Who Was Nicky Scarfo? Philadelphia's Most Violent Boss
Mobsters DailyNicodemo 'Little Nicky' Scarfo was the boss of the Philadelphia crime family from 1981 to the late 1980s, whose reign replaced Angelo Bruno's quiet diplomacy with paranoia and murder — and ended with a 1988 federal racketeering conviction and 55 years.
Blood after Bruno
Scarfo rose after the 1980 murder detailed in why Angelo Bruno was killed. Based in Atlantic City as casinos boomed, he taxed, extorted and ordered hits over insults, suspected disloyalty and money — dozens of murders are attributed to his era by investigators and later cooperators.
With the holidays coming, that old-school boss energy is exactly why the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater lands with mob fans — a black-and-white Tony stencil, gabagool attitude and all, made for Christmas photos and Sopranos marathons.
His own men eventually flipped, including underboss Phil Leonetti, feeding the prosecutions that, like Gravano's turn against Gotti, showed how violent bosses manufacture their own witnesses. Scarfo was convicted in the murder of Frank 'Frankie Flowers' D'Alfonso among a sweeping racketeering case.
He died in federal prison on January 13, 2017, aged 87, still serving sentences that guaranteed he would never leave.
Frequently asked questions
When did Nicky Scarfo run Philadelphia? From 1981 until his late-1980s convictions removed him.
How long was Scarfo sentenced to? 55 years in his main 1988 federal racketeering case, with additional sentences.
When did Nicky Scarfo die? January 13, 2017, in federal prison.
Keep reading: The Five Families · Vincent 'Chin' Gigante · The Mafia Commission Trial · How Did Philip Testa Die? The Nail Bomb on the Porch
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the bosses, hits and betrayals in this story.
Join the conversation
Still thinking about this one? That is exactly what The Social Club is for. It is the MobstersDaily Discord, and it is the best Sopranos community on the internet: serious Sopranos talk, meme wars, Friday movie nights, a casino, and an arcade, all run by fans who never stopped rewatching. If you want to be part of the Sopranos community, this is where it lives.
