Philly Prime Podcast

A look back at the United States versus Joey Merlino and six others in the biggest Mob trial in Philadelphia History. The witnesses, the evidence, the defense and the verdicts in the 2001 racketeering trial of Philadelphia’s most controversial mobster.

Mob expert George Anastasia and I break it all down on the 25th Anniversary of the surprising verdicts. Hear insider information never heard before.

New Jersey Investigators take a fresh look at the Mob in 2026 during a recent hearing that drew top law enforcement officials from across the state. The State Commission of Investigation is probing organized crime across the Garden State, looking into illegal gambling, mob violence, racketeering, union corruption, the waste hauling business and Mob connected businesses. Mob expert George Anastasia attended the hearing and will bring us the latest.

Plus, jailed, former Philly Mob Boss John Stanfa is on the move, transferred to a federal prison medical center as some insiders debate whether the 85 yr old gangster could get out of prison after 32 years on compassionate release. And what would that mean for the local mob.

Join us for another jam packed episode.

This week, Inside the still unsolved half billion dollar Gardner Art Museum Robbery back in the early 90s with Former Boston FBI Agent Geoff Kelly, the lead investigator on the case for 20 years. He has a new book out called 13 Perfect Fugitives.

Join me and George Anastasia as we discuss the Philly connection to this infamous case.

Special thanks to The Isabella Gardner Museum

This week we unpack the growing troubles for the Perna wing of the Lucchese Organized Crime Family as criminal charges keep mounting for the New Jersey faction of the crime syndicate.

New RICO/ Gambling/Money laundering charges against Mob Soldier “Little Joe” Perna and 13 others have been in the headlines for two weeks now. Those charged include multiple Perna family members.

George Anastasia joins the show to discuss what this means for the Lucchese's going forward and just how much trouble are they really in with this controversial case and last Spring’s big Lucchese indictments .

Mob Talk Sitdown and The Philly Prime Podcast join forces to discuss the new Netflix Documentary Series Mob War, Philadelphia vs The Mafia. Both George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser acted as consultant- producers on the series and were interviewed extensively for the project.

Former Philly FBI Mob Squad Agent John Terry, who is also in the Netflix series, will join the podcast to discuss the Mob Wars of the 1990s and the documentary. Please join us as we bring you exclusive new details from the series and a behind the scenes look at the Mob in the 1990s.

A Blast From The Past:

The FBI and Philadelphia’s Cold Case Homicide Detectives sent shock waves across the city with the takedown last week of drug dealer Richard Leidy in the previously unsolved assassination of rival drug dealer Gino Marconi in April 1999.

The 26 year old gangland style killing rocked South Philly and is one of half a dozen cold case murders federal organized crime investigators and homicide detectives have been working on for years.

Lots of questions remain unanswered. What was the motive? Is this connected to organized crime? Who else might have been involved in the well planned hit and what will a new grand jury probing the case turn up in the coming weeks. Mob expert and author George Anastasia joins the show once again to help break it all down.

Who’s really the Boss of the Philly Mob? Is Joey Merlino Out? If so, who’s running the show? A not-so-new leader has emerged.

Is It Mike Lancelotti, George Borgesi or Steve Mazzone?

We’ll break down why these boyhood friends appear to be jockeying for position. Who’s now running the day to day operations? Recent meetings and Mob get togethers are painting a new picture for the Philly Mob.

George Anastasia joins the podcast as we take a deep dive into the latest comings and goings in the Philly LCN. Please join us.

A sweeping raid by NJ State Police across North & Central Jersey snares four top Lucchese Crime Family members, including two ranking leaders in a widespread, multi-million dollar gambling & racketeering operation.

Mob expert George Anastasia joins the podcast as we break down the 39-defendant investigation, where else it could lead and the possible ramifications for the wiseguys caught up in the alleged scheme.

A busy week in the Philly Mob World. The former Underboss returns, The Feds execute search warrants in South Philly in an ongoing investigation and a Gambino Crime Family Soldier gets sentenced in a huge Philadelphia based fraud case. Plus Johnny Alite gets a new, controversial title. Mob expert and author George Anastasia joins the podcast to break it all down

We’ll take a look at the highlights and the low lights for the Philly Mob this year, the ins and outs of 2024 as well as who’s up and who’s down in the local LCN. From the latest escapades of former Mob Boss Joey Merlino to the latest rankings for the Philly Crime Family.

George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser break it all down and look ahead to 2025. Who might go the jail, who might be getting out and some thoughts on Mob podcast mania dominating the headlines.