Jump to content

Nicodemo Scarfo: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 16: Line 16:
}}
}}


'''Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo''' (born March 8, 1929) is a member of the [[American Mafia]] who eventually became the [[Mob Boss|Boss]] of the [[Philadelphia crime family]] after the death of [[Angelo Bruno]] and [[Phil Testa]]. During his criminal career, Scarfo was described by some as psychotic, cruel and vicious. From many accounts of his former criminal associates whom testified against him, he would want to murder someone if he was shown the slightest bit of disrespect or even if he was stared at.
'''Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo''' (born March 8, 1929) is a member of the [[American Mafia]] who eventually became the [[Mob Boss|Boss]] of the [[Philadelphia crime family]] after the death of [[Angelo Bruno]] and [[Phil Testa]]. During his criminal career, Scarfo was described by some as psychotic, cruel and vicious. From many accounts of his former criminal associates whom testified against him, he would want to murder someone if he was shown the slightest bit of disrespect or even if he was stared at.<ref>{{cite news|title=On the anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, a look at history's most fearsome mob bosses|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/feared-mob-bosses-article-1.2531333|accessdate=10 March 2016|agency=The New York Daily News|publisher=Nicholas Parco|date=February 14, 2016}}</ref>


Scarfo orchestrated a particularly ruthless regime and ordered over a dozen murders during his time as boss. He was often described by informants as cold-hearted and [[narcissistic]]. He enjoyed the celebrity gangster life style and was an admirer of [[Chicago Outfit]] boss [[Al Capone]]. Scarfo would scan newspapers for his name and made sure his [[Mafia#Traditional terminology|soldier]]s carried out murders in public to create a constant atmosphere of fear. Scarfo had very few scruples and approached organized crime activities such as [[drug trafficking]] to generate millions, while many other bosses avoided such activities known to bring law enforcement scrutiny. It was these methods which ultimately led to Scarfo's downfall. Though Scarfo's reign may have made him a rich man, in the long term, it almost destroyed the crime family that he dominated for a decade. After being convicted of multiple RICO charges including drug trafficking, loan sharking, extortion, attempted murder and first degree murder, and with damaging testimonies of several informants whom used to carry out his murders and his top lieutenants including his [[underboss|second in command]] and nephew, [[Phil Leonetti|Crazy Phil]], Scarfo has since been in prison from 1988. His scheduled release from federal prison is on January 5th 2033, aged 103.<ref>{{cite web|title=NICODEMO SCARFO|url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|website=Federal Bureau of Prisons|publisher=USA Gov|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Always A Joker, Never A Rat. In Mobster's Obituary, Unexpected Family|url=http://articles.philly.com/2000-01-25/news/25600074_1_death-notice-nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-prison-term|website=Philly.com|publisher=George Anastasia|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref>
Scarfo orchestrated a particularly ruthless regime and ordered over a dozen murders during his time as boss. He was often described by informants as cold-hearted and [[narcissistic]]. He enjoyed the celebrity gangster life style and was an admirer of [[Chicago Outfit]] boss [[Al Capone]]. Scarfo would scan newspapers for his name and made sure his [[Mafia#Traditional terminology|soldier]]s carried out murders in public to create a constant atmosphere of fear. Scarfo had very few scruples and approached organized crime activities such as [[drug trafficking]] to generate millions, while many other bosses avoided such activities known to bring law enforcement scrutiny. It was these methods which ultimately led to Scarfo's downfall. Though Scarfo's reign may have made him a rich man, in the long term, it almost destroyed the crime family that he dominated for a decade. After being convicted of multiple RICO charges including drug trafficking, loan sharking, extortion, attempted murder and first degree murder, and with damaging testimonies of several informants whom used to carry out his murders and his top lieutenants including his [[underboss|second in command]] and nephew, [[Phil Leonetti|Crazy Phil]], Scarfo has since been in prison from 1988. His scheduled release from federal prison is on January 5th 2033, aged 103.<ref>{{cite web|title=NICODEMO SCARFO|url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|website=Federal Bureau of Prisons|publisher=USA Gov|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Always A Joker, Never A Rat. In Mobster's Obituary, Unexpected Family|url=http://articles.philly.com/2000-01-25/news/25600074_1_death-notice-nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-prison-term|website=Philly.com|publisher=George Anastasia|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref>
Line 30: Line 30:


==Later criminal years==
==Later criminal years==
In 1954, Scarfo was proposed for membership into the Philadelphia crime family. He was inducted by-then boss [[Joseph Ida]] at a ceremony held in New Jersey, alongside two of his uncles whom were also inducted as full fledged [[Soldato|Soldier's]]. Scarfo was reportedly arrogant and stubborn, having declined to marry the daughter of [[Consigliere]] Joe Rugnetta, leaving him embarrassed and disrespected, causing a brief friction within the family. In 1963, Scarfo plead guilty to murdering an Irish longshoreman with a knife over an argument at a Philadelphia restaurant, while he was with [[Salvatore Merlino|Chuckie Merlino]], he spent around 10 months in prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE CORONATION – LITTLE NICKY BECOMES KING|url=http://gangsterreport.com/the-coronation-little-nicky-becomes-king/|website=Gangster Report|publisher=Scott Burnstein|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref> After his release, he was sent to Atlantic City by [[Angelo Bruno]] to oversee the operations there. In 1976, Atlantic City legalized gambling and Scarfo prioritized gambling as his main source of income. His cement contracting company which was shared with his nephew, ''Scarf, Inc'', received good business as developers built new casinos in Atlantic City, Scarfo would intimidate businesses into buying from his company, including billionaire tycoon [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Trump and the mob|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/trump-mob-mafia/|website=CNN|publisher=Chris Frates|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Journalist Calls Out Donald Trump on Potential Mob Ties in Resurfaced Report|url=http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/journalist-calls-out-donald-trump-on-potential-mob-ties/|website=The Libertarian Republic|publisher=Micah J. Fleck|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref> Criminal associate and contractor Vincent Falcone was shot twice and killed by Phil Leonetti on orders of Scarfo after making negative remarks about the company and Scarfo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Book excerpt from 'Mafia Prince:’ The story of Philip Leonetti’s mob hit of Vincent Falcone as ordered and watched by Nicky Scarfo|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/book-excerpt-mafia-prince-america-violent-mafia-family-bloody-fall-la-cosa-nostra-article-1.1203881|accessdate=9 March 2016|agency=The New York Daily News|publisher=NY Daily News|date=November 19, 2012}}</ref>
In 1954, Scarfo was proposed for membership into the Philadelphia crime family. He was inducted by-then boss [[Joseph Ida]] at a ceremony held in New Jersey, alongside two of his uncles whom were also inducted as full fledged [[Soldato|Soldier's]]. Scarfo was reportedly arrogant and stubborn, having declined to marry the daughter of [[Consigliere]] Joe Rugnetta, leaving him embarrassed and disrespected, causing a brief friction within the family. In 1963, Scarfo plead guilty to murdering an Irish longshoreman with a knife over an argument at a Philadelphia restaurant, while he was with [[Salvatore Merlino|Chuckie Merlino]], he spent around 10 months in prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE CORONATION – LITTLE NICKY BECOMES KING|url=http://gangsterreport.com/the-coronation-little-nicky-becomes-king/|website=Gangster Report|publisher=Scott Burnstein|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref> After his release, he was sent to Atlantic City by [[Angelo Bruno]] to oversee the operations there. In 1976, Atlantic City legalized gambling and Scarfo prioritized gambling as his main source of income. His cement contracting company which was shared with his nephew, ''Scarf, Inc'', received good business as developers built new casinos in Atlantic City, Scarfo would intimidate businesses into buying from his company, including billionaire tycoon [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Trump and the mob|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/trump-mob-mafia/|website=CNN|publisher=Chris Frates|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Journalist Calls Out Donald Trump on Potential Mob Ties in Resurfaced Report|url=http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/journalist-calls-out-donald-trump-on-potential-mob-ties/|website=The Libertarian Republic|publisher=Micah J. Fleck|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref> Criminal associate and contractor Vincent Falcone was shot twice and killed by Phil Leonetti on orders of Scarfo after making negative remarks about the company and Scarfo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Book excerpt from 'Mafia Prince:’ The story of Philip Leonetti’s mob hit of Vincent Falcone as ordered and watched by Nicky Scarfo|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/book-excerpt-mafia-prince-america-violent-mafia-family-bloody-fall-la-cosa-nostra-article-1.1203881|accessdate=9 March 2016|agency=The New York Daily News|publisher=NY Daily News|date=November 19, 2012}}</ref> In 1978, Scarfo and his associate Nicholas "Nick the Blade" Virgilio shot and murdered judge Edwin J. Helfant for refusing to cooperate with them and to help Virgilio receive a lighter sentence as he was facing murder charges, in exchange for $12,500. Scarfo acted as the getaway driver meanwhile Virgilio fired numerous rounds into the judge as he dined with his wife in a restaurant. He made it a public execution and made him an example to anyone that wasn't willing to give him what he wanted.<ref>{{cite web|title='The Blade' Is Cut Down Killer Nicholas Virgilio Dies In Prison|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-03-18/news/25702337_1_virgilio-mob-boss-angelo-bruno|website=Philly.com|publisher=Kitty Caparaella|accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Her Memory Of 'The Blade' Wasn't Sharp Fed's Witness Mistakes Scarfo For Virgilio|url=http://articles.philly.com/1988-10-04/news/26271690_1_virgilio-nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-defense-lawyer|website=Philly.com|publisher=Toni Locy|accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=N.J.'s most notorious murders | The mobsters|url=http://www.nj.com/inside-jersey/index.ssf/2015/04/njs_most_notorious_murders_the_mobsters.html|website=NJ.com|publisher=Vicky Hyman|accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 04:46, 10 March 2016

Nicodemo Scarfo
FBI surveillance photograph of Nicky Scarfo (center) and crew walking on the street.
Born (1929-03-08) March 8, 1929 (age 96)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesLittle Nicky
Known forBoss of the Philadelphia crime family
Spouse(s)(first wife - unknown), Domenica Scarfo
ChildrenChristopher Scarfo
Nicodemo Salvatore Scarfo Jr
Mark Scarfo
FamilyPhil Scarfo (father)
Catherine Piccolo (mother)
Nicholas Piccolo (uncle)
Joseph Piccolo (uncle)
Michael Piccolo (uncle)
Nancy Leonetti (sister)
Phillip Leonetti (nephew)
Joseph J. "The Shark" Scarfo (cousin)

Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo (born March 8, 1929) is a member of the American Mafia who eventually became the Boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the death of Angelo Bruno and Phil Testa. During his criminal career, Scarfo was described by some as psychotic, cruel and vicious. From many accounts of his former criminal associates whom testified against him, he would want to murder someone if he was shown the slightest bit of disrespect or even if he was stared at.[1]

Scarfo orchestrated a particularly ruthless regime and ordered over a dozen murders during his time as boss. He was often described by informants as cold-hearted and narcissistic. He enjoyed the celebrity gangster life style and was an admirer of Chicago Outfit boss Al Capone. Scarfo would scan newspapers for his name and made sure his soldiers carried out murders in public to create a constant atmosphere of fear. Scarfo had very few scruples and approached organized crime activities such as drug trafficking to generate millions, while many other bosses avoided such activities known to bring law enforcement scrutiny. It was these methods which ultimately led to Scarfo's downfall. Though Scarfo's reign may have made him a rich man, in the long term, it almost destroyed the crime family that he dominated for a decade. After being convicted of multiple RICO charges including drug trafficking, loan sharking, extortion, attempted murder and first degree murder, and with damaging testimonies of several informants whom used to carry out his murders and his top lieutenants including his second in command and nephew, Crazy Phil, Scarfo has since been in prison from 1988. His scheduled release from federal prison is on January 5th 2033, aged 103.[2][3]

He is also the father of Nicky Scarfo Jr., a Lucchese family soldier, whom most recently was sentenced to 30 years in prison for security fraud and racketeering.[4][5][6]

Early Life

Scarfo was born in Brooklyn, New York to Philip and Catherine Scarfo, both Catholics. At the age of 12, Scarfo and his family moved to New Jersey, where he worked as a young laborer and later graduated at Franklin High School in 1947. He earned himself a reputation by becoming an amateur boxer, fighting in small boxing clubs throughout Philadelphia, known for his aggressive temper in the ring.

Early criminal years

Having not became a success in the boxing world, Scarfo joined his uncle Nicky Buck, a Philly Mob soldier, to venture in illegal activities in Philadelphia.[7] He worked as a bartender at a club owned by his uncle and was apprenticed by him and his two brothers, he also committed his first murder with feared hitman, Felix “Skinny Razor” Di Tullio, who taught him how to kill.

Later criminal years

In 1954, Scarfo was proposed for membership into the Philadelphia crime family. He was inducted by-then boss Joseph Ida at a ceremony held in New Jersey, alongside two of his uncles whom were also inducted as full fledged Soldier's. Scarfo was reportedly arrogant and stubborn, having declined to marry the daughter of Consigliere Joe Rugnetta, leaving him embarrassed and disrespected, causing a brief friction within the family. In 1963, Scarfo plead guilty to murdering an Irish longshoreman with a knife over an argument at a Philadelphia restaurant, while he was with Chuckie Merlino, he spent around 10 months in prison.[8] After his release, he was sent to Atlantic City by Angelo Bruno to oversee the operations there. In 1976, Atlantic City legalized gambling and Scarfo prioritized gambling as his main source of income. His cement contracting company which was shared with his nephew, Scarf, Inc, received good business as developers built new casinos in Atlantic City, Scarfo would intimidate businesses into buying from his company, including billionaire tycoon Donald Trump.[9][10] Criminal associate and contractor Vincent Falcone was shot twice and killed by Phil Leonetti on orders of Scarfo after making negative remarks about the company and Scarfo.[11] In 1978, Scarfo and his associate Nicholas "Nick the Blade" Virgilio shot and murdered judge Edwin J. Helfant for refusing to cooperate with them and to help Virgilio receive a lighter sentence as he was facing murder charges, in exchange for $12,500. Scarfo acted as the getaway driver meanwhile Virgilio fired numerous rounds into the judge as he dined with his wife in a restaurant. He made it a public execution and made him an example to anyone that wasn't willing to give him what he wanted.[12][13][14]

References

  1. ^ "On the anniversary of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, a look at history's most fearsome mob bosses". Nicholas Parco. The New York Daily News. February 14, 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ "NICODEMO SCARFO". Federal Bureau of Prisons. USA Gov. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Always A Joker, Never A Rat. In Mobster's Obituary, Unexpected Family". Philly.com. George Anastasia. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Reputed Philly Mobster Nicky Scarfo Jr. Gets 30 Years for Stealing $12M From Company". NBC. NBC Philadelphia. July 28, 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  5. ^ "La Cosa Nostra Lengthy Prison Terms for Lucchese Crime Family Members". The FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  6. ^ "'Little Nicky' Scarfo's Son Busted In Jersey". Richard Esposito / Mark Schone. ABC News. November 1, 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Nicodemo Scarfo". Bio. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  8. ^ "THE CORONATION – LITTLE NICKY BECOMES KING". Gangster Report. Scott Burnstein. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Donald Trump and the mob". CNN. Chris Frates. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Journalist Calls Out Donald Trump on Potential Mob Ties in Resurfaced Report". The Libertarian Republic. Micah J. Fleck. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Book excerpt from 'Mafia Prince:' The story of Philip Leonetti's mob hit of Vincent Falcone as ordered and watched by Nicky Scarfo". NY Daily News. The New York Daily News. November 19, 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  12. ^ "'The Blade' Is Cut Down Killer Nicholas Virgilio Dies In Prison". Philly.com. Kitty Caparaella. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Her Memory Of 'The Blade' Wasn't Sharp Fed's Witness Mistakes Scarfo For Virgilio". Philly.com. Toni Locy. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  14. ^ "N.J.'s most notorious murders". NJ.com. Vicky Hyman. Retrieved 10 March 2016. {{cite web}}: Text "The mobsters" ignored (help)
Business positions
Preceded by Philadelphia crime family
Boss
1981–1991 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicodemo_Scarfo&oldid=709299314"