The Philadelphia mafia has quietly navigated its way through the last couple of years during which the family has grown and had somewhat of a resurgence.
According to recent reports, there are as many as 35 made guys currently on the streets in Philly and the Cosa Nostra family is as strong as its been in decades. The mafia in Philadelphia hasn’t had this kind of strength in numbers since back in the 1980s as numerous made guys find their way back to the streets after long prison sentences along with some newly inducted members. With so many players back in the fray along with legal troubles once again popping up for alleged boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino the hierarchy of the family seems to be in flux.
“Joseph Ligambi and George Borgesi”
In the mafia bad news for one usually, means the opportunity is knocking for someone else and veteran mobster George Borgesi seems to be making moves to re-establish himself as a power within the crime family. Borgesi made his way back to the streets in 2014 after doing 13 years in prison for a 2001 RICO conviction and beating a racketeering conspiracy rap. Both Borgesi and then acting boss Joseph (Uncle Joe) Ligambi were able to avoid convictions on various charges in two separate trials in 2013-14. Along with being Ligambi’s nephew he also grew up with Merlino, Steven Mazzone, and Michael (Mikey Chang) Ciancaglini. The four of them went to war in the 1990s against then Philly mob boss John Stanfa and eventually took control of the family after Stanfa was sent to prison.
Back in 2000 Borgesi had risen through the ranks and was promoted to acting consigliere under then underboss Steven Mazzone. His ascent up the ladder was cut short when he was sent to prison along with Merlino, Mazzone, and John (Johnny Chang) Ciancagalini. When Borgesi was released he complained to family leaders about the loss of control over the families Delaware County rackets to Johnny Chang and other rackets that he claimed were raided by fellow mobster Marty Angelina. Borgesi had reportedly been bumped down to soldier when released and there seemed to be a lot of bad blood. According to reports, a series of sit-downs took place over several months between Borgesi and Merlino in both South Philly and Florida leading to Borgesi being bumped back up to captain last year in an effort to ease tensions.
Borgesi has seemingly been very active ever since cultivating connections both inside and outside of his own organized crime family. It was reported last year that he met with members of multiple New York mafia families in both New Jersey and Florida along with other organized crime members. A new report from Scott Burnstein and his Gangsterreport has Borgesi meeting with New England mafia leader Matthew Guglielmetti in Rhode Island back in February according to a source. The reasons behind the recent meeting are unclear although Borgesi has previous links to New England once being responsible for a Philly mob crew that operates in Patriarca family territory. George seems to be leveraging old and new connections along with establishing new rackets in an effort to strengthen his power base and his position inside the Philly mafia family.
The 53-year-old mobster has been seen as a live wire and somewhat of a wild card by many over the years. Could he now be poised to once again begin a rise through the ranks of the new family hierarchy especially if boyhood pal Merlino is sentenced to another extended stay behind bars? The aging Ligambi was reportedly semi-retired before stepping back in recently as acting boss but his run seems to be coming to an end leaving the family with a void to fill perhaps sooner than later. There seem to be a few likely candidates that could step into that acting boss or even a more permanent role including Mazzone who has held the rank of acting boss in the past. It now seems that Borgesi may also be positioning himself to be part of that conversation as well given the opportunity.
Although Borgesi may not be seen by some as boss material when it comes to the American Mafia crazier things have happened. With the diminished earning power of the family and the legal hurdles that come with being boss many wonder if anyone really even wants the job these days. Well, George has always been a mobster for better or worse and it wouldn’t be a reach for him to be one of the few that still covets the job and title. The Scarfo era factions of the family which include Phil Narducci and Joseph Pungitore at least so far seem content to stay operating off the radar. So with some backing from Ligambi and a few of his other boyhood pals who would also prefer to stay in the background along with his New York and New England connections it seems plausible that Borgesi could one day sit atop the mountain in Philadelphia.
Borgesi definitely seems to be on the rise again and even though he used to be a wild card now he seems like he is more about his business and has been doing things quietly of late. I am not sure that he moves up the latter all the way up to the top anytime soon but with some aging guy and others not really wanting a title on their backs I could see him moving up the ladder into a higher position in near future. Who knows what will happen with Merlino but if he gets 15-20 years not sure he can again hold on to the reigns from behind bars like he did before.
I’m not a personal fan of George Borgesi..but I respect that he is stand up guy….he was put in solitary confinement for almost 18 months and never cracked…..Marty Angelina should have been dealt with much more severe for raiding borgesi rackets……George is making money in real estate and other enterprises…..His reputation is respected by patriarch family members…he may move up in Philly mob….but many people as in me don’t prefer him as boss ev
I think mazzone is heir apparent. Assuming he even wants it.
Yes that I think is one of bigger questions when it comes to the next boss in Philly, who really wants it. I think Mazzone would be a front runner since he has filled that acting role competently in the past but I wonder if he really wants that official title on his back long term. I think the feds will hold “official boss” title over Joey for a while even if he would be replaced because they love hammering the guy and want him to be that big ticket item they have locked away but as mentioned in article not sure he holds sway anymore if he gets sent away for another 15-20.
Borgesi has always been ambitious so if anyone was going to make a move for it would be him but its 2017 mob these guys are not kids anymore and the life is not the same don’t think they are going to start killing each other over it member a few years ago everyone saying there was going to be a mob war with the scarfo guys we don’t know enough yet I even question how much control merlino has in that family
I think the chance is definitely there esp if Mazzone decides he doesn’t want to hang that target on his back long term and it would make sense that if Ligambi decides to retire and the opportunity is there he would at least in spirit back his nephew if he was making a move. Plus as you mentioned they aren’t kids anymore so most likely if he had some backing there may end up being little resistance at least from the guys in Joey’s camp.
I believe what will come to be will be and that’s that. Keeping your mouth shut should not be seen as any remarkable act, it’s simply the right and only thing to do no matter what. It’s my understanding many years ago no one spoke of anything to the feds, it wasn’t thought of and tho that rule was broken by many it’s still a disgraceful thought.
agreed there has always been rats since the beginning but witness protection which they made in the 70s changed everything rats were now able to rat and stay alive but it is true back then more people believed in the life and the streets than now the 90s was when all these guys started flipping there had been major rats before then franntino in the 70s and Lombardo in the 80s but the 90s was when it became a major problem even today its not as bad as it was in the 90s the reason for that is a lot of people were getting killed in the 90s some guys were flipping because they were looking at serious time or out of fear. There was also a lot of leading guys like gravano D’Arco DeFede people began to feel like everyone was ratting the life was dead.
Keeping your mouth shut I agree should not be a remarkable act however it should be respected even infact it is respected especially today because ratting is wrong but the deals the feds are offering these days are crazy and most of these guys know the “life” is dead nothing like it used to be so guys doing there time are respected if someone does ten years gets out he has respect on the streets he will get something when he gets out and will gain respect on the streets guys who have never done any time are sometimes looked down at or they are questioned. Guys who have done serious time are in a lot of cases trusted over some who have never gone to prison
If it’s true that the life is not really the life any longer, that’s a real shame and order should certainly be restored by any means necessary. One thing you metioned that really burns me up is that rats were able to rat and live and that to me is and always has been, very disgraceful!! Perhaps that is a large part of why the life became, not so much. It is my firm , serious, and golden rule never to be broken no matter what that even if I was to become simply an associate to the life and something went down causing feds to start breathing heavy –even if my family ie: wife/kids or anyone else was on the line or I was facing life in solitary confinement, I would very proudly stay silent 100% and even sooner cut my own neck wide open rather than ever think of speaking one word of any business matters conducted . And to me that’s all no problem or anything to be given anything close to a second thought. As I said before it’s the only option! That said ,may all rats end up really dead! ! I hope to one day see order restored to the life!
I agree ratting I will always consider to be wrong however I have never sat there facing real time but I do agree I cant imagine myself ever ratting i would hate myself sending another man to prison just so you can escape for doing the same crimes the effect it will have on there familys i know that well plus no one forces you to get involved in that life
as for killing rats not happening there is a few exceptions out there who would still do it but most of these guys are not risking a life sentence for killing someone who has already ratted and is not benefiting them by killing him the life has changed
if any of those guys are going to make a move for the boss it would be borgesi always been very ambitious as for this meeting not sure if true though it does make sense back in the 90s it was borgesi who brought bobby lusi in and he knew all of that crew some who are still in the streets
He seems to be a bit too rambunctious to be boss material but then again their have been guys who should not have been at the top make it there so.
he is stand up and ambitious don’t think he is the right guy to lead anything his personality he is crazy plus he cant help bringing rats around bobby lusi Lou Moncellao,Aponick and DiGiacomo I actually believe Aponick and Moncellao now before I had my doubts even if they Moncellao especially were wannabes everything they said geogre would do has happened so I do think borgesi offered to make him a made guy for 10k now was geogre just trying to scam him or was he really going to do it who knows we will never know
I think the best move this mob made was keep merlino as boss, he is in florida doing deals and hogging the spotlight while the philly mob is making money and going more down the legit route.. hats off philly keep up the good work
They have def been able to keep things quiet out there of late which your right is def good for business.
I really dont think Borgesi is boss material but well see i do agree with everyone that Stevey is gonna assume acting boss if Joey goes away but well see. Borgesi is doing things right though, staying quiet, getting into legit business and making and keeping the right connections. Meeting with New York and NE could only help him in the end if he wants to make a run for boss. Also his ties with Guglimeti are ones i personally didnt know about but once again smart move. Matty G is well respected across the board, a real gangster and alot more powerful then people think. Always thought he should be the top guy over there but im sure he has a big hand in running things. I could see Georgi in some type of an underboss role though.