Harry Riccobene
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Harry Riccobene (1910-2000) was a Philadelphia mobster and high ranking member of the Bruno crime family, who became a major figure in the short but violent gang war following Angelo Bruno's death in 1980.
A longtime underworld figure in Philadelphia, Riccobene managed to survive the violence during the struggle against the encroaching Gambino crime family of New York, eventually resulting in the deaths of Angelo Bruno and later Philip "Chicken Man" Testa. A compromise was eventually reached by Nicky Scarfo to split criminal operations in Atlantic City between the Gambino's and the Philadelphia crime family.
Cut out of the deal, Riccobene led a faction against Scarfo for control of Atlantic City as victims such as Scarfo capo Frank Monte and the kidnap-murder of Salvatore Testa, son of Philip Testa. Riccobene's half-brother Robert Riccobene would later be gunned down as well.
Monte, who made it known his "crew" were taking over Riccobene's loansharking and illegal gambling operations, approached half-brother Mario "Sonny" Riccobene and demanded him to set up Harry Riccobene to be killed. Informing Harry Riccobene of the plot however, the crime boss ordered Mario Riccobene, along with hitmen Joseph Pedulla and Victor DeLuca, to instead kill Monte ordering them to "..get them before they get us."
Waiting in a camping van for several hours, Pedulla fired from the back window as Monte was getting into his Cadillac hitting him several times before killing him. They would later be arrested in one of the several failed murder attempts on Salvatore Testa however and, connecting the three to the murder of Monte while in custody, they all agreed to turn state's evidence against Harry Riccobene.
Indicted on charges of first degree murder, Riccobene denied his involvement in organized crime and later testified he had advised the three to refrain from violence amid "unfounded rumors" of death threats made against them by Nicky Scarfo. Following his conviction, Mario Riccobene stated to the press his decision to testify against his half brother in hopes of escaping from organized crime and "..to get back at the people who did what they did to my family." Mario left the witness protection program and foolishly tried to rejoin the Philly Mob. He was killed upon his return to Philadelphia.
Harry Riccobene died in prison in 2000 from natural causes.
[edit] References
- Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8160-5694-1
- Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2005. ISBN 978-0-8160-4040-7
