Over a dozen alleged members of the Philadelphia and South New Jersey mob were indicted on racketeering conspiracy, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and drug trafficking charges last week.
After the indictment was unsealed on Monday, it was revealed that 15 alleged members and associates of the Sicilian Mafia organization La Cosa Nostra, ages 33 to 81, are accused of attempting to "reclaim territory in Atlantic City by extorting local bookmakers and loansharks" and trafficking drugs, such as cocaine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, and other illegal drugs.
Ten of the suspects will face racketeering charges, while five others face charges for "running an illegal gambling business, conspiring to make extortionate extensions of credit, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances."
The ten men charged with racketeering conspiracy include: alleged underboss Steven "Stevie" Mazzone, Joseph Malone, Victor "Big Vic" DeLuca, Salvatore "Sonny" Mazzone, Domenic Grande, Joseph "Joey Electric" Servidio, Louis "Louie Sheep" Barretta, Kenneth "Kenny" Arabia, Daniel Castelli, and Carl Chianese.
Stevie Mazzone, Grande, Malone, Barretta, and Anthony "Tony Meatballs" Gifoli are charged with running an illegal gambling business. Grande, and several other men, also face a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
"The Philadelphia mob isn't what it used to be, and thank God for that," U.S. Attorney McSwain said in a statement. "But it is still a problem and is still allegedly committing serious federal crimes."
The FBI, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General are collaborating on the case. The amount of prison time the suspects are facing hasn't been reported yet.
Source: The Daily Beast
