3-22-01

by Kitty Caparella and Jim Smith
Daily News Staff Writers

The government doesn't want to just convict reputed mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and six pals of federal racketeering charges. It wants to bury them in evidence.

With five jurors picked yesterday in the federal trial, the defense tried to block the government from presenting evidence on 12 additional uncharged crimes listed in an sealed 47-page government document filed last week.

A source said the crimes, dating from 1975 through last year, included:

Three murders: James "Jimmy Brooms" Diaddorio; Louis "Louie Irish" DeLuca; and Felix Bocchino - two mob associates and one soldier who disliked the Merlino faction.

Four attempted murders: Joseph Stanfa, the son of crime boss John Stanfa; Leon "Yonnie" Lanzilotti; Gaeton "Horsehead" Scafidi - all Stanfa allies, and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr., son of jailed mob boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo.

Two attempts of solicitation to kill: ex-mob capo and cooperating witness Ronald Previte and William "Billy" D'Elia, reputed boss of the Russell Bufalino crime family in upstate Pennsylvania.

The government also wants to present evidence of three other murder plots, including one targeting two of the defendants in this case by rival mobsters. Those defendants are underboss Steven Mazzone and consigliere George Borgesi. Also targeted in that plot was acting mob boss Joseph Ligambi. The other plots involved former underboss Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti and North Jersey mob associate Philip "Philly Faye" Casale.

"It looks like they want to wrap up all their unsolved murders," said a source close to the case.

The prosecution's effort was revealed yesterday as part of motion filed by attorney Louis M. Natali, representing Borgesi.

In the motion, Borgesi admitted the Nov. 24, 1999, beating of co-defendant Angelo Lutz, but said the beating had no connection to the charges in the case.

Last year, the government released an intercepted phone call in which Borgesi boasted he knocked Lutz unconscious and kicked him in the face repeatedly. The feds claimed the beating was related to La Cosa Nostra business.

"I kicked him right in the face. He just went out, he slid down the wall like in slow motion." Borgesi said during the call. "I was goin' berserk, they had ta stop me, cause I woulda killed 'im."

Yesterday, Borgesi alleged that he beat Lutz because he post-dated a business check and tried to cash it.

Regarding the 12 new crimes, the Borgesi motion said, "Defendants, mid-trial, are now forced to investigate these charges, to file alibi notices, and to attempt to present police and eyewitness testimony to these crimes, most of which occurred eight or nine years ago."

Natali asked U.S. District Judge Herbert J. Hutton to block the "devastating evidence."

One mob watcher said the defense was forewarned that mob members and associates had committed additional crimes, "including but not limited to" the plot to kill rival members of the John Stanfa faction. Prosecution witnesses ex-mob boss Ralph Natale, Scafidi and others provided details of the murders, attempted murders and other crimes to authorities:

Natale said Bocchino had played a key role in the Stanfa regime, after he was said to have transported the shotgun used to kill mob boss Angelo Bruno in 1980.

Though Stanfa and Bocchino were allies, Bocchino pocketed extortion monies, only sending small amounts to Stanfa, Natale claimed.

Natale contended he called Bocchino to ask him to stop shaking down Merlino's uncle, Michael "Sheiky" Baldino. When Bocchino refused, Natale said Merlino asked permission to kill him.

Natale said that he and Merlino sent word to the then-soldier Michael Ciancaglini to kill Bocchino. After the murder, Ciancaglini and Mazzone visited Natale in prison to report that Bocchino's murder was the first time Mazzone killed anyone, Natale said.

Natale said he and Merlino decided Diaddorio must be killed to send a message they were taking over the LCN. Diaddorio used to bad-mouth the Merlino loyalists, wave his gun and threaten to take over the LCN in various bars.

Natale said he was unsure who fatally shot Diaddorio, but thought either Martin "Marty" Angelina or Scafidi had done it.

Scafidi denied he was the gunman, but admitted he used a car as a "blocker" to prevent police from chasing them.

Mob associate Louis "Louie Irish" DeLuca was killed for bad-mouthing Merlino loyalists, Natale and Scafidi told authorities.

Merlino told both Natale and Scafidi that Ciancaglini killed DeLuca. Natale said he learned of the hit afterward.

During the 1993 mob war, the Merlino faction attempted to kill three Stanfa members, Natale said.

Natale said Merlino felt Scafidi betrayed the young guys fighting Stanfa when he switched sides in the 1993 mob war.

Merlino wanted Scafidi killed after his release from prison and he felt he could lure Scafidi back by saying all was forgiven, Natale said. When Scafidi learned of Merlino's plot, he decided to cooperate with the government.

Natale told authorities about another crime the government wants to use as evidence in the trial:

Leon "Yonnie" Lanzilotta, nephew of longtime politician Buddy Cianfrani, was shot at because he was believed to be a lookout in the attempted murder of Merlino and the murder of Michael Ciancaglini on Aug. 5, 1993, Natale said.

Natale claimed he was told of Lanzilotta's shooting afterward.

There were two plots to kill Scarfo Jr. - In 1989, Scarfo Jr. was shot multiple times, allegedly by Merlino in Halloween costume with Ciancaglini driving the getaway car, earlier witnesses have testified. Scafidi said he was asked to set up Scarfo's hit, but refused.

Attorney Natali argued that shooting should be excluded because it happened more than 10 years ago.

The second plot occurred more recently, when Merlino allegedly sent mob capo Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio and associate Daniel D'Ambrosia, both sports gambling associates, to surveil Scarfo, Natale said.

Natale said he warned D'Ambrosia to stay away from "That guy's neighborhood."

Merlino was alleged to have solicited to kill Previte and D'Elia.

Natale told authorities that Merlino hated Previte, a capo and ex-Philadelphia cop who is now cooperating, and wanted to kill him because of his allegiance to Stanfa during the 1993 mob war.

Natale claimed he nixed the hit because Previte was bringing in gambling profits.

Natale contended Merlino allegedly wanted to kill D'Elia, a Stanfa ally in upstate Pennsylvania, when he came out of a South Philadelphia restaurant.

Natale said he disapproved the hit, in part because D'Elia provided him the New York contacts who approved of Natale becoming boss of the Philadelphia crime family.

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