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Philadelphia Federal Organized Crime Charges: RICO, Corruption, Racketeering
Contents
- 1 Philadelphia Federal Organized Crime Charges: RICO, Corruption, Racketeering
- 1.1 The Mafia’s Long Reign in Philadelphia
- 1.2 Urban Street Gangs Replace Traditional Mafia
- 1.3 Racketeering Charges Attack Criminal Organizations
- 1.4 Major RICO Cases in Philadelphia
- 1.5 Corruption Reaches Highest Levels of Government
- 1.6 Defending Complex Federal Cases
- 1.7 The Future of Organized Crime in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Federal Organized Crime Charges: RICO, Corruption, Racketeering
Organized crime has long plagued Philadelphia, with various mafia families and street gangs running illicit operations like gambling, loan sharking, and drug trafficking. In recent years, federal prosecutors have cracked down hard on these criminal organizations, using powerful laws like the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to take down their leadership and dismantle their operations.
The Mafia’s Long Reign in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has been a mafia stronghold for over a century. In the early 1900s, the city was contested ground between various Italian mafia families in New York and Chicago. By the second half of the 20th century, the local Philadelphia family, run by Angelo “The Gentle Don” Bruno, had consolidated its control over the city’s Italian mob with the backing of the Five Families in New York.
Under Bruno and his successor Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo, the Philly mob ran various rackets like bookmaking, loansharking, and narcotics. They famously controlled Atlantic City during its rise as a gambling and tourism mecca . The mafia declined in the 1990s under law enforcement crackdowns, but it continues to maintain influence on the streets.
Urban Street Gangs Replace Traditional Mafia
As the Italian mob weakened, urban street gangs rose up to fill the void. Gangs like the Philadelphia Black Mafia, Junior Black Mafia, and Original Block Hustlaz controlled drug corners across the city, peddling everything from marijuana to heroin and engaging in rampant violence. Murders hit an all-time high in 1990 .
These gangs made millions of dollars flooding neighborhoods with drugs, using violence and intimidation to protect their turf. Their brazen public crimes and flashy lifestyles often made them targets of law enforcement. But taking out individual dealers did little to stop the flow of drugs or tamp down the cycles of retaliatory shootings.
Racketeering Charges Attack Criminal Organizations
To dismantle these gangs and mafia families, federal prosecutors turned to laws designed to attack the organizations themselves. Chief among them was the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Passed in 1970 to fight the mob, RICO made it a crime to belong to or associate with a criminal organization involved in a “pattern of racketeering activity” like loan sharking, extortion, and murder.
RICO allowed prosecutors to charge leaders for crimes they ordered others to commit. It also permitted stiff sentences – up to 20 years per racketeering count. RICO also gave law enforcement tools like expanded wiretaps and subpoenas to probe shadowy underworld dealings . Using RICO and other statutes, prosecutors could dismantle gang leadership, seize illicit assets, and disrupt violent drug markets.
Major RICO Cases in Philadelphia
In the 1980s and 90s, federal prosecutors brought several high-profile RICO cases that gutted the Philly mob. Nicodemo Scarfo and his top lieutenants were sentenced to decades in prison for racketeering and murder conspiracies. After John Stanfa took over in the power vacuum, he too was busted on RICO charges. Mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino would later be imprisoned for racketeering as well.
RICO also proved effective against urban drug gangs. One major case targeted the Philadelphia/South Jersey drug trafficking network led by Kaboni Savage. Savage and his associates were convicted in 2013 of 12 murders related to protecting their lucrative crack cocaine business. Savage received multiple life sentences plus 30 years under RICO .
Another sprawling RICO case took down the Philadelphia Black Mafia and its offshoot Junior Black Mafia. The gangs distributed hundreds of kilos of heroin and cocaine across Philly for decades through violence and intimidation. In 2015, prosecutors won convictions against the organizations’ top members, effectively dismantling their operations .
Corruption Reaches Highest Levels of Government
Beyond traditional organized crime, corruption has also infected the highest levels of Philadelphia government. Federal investigators have rooted out multiple criminal schemes among elected officials, judges, and police officers – often exposing complex webs of bribery, extortion, and fraud.
In the 2000s, federal authorities busted Philadelphia treasurer Corey Kemp and others in a wide-ranging scam involving kickbacks on city contracts and bogus minority-owned business deals. Over 10 officials and businessmen were convicted in the scheme that defrauded taxpayers out of over $1 million .
Investigations have also uncovered corruption in Philadelphia’s courts, police department, and labor unions. In 2014, nine traffic court judges were convicted of fraud and conspiracy for dismissing tickets based on personal and political connections . Other probes have led to convictions of dozens of cops, union officials, and politicians on various corruption charges.
Defending Complex Federal Cases
Facing severe charges under RICO, corruption, and other statutes, defendants require experienced attorneys to navigate these complex cases. The government typically spends years building expansive conspiracy indictments through wiretaps, informants, and cooperating witnesses.
Skilled defense lawyers analyze the prosecution’s evidence for factual errors and legal flaws. In RICO cases, they challenge whether the organization qualifies as an “enterprise” and if the pattern of activity truly shows racketeering. Entrapment by overzealous investigators is another avenue of defense. Sentencing entails negotiating with prosecutors based on cooperation, remorse, and other mitigating factors.
Even if a trial conviction seems likely, the defense may pursue plea bargains or settlements to reduce prison time. With so much on the line, securing top legal talent is critical for those facing federal racketeering, corruption, or organized crime charges in Philadelphia.
The Future of Organized Crime in Philadelphia
Though traditional organized crime has declined, the drug trade continues to plague Philadelphia streets. Mexican cartels now supply most of the region’s narcotics and growing opioid abuse causes countless overdose deaths . Violence remains a daily reality in many neighborhoods.
Law enforcement continues to battle local drug rings and national trafficking networks. But incarceration alone cannot remedy complex socioeconomic problems. Public health approaches to addiction, youth opportunities, police-community relations, and underlying poverty may prove more effective long-term solutions. Still, the mob’s legacy lingers over Philadelphia – even as the face of organized crime changes form.
Citations:
https://www.phillypolice.com/assets/crime-maps-stats/
https://www.justice.gov/jm/criminal-resource-manual-109-rico-charges