Joe Ligambi

Who? You might not know who he, a lot of people in Philadelphia don't, and that's the way he likes it.

He is the Boss of the Bruno family which he has stablized since taking over in 2001. No Federal Indictments since his rise and he has since become a popular guy in NY. This could be bad news for Merlino.

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2007/08/16/happy-birthday-to-joe

Here's an interesting article

Thanks for this BDuff

I have read a little about this guy he has been acting boss since merlino got put away.He is actually George Borgesis uncle,Borgesi was formally consiglere of the family.

Yeah, Borgesi is due out in 2014 and Merlino in 2011. Should be interesting how Ligambi, who is well liked by the Genovese and Gambino's, takes to this.

Steven Mazzone, who was Underboss before 2001, was released recently and appears to be back at his old rank.

The FBI estimates the Philly Family at 50-70 "made" guys

Thanks BDuff!

Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi
UnderBoss Steven "Handsome Steve" Mazzone
Acting UnderBoss Anthony Staino
Consigliere George Borgesi
Acting Consigliere Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancelotti

Capo Vincent "Beepsie" Centorino
Capo Martin "Marty" Angelina
Capo Gaeton Lucibello

Soldiers:

Ralph "Ralphie Head" Abbruzzi
Anthony "Tony Cujino" Accardo
Michael Angelina
Gennaro "Joseph Costello" Boccia
Joseph Bonjiovanni
Anthony Borgesi
Steven "Stevie Gongs" Casasanto
Anthony "Tony" Cianfrani
John "Johnny Chang" Ciancaglini
Joseph "Chickie" Ciancaglini
Joseph "Joey Chang" Ciancaglini Jr.
Vince "Big Vince" Filipelli
Frank Gambino
Joseph "Joe" Grande
Francis "Faffy" Iannarella Jr.
Charles "Charlie White" Iannece
Vincent "Vince" Iannece
Albert Lancelotti
Joseph "Scoops" Licata
Frank Martines
Joseph "Mousie" Massamino
Salvatore "Sonny" Mazzone
Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino
Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino
Nicholas "Nicky Whip" Milano
Ralph "Blackie" Napoli
Frank Narducci Jr.
Philip Narducci
Anthony Nicodemo
Vincent "Al Pajamas" Pagano
Anthony "Martino" Pungitore Sr.
Anthony "Tony" Pungitore Jr.
Joseph "Joey Punge" Pungitore
Salvaatore "Tore" Scafidi
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo
Salvatore "Shotsie" Sparacio
Ralph "Junior" Staino
Joseph "Joey" Stanfa
Luigi "Gino" Tripodi
Michael "Mikey Penknife" Virgilio
Shawn Vetere

Joseph Anthony Ligambi (born August 9, 1939) is a made member and current reputed boss of the Philadelphia chapter of La Cosa Nostra. Ligambi is known among law enforcement circles to have a more "old school" approach, in sharp contrast to the former boss, Joseph Merlino's, flamboyant, high-profile style. Ligambi is credited by the Philadelphia Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit to be "quietly bringing stability back to the troubled Philadelphia-South Jersey branch of La Cosa Nostra". He is also the uncle of former Philadelphia consigliere George Borgesi.

Ligambi was born in the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 9, 1939 to strict "old world" parents. His father was a cab driver. He attended South Philadelphia High School before dropping out his junior year to join the United States Air Force, where he eventually earned his high school diploma.

On April 5, 1989 Ligambi was convicted alongside Nicodemo Scarfo, the current boss at the time, and several others, for the 1985 murder of Frank D'Alfonso. After serving 10 years the conviction was overturned, and in 1997 Ligambi returned to South Philadelphia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Ligambi

It's come out recently that Michael Lancelotti is in fact not the Consigliere. That title happens to belong to Gaeton Lucibello, Lancelotti is a Capo. Staino is also Capo of the South Jersey crew, as well as being acting Underboss for the newly released Mazzone. Ligambi is also the offcial boss of the family, Merlino is no longer recognized by New York.

The chart is more like this...

Boss - Joesph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi

Underboss - Steven "Handsome Steve" Mazzone

Consigliere - Gaeton Lucibello


Capos

Martin "Marty" Angelina
Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancelotti
Anthony "Tony" Staino
Vincent "Beeps" Centorino

You're missing a few new soldiers as well, seven have been inducted since August '05 according to Philly Inquirer.

Joseph Ligambi is old school and low key. He has turned the Philadelphia Family around.

But the law knows about him. He'll get sent down and then its back to square one.

He may even become a rat.

Is it true that the Junior Black Mafia (JBM) do business with the Philadelphia Mafia?

They move heroin and other narcotics for the Lucibello crew, they did more business with Merlino than Ligambi, Ligambi ties not to put himself out there too much.

Estimates for the Philadelphia family are about 50 made members, although only about half of them are active on the street. The rest or inactive or in prison. The family hasn't had 70 members since their peak in the 1950's and 1960's.

The consigliere is George Borghesi, who is currently incarcerated.

How would Melino feel that his two top guys, Borgesi and Mazzone, are now in with Ligambi? Will Merlino do a Scarfo Jr and cause upheaval? Or will Merlino end up like Testa Jr?

There has been a lot of discussion on organized crime forums about this. First off, Ligambi and Merlino are close. Ligambi isn't an outsider like Stanfa was. He is "one of the boys." Second, Ligambi straddles the Scarfo, Stanfa, Natale, and Merlino eras. He has wide support in the Family and is officially recognized by New York. Third, when Merlino finally does get out of prison, he will have law enforcement all over him. Even if he were to try to make moves, it would be very difficult for him to do so. All that said, there is always a good possibility that the current Ligambi regime could be hit with an indictment and be off the street by the time Merlino gets out. Only time will ultimately tell.

Who on this list IS NOT ACTIVE in the organization? That is to say not in prison either

I think Little Nicky Scarfo is a renegade, more in Atlantic City making his own moves with a crew.

The Luccheses demoted him from captain because of all the talk about him "making a move" on Philadelphia.

All inactive -

1. Gennaro "Joseph Costello" Boccia
2. John "Johnny Chang" Ciancaglini
3. Joseph "Joey Chang" Ciancaglini Jr.
4. Nicholas "Nicky Whip" Milano
5. Ralph "Blackie" Napoli
6. Anthony "Martino" Pungitore Sr.
7. Anthony "Tony" Pungitore Jr.
8. Ralph "Junior" Staino
9. Joseph "Joey" Stanfa
10. Luigi "Gino" Tripodi

Plus there are about 20 other members in prison.

Isn't Nicky Whip Milano relatively young to be inactive?? What led to these guys becomming inactive??

Boccia, Staino and Tony Pung are active, JS. Ralph Napoli also died in 2003. However, four old guys you can add are Dom Rugnetta, Antonia Scaglitano, Funzi Marconi, Gino Marconi. They were part of the old Idone crew from the 80s. Here's my list...

Inactive

1. John "Johnny Chang" Ciancaglini
2. Joseph “Joey Chang” Ciancaglini Jr. (Crippled)
3. Alphonse "Funzi" Marconi
4. Guerino "Gino" Marconi
5. Nicholas "Nicky Whip" Milano
6. Anthony "Blonde Babe" Pungitore Sr.
7. Dominick Rugnetta
8. Antonio "Nino" Scaglitano
9. Joseph “Joey” Stanfa (Shelved)
10. Luigi "Gino" Tripodi (Fled to Italy)

What is Nicky Whip's story?? Isn't he relatively young?

matter of fact, what is all the inactives stories?? What led to them becoming inactive, aside from old age??

hes not that young anymore.

Shotsie Sparacio isnt active anymore either

Shotsie died in prison in 2003 and I think Milano is around 49-50.

I'm betting that capos Lucibello or Centorino will be the next boss after Ligambi and his administration is imprisoned.