Selected transcribed conversations among those in the John Stanfa mob that ran the Philadelphia and South Jersey areas in organized crime from about 1991 to the beginning of 1994 are in this book which makes it a great source. Read what bosses like John Stanfa said to his consig Tony Piccolo, or to his lawyer Sal Avena. There was information on the waste industry, about killing some of Joey Merlino’s faction that split from Stanfa, about what was going on with Billy D’Elia the reputed boss of the Scranton Mob and there was talk with Salvatore Profaci. His father was THE Joseph Profaci who ran one of the Big Five New York Families for over 30 years. Sal Profaci used the word, “Goodfella” in the tapes—that’s where Anastasia got the name. (And it didn’t hurt that a movie “Goodfellas” has the same name.)
This is a good book because there is natural conversation in here, just guys talking business or otherwise. Nothing is made up. No one was too careful in what he said because it was part of a deal to say certain things. You can read what these guys say what was in their heads. But mind you, these are selected lines picked out by Anastasia. And there were many statements that were not able to be transcribed: the “unintelligibles”. But this trial of John Stanfa & Company was made because his lawyer Sal Avena's office was bugged by the FBI and their words done ‘em in, along with several shootings that were timely convenient. The attorney-client privilege was broken here to save lives, and for the sake of the American public. Some may disagree, so read the book on what these men say and then decide.
Stand Up Book!
2008 PhillyMafiaHistory.com