Philip michael crazy phil leonetti is an american mobster and author who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo. Mobsters, phil crazy phil leonetti, philadelphia gangster, underboss. As a mob scholar who has read something like 80% of the oc books ever written. Philip michael crazy phil leonetti is an american former mobster who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 while facing a sentence of 45 years for racketeering. This is the first of five books in the wanted men series. Philip testa left and angelo bruno in police custody in 1968. According to philip crazy phil leonetti, a convicted killer and onetime underboss of the philadelphiaarea mob family, he and lawrence yogi merlino attended the funeral of mob associate. Great mafia books for the beach ozy a modern media company. After turning government informant, leonetti made some tv appearances, as well as cowriting books on the mob. Philip crazy phil leonetti born march 27, 1953 is a philadelphia gangster and current author who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 facing a lengthy sentencing of 45 years. They called him crazy phil, a name leonetti told miller he didnt like, but his uncle admired. Nicky scarfo, mob boss who plundered atlantic city in the.
Leonetti is the softspoken prince, with his bedroom eyes and moviestar looks. Mob killer philip crazy phil leonetti, scarfos nephew and underboss leonetti, now 59 and living with a new identify in another part of the country, has penned a. Mobster books make for engrossing, engaging and oftentimes brutal. Vincent the chin gigantes rocky relationship with john. The rats nest throughout the history of organized crime in this country, there has always been informants.
He had already committed two murders in furtherance of their business before he became made as a fullfledged member. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Philip michael crazy phil leonetti is an american mobster and author who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 while facing a lengthy sentence of 45 years for racketeering. He has been in the witness protection program for almost two decades. Italian mobster gabriel moretti has returned to nyc at the behest of his bosshe needs gabriel to go to seattle and protect his daughter, eva, from his rivals. The story of philip leonettis mob hit of vincent falcone as ordered and watched by nicky scarfo. His nephew, phil leonetti, also testified against him after facing a 45year prison sentence, in 1989. It is truly an insightful history into the only ivy league family centering mostly on the last and greatest of the new york mafia dons.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mafia prince. Philip crazy phil leonetti, nicodemo little nicky scarfo and lawrence yogi merlino are pictured on leonettis book,mafia prince. Mafia prince is the first person account of one of the most brutal eras in mafia historylittle nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philadelphia family in the 1980swritten by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti. Philip leonettis book details an era of crime in atlantic. Philip michael leonetti born march 27, 1953 is a philadelphia gangster and author who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 while facing a lengthy sentence of 45 years. Mobster gets last laugh in obit associated press news. Footage of nicky scarfo, phil leonetti, and the 1980s philly mafia by theboss april 20, 2019 no comments we take another trip back in time to take a look at some more mob history this time from the city of brotherly love. Michael mercanti former mobster philip crazy phil leonetti on dec. Mark, then only 17 years old, had been taunted for years by classmates about his fathers criminal activities. The youngestever underboss at the age of 33, leonetti was at the crux of the violent. The youngestever underboss at the age of 33, leonetti was at the crux of the violent breakup of the. Scott burnstein is a true crime reporter and author of the regional bestseller motor city mafia.
Mobster story with a twist of faith law enforcement today. Mafia prince is the firstperson account of one of the most violent eras in mafia history little nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philly family in the 1980swritten by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti. But this isnt the memoir of a reformed gangster as much as it is an ugly, closeup portrait of the mob lifestyle and scarfo, the father figure with an evil mind shown standing behind leonettis right shoulder on the books. Philip michael crazy phil leonetti born march 27, 1953 is an american former mobster who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 while facing a sentence of 45 years for racketeering. Atlantic city mobster phil leonetti, in a conversation with gambino underboss gravano, got the lowdown on the feud between the nations two top mobsters. Leonettis new book mafia prince details the philadelphia mafia during the 1980s under the rule of his uncle nicodemo little nicky scarfo. He told me one time hed like to take a guy and cut his guts out and fry them in a pan, salerno says. Mafia prince phil leonetti says murder felt natural. Phillip crazy phil leonetti born march 27, 1953 is a philadelphia gangster who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his uncle, boss nicodemo scarfo. As he ordered murder after murder, his nephew phillip crazy phil leonetti was by his side, ready to. Philip michael crazy phil leonetti born march 27, 1953 is an american former mobster who. The youngestever underboss at the age of 31, leonetti was at the crux of the violent downfall of the traditional american mafia in the 1980s when he infiltrated atlantic city after gambling was legalized, and later turned states evidence against his own. During the trial that had ensued, scarfos son, mark scarfo attempted suicide on november 1, 1988.
At the time he was the highestranking mobster in the american mafia to turn informant. Phil leonettis tellall book shows hes crazy like a fox. Mafia prince, cowritten by truecrime author scott burnstein and mob historian christopher graziano, tackles bigger questions about organized. Philip michael crazy phil leonetti born march 27, 1953 1 is an american former mobster who became the underboss of the philadelphia crime family under his mentor, uncle and former boss, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, before becoming a government informant in 1989 while facing a sentence of 45 years for racketeering. Sammy told me that john hated the chin, leonetti recalled. But when gabriel takes the job, it will reignite old feuds and test loyalties. Philip leonettis book details an era of crime in atlantic city, region. They called siligato, a lifelong hammonton resident.
From a young age, phil leonetti was mentored by his uncle, nicodemo little nicky scarfo, to become a hit man for the mafia. File photo of former mobster philip crazy phil leonetti, as he sits in court before a verdict, nov. The following year, philadelphia boss philip chicken man testa was also murdered. Unlike most true crime books, phil leonetti actually lived the life at the highest levels as the. On march 21, 1980, philadelphia crime boss angelo bruno was shot and killed. About the author philip leonetti aka crazy phil was the youngest underboss in the history of the american mafia at the age of 31. The youngestever underboss at the age of 33, leonetti was at the crux of the. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison for 10 murders but due to his cooperation only served 5 years of that sentence. Mafia prince is the firstperson account of one of the most violent eras in mafia history little nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philly family in the 1980s written by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti. Footage of nicky scarfo, phil leonetti, and the 1980s philly mafia by theboss april 20, 2019 we take another trip back in time to take a look at some more mob history this time from. Contains a new epilogue mafia prince is the first person account of one of the most brutal eras in mafia history, little nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philadelphia family in the 1980s,written by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti. Mafia prince ebook by phil leonetti 9780762456000 rakuten kobo. Money, murder, and machiavellian mayhem mafia prince is the first person account of one of the most brutal eras in mafia historylittle nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philadelphia family in the 1980swritten by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti. Groomed for the job by his maniacal uncle and surrogate father, notorious east coast don little nicky scarfo, the deadliest godfather since prohibition.
Ive read a lot of books on the mafia and this one is my favorite. He of course is the nephew and former underboss to nicodemo scarfo in the philly mob. See more ideas about mafia, mafia gangster and little nicky. Phil leonetti, scott burnstein, christopher graziano title.
Unlike most true crime books, phil leonetti actually lived the life at the highest levels as the underboss of the philadelphia mob during his uncle little nicky scarfos reign as boss. Without such informants, law enforcements efforts to curtail underworld rackets would be almost fruitless in their attempt to investigate, arrest, and convict mobsters before the bar of justice. Mafia prince phil leonetti talks murder, living in. At that time, he was the highestranking member of the american mafia to break his. Former crime family underboss phil leonetti sat down with cbs news senior correspondent john miller to discuss his years as a killer and why he decided to turn his back on the mafia underworld. The deadly feud between genovese crime family boss vincent. Mafia prince is the firstperson account of one of the most violent eras in mafia history little nicky scarfos reign as boss of the philly family in the 1980swritten by scarfos underboss and nephew, crazy phil leonetti the youngestever underboss at the age of 31, leonetti was at the crux of the violent downfall of the traditional american mafia in the 1980s when he. The philadelphia mobsters were arrested during a police raid. In the 1980s, leonetti was moving through the family crime ranks as a mob hitman, capo and then underboss to scarfo. See more ideas about mafia, crime and mafia gangster. Mafia underboss phil leonetti reveals the dark side of.
Scarfos nephew and now an author, who was the familys second in command at the time and was known as crazy phil. Philip leonetti was a mafia prince who, for a while, inherited the crown. The story is told through the eyes of crazy phil leonetti, the young, handsome overseer of the mob s activities in atlantic city during the reagan era. Angelo bruno and frank sidone from the irishman true story. Unlike sammy gravanos underboss, i didnt find leonettis autobiography to be filled with selfserving braggadocio. Kane, who was serving a 25year prison term in louisville, ky. The mobster who could bring down the mob the new york times. At that time, he was the highestranking member of the american mafia to.
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