April 5, 2000

by Kitty Caparella
Philadelphia Daily News Staff Writer

One mobster was shaking in jail.

Another wouldn't go home for fear he'd be arrested.

And a high-ranking mobster has kept such a low profile, it's as if he disappeared.

That's been the reaction, described as "high anxiety" by sources close to the mob, after last Friday's 37-count racketeering indictment against reputed acting mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino and 10 associates.

Among the racketeering offenses, the Merlino mob was charged with three murders, two attempted murders, a murder conspiracy, gambling-related charges, extortion, drugs and an interstate theft ring.

"They're big tough guys who can't face the music," a street source said sarcastically.

Still on the street is reputed acting mob boss Joseph Ligambi and Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancelotti, identified as both a capo, or captain, and a soldier, as well as mob associates, say law enforcement sources.

When they weren't arrested last Friday, rumors circulated as to "Why not?" That's the kind of question that could get someone killed.

Among the reasons a person might not be charged is that not enough evidence has been developed or evidence may need to be developed further, a law enforcement source said.

"You would think somebody not in the case would be happy he wasn't charged," the source said. "But if sombody wants to turn himself in. . ."

Two weeks ago when U.S. District Judge Herbert J. Hutton set a trial date of April 10, the U.S. Attorney's Office went into overdrive to bring a superseding indictment that would include murders, attempted murders and other charges.

Until then, information supplied by ex-mob boss Ralph Natale had not been used to charge anyone, even though his cooperation started last August.

Investigators were having a hard time corroborating it, a law enforcement source said. Natale, as boss, had approved mob hits, for example, but could not testify about details at an upcoming trial.

Within the past two weeks, the government put heavy pressure on jailed mobster Gaeton "Horsehead" Scafidi to cooperate, according to sources close to Scafidi.

Scafidi had reason to be worried. Once aligned with Merlino, he had switched sides to mob boss John Stanfa during the 1993 mob war.

Merlino's faction won the war. And Scafidi was due to get out of prison within the year and he'd have to face Merlino associates about his betrayal, a source said.

Scafidi could provide information about certain mob hits, according to an investigative report. Investigators normally take longer than two weeks to debrief a potential witness such as Scafidi, and corroborate his statements.

Just as the defense had awaited charges based on Natale's cooperation, now they await possible additional charges in a fourth expanded indictment based on Scafidi's cooperation.

Defense Attorney Joseph Santaguida expects another superceding indictment based on Scafidi, while others do not.

Today, Santaguida will represent acting mob underboss Steven Mazzone, 36, of Bouvier Street near Wolf, at his arraignment on racketeering charges. The attorney is expected to withdraw as Merlino's counsel, leaving co-counsel Edwin Jacobs as his sole lawyer.

Mazzone will be arraigned on racketeering acts that include the March 18, 1998, murder of rival Anthony "Tony" Turra; the March 2, 1993, attempted murder of rival mob underboss Joseph Ciancaglini Jr.; a 1993 conspiracy to murder rival mob boss John Stanfa and extortion and bookmaking-related offenses.

Mazzone, a stalwart Merlino ally, has kept the crime organization running in the past when Merlino was jailed in an armed robbery and later on parole violations, sources said.

Six others will be arraigned tomorrow. Mob associate Anthony Accardo will be arraigned Friday.

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