The True Crime Page talks to Mob Talk Radio host Jeff Canarsie about the current state of the mob in America today.
1) For more than two decades, New York City's five organized-crime families were plagued by convictions brought on by strengthened federal laws and the increasing habit of higher-ranking members cooperating with the government. As recently media reports suggest, the mob is still going strong (although not what is once was). What’s your opinion on the current state of Cosa Nostra in America?
Jeff: Well, I believe post 9-11 what we have seen is a resurgence. There are many subtle reasons for that, the main one being that the sheer number of OCTF(Organized Crime Task Force) groups have declined. Federal funds have been redirected to fight anti-terrorism and homeland security. This has allowed Organized Crime to rebound. There aren't as many eyes as there once were, but they are still out there.
The second facet to this is that many Crime Families are now underground. The traditional rackets still exist, but a lot of it is wire fraud, insurance fraud, construction rehab scams and etc. Drugs, prostitution, gambling, loan sharking are still mainstays, and always will be, the this era of Mafioso are geared more with technology. We have seen that especially in the past trial of Nicky Scarfo jr. Guys are just adjusting to the climate.
They are still strong, but long gone are the days of the social clubs. There are still some around, but times have changed. Also there is an influx of younger street guys, which doesn't help matters but it's allowed bigger families to keep a strangle hold on traditional rackets like the garment industry.
We have seen in Philadelphia a huge membership adjustment. The days of Scarfo there was only maybe 60 made guys. Today-- Philadelphia boasts close to 150. So the Mob will always adjust but they have to get more creative to earn. Is the mob still a powerhouse? Yes, but they don't have the power they did say back in the 30/40/50"s.
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| Jeff Canarsie Mob Talk Radio |
2) Back in August dozens of New York mobsters were arrested by the FBI. This would suggest that Cosa Nostra is alive and kicking in the 21st century. What is you take on these arrests and what does this mean for the five families in the city?
Jeff: The arrests didn't come as a shock. It's pretty normal for there to be sweeping indictments. That's the norm these days. Two years of investigations and here we are. Informants everywhere. If the mob killed informants like they did in the old days believe me you wouldn't see these large numbers of alleged mobsters arrested. What was interesting about that entire group was that Joey Merlino was arrested. The only Philadelphia LCN member arrested. I"d say that's very suspect. All the arrests mean is that a lot of guys are going to be put in the pressure cooker. Whose gonna talk? Believe me more than one willl.
46 Charged in Mafia Racketeering Conspiracy
Joey Merlino arrested in federal mob crackdown
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| Joey Merlino. Photo taken by Young Kim |
3) Among the 46 arrests was reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joey Merlino, arrested in Florida. Merlino is facing charges of gambling, loan-sharking, gun trafficking, and skin-cream fraud. What’s you take on this and what does the future hold for the Philly mob?
Jeff: Well Philadelphia has surged the last six months. Joey was indicted, however the charges are really minuscule compared to what some of these other guys are facing. No murder charges, no racketeering charges. In the grand scheme of things they are serious but nowhere near where they could have been. Joey"s biggest problem is the informant who taped him having conversations. Without that, Joey isn't picked up. I also personally think that ever since Philadelphia split into four sub-factions it drew more heat on Merlino who was caught on tape acknowledging he is the boss of the Philadelphia LCN. Also-- with Georgie Borgesi opening a very busy members only social club on packer avenue in South Philly didn't help. It's a powder keg there. I said it four months ago indictments were coming and here we are.
4) Tell me about the main players in Philly and in the wake of the recent arrest of Merlino can you foresee another mob war starting in Philly.
Jeff: It"s a safe bet Philly is about to get a bit crazy. Four factions, led by Ligambi, Mazzone, Merlino and Borgesi, it's a matter of time before the factions splinter even more. 175 made guys fighting over ten rackets. The issue is really that Georgie Borgesi felt slighted by Merlino when he asked for Martin Angelina"s head on a platter. While Borgesi was away. Angelina took over his rackets and refused to give them back. In turn Georgie wanted Angelina killed. Merlino said no, therefore a rift began.
Instead of taking orders, Georgie began to recruit associates and hangers-on to try and bolster his side of the field which frustrated Merlino. Also to add insult to injury Joey allowed former Scarfo guys who just got out of prison to hold ranking positions in the family which upset the Apple cart.
So what will likely happen is this: if Joey goes away there will be a charge for leadership. Joe Ligambi likely won't want a second stint as acting boss. He also is likely to stand next to his nephew Georgie Borgesi, which can create a massive vacuum. Then you have Scarfo"s old guys, they could easily make runs. Sadly most of this hinges on what happens to Merlino. If he goes away war will likely break out, unless the Nay LCN can put a strangle hold on leadership like Vincent Gigante did back in the days of Bruno and Scarfo. Powder keg city.
5) Do you believe Merlino is still the boss of the Philly mob. And how do you see the pending court case going?
Informants testifying is another thing as well. I really don't believe any informant in the history of informants has ever been 100% truthful, so therefore you bet there will be some stuff that"s a serious reach, meaning trying to connects dots where they don't exist. Ask John Gotti Jr about that sort of shit. Five trials in 37 months or something? So while there may be wiretaps, most of it is coming from big mouths. Loose lips sink ships.
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