Phil Leonetti

Phil Leonetti
Born Phillip Michael Leonetti
(1953-03-27) March 27, 1953
Absecon, New Jersey
Nationality Italian American
Other names "Crazy Phil"
Occupation Vice President of Scarf Inc. cement sub contractor
Criminal charge murder of Giuseppe Reva, murder of Vincent Falcone, racketeering,
Criminal penalty 45 years
Criminal status State informant
Parent(s) Pasquale Leonetti and Annunziata Scarfo
Conviction(s) RICO

Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti (born March 27, 1953)[1] 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.[2] At the time, he was the highest-ranking member of the American Mafia to break his blood oath and turn informer.[3] His criminal record includes racketeering charges and ten murders.[4][5]

Early Life

Leonetti was born in Absecon, New Jersey. Having being abandoned by his father at an early age, he was brought up by his mother.[6] He moved to Atlantic City's Little Italy shortly after where he was protected and supervised by his uncle and other Scarfo members. He appeared to be the opposite of his uncle, a quiet and laid back personality.[7] Leonetti has alleged at 8 years old, he was used as a decoy by Scarfo to dispose of a dead body, explaining to the young Leonetti that he brutally stabbed a man in a New Jersey bar with an ice pick for disrespecting him.[8]

Mob career

In 1979, Nicky Scarfo ordered his nephew to murder Vincent Falcone, a criminal associate whom had been underestimating Scarfo's power within the crime family. Leonetti shot him twice, this would not be his first murder for Scarfo.[9] A year later he would be initiated as a soldier.[10] By the early 1980s, Leonetti was already a millionaire and controlled a lucrative trade of racketeering, illegal gambling, loan sharking, extortion and skimming from the Atlantic City casinos. A war within the family was also brewing as short reigned boss Chicken man Testa was killed by a nail bomb at his home in 1981, and so Scarfo began the war as he seized the top position for himself and promoted Leonetti as his underboss. By the end of the four year war, over 30 mobsters were killed. With improved racketeering laws and with the help of Philadelphia crime family informants Tommy Del and Nicholas Caramandi, most members received harsh prison sentences. He received 45 years for 10 murders and racketeering meanwhile his uncle was given 55 years both in federal prisons. In a last bid to save himself and his family, he agreed to testify against his uncle which also secured the convictions of 48 other members. After 5 years of prison, he went into hiding.[11]

Personal Life

Shortly after Leonetti was released from prison, he married the girlfriend of Vincent Falcone, whom he had murdered in 1979 with a .38 revolver. His son was also given the opportunity to attend college which he is glad as his son 'would likely join the Mob' had he not cooperated. He has given two television interviews, one in 1996 and the other in 2013,[12] his identity were majorly concealed in fear of his life. In 2013, he published a book about his criminal life, Mafia Prince: Inside America's Most Violent Crime Family and The Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra,[13] which details accounts of the Five New York Mob Families, the American Mafia Commission and other crime families across the USA, including his dealings with infamous gangsters like John Gotti, Meyer Lansky.[14]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Phillip Leonetti". Division of Gaming Enforcement exclusion list. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  2. ↑ "Book excerpt from 'Mafia Prince:’ The story of Philip Leonetti’s mob hit of Vincent Falcone as ordered and watched by Nicky Scarfo". New York Daily News. New York Daily News. November 19, 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. ↑ http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-11/news/35752183_1_mob-scarfo-families-crazy-phil
  4. ↑ Anastasia, George, Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family Camino Books (October 2003), ISBN 978-0-940159-86-0
  5. ↑ Phil Leonetti, Scott Burnstein, Mafia Prince Running Press (6 Nov 2012), ISBN 0762445831, ISBN 978-0762445837
  6. ↑ "Philip Leonetti ABC Primetime interview 10/2/96". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "What happened to the Scarfo crime family?". Press of Atlantic City. Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Mafia Prince Next Door". The Huffington Post. Phil Leonetti. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. ↑ ""Mafia Prince" Phil Leonetti says murder "felt natural"". John Miller. CBS News. February 27, 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "BOOK REVIEW: ‘Mafia Prince’". The Washington Times. The Washington Times. January 4, 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Phil Leonetti's tell-all book shows he's crazy like a fox". Philly.com. William Bender. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  12. ↑ ""Mafia Prince" Phil Leonetti talks murder, living in hiding". YouTube. CBS News. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Mafia Prince: Inside America's Most Violent Crime Family and the Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra". Amazon. Amazon. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Leonetti Rips Uncle, Says Cousin Didn't Have A Chance". Big Trial. George Anastasia. Retrieved 2 March 2016.

References

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