Great article Scott, this was one I was looking forward to once you mentioned it. I've been stating I wonder where Chickie will fit into things once he comes home. I thought that at most, he'd take another Captain position, so I'm surprised people are thinking that they're making a space for him in the administration. But it makes sense, the guy deserves it, did freaking 30+ years standing on his head. I'm also surprised to hear Ligambi is willing to step down, if Chickie wanted to be Consigliere, which I think is the most realistic scenario for Chickie & that current regime. But that also makes sense, Ligambi has seemed as if he's wanted to step away and live comfortably since his trials officially ended. As far as anyone not buying him being Consigliere, it makes sense, if Mazzone is now acting boss, and Johnny Chang is underboss, the last acting boss, who was rumored to be stepping down, it isn't a shock he might be Consigliere. Another thing I found interesting, is about Chickie advising Merlino & Mikey Chang to stop the shit and go under Stanfa. I had kind of had an idea that's what happened, but I remember someone mentioning on either this forum or the real deal board that instead, Chickie were advising them to continue to disobey Stanfa, and actually pitted Michael against his brother. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why he'd put his sons against each other, granted these guys kill for the "business", even their own relatives, but the Ciancaglini's were never known to be dysfunctional when Chickie was on the street according to informants like Leonetti, and he loved his sons and they loved him. But as I suspected it seems like neither he nor Johnny wished for Joey Jr. & Michael to go against each other, let alone kill and maim one another. I just find it really interesting that Ciancaglini was advising Merlino & Mikey to go under Stanfa, it shows how Chickie feels about the rules. Although I don't think Philly is on the edge of an all-out war, I do think things are brewing. Narducci and his guys are one thing, so are the Pungitore's, but with Chickie back on the street, it is interesting to question if he's still loyal to Scarfo. And we know how Nicky Scarfo feels about Joey Merlino. Not only that, but one has to wonder how Chickie must feel at the fact that apparently Merlino & Mikey disobeyed him, which led to the death of one son, and the other becoming disabled. He could blame Merlino for all of that, and I don't see son siding against dad, if dad decided to move against Merlino, though anything is possible in the criminal underworld. I do know one thing, he doesn't have to act immediately either, if Chickie does actually take Mazzone's place, and Mazzone willfully steps down, and Johnny Chang remains underboss, the power now lies with the Ciancaglini's, not Merlino.


Just my two cents.

A lot of speculation I agree it was a great article.. Chickie at 80 is not going to become THE ACTING BOSS and he prolly does not want it either.. he'll be involved some how mayb take Consig title hell be a Mentor and a damn good one for Merlino,Mazzone,and Johnny. Chickie and all the OLD Scarfo guys have no Loyalty to Scarfo ne more there prolly pissed because of how Scarfo was they had to do there 30 plus years.. Even though they have no Love for Joey Mazzone holding it together nothing will change.. and Finally theres prolly not going to be BLOODSHED but if there is when have u known Joey Merlino to back down... has possibilities of being more bloody then the STANFA war but in this day and age nothing will prolly happened not wit Stevie keeping the Peace.. Old Scarfo guys r content

Chickie becoming boss is highly unlikely, IMO. However Scott says he's been told by reliable people that Chickie wants to run Philly on a daily basis. I think Consigliere is the most realistic position for him, but him wanting the Acting Boss position is a possibility, him getting it is even a possibility. But I find it unlikely and it remains to be seen. And lets not fool ourselves thinking that the guys coming out now have no loyalty to Scarfo. Scarfo is out of the picture, loyalty doesn't mean kicking up to the guy and putting money on his books and paying for his appeal efforts or carrying out his orders. It simply means they share his view point in regards to the current regime, of what the life has become, and still respect the way he ran things. Some guys, Chickie would be a guy I'd bet on, may have different ideas about how to run the family. Not saying they'd be wise ideas, he's been in the can for over thirty years, but I see Chickie as being a guy who's views may but against those of the younger generation.

And nobody said anything about any blood being shed.

Call me crazy, but why exactly does chickie deserve a spot in the hierarchy? He's an 80 year old man that hasn't run a scam in 30 years. A hell of alot has changed since he's been away. It'll take him 2 months to figure out how to work the gas pump at wawa. I get that he did his time in standup fashion, but this talk of being given a top spot is laughable, and probably true at the same time. Things are run a little different than they were back in his day. And by a little I mean alot. Consigliere? This guy wasnt any good at keeping himself from nearly dying in jail, so lets let him advise the rest of the family on how to act. Sorry, but I don't get the logic in this.

I agree man and at that age how long do u think he'll be around?? And I know how everybody thinks Joey's Stupid I said it before ill say it again like when Ron Previte tried to get Joey on Tape to discuss Coke deals and Joey would not.. Just like Nicky Skins.. Joey has experience and knows wat to look out for in RATS.. and Im sure Joey got other smarts too.. but I think Chickie with his experience could be very knowledgeable on some future deals to advise Merlino little John Chang and Stevie Handsome.. Like for example guys I don't kno about this guy he seems like a snake or draws too much attention or hes hot or in my day that's where Chickie could be Handy... Or Joey gives this part to Narducci Narducci kicks this end up ect..

let me just clarify here: Im not saying Chickie def wants the acting boss job aka to run Philly on a daily basis. What im saying ive heard from some pretty reliable people that he's saying he might or at least he does wants back in on decision making in some capacity. I don't think anything is in stone. just spec, other than Chickie is telling people he doesn't want to retire

Scott

merry xmis board. so I guessing all those scarfo guys who got sentenced in 1988 or when they went to trial and got 45 years. the judge didn't give them supervise release or xlists of people they cant hang around with. cause the narducci guy is posing with felons innhis pics. also your rite after 30 yrs in prison usally you turn into a weirdo or really recluse. but not all. seems like the westside make you a capo when you turn 70ty underboss at 80 so philly should take a page. also think the judge thought no one of these guys would live out there sentences.

Michael & Joseph Ciancaglini were only half brothers according to this episode of The FBI Files.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20wkdf_the-fbi-files-s07e03-the-great-philly-mob-war_shortfilms

Well that adds a bit of perspective.

Half brothers, they still share the same parent. And I think Chickie fathered them both. Either way, his sons turning on each other doesn't seem to be what he wanted.

Yea kinda wondered why two brothers, would go opposite ways.. especially in that game. Why did the one brother side with older stanfa.? that is where my dad said look at that brothers killing each other... you don't wanna be one of those guys.. there is only one family, and it aint the mob.. Merry Christmas

Stanfa made Joey Ciancaglini his underboss in an effort to appease Michael Ciancaglini & Joey Merlino, and to try to bring about peace, as a way of bringing them together by having a mutual link. Which goes to show that at some point Joey & Michael had to be allies, if Stanfa thought making Joey Jr his underboss would help keep Mikey & Merlino at bay. Under this arrangement is how Joey Merlino & Mikey Chang were made into the Philly Mob in the first place. That fell apart though, I don't know exactly why or how as that is for the large part still a mystery to me.

wasnt chickie the man before he ever went inside? Seemed like a real level guy.

its 7 am excuse the nonsensical post

Chickie was also well respected on the street before he ever went to prison, that's true BarrettM.

Chickie was very respected before he went away, people forget but he may have not been on the street more than a year during the Scarfo era. He originally got put away in 82 and this was after getting out from another stint of about 5-7 years, people forget that he was well established in the Bruno era. During his sentencing in 89 the prosecutor pointed out that Chickie had he not been behind bars for over a decade would have been boss.

Who was in his crew?

Yeah it was probably best he missed the scarfo years. I used to have a doc on my computer on the old Bruno captains. The captains in the family during bruno and scarfo eras were COMPLETELY different even though it was just a couple of years. That's not because they died off either, a lot of them simply faded away in to obscurity and scarfo phased in the guys he trusted. Chickie would have def been part of the makeup of the family under scarfo though because of the respect he had but he went to jail. Who all was in his crew?

the crew that tommy del and faffy took over was Chickies crew so you got tommy and faffy, nicky crow, charlie white, pat the cat spirito and ralph staino as an associate. There were others I just can't think of there names right now

What is really left for him to get in, small book and shy maybe.

Nice to see Ligambi make room for Chickie now but, who is going to be the one to step down in 2033, when Papa Bear comes home?

F Bocchino, T Ferrante, Funze Marconi, Guerino Marconi are a few more possibly..