Phil Leonetti

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Phillip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti (b. March 27, 1953) is a Philadelphia gangster who became the Underboss of the Philadelphia crime family and eventually a government informant. His criminal record eventually included racketeering charges and ten murders.

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[edit] Early years

Born in Philadelphia, Leonetti was abandoned by his father at an early age. His uncle, eventual Philadelphia crime family boss Nicodemo Scarfo, helped raise Leonetti and brought him into the crime family. From the time he was a young boy, Leonetti was complicit in the crimes of his uncle, and by extension the Philadelphia branch of Cosa Nostra. Perhaps Leonetti's most memorable childhood story came when he recalled the day Nicky had him ride along in a truck that had just been used in a murder; Scarfo wanted the young Phillip to make the truck look less suspicious. When Nicky Scarfo was behind bars as part of the "Yardville 7" during the 1970's, Leonetti served as a messenger between Nicky and allies like Bruno family underboss Phil Testa and close associates Chuckie and Yogi Merlino. He stands at 5'7 and weighs 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

[edit] Mob Underboss

In the 1980s, Leonetti moved into the upper levels of the crime family after serving as Uncle Nicky's right hand man, and at times, hitman. "Crazy Phil" was made in the early 80's and would eventually lead a crew based out of Atlantic City. He would be in charge of running many of the illegal operations of Atlantic City, including construction rackets, along with fellow capo Lawrence "Yogi" Merlino. When Scarfo demoted his underboss Salavatore "Chuckie" Merlino to soldier, he promoted Leonetti to underboss. During this time, the crime family controlled much of the concrete business in the Philadelphia and South Jersey areas. They maintained this control through the labor unions and Scarfo's own company, Scarfa Mix Concrete. They literally poured almost all the concrete and controlled much of the construction during the Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino and development boom of the period.

In 1983, Leonetti was added to the New Jersey "Black Book", which lists all individuals barred from participating in any casinos in Atlantic City.

[edit] Government Witness

Leonetti was soon forced to turn against his crime family and his uncle. In 1988, Leonetti was arrested on murder and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges. After his conviction in 1989, Leonetti received a 55-year prison sentence. Wanting to avoid more prosecutions and receive a lighter sentence, Leonetti chose to cooperate with the government. He testified against Scarfo and John Gotti, boss of the New York Gambino crime family. Leonetti described meetings with Scarfo, Gotti, and Gambino underboss Sammy "The Bull" Gravano on mob-related business. Leonetti, who has since made television appearances, also gave detailed accounts of his uncle's thirst for blood and power.

Leonetti testified against several Mafia families, resulting in the convictions of dozens of high-ranking members of the Philadelphia/Atlantic City crime families. His testimony was also used against Gotti in his own trial. Leonetti also confessed to ten murders. Leonetti and other Scarfo family turncoats like Nick Caramandi, Tommy Delgiorno, and Yogi Merlino would permanently damage the the Philadelphia mob. Neither can one forgot George Freselone, who was made a soldier and briefly capo after he wore a wire to what was perhaps the last induction ceremony of the Scarfo era, headed by acting boss and Leonetti/Scarfo relative Anthony "Tony Buck" Piccolo and Leonetti's replacement, underboss Patty Maritarano. That ceremony would be made null, however, after it became known that Freselone was an informant and that certain members, like Nicky Olivieri, in fact were associates of New York families. Freselone looked after Nicky Scarfo Jr., Leonetti's cousin, after the young Scarfo survived being riddled with bullets by eventual boss Joey Merlino, son of jailed former underboss Chuckie Merlino and deceased turncoat capo Yogi Merlino.

[edit] Later Years

In 1993, Philip Leonetti was released from prison after serving only five years. Since then, Leonetti has made television appearances in which he describes the mob life and his uncle's thirst for blood and power. However, Leonetti usually downplayed his own murderous deeds. Crazy Phil's son has apparently made his way to medical school after having the positive influence of the Leonetti family's new life, a fact that has made the aging former mob hitman, capo, underboss, and now government witness very proud.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Anastasia, George, Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family Camino Books (October 2003), ISBN 0-9410159-86-4