Below is a link to a story I did on Philly LCN acting boss Stevie Mazzone and the role he's currently playing managing the city's different mob factions (Merlino, Narducci).

Let's discuss.

http://gangsterreport.com/mazzone-straw-stirs-drink-philly-mob-days/

thanks baldy

Very Interesting!! Interesting to c what happens in 2015. Especially When Joey Gets outta Jail and Finally Off Paper! The Most Entertaining Mob Family that's for sure!

looks like he's gotta get rid of borgesi

Good stuff once again, Scott. You never disappoint.

Great stuff Scott.

Scott, is Georgie off supervised? I think he was originally slated to get out with Joey in 2011. Would it make sense then, since he was not convicted of anything (after two trials), that his parole would expire in late 14 along when Joey's was supposed to?
He did 15 years, I would expect him to want something for his time. But then again, Johnny Chang has done a few bids for the family.

Thanks,

I wonder where Chickie Chang is going to stand when he's back on the street. He was buddies with Merlino Sr. and according to some advised his son to go against Stanfa, and very possibly his own son. But like Narducci, and as Leonetti said, a lot of those Scarfo guys look to Joey Merlino as nothing more than a punk and wannabe. I wonder if Chickie shares similar sentiments, or if he realizes that it's a different era, and that this is a young mans game. It'll be interesting to see what develops in the upcoming months.

Very interesting, good stuff. It must suck to be Mazzone right now. I've got a feeling that he looks at it as:"Whatever bad happens, it'll be my fault."

Any news on Nicodemo?? How about Dom Grande? Any of your sources comment on that? What's the boys think about that situation?

Based on Everything that's going on in Philly right now, common sense would tell the "Scarfo Faction" to wait a few months, til after the Nicodemo trial before they make a move. Why risk any shit if there's even a chance he flips and takes the "Merlino Faction" down with him.

Hopefully, this thread doesn't dissolve into an all-out heavy-weight battle of Scarfo vs. Merlino. Everyone one of these guys is very serious, very dangerous, etc. Just because the Scarfo guys did jail time it doesn't make them any more willing to kill first, question later. It may make them think twice.


Serpiente commented a week or two ago that Merlino sent word to keep the peace, and this article is all about that. A few people on this board have called that guy out but, I think he knows a little something.

Nicky, I think what you are saying is right on, I mean they have wasted 20 years of their lives behind bars what is waiting 6 more months and the niccodemo trial and see what the fall out from that is...niccodemo if probably someone who know where several bodies are buried

Thanks Merlino. It's a good article and all, for people who don't follow Philly too closely. But, it didn't have alot of substance or insider info.

I don't expect Scott Burnstein to reveal secrets, but I wish he could/would provide a little more.

Not to get off topic, but I wanna ask Scott to ask Philip Leonetti if He/his uncle Scarfo knew about the Bruno hit. From Leonetti's book, and a few other things I've read over the years, Bruno and Scarfo were on a collision course over Local 54. And Bruno knew that he had dissention in his ranks. He may not have known who was upset, because a few people were, but I wonder about it. Especially due to Scarfo's relationship with Manna.

God you'd think 4 or 5 documentaries and dozens of bodies (cousins, brothers) would convince them not to make a move at all. period. ever. period. Be happy that your life revolves around shaking people down for cash and not punching a time card like their grade school education warrants. So this faction of people that fuck citizens over for a living are mad at another faction of people-fuckers within their own family. What goes around comes around. Bide your time, earn, and maybe you'll get the top spot some time in the future. Then, good luck convincing a bunch of neanderthals about not losing their cool.

This is absurdly overblown.

That 'war' on the streets of Philly is about to break out is stupid sensationalism. A bunch of guys in their latter years after doing 20+ is about to put bodies on the streets for power is frankly laughable.

The only people believing this are the people who want to.

The only drama in the Philly mob is that of Nicodemo Rolling and sending the last vestiges of the current leadership on a permanent state ride.

Nicodemo and Grande are the ONLY Philly concerns.

Anything else is to quote poster Tommy Gambino, laughable.

And you and Tommy's knowledge is based on what exactly? What do you guys know you don't even live in the United States.

Look I don't have a problem with either of you, frankly, you two are good posters, but for you to try to get on here and say what Scott is reporting is bull shit is quite frankly laughable. I am not saying I believe everything scott writes but frankly, if it comes down to two guys from Australia and England and Scott I go with him.

All due respect...

Exactly Sonny, I'm no authority but I think Scott is a fraud, I could be wrong but I highly doubt it.

He has sources in every single family and law enforcement...A guy from Detroit? Nah, he's just reading between the lines and playing the guessing game for page views on his site imo.

The funny thing is 99% of the forum will believe it and take Scott's word as gospel, because it's the only remotely interesting thing going on and most people on here are mob fantasists.

Fair enough, but you live in a fantasy world if you think a small time mob reporter from Detroit knows the ins and outs of mob families across America.

LIke I said. I don't believe everything he writes.

That being said, I think its just as ridiculous to dismiss everything scott writes as it is to believe everything he writes.

Is there a full scale war coming in south philly? Of course not. But is there NO mob activity left either? Of course not.

Nobody once said that, why you bringing that up?

Hey tommy, what are you sources exactly? Been talking to the local chap at the pub? Maybe you guys discussed what an american italian might look like over fish and chips?

Ill take scotts reporting over this nonsense anyday.

Coming from another mob fantasist, this time it's Chicago with you.

I've never claimed to have sources, just came to a conclusion that it makes no sense that a small mob reporter from Detroit would know the ins and outs of families across America.

So I read joey was locked up in 1990 to middle of 92. Stanfa gave joey and the changs there button after the summer of 92. Joeys guys killed 2 made guys irish and Felix why after them hiys did stanfa let any of them guys in the family. He must have not known shit. And joey unmade at the time in jail was already having his guys start taking out some old timers. What the hell was stanfa doing inducting merlino and mike Chang. Who even proposed them to stanfa?

That is what you seem to imply. Saying there is no dissension in the mob implies there is no mob. There is dissension in every organization, legit or not. So if your telling me there is none in the south philly mafia, then you are telling me there is no mob in south philly.

Louie Irish was an associate. Felix Bocchino was taken out by the forces of evil during a WWF sanctioned LCN steel cage match. Super Fly Jimmy Snooka off the top rope. OH MY MEAN GENE OAKERLAND, HE AIN'T GETTIN UP FROM THAT.

Italian Forever: Where someone lives is almost literally irrelevant.

Unless a poster is a member, or works for the FBI, then EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY says is speculation. each as good as the next. Becuase you, Tommy, Scott or myself have EXACTLY as much knowledge as to the current state of the Philly Hirearchy as ANYBODY. The FBI and the Philly hirearchy (and possibly its button men) excluded.

So Australia, the UK, New York, Downtown Philly, Hell even Mazzone's next door neighbour of 25years are each working on exactly the same info.

So be careful throwing the 'location has weight' argument around because it's a thin one.

And at the end of the day Scott Burnstein is a DETROIT/CHICAGO poster. Now ask yourself, isnt it curious he has inside Philly info?

Because the Detroit LCN is as close to Philly LCN, as Tommy and I....



I think this is a very accurate summation.

I don't begrudge anyone for thinking what they want to think, honestly,I don't (even if they think I'm a "fraud" lol). But ill say this; Yes, I am a Detroit-based writer, however Ive also been published by major book companies regarding mafia activity in Chicago and Philly/NJ and I have developed some pretty good sources in those areas. The only other area I'm claiming sources from is NE, which I developed from FBI guys and a street guy or two introducing me and vouching for me with sources in Boston/Providence.

Just wanted to clarify how a "small-time writer from Detroit" could be shedding light on other city's mob activity.

Did you read the article? He has sources in the FBI that you hold in such high regard. Now, the validity of those sources can be debated. The reality of whether he can get sources in philly can be debated, but the fact that he has access to them is hard to debate. If you saw his Detroit doc, you will see he interviewed a few guys from the FBI detroit OC task force.

Like I said, I don't believe everything i read, but to dismiss immediately anything you read? A healthy amount of skepticism is alright, but when you dismiss anything you read from anyone, you just look like a sarcastic douchebag.

That being said Sonny, #illridewithyou

What an absurdly ignorant comment to make.

Whats yours?

More importantly, whats a Detroit reporters in Philly?

See now how your sarcasm looks stupid?

The problem being is that we're getting a 'scoup' about Philly, from Detroit.

Now whats more likely? A war is about to break out in Philly which only a reporter from Detroit has discovered?!? Or a reporter from Detroit has sensationalised an unknown for the sake of publicity?

Im sure those who can determine the answer, will.

PS: /me chuckles at the hashtag. Not directed to you at all IF, but I wouldnt ride with the fuckers. And not twice on Sundays...

Of course it matters where you are from. You are seriously bullshitting yourself if you believe some dude from england could possibly understand neighborhood life, growing up in chicago, new york, or jersey.

Then you and england boy got the balls to make ascine comments impugning the author's character on nothing more than a whim. There is no grand take down with factual allegations. Just "I think this is bullshit". Really productive. You really added to the conversation with your hipster bullshit.