Weeks after the local Philly wise guys abandoned their clubhouse at 9th and Catherine just outside the Italian Market after the Coronavirus pandemic took hold, they’re back.
Mobtalksitdown.com cameras captured several made members of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra gathered at the former barbershop, turned mob gathering place last week. They appeared to be social distancing for the most part and one guy even wore a mask as they took in the sunshine and near 70-degree temperatures.
The crew included Nicky Scarfo era defendant Faffy Iannarella, looking sharp as usual, longtime John Stanfa burly bodyguard and soldier Vincent “Big Vince” Fillipelli and current Mob Captain George Borgesi, sporting a Philadelphia Eagles jacket. Anthony Accardo was seen wearing a mask as several wise guys sat in chairs outside the club house.
The brick storefront has been locked down since the beginning of the pandemic back in March. Most of the local crew has been seen by law enforcement tucked away at their homes in South Philly and beyond. There has been little or no mob activity on the streets since the start of state wide quarantine measures.
“These guys are making it easy for the government hanging outside that place like that,” one former wise guy told Mobtalksitdown.com. “If there’s no Mob, why are guys from three different factions all in the same place. Scarfo guy, Stanfa guy, Merlino guys. They’re gonna say we’re all friends… Really”
A former law enforcement undercover investigator concurred. “These guys just can’t toss the idea of a clubhouse. It’s just not smart,” he said. “Hey but at least they’re practicing social distancing.”
Mob sources say the traditional Mob money making schemes and enterprising efforts have been sharply curtailed due to the virus and the shutdown of all major sports leagues since the pandemic took hold across the country.
No basketball, no baseball, no hockey, no soccer and no real NFL football related activity outside the 2020 Draft has caused what’s left of sports bookmaking in South Philadelphia and South Jersey region to dry up. Even casinos are shut down.
Mob sources say while loan sharking operations might be making a few dollars here and there, loaning money and collecting a return plus interest has been difficult with so many folks out of work due to the pandemic.
One source told Mobtalksitdown.com that some debts have kindly been put on hold for regular customers, including interest, until the pandemic restrictions pass.
Finally, sources say at least one Mob associate hit by COVID19 has recovered and is doing much better, along with a family member who was also sickened.
It remains to be seen what the long term impact of the pandemic will have on local mobsters and their associates. The same goes for any ongoing federal, state and local law enforcement investigations that were under way before the outbreak.
