http://articles.philly.com/1987-06-19/news/26181836_1_drug-trafficking-mob-boss-indictmentScarfo Charged As Drug Lord U.s. Says Local Mob Sought To Run Market
By Emilie Lounsberry, Inquirer Staff Writer
POSTED: June 19, 1987
Reputed mob boss Nicodemo Scarfo and five associates were charged yesterday with importing and selling large amounts of the essential chemical needed to manufacture methamphetamine in what authorities said reflected an unprecedented effort by local mob leaders to control the drug market.
Twenty-two other people were named in the sweeping federal indictment, and the government immediately moved to seize about $5 million in assets from the defendants, including Scarfo's $500,000 Fort Lauderdale home and a 40-foot boat worth $100,000.
The boat, the Casablanca Usual Suspects, had been docked behind Scarfo's Fort Lauderdale home, Casablanca South, but it was not there yesterday afternoon when U.S. marshals went to seize it. In court documents, the government identified Philadelphia disc jockey Jerry Blavat as the registered owner of the boat but said that Scarfo was the "true owner."
Blavat, a longtime figure in local entertainment, could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Jacob Kossman, said Blavat sold the boat to Scarfo in 1985 or 1986 for $70,000 but still held the title pending full payment.
Prosecutors said that while lower-level organized-crime members have become involved in drug trafficking, yesterday's indictment was the first time that local La Cosa Nostra leaders have ever been charged with trying to control a
drug business.
"Contrary to public perception, the indictment alleges and we will prove that the mob is deeply involved in drug trafficking," said Barry Gross, a prosecutor with the U.S. Organized Crime Strike Force. "This is a major, major P-2-P importing ring, and the LCN (La Cosa Nostra) was trying to control it."
P-2-P is the chemical used to make methamphetamine.
Wayne G. Davis, special agent in charge of the FBI in Philadelphia, said during a news conference that the New York-based commission that governs all U.S. organized-crime activity has traditionally barred mob families from trafficking in drugs.
As a result, he said, the indictment has put Scarfo and his associates ''not only on the wrong side of the law but on the wrong side of the LCN
commission as well."
The indictment, which was returned by the grand jury Wednesday but sealed until yesterday, was just the latest legal problem facing Scarfo, who could be sentenced to up to life imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge in the indictment - conducting a continuing criminal enterprise. Scarfo also is charged with importation, distribution and attempted importation of P-2-P, and conspiracy.
Scarfo, 58, allegedly has headed the Philadelphia-South Jersey crime family since 1981. He was convicted last month of conspiring with City Councilman Leland M. Beloff and Beloff's top aide to extort $1 million from developer Willard G. Rouse 3d.
He also is awaiting trial in New Jersey on racketeering charges and for the 1978 murder of Somers Point Municipal Court Judge Edwin Helfant, and in Philadelphia for the 1984 slaying of mobster Salvatore Testa.
Michael L. Levy, an attorney with the strike force who will prosecute the case with Gross, said the government was trying to seize Scarfo's property under a 1984 law that allows the government to seize assets earned through a
drug enterprise or used in the commission of a drug felony.
The boat, according to court documents, was used by Scarfo last August as he discussed and planned to import P-2-P, or phenyl-2-propanone, which is an essential ingredient used to make methamphetamine, commonly known as ''speed" or "crank."
The indictment charged that Scarfo, reputed underbosses Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti and Salvatore Merlino, captain Francis "Faffy" Iannarella and soldiers Charles Iannece and Ralph Staino tried to gain control of the lucrative methamphetamine trade by cornering the market on P-2-P.
The crime family essentially took over drug operations headed by John A. Renzulli, 39, of the 1700 block of Porter Street; Angelo DiTullio, 48, of Mantua, N.J., and Michael Forte, 47, of the 800 block of Catharine Street, who is now serving a prison sentence for operating a drug ring, the indictment stated.
The mob accomplished the plan by first requiring P-2-P traffickers to pay a ''street tax" to the crime family in return for permission to sell the chemical and then by dictating to whom the P-2-P wholesalers could sell the chemical, the indictment said.
DiTullio allegedly imported 155 gallons of P-2-P, hidden in air compressors and barbecue grills, from Germany and Belgium, and then sold the chemical to Renzulli. Forte was identified as the "middleman" in the sale of some of that chemical.
The Scarfo crime family then completely took over DiTullio's importation operation and directly imported about 50 gallons of P-2-P in August 1986, and sold it to Renzulli, the indictment said.
Renzulli allegedly manufactured at least 340 pounds of methamphetamine at five laboratory sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The crime family then purchased 100 gallons of P-2-P in October in Belgium, but the chemical was seized by Belgian authorities in March, authorities said.
Joel M. Friedman, attorney in charge of the strike force, said the 205 gallons of P-2-P would have been capable of producing more than $130 million worth of methamphetamine.
In addition to Scarfo, those named in the indictment and the charges they face are:
Leonetti, 34, of Atlantic City; conspiracy, importation, distribution of P- 2-P, attempted importation of P-2-P, conducting a continuing criminal enterprise.
Merlino, 47, of Longport, N.J.; conspiracy, conducting a continuing
criminal enterprise.
Iannarella, 44, of the 2000 block of South Beechwood Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, importation, distribution of P-2-P, attempted importation of P-2- P, conducting a continuing criminal enterprise.
Iannece, 52, 1100 block of Wolf Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, importation and distribution of P-2-P, attempted importation.
Staino, 55, of the 3100 block of South 13th Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, importation and attempted importation of P-2-P.
Renzulli, 39, 1700 block of Porter Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, manufacture, possession of P-2-P with intent to manufacture, distribution of P-2-P, conducting a continuing criminal enterprise.
DiTullio, 48, of Mantua, N.J.; conspiracy, importation, distribution of P- 2-P and conducting a continuing criminal enterprise.
Forte, 47, 800 block of Catharine Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, distribution of P-2-P and methamphetamine.
Michael Borelli, 40, 2600 block of Bancroft Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy and manufacture.
Peter Donato, 34, 2600 block of South Sheridan Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy and manufacture.
John Small, 41, of Wenonah, N.J.; conspiracy and manufacture.
Anthony Leo, 39, 900 block of South 10th Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
Vincent Peraino, 49, 3200 block of South Broad Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
Gerald Esposito, 100 block of Trent Road, Washington Township, N.J.; conspiracy and manufacture.
Thomas Esposito, 43, 2300 block of South 17th Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine.
Joseph Liberio, 41, 1100 block of West Moyamensing Avenue, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
John R. Renzulli, 40, 2000 block of South Newkirk Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, manufacture and possession of P-2-P with intent to distribute and intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
Louis DiFranco, 31, 1800 block of South Dover Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, manufacture and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Anthony Renzulli, 33, 2500 block of South Mildred Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
Dominic Picuri, 39, 1000 block of Latona Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
Joseph Kelly, 31, 3800 block of New York Avenue, Pennsauken, N.J.; conspiracy, importation and attempted importation of P-2-P.
Edmond Gifford, 42, 6500 block of Girard Avenue, Philadelphia; conspiracy, importation and attempted importation of P-2-P.
John Romolini, 44, 1400 block of South Beulah Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy, importation and distribution of P-2-P.
Peter Mueller, 49, of Boston; conspiracy and importation.
Joseph Tenuto, 39, 2700 block of South Beulah Street, Philadelphia; conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Vincent Bartels, 52, of Paris; conspiracy and importation.
Joseph Massamino, 37, of the 700 block of Mountain Avenue, Philadelphia; conspiracy.
