Synopses & Reviews
Mafia Prince is the first-person account of one of the most violent eras in Mafia history Little” Nicky Scarfos reign as boss of the Philly family in the 1980swritten by Scarfos underboss and nephew, Crazy” Phil Leonetti.
The youngest-ever underboss at the age of 31, Leonetti was at the crux of the violent downfall of the traditional American Mafia in the 1980s when he infiltrated Atlantic City after gambling was legalized, and later turned states evidence against his own. His testimony directly led to the convictions of dozens of high-ranking made men including John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and his own uncle, Nicky Scarfosparking the beginning of the end of La Cosa Nostra.
Just as The Godfather and Boardwalk Empire defined the early 20th century Mafia, and Wiseguy and Casino depicted the next great era through the 70s, Mafia Prince concludes this epic genre revealing the Mafias violent final heyday of the 1980s straight from the horses mouth.
Review
Philip Leonetti was a Mafia Prince who, for a while, inherited the crown. A fascinating tale of mob money and murder by someone who was there.”
-Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy and Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas
Synopsis
A first-person account of the violent downfall of the traditional American Mafia in the final heyday of the 1980s.
Synopsis
MONEY, MURDER, AND MACHIAVELLIAN MAYHEM . . . CONTAINS A NEW EPILOGUE Mafia Prince is the first person account of one of the most brutal eras in Mafia history -- "Little Nicky" Scarfo's reign as boss of the Philadelphia family in the 1980s -- written by Scarfo's underboss and nephew, "Crazy Phil" Leonetti.
The youngest-ever underboss at the age of 33, Leonetti was at the crux of the violent breakup of the traditional American Mafia in the 1980s when he infiltrated Atlantic City after gambling was legalized, and later turned state's evidence against his own. His testimony led directly to the convictions of dozens of high-ranking men including John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and the downfall of his own uncle, Nick Scarfo -- sparking the beginning of the end of La Cosa Nostra (the insiders' term for the Mafia, translated as "This Thing of Ours").
Synopsis
MONEY, MURDER, AND MACHIAVELLIAN MAYHEM ... CONTAINS A NEW EPILOGUE
Mafia Prince is the first person account of one of the most brutal eras in Mafia historyLittle Nicky” Scarfos reign as boss of the Philadelphia family in the 1980swritten by Scarfos underboss and nephew, Crazy Phil” Leonetti.
The youngest-ever underboss at the age of 33, Leonetti was at the crux of the violent breakup of the traditional American Mafia in the 1980s when he infiltrated Atlantic City after gambling was legalized, and later turned states evidence against his own. His testimony led directly to the convictions of dozens of high-ranking men including John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and the downfall of his own uncle, Nick Scarfosparking the beginning of the end of La Cosa Nostra (the insiders term for the Mafia, translated as This Thing of Ours”).
About the Author
Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti was the youngest underboss in the history of the American Mafia at the age of 30, and, along with his uncle and boss"Little" Nicky Scarfo, head of the Philadelphia crime family from 1981-91was responsible for the most violent reign organized crime has ever seen. Leonetti's major role was mobbing up Atlantic City after gambling became legala goal he was successful in reaching. After the Scarfo family careened out of control amid incredible violence in the late '80s, Leonetti was convicted of murder and racketeering and became the then highest-ranking official in Mafia history to turn state's evidence and cooperate with the federal government. His testimony directly led to the convictions of dozens of high-ranking and other made men, including John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and his own uncle, Little Nicky Scarfo. He has been living in the Witness Protection Program for almost two decades.
Scott M. Burnstein is a true-crime author and staff reporter on the Oakland Press in Detroit. He authored the 2007 regional bestseller Motor City Mafia: A Century of Organized Crime in the City of Detroit, and in 2010 published Family Affair: Greed, Treachery and Betrayal in the Chicago Mafia. He graduated from Indiana University in 1999 and received his law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2004. He has been a featured expert on organized crime on numerous TV shows including the History Channels hit show Gangland, and in 2009 he produced, wrote, and appeared in the critically acclaimed documentary Detroit Mob Confidential. His writing has also appeared in the Detroit Free Press, Chicago Magazine, and AOL.com.