Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.

Nicodemo Salvatore Scarfo, Jr.Anastasia, George. "'Nicky Jr.': Where Does the Boss' Son Fit In?" "Philadelphia Inquirer." March 10, 1991.] aka Nicky Jr. (b. 1964) is the second son of convicted Philadelphia organized crime boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, Sr. In his 20s, Scarfo Jr. was allegedly being groomed as a soldato (soldier) in the Scarfo crime family (more properly known as the Philadelphia crime family). He was allegedly inducted into the Lucchese crime family in 1989. [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2002-07-12/cb4.shtml McGarvey, Brendan. "Sins of the Fathers." "Philadelphia City Paper." July 12-18, 2002.] Accessed April 12, 2008.]

Scarfo was the victim of a notorious assassination attempt by a masked gunman on Halloween in 1989. The hit, by a gunman wearing a Batman mask, [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2005-03-31/cb3.shtml McGarvey, Brendan. "Nick Out of Time?" "Philadelphia City Paper." March 31-April 6, 2005.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] occurred at Dante and Luigi's, [ [http://www.danteandluigis.com/ Dante and Luigi Web site.] The establishment claims to be Philadelphia's oldest Italian restaurant.] an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Morrison, John F. "Halloween Hit Man Shoots Scarfo Jr." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 1, 1989.]

Early life

Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,fact|date=April 2008 to Nicodemo and Domenica Scarfo. He has an older half-brother, Chris (born in 1957), and a younger brother, Mark (born in 1970). Nicky is the cousin of Phil Leonetti, an admitted former underboss of the Philadelphia crime family.

Nicky Scarfo, Sr. was banished from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey, before Nicky Jr.'s birth. The elder Scarfo had allegedly killed a man in a brawl unrelated to mob business. Then-boss Angelo "Gentle Don" Bruno exiled him to Atlantic City, which at the time was a dying family beach resort town.Anastasia, George. "The Last Gangster." Paperback ed. New York: Avon Books, 2005. ISBN 0060544236] [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/112901/news.uworld.shtml Novak. M. "The Fat Lady Sings." "Philadelphia City Paper." November 29–December 6, 2001.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] Nicky Scarfo, Jr. grew up on North Georgia Avenue in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City. His grandmother, Catherine Scarfo, owned the building and lived there. Phil Leonetti also lived in the building, and later roomed with the Scarfos.Anastasia, George. "Mob Trial Hears Scarfo Jr., On Tape, Psyching For A Hit." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 4, 1994.] Despite his father's position within the Philadelphia mob, the Scarfos were not wealthy while Nicky was growing up.

Nicky graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey, in 1983. Gambling was legalized in Atlantic City in 1976, and Nicodemo Scarfo, Sr. became deeply involved in organized crime's infiltration of the casino industry. Among the elder Scarfo's closest associates was Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino. Scarfo Sr.'s rule over organized crime in Atlantic City has been characterized as one of the most violent and murderous in American history. While Nicky was in high school, his father was brought back to Philadelphia by the mob. In 1980, Scarfo Sr. was named the Philadelphia outfit's consigliere, and in 1981 he was named boss. Only then did the Scarfos begin to live a more lavish lifestlye. By one account, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was not involved in crime during his teens, and did not intend to become involved in the syndicate. As one classmate noted, "When I knew him, he was a good guy. He was just a regular guy. Everyone knew who his father was, but we never talked about that." [Quoted in Anastasia, George. "'Nicky Jr.': Where Does the Boss' Son Fit In?" "Philadelphia Inquirer." March 10, 1991.]

After graduation, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. associated with other members of the Scarfo crime family, but never became a made man.fact|date=April 2008 Against his father's wishes, Nicky fell in love with the daughter of Scarfo soldier Nicholas Caramandi in 1984 and pursued a relationship with her.fact|date=April 2008

Early years in the Scarfo crime family

After graduation, Nicky Scarfo allegedly became involved in organized crime. He became a close friend of Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, the son of Scarfo crime family underboss Chuckie Merlino. However, the relationship with Joey Merlino was to prove inauspicious. Their friendship, which was very close, ruptured in 1988 when Chuckie Merlino was convicted of racketeering and sentenced to 45 years in a federal penitentiary. Merlino was then demoted by the elder Scarfo,Caparella, Kitty. "Recalling A Bloody Hit." "Philadelphia Daily News." April 24, 2001.] and Nicky Scarfo, Jr. allegedly ended his friendship with Joey Merlino at this time. Philadelphia crime family boss Ralph Natale later testified in court that Merlino "hated" Scarfo from this time onward.Anastasia, George. "Mob Boss Natale Tells of 'Descent Into Hell'." "Philadelphia Inquirer." March 31, 2001.]

In the late 1980s, Nicky Scarfo, Sr. came under increasing legal pressure as the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a massive investigation of the Scarfo crime family's operations. Twenty members of Scarfo's organization were imprisoned, and many more came under indictment. Five members of the Philadelphia crime family turned state's evidence against the elder Scarfo, including soldiers Nicholas Caramandi and Eugene Milano, capos Thomas DelGiorno and Lawrence Merlino (Chuckie Merlino's brother), and underboss (and Scarfo relative) Phil Leonetti.

During the trial, Mark Scarfo attempted suicide on November 1, 1988. Mark, then only 17 years old, had been taunted for years by classmates about his father's criminal activities. Increasingly despondent over his father's possible imprisonment, Mark Scarfo hanged himself in the office of his father's concrete supply company in Atlantic City. He was discovered by his mother, and paramedics were able to resuscitate him. He suffered cardiac arrest and his brain was deprived of oxygen. He entered a coma, from which he had yet to emerge as of 2008. [Sheehan, Kathy. "Scarfo's Son 'Put Through Hell'." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 3, 1988; Locy, Toni. "Scarfo Son in Coma After Apparent Suicide Try." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 2, 1988; "Son's Hanging Halts Alleged Mob Chief's Trial." "Associated Press." November 2, 1988.] On November 4, 1988, just three days after Mark's suicide attempt, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. and a friend assaulted a woman in an elevator at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. The woman said the two men had looked menacingly at her, and she pretended to reach for a gun in her coat. The two men then punched her, pushed her to the floor, and kicked her several times. Scarfo was arrested for assault, convicted, fined, and put on probation for the incident. [Caba, Susan. "Scarfo Jr. Gets Probation and Fine for Conviction in Hospital Beating." "Philadelphia Inquirer." June 13, 1990; Caparella, Kitty. "Scarfo Jr. Guilty in Beating Case." "Philadelphia Daily News." June 13, 1990.]

Nicodemo Scarfo, Sr. was convicted on November 19, 1988, on more than 32 counts of racketeering, which included eight counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, two counts of illegal distribution of methamphetamine, one count of loansharking, 14 counts of extortion, and one count of illegal gambling. ["United States v. Scarfo," 711 F. Supp. 1315 (E.D.Pa. 1989); Strauss, Robert. "Reputed Mob Leader and 16 Others Are Convicted." "New York Times." November 20, 1988.]

Nicky Scarfo, Jr. may have attempted to use his father's conviction as a means of rising within the syndicate. In October 1989, Scarfo Jr. bodyguard George Fresolone turned state's evidence and began wearing a wire. [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/041901/news.mob.shtml Barry, Jim. "Trouble With a Capital N." "Philadelphia City Paper." April 19–26, 2001.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] Fresolone taped Scarfo Jr. discussing the death of his cousin, Phil Leonetti, an act which would have allowed him to rise within the Philadelphia criminal organization:

My father says, he says, this one is definitely my responsibility. He can't rest. ... I told him, I says, "I ain't resting till it's f-ing done" ... How can I rest? How could I sleep at night? ... It's always eating at me, eating at me.

The evidence was later used to help indict Scarfo Jr. on racketeering and conspiracy charges in 1990.

Halloween assassination attempt

His father's conviction severely underminded Nicky Scarfo, Jr.'s position in the Philadelphia crime family, as many family members were angry at the elder Scarfo's alleged mismanagement of organized crime enterprises and his arrogance.

On the evening of October 31, 1989, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was dining at an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia when a man wearing a Batman mask and holding a plastic Halloween candy bag entered the restaurant and approached Scarfo's table. The man pulled a MAC-10 machine gun from the bag and fired at Scarfo. Scarfo was hit eight times in the neck, arms and torso, but no vital organs were hit.Anastasia, George. "Scafidi Details Mob Hits, Attempts." "Philadelphia Inquirer." April 25, 2001.] Scarfo returned home just nine days later. [Caba, Susan and Terry, Robert J. "Scarfo's Condition Upgraded." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 8, 1989; Terry, Robert J. and Coakley, Michael B. "Scarfo Zips Home From Hospital, Police In Tow." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 9, 1989.]

Theories for the hit took several forms. Initially, law enforcement officials believed that the hit had been ordered by one of the Five Families in New York City in an attempt to take over Philadelphia's organized crime operations. [Anastasia, George. "Authories: Hit Was Ordered in N.Y." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 1, 1989; "Scarfo Assault Theories." "San Jose Mercury News." November 2, 1989.] But police later said they suspected Joey Merlino of being the gunman, with Nicky Scarfo, Jr. seen as a proxy for his father—the message being that the elder Scarfo was no longer in control of the Philadelphia crime family.Caparella, Kitty and Smith, Jim. "Body of Evidence Against Mob Grows." "Philadelphia Daily News." March 22, 2001.] Caparella, Kitty. "Coming Soon: Mob's Secrets." "Philadelphia Daily News." June 6, 2001.] [Anastasia, George. "Questions Abound After Scarfo Shooting." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 5, 1989; McGuire, Jack and Heine, Kurt. "Scarfo Hit Was Anything But Smooth." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 9, 1989; "What's In A Hit? Seeking Meaning in Young Scarfo's Misfortune." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 10, 1989.] Anastasia, George. "In Prison, Scarfo Jr. Fumes In Isolation." "Philadelphia Inquirer." May 15, 1994.] Merlino has steadfastly denied any involvement. [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2005-03-31/cb3.shtml McGarvey, Brendan. "Nick Out of Time?" "Philadelphia City Paper." March 31-April 6, 2005.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] However, Gaetano "Tommy Horsehead" Scafidi later testified in 2001 that Merlino was the gunman and that Merlino second-in-command Michael "Mikey Chang" Ciancaglini drove the getaway car. Scafidi said he was asked to participate in the hit, but refused. [ [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=12330 Cipriano, Ralph. "Straight From the Horsehead's Mouth." "Philadelphia Weekly." June 7, 2006.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] [Rubinkam, Michael. "Mobster Testifies Against Merlino, Six Others." "Associated Press." April 24, 2001.] This was confirmed by testimony from former Philadelphia crime family boss Ralph Natale, who also turned state's evidence and said that Merlino told him about committing the crime while they served time together in 1990. At least one other mobster testifying on behalf of the government alleged that soldier Pete "Pete the Crumb" Caprio also knew of the hit and attempted to prevent it.

Nicky Scarfo, Jr. became an unimportant player in the Philadelphia mob after the hit. He adopted a very low profile to avoid drawing attention to himself, most likely (police assumed) because he had few allies who would protect him. Scarfo moved to Newark, New Jersey, shortly afterward.Smith, Jim. "Scarfo Jr. Jailed for Bookmaking." "Philadelphia Daily News." June 29, 2002.] Law enforcement officials alleged that Scarfo Sr. had his son inducted into the Lucchese crime family in New York City in order to protect him from further attempts on his life. [At least one source says that Scarfo Jr. was inducted into the Gambino crime family, not the Lucchese. See: Smith, Jim. "Scarfo Jr. Jailed for Bookmaking." "Philadelphia Daily News." June 29, 2002.]

Post-hit criminal career

As a member of the Lucchese crime family, Nicky Scarfo, Jr. became involved in a number of criminal enterprises. In 1990, Nicky Scarfo and Gaetano "Tommy Horsehead" Scafidi were allegedly ordered to beat mobster Martin Angelina because he refused to stop associating with Chuckie Merlino. According to court testimony by Scafidi (who had turned state's evidence by this time), they beat Angelina with aluminum bats to make sure the bats wouldn't break. In August 1990, Scarfo was arrested on federal charges of racketeering and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute illegal video poker machines. [LeDuc, Daniel and Anastasia, George. "Mobster-Information Leads to Arrests of Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr., 28 Others." "Philadelphia Inquirer." August 22, 1990; Anastasia, George. "Informant Tells of Huge Payoffs From Mob's Illegal Video Machines." "Philadelphia Inquirer." January 25, 1991; Anastasia, George. "Informant: The Mob Gets Down to Business." "Philadelphia Inquirer." January 27, 1991.] He pled guilty and received a seven year prison sentence in November 1993. [Anastasia, George. "Scarfo's Son Sentences to 7 Years." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 20, 1993; Daughen, Joseph R. "7 Years for Young Scarfo." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 20, 1993; Burney, Melanie. "Nicky Jr. Admits Gambling Role." "Associated Press." September 9, 1993.]

During his imprisonment, Scarfo was placed in "protective isolation" by prison authorities. Government officials claimed to have received information indicating that Scarfo's life was in danger in prison. Thus, they isolated him from the rest of the prison population, permitting him limited exercise and other time out of his cell. Scarfo and his attorneys claimed that no such information existed, and that the involuntary isolation was punishment for Scarfo's other alleged (but unproven) criminal activity. Scarfo sued, and a court ordered him returned to the general prison population in June 1994. [Anastasia, George. "State Is Ordered to Review Scarfo Jr.'s Custody In Prison." "Philadelphia Inquirer." June 2, 1994; Anastasia, George. "Nicky Scarfo Jr. Gets Out of Prison Isolation." "Philadelphia Inquirer." June 28, 1994.] Based on time already served, he was released in 1996.

Shortly after his release, Scarfo Jr. was indicted on aggravated assault charges and illegal weapons charges in May 1996 after a fight in an Atlantic City bar. [Anastasia, George. "Nicky Scarfo Jr. Is Indicted In Assault At Atlantic City Bar." "Philadelphia Inquirer." May 24, 1996.] He pled guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and probation."Scarfo's Son Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charge." "Philadelphia Inquirer." January 7, 1997.]

Mob war, 1993-1995

While Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was living in Newark and serving time in prison, his father, Nicky Scarfo, Sr., attempted to run the Philadelphia crime family from his own prison cell. But the elder Scarfo soon lost control of the syndicate, and in 1991 Giovanni "The Dour Don" Stanfa was named Acting Boss."7 Reputed Mafia Figures Are Acquitted of Murder." "New York Times." July 21, 2001.] Joey Merlino challenged Stanfa for control of the outfit in 1993, and a major mob war broke out between Stanfa's old guard (backed by the Gambino crime family) and Merlino's "Young Turks" faction. ["Two Men Ambushed In Philadelphia's Growing Mob War." "Washington Post." September 17, 1993.] The Philadelphia mob war lasted nearly three years.Rubinkam, Michael. "Facing Life In Prison, A Mob Boss Turns Informant." "Associated Press." April 5, 2001; Rubinkam, Michael. "Jury In Philly Mob Trial Acquits Merlino, Co-Defendants On Most Serious Counts." "Associated Press." July 21, 2001.] [Anastasia, George. "Lesson of Stanfa Conviction Lost on Local Wiseguys, Authorities Say." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 25, 1996; Anastasia, George. "The Phila. Mob Broken By Loss of Tradition on Eve of Trial." "Philadelphia Inquirer." September 17, 1995; Anastasia, George. "A Trial's Tale of Mob Hits—And Misses." "Philadelphia Inquirer." September 28, 1995.] On August 5, 1993, Merlino was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt reportedly ordered by Stanfa. However, Merlino's second-in-command, Michael "Mikey Chang" Ciancaglini, was killed. In alleged retaliation, Stanfa's son was shot in the face on August 31 during an attempted hit. Stanfa reportedly ordered Merlino's assassination at least 10 more times, [Kocieniewski, David. "Decline and Fall of an Empire." "New York Times." January 17, 1999.] but he survived every attempt. Merlino was sent to jail in 1994 for violating his parole.Anastasia, George. "Merlino Posed to Play 'Big Part'." "Philadelphia Inquirer." November 13, 1994.]

But Merlino's imprisonment did not hurt his chances of taking over the Philadelphia outfit. According to mobster Ralph Natale, he and Merlino began plotting to take over the Philadelphia crime family while they were cellmates in a federal penitentiary in 1990. Natale named Steven Mazzone, George Borgesi and Martin Angelina (as previously noted, an opponent of Nicky Scarfo, Jr.), all Merlino associates, as co-conspirators in the take-over plan. Whether Natale's allegations are true or not, Merlino received Natale's backing even while in prison in 1994. Natale was close to the Genovese crime family, which had taken over part of the Atlantic City operations of the Philadelphia mob after the murder of boss Angelo Bruno in 1980. With the support of Natale and the Genovese crime family, Merlino was able to retain control of his crew and was promised the underboss position if Natale succeeded in displacing Stanfa. [McDonald, Mark. "'Hood Edgy Over Hood." "Philadelphia Daily News." November 14, 1994.] But with Merlino in prison, Natale was not able to consolidate his power, and Stanfa stabilized his control of the family in 1994. [Anastasia, George. "New Mob Turns to Revenge By Proxy." "Philadelphia Inquirer." October 8, 1995.] Stanfa's rule did not last, however: He and 23 other members of the Philadelphia syndicate were indicted on March 17, 1994, on a wide variety of charges, including labor racketeering, extortion, loansharking, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. [Hinds, Michael Decourcy. "F.B.I. Arrests Reputed Leader of Philadelphia Mob and 23 Others." "New York Times." March 18, 1994.] As Stanfa and most of his regime sat in prison awaiting trial, the Gambino crime family withdrew its support for him and Natale was able to take control of the Philadelphia mob. On November 21, 1995, Stanfa was convicted of all charges and sentenced to five consecutive life sentences. [Raab, Selwyn. "Jury Convicts Philadelphia's Mob Leader." "New York Times." November 22, 1995.]

Merlino was released from prison in 1994, and named Natale's underboss in 1995. [Anastasia, George. "Taking Care of Family Business." "Philadelphia Inquirer." March 27, 1994.] There is some evidence, however, that Merlino was the real boss and Natale was just a figurehead. [Pistone, Joseph D. and Brandt, Charles. "Unfinished Business: Shocking Declassified Details from the FBI's Greatest Undercover Operation and a Bloody Timeline of the Fall of the Mafia." Philadelphia: Running Press Book Publishers, 2007. ISBN 0762427079]

Natale's reign was not long-lived, either. In the summer of 1999, he was arrested and indicted on a number of federal charges, including murder, attempted murder, extortion, bribery, and drug trafficking. Natale turned state's evidence, and pled guilty in May 2000 to seven murders, four attempted murders, and numerous other charges. ["Mob Boss Pleads Guilty For His Entire Career." "New York Times." May 6, 2000.]

With Natale in prison, Merlino became the boss of the Philadelphia crime family. But in July 2001, Merlino was convicted of racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling and receiving stolen property (although he was acquitted on a number of much more serious charges, such as murder and attempted murder). Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi was named Acting Boss while Merlino served a 10-year prison sentence. [http://blog.nj.com/gloucester/2007/08/mob_insider_scarfo_jr_looking.html "Insider: Scarfo Jr. Looking to Head Phila. Mob." "South Jersey News." August 10, 2007.] Accessed April 12, 2008.]

New mob leadership relationship with Scarfo Jr.

The ruptured friendship between Scarfo Jr. and Merlino took on more ominous tones in the late 1990s. Scarfo Jr. had been released from prison in 1997, and largely sat out the Philadelphia mob war. But once Natale was in prison and Merlino was in control of the syndicate, it is alleged that Merlino focused his attention back on Scarfo. One mobster who turned state's evidence testified that in 1999 or 2000, Merlino allegedly sent capo Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio and associate Daniel D'Ambrosia to watch Scarfo and gather evidence about his movements so that a hit might be planned. Court testimony later asserted that Caprio also stopped a Merlino-ordered hit on Scarfo while Scarfo served time in a federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia.

In June 2002, Nicky Scarfo, Jr., went to jail again. He had been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for helping to run a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling and loan sharking operation. Scarfo's wife was expecting their first child, and he was permitted to remain free on bail until the child's christening. ["Son of Jailed New Jersey Gangster Is Sentenced for Illegal Gambling Operation." "Associated Press." June 28, 2002; Anastasia, George. "Scarfo Jailed for 33 Months." "Philadelphia Inquirer." June 29, 2002.] He also received three years' probation.

New effort to control Philadelphia?

Nicky Scarfo, Jr. was released from prison on April 6, 2005.

In August 2007, the media reported that Scarfo had moved to the Jersey Shore and begun an effort to take over the Philadelphia crime family again. [ [http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20070808_Scarfos_son_nestles_in_at_the_Shore.html "Scarfo's Son Nestles In At the Shore." "Philadelphia Inquirer." August 8, 2007.] Accessed April 12, 2008.] In December 2007, the "Philadelphia Inquirer" reported that Scarfo, Jr. had been demoted within the Lucchese crime family in part because of ongoing media coverage of his activities and in part because he intended to start a mob war to regain control of the Philadelphia outfit. [ [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20071224_Probes_detailed_view_of_mob_life.html Anastasia, George. "Probe's Detailed View of Mob Life." "Philadelphia Inquirer." December 24, 2007.] Accessed April 12, 2008.]

Notes

Additional reading

*Anastasia, George. "Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob—The Mafia's Most Violent Family." Philadelphia: Camino Books, 2003. ISBN 0940159864