Anthony Staino a captain in the Philadelphia mafia has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving loan sharking and illegal gambling.
According to court papers, Staino admitted to holding the rank of capo in the Philly mob after pleading guilty in April to conspiring to participate in affairs of La Cosa Nostra through racketeering. Staino was caught giving an undercover FBI agent a usurious loan and then used threats of violence against the agent in attempts to collect repayment according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. He also admitted to running an illegal video poker machine business on behalf of the Philadelphia crime family in which machines were placed in local bars, restaurants, and convenience stores among others. The illegal proceeds were collected from these various locations by Staino and divided among other leaders of the organization.
“Anthony Staino”
Staino is the latest in a line of Philly mobsters headed to prison including yesterday’s 137-month sentence for mafia soldier Damion Canalichio. Reputed Philadelphia mafia underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino was also sentenced earlier this week and got 16 years behind bars. All part of the latest attack by law enforcement on the current generation of the Philly mob.
The racketeering trial last year saw a mixed verdict and now reputed Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and fellow mobster George Borgesi are awaiting a retrial on racketeering conspiracy charges. If both are convicted law enforcement would have dealt a major blow to the Philadelphia crime family taking much of its leadership down and off the streets for years.
This would leave major leadership voids to be filled by the Philly mob family and many wonder if there is enough left on the streets of Philadelphia for the mafia to make it worth wild for anyone looking to step up and take control. Many believe that the mafia family is already no more then a glorified street crew and has been decimated over the last few years by law enforcement efforts.
