Reputed Philly Underboss Stevie Mazzone Cops Out; Participated In October 2015 Mob Induction Ceremony

Reputed South Philadelphia Cosa Nostra underboss Steven (Stevie) Mazzone, 58, last month pleaded guilty to racketeering, illegal gambling, loan-sharking, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Reputed underboss Steve Mazzone
Reputed underboss Steve Mazzone, left.



Mazzone and his brother Salvatore were among 15 members and associates of the Philly crime family rounded up in November 2020.
 
As per Mazzone's agreement, the judge in the case is to consider a prison term of no more than five years for the Philly mob's reputed number two. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick can follow the deal or ignore it. Mazzone's sentencing has been slated for Oct. 26. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer report also noted that, of the 15 defendants, 11, including the Mazzone brothers, have pleaded guilty or agreed to do so. Three others are awaiting trial. One has died.

The superseding indictment was unsealed November 23, 2020. The charges—announced by William M. McSwain, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania—included mob mainstays such as illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and drug trafficking. The superseding indictment identified Stevie Mazzone as the Philadelphia crime family's underboss and Dom Grande as a capo.

Also alleged in the Superseding Indictment (PDF), on October 15, 2015, defendants Steven Mazzone, Domenic Grande and Salvatore Mazzone participated in a “making ceremony” in a South Philadelphia residence, during which several new soldiers were inducted into the Philadelphia LCN. 

The indictment notes that:

Soldiers are members of the family who have been formally initiated into LCN through a ritual called a "making ceremony"; as a result, they are also referred to as "made members" of LCN. As part of a making ceremony, a soldier swears allegiance to LCN over and above all other interests and obligations, including his biological family. He swears a vow of secrecy, agreeing not to divulge LCN business to non-members, or even to acknowledge the organization's existence. He also agrees to commit violence on behalf of LCN if necessary. By rule, a made member of LCN must be male and of 100% Italian ancestry.

... During these ceremonies, which were conducted in secret locations in the presence of already-made members of the Enterprise, the inductee would swear an oath to commit violence on behalf of the family if necessary. He would also declare that he would "bum in Hell if I betray my friends." A high-ranking member of the Philadelphia LCN would then assign the new inductees to a crew and explain the rules of the Enterprise. Following the ceremony, there would be a celebration in which the new inductees were formally "introduced" to the other made members.


Mobtalksitdown recently published an excerpt from the ceremony. The transcript was included in Mazzone’s plea document, which the website obtained, noting that a "cooperating witness who was inducted at the ceremony secretly recorded it." Also, according to Mobtalksitdown.com, the transcript of the induction ceremony does not identify ML and JL. CS is presumed to be the confidential source recording the ceremony. SM is identified as Steven Mazzone.

ML: You’ll all get introduced. You’ll get introduced to everybody. But ah we’re all one family. This is the only flag around. This is it, this is Philly and that’s it. Joe, do you want to say something? Anybody want to say anything?

JL: We’re all in the family now. No disputes should be, come between none of us.

SM: Nobody break this chain.

JL: Anybody, anybody comes between us, it’s on them.

SM: You know what I’m talking about?

JL: We’re all together.

All: La Familia.

SM: Alright, youse know the rules. [CS], I know you were explained the rules already.

CS: Yeah.

SM: [CS], you were explained the rules already.

CS: Yeah.

SM: They apply. The same (UI).

CS: Right.

SM: 
They apply the same. You’re [CS] with Domenic. Sammy, you’re with Domenic.

(UI): This is George’s crew – Anthony, Tony, David. Obviously, Sonny Boy’s with me.


The indictment also noted that the Philadelphia LCN  sought to use its reputation and influence to gain control over some criminal rackets, like bookmaking and loansharking in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, particularly Atlantic City. 


Johnny Chang, Stevie Mazzone, Phil Narducci
Clockwise from l: Johnny Chang, Stevie Mazzone, Phil Narducci.



The defendants charged in the seven-count superseding indictment are:

Steven Mazzone, aka “Stevie”;

Domenic Grande, aka “Dom,” aka “Mr. Hopkins,” aka “Mr. Brown,” aka “Dom14,” age 41; 

Joseph Servidio, aka “Joey Electric,” age 60 (at the time the indictment was unsealed, Joey Electric had just been sentenced to 15 years in prison on narcotics-related charges)

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



During a period beginning in August 2015, 10 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. The remaining five defendants are charged with allegedly committing a variety of other offenses, including conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to make extortionate extensions of credit, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in partnership with other members and associates of the Philadelphia LCN.

The indictment includes descriptions of the various acts allegedly committed by the defendants and others as members of the group, including the distribution of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and oxycodone pills; the disbursement and collection of tens of thousands of dollars of unlawful bookmaking and other debts “owed” to the group at interest rates as high as 400%; and even an alleged conspiracy to kidnap or murder a drug dealer in order to protect the reputation of the Philadelphia LCN after the dealer sold members of the group fake drugs.




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