PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia mob, reeling from years of infighting and prosecutions, was dealt another blow with the indictment of its reputed boss and 10 others on charges of murder, racketeering, extortion and gambling.
"If there is a mob operating in Philadelphia, it's on its last legs," said Fred Martens, former executive director of the now-defunct Pennsylvania Crime Commission. "The federal government has decimated the mob in Philadelphia."The indictment of Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and 10 others was aided by jailed former mob boss Ralph Natale, who has been cooperating with authorities since the summer. Natale, the highest-ranking American Mafia figure to flip sides, allegedly appointed Merlino as his successor in 1998.
"I cannot overstate the significance of this case," said U.S. Attorney Michael Stiles, who announced the indictment Friday. "Not only does it reach to the highest levels of organized crime, significant evidence comes from the highest levels of organized crime.
"That in my judgment represents a complete collapse of this criminal organization," he said.
The defendants are accused of three murders and an attempted murder. They also allegedly operated a protection racket that preyed on bookmakers, numbers operators, video poker machine operators and others in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.
Merlino already is jailed on drug charges. Of the others, eight were arrested Friday, and two were arrested earlier and freed on bail.
Merlino and three others could face the death penalty if federal prosecutors decided to seek it, Stiles said.
Merlino attorney Joseph Santaguida said his client denied all the charges.
The Philadelphia mob has declined since the 1960s and 1970s, when Angelo Bruno ruled with a firm hand. Since Bruno was gunned down in a car in front of his home in 1980, his successors have been taken down, one by one, by prosecutors.
In 1988, a federal jury convicted then-boss "Little Nicky" Scarfo and 16 associates on racketeering charges. John Stanfa took over in 1990 but was found guilty of racketeering with seven others in 1995. Natale then took over, appointing Merlino as underboss.