I will need to look it up but I think I remember Vinny Basciano and his guys robbing a guy who they knew was picking up his winnings at one of their sportsbook joints
That's not true. Vinny would stick up a 7/11 to pay his gambling debts if he had to. He was a lot of things, but a beat wasn't one of them.
You're probably thinking of the story where he allegedly borrowed money off Gerry Sciascia a few weeks before Sciascia got popped. But that was just a lucky break
.
Back on topic: I've heard from some of the more informed Philly posters that Joey Merlino was famous for laying down on debts. But that's second hand and I don't know how true it is.
Yes Sir, Very lucky.
I remember what put me on that, Vinny Gorgeous by Anthony DeStefano.
I had just recently read it, early in the book it describes one of Mr Bascianos arrests.
Vinny was already managing a few betting rooms for Colangelo who went away
November 1985 - David Nunez was making a drop at White Plains Rd. numbers place. He was dropping off a 15k payoff for someone who had a nice hit.
The guy was shot three times and grazed in the head, he survived and id three men, Vinny Basciano, Anthony Donato and Patrick DeFillipo.
Nunez id VB as the shooter.
Now this is what the book says, I dont know if this was one of the establishments Basciano was managing but the author leads you from VB managing several numbers and betting rooms to this story.
If you think this is not accurate or some bullshit, it would not surprise me and I would be more inclined to believe another source.
The stories in these books are meant to sell books, the stories from the people who live around or with these people and live in these neigborhoods are more believable to me.
