Joseph Ligambi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Anthony "Uncle Joe" Ligambi (born August 9, 1939) is an American mobster and current boss of the Philadelphia crime family
. Ligambi is known among law enforcement circles to have a more "old school" approach, in sharp contrast to the former boss, Joseph Merlino
's, flamboyant, high-profile style. Ligambi is credited by the Philadelphia Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit to be "quietly bringing stability back to the troubled Philadelphia-South Jersey branch of La Cosa Nostra."
The New York Mafia families
have been pleased with Ligambi and his approach, as well as his ability to turn the Philadelphia crime family from near extinction to a quietly powerful group that may now consist of 50-60 made men. He is also the uncle of current Philadelphia crime family consigliere George Borgesi.
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to strict "old world" parents. His father was a cab driver. He attended South Philadelphia High School
before dropping out his junior year to join the United States Air Force
, where he eventually earned his high school diploma. He stands at 5' 8" and weighs 185 pounds with black-gray hair and brown eyes.
. In late 1970s, he started to associate himself with mobsters, namely Salvatore and Joseph Merlino. During that time, Ligambi gained a reputation as an expert in sports handicapping, particularly for football. He would later manage and sponsor a minor league softball team from Gino's Cafe.
Ligambi became a made man in the Philadelphia crime family in 1986, at the age of 47, after participating in the 1985 murder of a wealthy gambler Frank D'Alfonso. At the time, the Philadelphia crime family was being run by the powerful, but violent, mobster Nicodemo Scarfo
, who seized control after the death of longtime don Angelo Bruno
and a series of other deaths, including that of Scarfo's longtime friend Phil Testa, Bruno's underboss. At the time, Ligambi was an associate of the Merlino brothers, two close friends of boss Scarfo.
In 1987 Ligambi was arrested for the murder of alongside Nicodemo Scarfo, the boss at the time, and several others, for the murder of D'Alfonso. On April 5, 1989, Ligambi was convicted of the murder. After serving almost 10 years in prison, the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered. Ligambi was found not guilty while the other defendants were acquitted. Ligambi was the only one to be released since the other defendants were still serving time for racketeering. In 1997, Ligambi returned to South Philadelphia
. Upon his return, Ligambi was viewed as one of the few soldiers left from the Scarfo era, an era which saw the Philly family gain enormous power and wealth, despite its violent tendencies.
After the arrest of Joseph Merlino
in 1999, Ligambi was chosen to take over as the acting boss of the family. In 2001, Merlino was sentenced to 14 years and was still facing a murder indictment. As a result of Merlino's conviction and mounting legal problems, Ligambi was named the new official boss of the family in 2001. Since taking over he has remained in the shadows, rarely being mentioned in the media, while taking a much less "trigger-happy" approach to running a Mafia family. Ligambi had been able to operate as a free man for 11 years which is seen as an amazing accomplishment for a present time Cosa Nostra boss. He has done so well that the New York families have taken notice, and it is unknown what role Joey Merlino will have once he is off of parole.
On May 23, 2011, Ligambi was arrested on racketeering charges in an FBI sweep.
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
. Ligambi is known among law enforcement circles to have a more "old school" approach, in sharp contrast to the former boss, Joseph Merlino
Joseph Merlino
Joseph Salvatore "Skinny Joey" Merlino was the boss of the Philadelphia crime family from 1994 to 1999, despite Ralph Natale being officially the boss, and was said to have led it primarily in extortion, bookmaking, drug trafficking, and loan sharking.-Family mob ties:Joseph Salvatore Merlino a.k.a...
's, flamboyant, high-profile style. Ligambi is credited by the Philadelphia Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit to be "quietly bringing stability back to the troubled Philadelphia-South Jersey branch of La Cosa Nostra."
The New York Mafia families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
have been pleased with Ligambi and his approach, as well as his ability to turn the Philadelphia crime family from near extinction to a quietly powerful group that may now consist of 50-60 made men. He is also the uncle of current Philadelphia crime family consigliere George Borgesi.
Childhood
Ligambi was born in the South PhiladelphiaSouth Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to strict "old world" parents. His father was a cab driver. He attended South Philadelphia High School
South Philadelphia High School
South Philadelphia High School also known as Southern High is a public secondary high school located in the south section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Broad Street and Snyder Avenue, just north of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex residential neighborhood, Marconi...
before dropping out his junior year to join the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, where he eventually earned his high school diploma. He stands at 5' 8" and weighs 185 pounds with black-gray hair and brown eyes.
Criminal career
Unlike many other gangsters who started their careers in crime as teenagers or young adults, Ligambi didn't have a criminal record before age 32 when he was arrested for cigarette smugglingSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
. In late 1970s, he started to associate himself with mobsters, namely Salvatore and Joseph Merlino. During that time, Ligambi gained a reputation as an expert in sports handicapping, particularly for football. He would later manage and sponsor a minor league softball team from Gino's Cafe.
Ligambi became a made man in the Philadelphia crime family in 1986, at the age of 47, after participating in the 1985 murder of a wealthy gambler Frank D'Alfonso. At the time, the Philadelphia crime family was being run by the powerful, but violent, mobster Nicodemo Scarfo
Nicodemo Scarfo
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Domenico Scarfo is a member of the American Mafia who eventually became the Boss of the Philadelphia crime family after the death of Angelo Bruno and Phil Testa...
, who seized control after the death of longtime don Angelo Bruno
Angelo Bruno
Angelo "The Gentle Don" Bruno was a Sicilian-American mobster who ran the Philadelphia crime family for two decades. Bruno gained his nickname and reputation due to his preference for conciliation over violence.-Early years:Born in Villalba, Sicily, Bruno emigrated to the United States in his...
and a series of other deaths, including that of Scarfo's longtime friend Phil Testa, Bruno's underboss. At the time, Ligambi was an associate of the Merlino brothers, two close friends of boss Scarfo.
In 1987 Ligambi was arrested for the murder of alongside Nicodemo Scarfo, the boss at the time, and several others, for the murder of D'Alfonso. On April 5, 1989, Ligambi was convicted of the murder. After serving almost 10 years in prison, the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered. Ligambi was found not guilty while the other defendants were acquitted. Ligambi was the only one to be released since the other defendants were still serving time for racketeering. In 1997, Ligambi returned to South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
. Upon his return, Ligambi was viewed as one of the few soldiers left from the Scarfo era, an era which saw the Philly family gain enormous power and wealth, despite its violent tendencies.
After the arrest of Joseph Merlino
Joseph Merlino
Joseph Salvatore "Skinny Joey" Merlino was the boss of the Philadelphia crime family from 1994 to 1999, despite Ralph Natale being officially the boss, and was said to have led it primarily in extortion, bookmaking, drug trafficking, and loan sharking.-Family mob ties:Joseph Salvatore Merlino a.k.a...
in 1999, Ligambi was chosen to take over as the acting boss of the family. In 2001, Merlino was sentenced to 14 years and was still facing a murder indictment. As a result of Merlino's conviction and mounting legal problems, Ligambi was named the new official boss of the family in 2001. Since taking over he has remained in the shadows, rarely being mentioned in the media, while taking a much less "trigger-happy" approach to running a Mafia family. Ligambi had been able to operate as a free man for 11 years which is seen as an amazing accomplishment for a present time Cosa Nostra boss. He has done so well that the New York families have taken notice, and it is unknown what role Joey Merlino will have once he is off of parole.
On May 23, 2011, Ligambi was arrested on racketeering charges in an FBI sweep.
External links
- Joseph A. Ligambi - New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement exclusion list