According to authorities, New Jersey-based Joseph Servidio is a soldier in the Philadelphia mafia.
The 59-year-old wiseguy also known as “Joey Electric” was part of a federal indictment unsealed last year at the end of a two-year probe. He was hit with multiple drug-related charges that included dealing large quantities of methamphetamine. The feds were able to record a large number of incriminating conversations between Servidio and another made man in the Philly Mob. This mafia associate described in the indictment as CS-1 (believed to be Anthony Persiano according to sources) had flipped and become confidential informant supplying the feds with information since 2015.
These conversations include talk of drug profits, Money laundering, and even the murder of a mafia associate. Meeting between the two Cosa Nostra members often took place at Servidio’s home just outside of Atlantic City according to the court documents. Transcripts of these conversations were included in the 60+ page indictment and some of them were shared in a report by Alex Napoliello NJ Advanced Media for NJ.com:
Planning a hit
Servidio and Chianese hung around outside a drug-dealing associate’s home for three hours, waiting for him to be alone in his house so they could gun him down, the indictment says. They apparently were seeking revenge because the associate, only identified as “Individual 3,” was “suspected of talking openly and disparagingly about Servidio’s criminal activity.”
Servidio allegedly was caught on tape July 6, 2017, discussing how he and Chianese would leave no trace of their involvement.
“Me and Carl got two phones, just (exclusively) for this, you know. … The thing is everything is away. I’ve been leaving my phones home. I made him (Chianese) leave his E-ZPass home. We paid cash, you know.”
Paying tribute
In the Philadelphia crime family, like in other organized crime organizations, there is a process known as “tribute.” Essentially, an earner has to “kick” money up the ladder to his superiors.
In a meeting on Oct. 18, 2016, in Philadelphia, authorities say, an unidentified member of the Philly mob lays out that process to a cooperating witness.
“I mean this from my heart … but whatever I do, you get a piece of it, doesn’t matter whether it’s legitimate, illegitimate, whatever I do,” an unnamed confidential informant explains to a member of the Philly mob.
The anonymous Philly mob member responds, “Yeah that’s our business. … Believe me, whatever I do, it goes up, and all this is, is structure. … What you do (kick proceeds up the hierarchy), I do the same thing. I do it on a weekly basis.”
‘Making my bones’
On Dec. 2, 2016, authorities say, CS-1 called Servidio to arrange a meeting in Atlantic City about handing off 60 cartons of stolen cigarettes.
“During a recorded phone conversation Servidio discussed ‘making my bones’ at age 19. … The phrase ‘making bones’ signifies the committing of a murder, and that Servidio was claiming to have killed somebody when Servidio was 19 years of age,” the indictment states.
No shells, no evidence
Revolvers don’t leave casings after they are fired. No shells, no evidence. Authorities say that’s why Servidio, in a phone conversation on Dec. 31, 2016, was interested in purchasing a revolver.
“Does he got any revolvers … like a .32, .38 (caliber) ?” an undercover agent said. “… Just like something you put on like a foot or something to just have?”
Servidio said, “Well not, not to just to have, to use it and throw it the f— away. … Don’t want no cases (casings) to come out. … A revolver, it’s better off.”
‘I like to spend money’
Servidio loved to spend money, he told CS-1. Selling drugs was a way to make sure the cash kept flowing, he allegedly said. So there was no love lost when a friend’s son died from a drug overdose and he was confronted by a grieving mother.
On the recording, Servidio said: “His wife, when I talked to her, she said, ‘You’re the only person that ever sold drugs that I love. I despise people because my son OD’d. … She said, ‘Joe (Servidio) please stop what you’re doing (selling drugs), you hurt people, people like you hurt people.’ ”
“You think she’s right?” CS-1 responded.
“Yes,” Servidio said.
“What’s wrong with us?” CS-1 asked.
“It’s the most money I can make (selling drugs), I like to spend money,” Servidio responded.
‘I’m a criminal. Everything I do is criminal.’
It’s not every day investigators catch someone on tape copping to being a criminal. In one of the recordings, Servidio explains where he cleans his cash made from illegal activity. He also admits to robbing an armored car just “to break even,” the indictment said.
“We need something (income) legitimate. I’m a criminal. Everything I do is criminal, I got to get out of it. … I need like $250,000 a year, or two, to break even. That’s what I need,” Servidio said.
“So I got to do other (criminal) things, ’cause I don’t make enough money. Ninety percent of my (remodeling/renovation) work is for friends and family, for free. … I laugh, what did I tell you, why do I keep my company going? ‘Cause I got to put the cash (from criminal activity) somewhere. I have to show it (income). How am I paying the mortgage, how am I paying my car payment, how am I paying my insurance, how am I paying my business insurance, how am I paying all these other bills? … Last year I robbed an armored car to break even. What am I gonna do this year?”
‘I make money every day, illegally’
Aside from his remodeling business, Servidio talks about showing legitimate income by making a power move into Atlantic City.
“We don’t want, we’re not looking to take over the whole town, people don’t know, need to know who the f— we are (Philadelphia LCN). Only if they give us a hard time, then we tell them who we are, we push our chest out.”
Later in the conversation Servidio said, “there’s nothing better than making money. I make money every day, illegally. I don’t want to do this shit.”
To say these conversations are damning may be an understatement and it seems like the alleged NJ based mobster is facing an uphill battle in court. Now the question that many are asking is will this case lead to a larger case with more indictments against other members and associates of the Philly mafia. The confidential informant was able to record conversations with others besides Servidio including still unidentified higher ranking members of the family. Now the local wiseguys have to be trying to remember when and if they met with him and if so exactly what was said and was he wearing a wire.
These unidentified mobsters described by the feds as (INDIVIDUAL 1, 2, and 3) are mentioned in the affidavit along with the Philadelphia hierarchy. Among the snippets of conversations recorded by the informant listed in the affidavit were references to a meeting in Atlantic City that included a South Philly captain (believed to be Domenic Grande according to sources) that gave approval for the drug operation. According to the documents CS-1 (Persiano) meets with Individual 2 (Grande) to discuss the drug operation. CS-1 is quoted as saying “I won’t make a move without checking with you. Yeah, do what you gotta do,” replies the capo.
On a separate tape, the duo can be heard discussing mafia protocol with the Capo telling Persiano that Servidio has to clear his actions with his captain. According to sources, Servidio is part of the mob crew controlled by Newark captain Joseph “Scoops” Licata. “Believe me, whatever I do, it goes up,” the capo said in another conversation with Persiano. “And all this is, is structure. What you do, I do the same. I do it on a weekly basis.” Perhaps the earlier conversation was an indication that Servidio may have been sidestepping his captain and not kicking up all that he should have been which means he may have problems on both ends of things.
Who else is on those tapes and just how high up the ladder this could end up going is still unclear as no further charges have been filed. Servidio pleaded not guilty and is being held at the Monmouth County jail. His lawyer claims that his client was just exaggerating and embellishing during these conversations. They have until the end of the month to work out a plea deal or the case will go to trial according to Servidio’s defense attorney.
