This is why I keep a list of indictments going back to 2000. People who just go by what they can remember off the top of their heads easily forget things. And that's if they really follow things at all.

Can't really count Nicky Jr. since he's with the Luccheses. However, in addition to the Ligambi case (the size of which we haven't see in Detroit in nearly 20 years and probably won't see again) and Anthony Nicodemo, you have these over the past decade (going backwards):


In December 2013, it was reported that the city of Philadelphia revoked it's contract with an auto body shop owned by Philadelphia LCN associate Ronald Galati (American Collission & Automotive Center) after his alleged involvement in a triple-murder plot (where he was charged with solicitation of murder) related to an ongoing insurance fraud investigation.

In October 2013, Anthony Gifoli, Frank Tulino, Vincent Simoni (who had been involved in a 1988 LCN-connected gambling bust), and James Matteis, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of conducting an illegal gambling businesses involving a sports bookmaking operation.

In May 2012, it was reported that authorities had filed a forfeiture seizure for nearly $180,000 that had been discovered in the backpack of William "Billy" Coyman, a former Teamster in Philadelphia, after he had collapsed at a Manhattan train station the previous summer. It was alleged the money was part of a drug operation and that Coyman had been employed by 180 Entertainment Inc., which was owned by Anthony Fedele Jr., a known associate of Philadelphia LCN boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and Joseph Burke, a convicted bank robber and drug trafficker from Boston.

In February 2012, it was reported through leaked law enforcement records that Philadelphia LCN boss, Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, may be in the process of setting up operations in the Miami, FL area and forming a crew that included Phillip "Disney" McFillin (owner of several companies in Florida, including in the restaurant business, and had conducted real estate transactions with Philadelphia LCN captain Anthony Staino and was kicking up to acting boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi), John "Jack" Manfredi (currently operating a gambling website called Getitnow.com and looking for investors in ATM's to install in strip clubs and massage parlors), Anthony "Joey" Bastone (in the vending machine business, as well as a bookie and cocaine dealer), Anthony Accetturo Jr. (a Lucchese soldier who the report said Merlino may reach out to for muscle), Frank Sisto (related to former Philadelphia LCN underboss Steve "Handsome Steve" Mazone), and Christopher Carvell. Although having a job at a flooring company, the report stated Merlino had become involved in gambling activities again and was maintaining contact with former acting underboss, Steven "Handsome Steve" Mazzone in Philadelphia. Also, the report stated an unnamed associate of Merlino was in the process of purchasing a $1 million home and a Rolls Royce for Merlino. In May 2012, it was alleged in a detention memo that Merlino was the official boss of the Philadelphia LCN, as he had been while incarcerated. In November 2014, it was reported that Philadelphia LCN boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, who had recently been found to have violated his parole by meeting with John Ciancaglini Jr. and 2 other felons, had opened an Italian restaurant in Florida (Palm Beach County) called Merlino's.

June 2011 - Robert Gentile Andrew Parente were indicted in New Haven, CT on charges of felony possession of guns, explosives, silencers, other weapons, cash, drugs, and phony ID documents.

In April 2011, it was reported that part of an ongoing investigation into a drug trafficking operation involving the illegal sale of prescription medications such as oxycodone, percocet, etc. and loansharking, connected to Philadelphia LCN acting underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, search warrants were executed at the homes of several Pagan Motorcycle Club members (such as Joseph "The Goat" Ferrari) and LCN associates (such as Nicky Volpe) and a bar where video poker machines were seized.

In November 2010, 13 people including local body shop owner Philip Sessa, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, insurance fraud, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, false reports to law enforcement, criminal use of a communication facility, deceptive business practices, and operating an auto "chop shop" involving an insurance fraud and theft ring that damaged vehicles and and then submitted over $300,000 in 22 fraudulent claims to insurance claims in order to receive payments for repairs. Some of those involved used the money to pay off loanshark debts or did free car repairs to pay off gambling debts to Philadelphia LCN figures such as captain Anthony "Ant" Staino.

In October 2010, 16 people including Philadelphia LCN associate Michael Orlando, as well as William Gilkin, Scott Campanella, and Richard DeRosa, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver, and dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity involving the trafficking in $800,000 worth of cocaine, as well as prescription drugs. In an unrelated case in September 2003, 13 people including Philadelphia LCN associate Michael Orlando, were charged with bribing a credit bureau worker to erase bad credit history.

In September 2009, 50 video poker machines (tied to the Philadelphia LCN) were seized from 13 businesses in Philadelphia, PA.

In June 2009, D. Peter Innaurato, a member of IBT Local 107 (Drivers, Truckers, Entertainment - Philadelphia) was barred from the union for knowingly associating with a Philadelphia LCN member.

In March 2009, John Corea (former Hoboken, NJ utility director) and Philadelphia LCN associate Brian Pettacio, were indicted in New Jersey (Hudson County) on charges of conspiracy, money laundering, official misconduct, theft, and misapplication of government property involving a scheme to steal $1.7 million from the city's parking meters.

In January 2009, 5 people including Philadelphia LCN associate Michael Pacitti, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, theft from a motor vehicle, identify theft, forgery, access device fraud, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and criminal attempt theft by deception, involving a theft ring run at various country clubs that had stolen $100,000 in goods (laptops, IPods, TV's, jewelry, etc) and attempted to make $25,000 in purchases using stolen credit cards.

In October 2008, 14 people including several contractors (among them Philadelphia associate Anthony "Tony Nose" Iannuzzio), were indicted in New Jersey (Mercer County) on charges of fraud involving accepting money for home improvement jobs that were never completed, as well as from customers who bought items online that were never delivered.

In September 2008, 13 people including Charles "Chaz" Iannece, the son of former Philadelphia LCN captain Charles "Charlie White" Iannece, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of criminal conspiracy, possession of crystal methamphetamine and anabolic steroids with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, and dealing in unlawful proceeds involving an operation that trafficked in $6.6 million in crystal meth from Mexico to Philadelphia.

In July 2008, 17 people including Philadelphia LCN associates Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello and Nicholas "Nicky the Hat" Cimono, were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of running a sports bookmaking operation in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties that took in $1 million a month, loansharking, solicitation to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit perjury, fencing stolen goods, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. In November 2010, police raided a South Philadelphia beer distributor (Chappy's Beer, Butts, and Bets), owned by attorney Gregory Quigley, who was involved in the 2008 case. In February 2011, it was reported that a grand jury was conducting an investigation into Chappy's, as well as local strip clubs, towing companies, and the Licensing & Inspections Department of Philadelphia.

In May 2008, 9 people, including Michael O'Brien and Brad Pesin, were indicted in Philadelphia on charges of running a sports bookmaking operation, which police believed was connected to the LCN, and that had handled $2.5 million in wagers.

In April 2008, 24 people including Philadelphia LCN captain Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancellotti, soldier Anthony Nicodemo, associate Vincent Procopio, and Andrew Micali, Jack Buscemi Jr., Joseph Wishnick (a former Borgata poker room supervisor), and Jeffrey Ebert (a former Tropicana poker room supervisor), were indicted in New Jersey (Atlantic County) on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, promoting gambling, loansharking, and money laundering involving a sports bookmaking operation run out of an Atlantic City casino (Borgata) that handled $60 million in bets over 20 months. Subsequently, Nicodemo, Micali, Buscemi, as well as Frank Baldino, Joseph Baldino Jr., Douglas Rubino, John Findlay, Bernard Malseed, Russell Brown, and Michael Connelly were all banned from Atlantic City casinos by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement beween May 2009 and November 2011.

In February 2008, Philadelphia LCN associates John Catalano, Thomas Demilio, and Harry Elwell were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of conspiracy, tax fraud, loansharking, and organizing a kickback scheme to receive a roofing contract.

In July 2007, and in a superseding indictment in January 2008, Philadelphia LCN associates Danilo Starita and Edward Wagner were indicted in New Jersey (Mercer County) on charges of conspiracy, theft by deception (mortgage fraud), promoting gambling, possession of gambling records, and falsifying records involving a sports bookmaking operation that took in thousands of dollars a week in bets.

In November 2006, Philadelphia LCN soldier Damion Canalichio and Christopher Kerr were indicted in Philadelphia, PA on charges of trafficking in over 300 grams of cocaine.

Following a criminal complaint in October 2006, in November 2007, Philadelphia LCN soldier Vincent "Big Vince" Filipelli and William Motto were indicted in New Jersey (Camden County) on charges of conspiracy, promoting gambling, possession of gambling record, possession of steroids, money laundering, and weapons possession.

In February 2006, Richard Tocchet, James Harney (a police officer), and James Ulmer were indicted in New Jersey (Mercer County) on charges of conspiracy, money laundering, and official misconduct involving a sports bookmaking operation, which had ties to the Philadelphia LCN, that handled $1.7 million in bets over a 40 day period.

In November 2005, Philadelphia LCN associate Eugene "Louie Turco" Bulgarino was banned from Atlantic City casinos by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

In August 2004, 7 people including John Garbarino Jr. and Felix Ezzio (a bookmaker and drug dealer who had longstanding ties to the Philadelphia LCN) were indicted in New Jersey (Mercer County) on charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling involving a sports bookmaking operation that stretched from a wire room in South Philadelphia to South Jersey and took in as much as $60,000 a day in bets between July and December 2003.



The total membership of Philadelphia is about 50 members. How many are active on the street at any given point is constantly in flux. It's been around 20-25 in recent years. But that's probably the total membership of the Detroit family.

Anyone who thinks Detroit is stronger than Philly (or any other remaining LCN family) just isn't paying attention.