This week’s episode of Mob Talk Sitdown with George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser takes a look back at the life and death of Ron Previte.
John Terry a former FBI agent and head of Squad One the FBI’s elite organized crime unit in Philadelphia joins the show to give the inside story on Previte and his work with the feds. The 73-year-old Previte recently passed away of natural causes in New Jersey. Previte was a former Philadelphia police officer who started working with the mafia back in the early 1990’s. He served as a driver and bodyguard for former Philly mafia boss John Stanfa until 1994 when Stanfa was incarcerated following a war with Ralph Natale and Joey Merlino for control of the cities Cosa Nostra family.
“Big Ron” Previte
Previte had become known on the streets as an earner which allowed him to transition over from the old faction to the new one being run by Natale and Merlino. It is a topic of debate as to whether or not Previte was actually ever a made guy in the mafia but many believe he served as a captain in the Philadelphia crime family at one point. What none of his mobster pals knew was that Big Ron had been wearing a wire for the feds throughout the 90’s. His undercover work with the feds and testimony helped to convict over 50 members of organized crime including three mafia bosses. According to reports, he retired from his double duty in 1999 after clearing seven figures from his work with the feds. Previte certainly lived an interesting life both inside and outside of the Philadelphia mafia.
Big Ron was definitely one of those colorful guys that have popped up over the years on the Philly family. The guy knew how to play the game on both sides of the fence and made what seemed to be a very good living doing it. I guess not many can say that even though he will forever be known as a rat. I noticed that the guys noted that he was a “captain” in the video but it doesn’t seem like everyone agrees on that aspect or even if he was actually ever even a made guy.
He did mention in one of his interviews that he’s not sure if he would have done it all over again. That being said I would think out of all the different Informants over the years I feel confident that he probably cared least of any of them about being called a “Rat!” He never seemed to care much what anyone thought of him let alone the Philly LCN. He just seemed to have that “Born Hustler” mentality and cared about himself and making his money over anything else. I’m not advocating anything he did and I don’t have much of a personal opinion as far as Informants go but I doubt he was losing sleep based on what Merlino or any of those guys thought of him. He even said that he had some fear for his life but apparently not enough to enter into Witsec. He just kept on doing his bookmaking in the same old area and even still had some guys around him. I would compare it to the “Raymond Shrimpboy Chow” The guy testified against a real Triad Boss from Hong Kong and then brazenly walked around Chinatown and even started his own new gang. People figured these guys were being watched day and night by the Feds and so whoever tried to kill them would be on a suicide mission. Thats the only conclusion I can come to???
His own claim was that Stanfa simply told him he was a Made guy now but without any ceremony apparently due to the turbulent wartime situation. I suppose if the Boss which Stanfa was at the time says you’re Made then it is so. Merlino and Natale may have felt differently once they assumed control but then that whole set up was a joke itself. Merlino basically making Natale in probably an unceremonious way as well just to have a lightening rod to take the heat off of him. As much as a hustler Previte was he never seemed to shy away from telling it the way it was and let the chips fall where they may. Then you have Natale claiming he was secretly Made years ago by Bruno and Gambino which is totally absurd!! The whole thing seemed like a dysfunctional charade on all sides. Stanfa making an ex cop, Natale being Made by a self proclaimed Boss in Merlino and then instantly promoted to Boss of the Family. Guys were deviating from traditional LCN protocol all over the place it seems at that time. I don’t know if Previte was ever actually made a Capo but his earning potential definitely got him to the Inner Circle of both Administrations often enough to record them for years and then send them off to prison. Whatever the technicalities were it apparently made no difference in the end because those guys got nailed and Big Ron remained free and continued to be a Bookie in the same area and didnt get murdered as a result. I guess the whole story just paints a picture of Philly LCN during those years. I’m sure none of that madness helped their standing in NYC at the time. Then again Merlino seemed well hooked up with the New York guys that he is currently indicted with so I guess they respected him enough in the end or just let greed get in the way of better judgment. No lack of drama from The Philly Mob that’s for sure. I think those were bad times for them as well as New England. Seems like both Families were falling apart and filled with informants all around. Old Jimmy Fratiano made that one guy in the back of a car so its not unprecedented haha.
It certainly was a crazy time for that family and really as you detailed there a mess for the most part.
If One had to believe which of the two,Previte or Natale, was tge Real Made Guy imho it’d be Previte. Since knowing Gambino and Bruno were TRUE Mafiosos and Rules followers, they’d never Secretly make anyone. Then how could Merlino Make someone if he wasn’t THE Boss,Stanfa was. Anyway, Previte was The Man since he “snitched” on 2 Administrations dared anyone to “get him” and no one did.