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Steven Mazzone
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Steven Mazzone (born 1964) is an American mobster and underboss of the Philadelphia crime family. After the family was decimated by prosecutions during the Nicodemo Scarfo and John Stanfa eras, Ralph Natale was released from prison in 1994. It was at this time Mazzone became a major organized crime figure in Philadelphia.[1]

Mazzone is a childhood friend of Joey Merlino. They both grew up in South Philadelphia and started their criminal careers together. According to Natale and law enforcement, Mazzone was inducted into the crime family in 1995 and made him a caporegime in 1996. Following Natale's 1998 arrest for drug trafficking, Merlino officially took over the family and become the new boss. However their reign was short. Mazzone was indicted and held without bail in 2000 along with Merlino, George Borgesi, and others for racketeering and murder. A year earlier, Natale, feeling slighted and now realizing he may have been a puppet for Merlino all along, decided to end his life as a criminal. Facing the rest of his life in prison for drug trafficking, he decided to cooperate with the government in 1999 and agreed to testify against his former friends.[2] Natale testified that Mazzone was the shooter in the death of mobster "Little Felix" Bocchino on January 29, 1992. Natale also testified that Mazzone was one of the shooters in the failed murder attempt on Joseph Ciangalini Jr., on March 2, 1993. Mazzone and his co-defendants were acquitted of all murder charges at trial in 2001, largely due to credibility issues with the government witnesses.

The defendants were found guilty of racketeering and illegal bookmaking.[3] Mazzone was acquitted of murder, murder conspiracy and attempted murder but convicted of racketeering, extortion and illegal bookmaking and was sentenced to nine years in prison. The upper echelon of the family was once again decimated. Following the indictment and imprisonment of the family's hierarchy, Merlino would remain in control from prison, while installing Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi as the acting boss of the family.[4]

After serving most of his nine-year prison term, Mazzone was transferred to a halfway house then released from federal custody on February 2, 2008.[5] Following his release, Mazzone was to have no contact with other convicted criminals or known mobsters, and he was placed on federally supervised release for three years. Coincidentally, in the months following the expiration date of his parole restrictions, Joseph Ligambi, the acting boss of the family, was arrested himself in May 2011 following a sweeping racketeering indictment that threatened to eradicate the hierarchy of the family once again.[6] Just prior to the indictment, Joseph Merlino was released from federal prison and into a halfway house in Florida.

With Ligambi and others denied bail and forced into waiting out their trial in the federal detention center in Philadelphia, law enforcement believes that Mazzone was elevated to acting boss.[7][8] Shortly after, Philadelphia TV station Fox 29's news team caught Mazzone on video (without audio) angrily yelling at two alleged crime family associates.[9] Although the exact hierarchy of the Philadelphia Mafia is unknown, Mazzone is believed to hold a high position in it. Local law enforcement, prosecutors, and the FBI all believe that Merlino remains the boss of the family while partially residing in Florida.[10]

On December 15, 2022, Mazzone was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in an illegal sports gambling operation, along with loansharking and extortion schemes.[11]

References

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Steven Mazzone

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Steven Mazzone is an American organized crime figure and prominent member of the , a branch of La Cosa Nostra (LCN), where he has held leadership roles including acting and . As , Mazzone directed a network of LCN crews engaged in activities such as loansharking at interest rates up to 264%, illegal gambling operations, of bookmakers and debtors through threats of violence, and drug dealing in and . He oversaw middle managers (caporegimes) who enforced organizational rules and funneled profits up the command structure to sustain the enterprise. Mazzone's criminal career includes two major federal convictions for racketeering. In 2001, following a 2000 indictment, he was convicted as a "made" LCN member and acting underboss on charges including RICO conspiracy, substantive RICO violations, extortion of protection money ("street tax"), and illegal sports bookmaking; he received a 108-month prison sentence. His second conviction came in December 2022, when—at age 59—he pleaded guilty to leading racketeering conspiracies involving the same core crimes and was sentenced to five years in prison plus three years of supervised release.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Steven Mazzone was born in 1963 in , . He grew up in a working-class Italian-American family in the tightly knit neighborhood, a historically immigrant enclave where networks and community ties were central to daily life. Mazzone's mother, Mary Ann Mazzone, raised him and his younger brother, who later became known as "Sonny" Mazzone and was also involved in activities. The household dynamics reflected the challenges of a blue-collar environment, with Mazzone later providing care for his elderly mother, who suffered from . This upbringing immersed him in a community where the pervasive influence of the shaped social and economic opportunities for many young Italian-American men. During his childhood, Mazzone formed a close friendship with Joseph "Skinny Joey" , another native from a similar background. The two shared experiences navigating the rough streets of the neighborhood, engaging in typical adolescent activities amid an atmosphere rife with informal introductions to street life and loyalty codes that would later define their paths. This early bond, forged in the insular world of South Philly's Italian-American enclaves, provided Mazzone with a network of peers exposed to the cultural undercurrents of from a young age.

Initial entry into organized crime

In the 1980s, served as a primary base for the , amid intense internal conflicts known as the Mafia War that erupted following the 1980 murder of longtime boss . Steven Mazzone, a native born in 1963, entered during this period of violence and power struggles, beginning with street-level associations in the neighborhood. His early involvement included contacts with low-level family members, facilitated by the tight-knit Italian-American community rife with criminal networks. Mazzone's transition from informal petty crimes to more organized activities occurred under the influence of mentors within the family, as he took on minor roles in and schemes typical of the era's operations in . A key event marking his entry was his growing association with emerging figures during the late factional disputes, setting the stage for deeper involvement in the family's rackets. Childhood ties to Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, another youth drawn into crime, further bridged Mazzone to these networks.

Criminal career in the Philadelphia crime family

Induction and early roles

Steven Mazzone was formally inducted as a made member of the in 1995, during the transition following the imprisonment of previous boss . This ceremony marked his official entry into La Cosa Nostra, solidifying his status after years of informal association with the group. In 1996, Mazzone was promoted to the rank of caporegime, or capo, responsible for supervising a small crew of soldiers and associates primarily operating in South Philadelphia. His initial duties focused on coordinating racketeering activities, including extortion and illegal gambling operations, within the neighborhood's tight-knit Italian-American community. Mazzone's early career unfolded under the leadership of , who assumed the role of boss in 1995 upon his release from . As Natale worked to consolidate power amid internal factional strife, Mazzone handled operational tasks for the crew, contributing to the family's efforts to regain control over local rackets. His rapid ascent was influenced by childhood ties to key figure , a close ally of Natale.

Rise to leadership positions

Steven Mazzone's progression to senior leadership within the accelerated in the late 1990s following Ralph Natale's defection to federal authorities in 1999, which precipitated a power shift in the organization. As assumed control as boss, Mazzone was elevated to the role of , positioning him as a key deputy during a period of internal reorganization and external threats from . This promotion reflected his growing influence amid the family's efforts to stabilize operations after Natale's cooperation exposed vulnerabilities and led to widespread prosecutions. Mazzone's 2001 conviction for and illegal sports bookmaking, resulting in a nine-year sentence, temporarily disrupted his ascent. Upon his release on February 2, 2008, he reemerged as a central figure, particularly after Joseph Ligambi's arrest on May 23, 2011, on gambling-related charges. In Ligambi's absence, Mazzone stepped in as acting street boss, managing daily and bridging the gap during Ligambi's prolonged legal proceedings. This role highlighted his ability to maintain cohesion under pressure from federal investigations targeting the organization's upper echelons. Throughout the 2010s, Mazzone adeptly navigated ongoing leadership flux influenced by Merlino's intermittent involvement post-incarceration and Ligambi's retirement around 2019, solidifying his position by the mid-decade. Despite intensified federal crackdowns, including operations, he orchestrated strategic moves to sustain family structure, such as presiding over a secret induction ceremony for new members on October 15, 2015, in —where he outlined rules and assigned crews, as captured on FBI recordings. These efforts ensured operational continuity amid a landscape of arrests and pressures, affirming Mazzone's pivotal role in the family's resilience. Following his 2022 conviction, Mazzone was released to a on March 13, 2025, after serving approximately 2.5 years of his five-year sentence.

Involvement in criminal activities

Racketeering and extortion operations

During his tenure as acting underboss in the in the late 1990s, Steven Mazzone managed rackets that targeted local es, demanding payments to avoid harm or disruption. These operations relied on the family's established reputation for , with associates using implicit and explicit threats to coerce compliance from business owners operating in Philadelphia's underworld economy. A prominent example involved the of bookmaker Michael Casolaro between 1997 and 1999, where Mazzone and co-conspirators forced Casolaro into an unwanted partnership, compelling him to share profits from his bookmaking operation as a form of "street tax." This scheme exemplified the family's pattern of infiltrating and controlling illicit enterprises through coercive partnerships, ensuring a steady flow of tribute payments to higher-ranking members. Mazzone coordinated broader racketeering enterprises that extended the family's influence. These activities complemented other rackets, such as illegal , by providing additional leverage points for enforcement.

Illegal gambling and loansharking

Steven Mazzone, as underboss of the , oversaw extensive illegal operations centered on and bookmaking networks in the Philadelphia area. These activities involved coordinating crews under caporegimes who managed day-to-day bookmaking, collecting wagers on sporting events and distributing payouts while skimming profits upward through the organization's hierarchy. Wiretap evidence captured discussions among family members facilitating these bets, highlighting Mazzone's role in directing the network to ensure steady revenue generation. Loansharking formed a complementary revenue stream, with Mazzone financing high-interest loans primarily to gamblers unable to settle betting debts. rates on these loans reached up to 264% annually, imposed to exploit vulnerable borrowers within the ecosystem. Collection methods relied on and tactics, such as repeated demands for immediate repayment and warnings of severe consequences for delinquency, allowing the family to recover principal plus exorbitant vig without formal recourse. To enforce compliance, Mazzone deployed family soldiers and associates as enforcers, leveraging the La Cosa Nostra's reputation for resolving debts through persistent harassment and implicit threats. These operatives targeted both gamblers owing on lost wagers and borrowers from loansharking ventures, funneling collected funds back to higher ranks including Mazzone himself. During his tenure as in the 2010s, these operations expanded into southern , particularly Atlantic City, where Mazzone coached subordinates on infiltration techniques and deployed additional personnel to secure bookmaking territories and loan portfolios. Extortion occasionally served to safeguard networks by pressuring independent operators to cede territory or pay tribute, reinforcing the family's dominance in 's underground betting scene. As , Mazzone also directed drug dealing operations in and , as part of the conspiracies.

Violent crimes and allegations

Alleged role in the Bocchino murder

On January 29, 1992, Felix "Little Felix" Bocchino, a 73-year-old in the aligned with boss , was shot multiple times and killed while sitting behind the wheel of his car outside his home in . The FBI and local police investigated the gangland-style slaying as part of escalating internal rivalries within the family, but no arrests were made at the time. Steven Mazzone, then a rising figure in the rival faction led by , was later alleged to have been one of the shooters in Bocchino's murder. The hit was reportedly ordered by imprisoned mobster and Merlino due to Bocchino's practice of pocketing portions of proceeds intended for Stanfa and his refusal to cease shaking down Merlino's for payments. These actions fueled broader violent disputes between the Stanfa and Merlino factions vying for control of the family. On March 30, 2000, Mazzone was indicted in federal court alongside Merlino and others on charges that included the 1992 of Bocchino as a predicate act. During the ensuing 2001 trial in , Natale, who had become a government witness after his own imprisonment, testified that Mazzone carried out the shooting, describing it as Mazzone's first for the organization; Natale claimed he learned of the details during a prison visit from Mazzone and Michael Ciancaglini, who confirmed Mazzone's role as the triggerman. Ciancaglini, another co-defendant turned witness, corroborated Mazzone's involvement in the hit. Despite the testimonies, the acquitted Mazzone of the charge and related counts, citing insufficient to prove his direct participation beyond a . He was, however, convicted on separate , , and illegal offenses stemming from the broader .

Attempted murder of Ciancaglini

On March 2, 1993, Joseph Ciancaglini Jr., the reputed underboss of the under boss , was ambushed and shot multiple times in the head and chest while sitting in his car outside his home in . The attack left Ciancaglini severely wounded and partially paralyzed, but he survived. This incident occurred amid intense factional conflicts within the , specifically the violent power struggle between Stanfa's loyalists and a rival faction led by Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, as both groups vied for control of the organization. Steven Mazzone, a key associate of Merlino and a "made" member of the La Cosa Nostra family, was alleged to have participated directly in the shooting as one of the gunmen. During a 2000 federal hearing, Barry Gross claimed that Mazzone approached Ciancaglini at , placed a to his head, and fired several shots, with FBI video purportedly capturing shadows of the assailants near the scene earlier that day. Mazzone's defense attorney countered that Ciancaglini himself would testify that Mazzone and the other defendants were not involved in the attack. The attempted murder was charged against Mazzone as Racketeering Act 2 in the 2000 federal indictment under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), stemming from the broader Philadelphia crime family wars. At the 2001 trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the jury found the allegation "not proven," resulting in Mazzone's acquittal on this specific count, though he was convicted on other racketeering charges. The acquittal was upheld in the subsequent 2003 appellate review by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Arrests, trials, and imprisonments

2000 indictment and 2001 conviction

In March 2000, as part of a major federal investigation into the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra crime family, Steven Mazzone was indicted alongside other alleged members, including Joseph Merlino and George Borgesi, on charges including racketeering conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, extortion, and illegal sports bookmaking. The indictment, which evolved through superseding versions, accused Mazzone of participating in the family's criminal enterprise by overseeing extortion schemes demanding "street taxes" from illegal gamblers and bookmakers, as well as operating an illegal sports betting operation that generated substantial unreported income. A key factor in building the case against him was the cooperation of former Philadelphia crime family boss Ralph Natale, who began providing information to federal authorities in August 1999 after his own arrest on drug charges, including details implicating Mazzone in the organization's racketeering activities. Mazzone was ordered held without during pre-trial proceedings due to concerns over his of flight and potential danger to the , a common outcome in high-profile cases involving flight risks and threats. The trial commenced in March 2001 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of and lasted four months, featuring extensive testimony from cooperating witnesses like Natale, who detailed the family's hierarchical structure and Mazzone's role as acting in enforcing and rackets. On July 20, 2001, Mazzone was convicted on the RICO conspiracy count, substantive RICO violations, extortion charges, and illegal bookmaking, though he was acquitted on related murder and attempted murder allegations in the same proceeding. In December 2001, he was sentenced to 108 months (nine years) in for his leadership in these criminal enterprises. Mazzone served his term and was released from federal custody on February 2, 2008.

2022 racketeering case and release

In June 2022, Steven Mazzone, the reputed of the , pleaded guilty to conspiracy, conspiracy, illegal , loansharking, and related charges stemming from a 2020 federal indictment that targeted activities in the region. The charges detailed his leadership in operations that included high-interest loans at rates up to 264%, of bookmakers and debtors through threats of , and coordination of illegal networks across and southern . On December 15, 2022, District Judge R. Barclay Surrick sentenced Mazzone to the maximum five years in under the terms of his agreement, along with three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. Prosecutors highlighted wiretap from an ongoing investigation by the FBI, , and , which captured Mazzone directing subordinates in these criminal enterprises, echoing patterns from his prior conviction in 2001. Mazzone was released early from on March 13, 2025, after serving approximately 2.5 years of his sentence, and transferred to a in northern . This early release aligned with federal guidelines allowing for good time credits and placement in a residential reentry program, though he remains subject to the full three-year term of supervised release, which includes restrictions on associations, travel, and employment to prevent further criminal involvement. His return to the community has drawn attention to potential shifts in the 's leadership dynamics, as Mazzone's seniority positions him to influence operations despite ongoing federal scrutiny of the organization.

Key associates and family dynamics

Relationships with Merlino and Natale

Steven Mazzone shared a close personal bond with , rooted in their shared upbringing in , where they formed part of a tight-knit group of young Italian-American associates navigating the local underworld in the and early . This childhood friendship evolved into a enduring alliance, with Mazzone emerging as one of Merlino's most trusted confidants amid the violent power struggles within the . Professionally, Mazzone collaborated extensively with Merlino during the latter's tenure as boss in the mid-to-late 1990s, serving as his underboss and helping to manage the family's operations following the downfall of rival boss John Stanfa. Federal authorities described Mazzone as instrumental in stabilizing the organization during this era of internal conflict and external pressures from New York families, overseeing key rackets and maintaining loyalty among the ranks. Their partnership was forged through shared legal battles, including a high-profile 2001 racketeering conviction that sidelined both men for years but did not sever their ties. As of 2024, Mazzone and Merlino remained in contact regarding Philadelphia mob matters, and following Mazzone's release from federal prison in March 2025, their alliance continues. Mazzone's early career also involved mentorship under Ralph Natale, the family's boss starting in 1994 after his release from prison. Natale, who had encountered Merlino during incarceration, elevated Mazzone to made status in 1995 and appointed him a the following year, integrating him into the administration's core structure and relying on his street-level acumen for enforcement and expansion efforts. This guidance positioned Mazzone as a rising figure in Natale's regime, blending operational oversight with loyalty to the leadership. The relationship with Natale deteriorated sharply when the latter turned government informant in late 1999, following his on charges. Natale's subsequent in the 2001 federal trial against Merlino and associates, including Mazzone, accused the latter of involvement in violent acts during the family's internal wars, portraying him as a key enforcer. This betrayal not only implicated Mazzone in multiple counts but also fractured their prior mentor-protégé dynamic, leading to Mazzone's conviction and a nine-year .

Ties to Ligambi and other figures

Steven Mazzone developed a close alliance with Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi during Ligambi's tenure as boss of the in the 2000s and early 2010s, serving as one of Ligambi's top lieutenants and later rising to under his leadership. In trial testimony from the 2012 case against Ligambi and associates, informants described how proceeds from illegal and loansharking operations were funneled upward to "Stevie and Joey," referring to Mazzone and Ligambi, highlighting Mazzone's key operational role in collecting and distributing profits within the family's hierarchy. Following Ligambi's arrest in May 2011 on federal charges, Mazzone assumed the position of acting boss, or street boss, to oversee day-to-day activities while Ligambi awaited . During this period, Mazzone coordinated the family's responses to ongoing federal scrutiny, ensuring continuity in , , and loansharking rackets despite the leadership vacuum. Mazzone maintained strong interactions with other capos and soldiers in the family, including his brother Salvatore Mazzone, a capo who co-presided over a 2015 mob induction ceremony alongside Steven and associate Domenic Grande, signaling Mazzone's central role in ceremonial and organizational matters. He also had ties to figures like John Ciancaglini, another top associate, and George Borgesi, a during Ligambi's era, with whom he shared involvement in earlier family disputes and operations. Additionally, Mazzone's ties extended to George Borgesi, a during Ligambi's era, with whom he shared involvement in earlier family disputes and operations. Amid a wave of federal prosecutions in the that ensnared multiple family members—including Ligambi's and subsequent trials—Mazzone played a pivotal role in maintaining unity by enforcing internal rules, mediating disputes, and directing crews to sustain revenue streams, thereby preventing fragmentation during a time of heightened pressure. His efforts helped the organization endure, even as overlapping influences from the earlier Merlino faction occasionally surfaced in family dynamics.

References

  1. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/underboss-philadelphia-mafia-sentenced-five-years-after-pleading-guilty-leading
  2. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/349/144/636851/
  3. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/underboss-philadelphia-mafia-sentenced-leading-racketeering-conspiracy-engaged-loansharking
  4. https://historica.fandom.com/wiki/Steven_Mazzone
  5. https://mobtalksitdown.com/philly-mob-soldier-sonny-mazzone-gets-2-years-on-racketeering-conspiracy-plea/
  6. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/philadelphia-mob-mafia-steven-mazzone-prison-20221215.html
  7. https://thecinemaholic.com/danny-dambroisia-steven-mazzone-george-borgesi/
  8. https://www.facebook.com/ConnedFortune/posts/on-december-15-2022-the-underboss-of-the-philadelphia-crime-family-steven-mazzon/1165098838586695/
  9. https://allthatsinteresting.com/joey-merlino
  10. https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/014374p.pdf
  11. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/20140401_Vision-loss_suit_of_former_mob_boss_is_rejected.html
  12. https://mobtalksitdown.com/philly-underbosses-on-the-move-mousie-massimino-exits-federal-prison-steve-mazzone-checks-in-to-federal-lockup/
  13. https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/pae/News/2011/May/ligambietal_indictment.pdf
  14. https://www.reddit.com/r/Mafia/comments/1jam0nv/philadelphia_underboss_steven_mazzone_released/
  15. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/17/nyregion/decline-and-fall-of-an-empire.html
  16. https://www.phillyvoice.com/mob-underboss-steven-mazzone-philadelphia-la-cosa-nostra-federal-prison-sentencing-racketeering-illegal-gambling/
  17. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/fifteen-members-and-associates-philadelphia-mafia-indicted-federal-racketeering-and
  18. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/01/29/Reputed-mobster-gunned-down/2650696661200/
  19. https://www.americanmafia.com/News/3-22-01_Evidence_Against_Mob.html
  20. https://www.americanmafia.com/News/6-16-00_Bail_For_Mazzone.html
  21. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/04/06/a-made-man-turns-into-star-witness/93c52103-ecdb-423e-a2c5-ac801939c536/
  22. https://www.inquirer.com/news/steven-mazzone-mafia-philly-mob-organized-crime-guilty-20220630.html
  23. https://gangsterreport.com/philly-mobs-no-2-man-handsome-stevie-mazzone-comes-back-home-sprung-from-prison-earlier-than-expected/
  24. https://aboutthemafia.com/joseph-merlino-heads-back-to-prison/
  25. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20110529_Reputed_Philly_mob_leader_s_arrest_could_put_Merlino_back_in_charge.html
  26. https://www.reddit.com/r/Mafia/comments/1bkyagv/steve_mazzone_joey_merlino_have_been_in_contact/
  27. https://www.americanmafia.com/News/9-8-00_Lawyer_Defends_Right.html
  28. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20121027_Phila__mob_trial_told_how_cash_flowed_upward.html
  29. https://www.ajc.com/news/indictment-alleges-mafia-comeback-in-philadelphia/TS3YYFE56RCJFOLA4EYWXTGZZY/
  30. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-mob-drug-trafficking-extortion-20201123.html
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