicsgo Outfit.
Yea lol the only guy to ever get in a physical altercation with Accardo who lived to tell the story. Some ppl robbed his house once and Tony went scorched earth and killed about 8 ppl including the guy who was house sitting that weekend.
Not all of us are "piling on you" for wrong dates or nitpicking. We are just clarifying for people who read the comments section. That being said, more comments(positive or negative) ultimately help your channel as viewers are leaving impressions and interactions.
51:22 - Scarfo's gun case was from a gun they found in his bedroom drawer during the Falcone investigation.
James you were 100% right when you tried to state that Scarfo was already serving in jail serving a 14 year sentence for extorting the developer, but Scott cut you off saying he’s just stating chronological facts to you that everyone was arrested off the streets including Scarfo. You were 100# wrong!!! Start doing your homework Scott we all know you did the book with Phil(gift wrapped) to from a desperate RAT.
Lil Nicky didn't stab him with a fork, it was a butter knife 🔪!! Facts.
I grew up in Ducktown, and Nicky was a really sweet guy to the people that I knew yeah he definitely was a gangster and a killer, but he did have another side, and Philly Leonetti pretty much, threw him under the bus personally, and professionally as a gangster
Everyone always asks why Petey Casella got a pass, when Capronegro certainly did not. Pete had a cousin named Matty. Matty was a soldier in the northern jersey Genovese crew, his restaurant was actually called Casella's. Thats where Bobby Manna and others got caught on a wire plotting the John and Gene Gotti hit. Casella was a close friend of Manna and was briefly acting capo when funzi tieri died. So im assuming Matty went to Bobby to talk to the Chin, and thats how Pete Casella got retired to Florida and not stuffed in a trunk with $20 bills stuck up his rear, somewhere in the south bronx.
Real Talk! Harry the Hunchback Riccobenne was a miniature John Wick! Do ya'll homework on Mini Wick taking the glizzy from Grandy
You have it wrong about Phil going for a ride with his uncle when Phil was a boy !!!!! There was no body in the truck he was only returning the truck to Philly …. STOP saying that … i grew up 50 feet from them.
I believe in the book, it says he rode with him to dispose of the truck that had been used in a murder. Not with him to dispose of the body.
@@JoeG309 thats how it happened
so why did phil say it in his book then ? your gonna tell him he’s wrong ? nicky told u the truth?
i think you're from the suburbs.