Philadelphia Mob associate Anthony Ambrosia plead guilty in federal court Wednesday to charges stemming from a 2019 federal indictment on wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft charges.
Anthony “Mortgage” Ambrosia, who federal investigators say worked alongside longtime Philly Mob associate Stephen Sharkey, and was at one time a close confidant to Philly Mob Captain George Borgesi, was indicted along with Sharkey in 2019.
No charges were filed against Borgesi, the nephew of recently retired Philly Mob Boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi who reportedly stepped aside last August at the age of 80.
Sources say Ambrosia plead guilty before a courtroom of masked up FBI agents to four counts in the indictment. He faces 21-27 months in federal prison when he sentenced November 12th. He must also make restitution to his victims of $265,000.
Sharkey’s trial has been put off several times and sources say he is considering a change of plea deal that will not include any cooperation with investigators. No word on when that will occur.
The indictment against Sharkey and Ambrosia, aka “Anthony Mortgage”, stems from a scheme “to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.” One scheme allegedly involved approximately $208,000.
The indictment outlined how Ambrosia and Sharkey allegedly attended a meeting with the victim at a Staten Island gas station intending to return the money claiming a mistake had been made in the prior transaction.
Sharkey was also charged in connection with a second alleged scheme in Philadelphia that included identity theft.
Back in 2001, Sharkey pleaded guilty to his role in a gambling and extortion operation linked to former Philadelphia crime boss Joey Merlino. A judge sentenced him to five years in prison.
In April 2010, U.S, Marshals arrested Sharkey after he reportedly walked away from a Philadelphia work release program.
Ambrosia has faced criminal charges before in New York. He was never convicted on those charges.
Ambrosia’s Philadelphia plea deal does not include any cooperation with federal authorities.
Ambrosia is represented in this case by NYC Attorney John Moringolo who represented alleged Mob Boss Joey Merlino in a 2016 health care fraud and racketeering case in New York along with longtime defense attorney Edwin Jacobs.
A jury failed to reach a verdict in the case against Merlino, who later plead guilty to a simple gambling charge.
Merlino was serving a two year sentence when he was released last year to a halfway house in Florida where he lives. He was later released to home confinement at the start of the Covid19 pandemic.
“Skinny Joey” finished his federal sentence July 27th. He has a year of supervised release.
