Philadelphia Greek Mob

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Philadelphia's Greek Mob, or the Greek Mafia, are a low-profile criminal organization of ethnic Greek Americans with alleged connections to the Italian Philadelphia crime family. They were formed back in Greece by the original boss Steve Kondonyanis. Kondonyanis also had strong ties with the Efthimiades family of Macedonia. When The Efthimiades family was run out of power in the 60's Kondonyanis decided to move his operations to the culturally diverse America. When Kondonyanis was sentenced to jail to serve life for murder Bouras took over.

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[edit] Chelsais "Steve" Bouras

Throughout the 1970s until 1981, Bouras headed the Greek Mob in Philadelphia. Bouras directed the mob efficiently, however, his course of actions with other, more prominent families such as the Philadelphia and Martorano. [1] [2]

[edit] Assassination

In May of 1981, in a South Philadelphia Greek restaurant, Bouras was gunned down alongside Ray Martorano and Philadelphia Radio personality Jerry Blavat, neither Mortorano nor Blavat were killed. It is reported that Nicodemo Scarfo of Philadelphia's notorious Philadelphia crime family ordered the hit as Bouras refused to pay Scarfo's street taxes. There have also been speculations that Martorano arranged the hit for Scarfo charges were ever filed or connected him with the hit.[3] [4]

[edit] Activity in the 1980's

After Bouras' assassination, the mob boss was succeeded by George Botsaris, who led the Mob throughout the 1980s. The Greek Mob did get involved with the mob war in Philadelphia in 1980's attempting to gain rackets in Atlantic City, but activity declined after the war.[5][6]

[edit] Current Activity

Although rather prominent in the 1970s and 1980's, the Greek Mob has cooled down and remains rather dormant, however, there have been some occurrences of members being found loan sharking in Philadelphia in modern times. The reason for this dormant period could be traced back to the leaders lost in the 1980s mob war in Philadelphia, which was initiated after Bouras' assassination. [7]

[edit] Citations