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During a period beginning in August 2015, ten of the defendants allegedly conspired to conduct and participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia LCN through both a pattern of racketeering activity and through the collection of unlawful debts. Made members and associates who break Omerta may be targeted for death by other members of the group.Īs described in the Superseding Indictment, the Philadelphia LCN sought to use its reputation and influence to exercise control over criminal rackets, like bookmaking and loansharking in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, particularly Atlantic City.

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Associates are men who engage in criminal activity on behalf of LCN but who have not been formally “made,” either because they are up-and-coming and aspire to full membership, or because they are ineligible to be made because they lack fully Italian ancestry. After this ceremony, these men (who must be of 100% Italian ancestry) are then referred to as “made members” of the LCN.

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Like other LCN families, the Philadelphia LCN is operated through a defined hierarchical structure, including a Boss, an Underboss (defendant Steven Mazzone), and Captains (defendant Domenic Grande), who oversee “crews” consisting of “soldiers” and “associates.” As detailed in the Superseding Indictment, soldiers are members of the family who have been formally initiated through a ritual called a “making ceremony,” during which they swear allegiance to LCN above all else, take a vow of secrecy about the organization (the Code of Silence or “Omerta”), and agree to commit violence on behalf of the LCN, if necessary. The purpose of the LCN in Philadelphia and elsewhere is to make money through the commission of various crimes, including illegal gambling, loansharking, drug trafficking, and extortion. Brown,” aka “Dom14,” age 41 Joseph Servidio, aka “Joey Electric,” age 60 Salvatore Mazzone, aka “Sonny,” age 55 Joseph Malone, age 70 Louis Barretta, aka “Louie Sheep,” age 56 Victor DeLuca, aka “Big Vic,” age 56 Kenneth Arabia, aka “Kenny,” age 67 Daniel Castelli, aka “Danny,” aka “Cozzy,” aka “Butch,” aka “Harry,” age 67 Carl Chianese, age 81 Anthony Gifoli, aka “Tony Meatballs,” age 73 John Romeo, age 58 Daniel Malatesta, age 75 Daniel Bucceroni, age 66 and John Michael Payne, age 34.Īccording to court documents, the Philadelphia LCN is one of a number of LCN organized crime families based in various cities throughout the United States.

The defendants charged in the seven-count Superseding Indictment are Steven Mazzone, aka “Stevie,” age 56 Domenic Grande, aka “Dom,” aka “Mr. McSwain announced that a Superseding Indictment was unsealed today against 15 defendants, including alleged members and associates of the South Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey-based criminal organization La Cosa Nostra (LCN), known as the “mafia” or the “mob.” The Superseding Indictment charges various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and drug trafficking.

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M.