Phil Leonetti - Government Witness

Government Witness

Leonetti soon turned against his crime family and his uncle. In 1988, Leonetti was arrested on murder and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges. After his conviction in 1989, Leonetti received a 55-year prison sentence. Wanting to avoid more prosecutions and receive a lighter sentence, Leonetti chose to cooperate with the government. He testified against Scarfo and John Gotti, boss of the New York Gambino crime family. Leonetti described meetings with Scarfo, Gotti, and Gambino underboss Sammy "The Bull" Gravano on mob-related business. Leonetti, who has since made television appearances, also gave detailed accounts of his uncle's thirst for blood and power. Largely due to his testimony, Scarfo (who called Leonetti "my faggot nephew") was sentenced to life in prison in 1989.

Leonetti testified against several Mafia families, resulting in the convictions of dozens of high-ranking members of the Philadelphia/Atlantic City crime families. His testimony was also used against Gotti in his own trial. Leonetti also confessed to ten murders. Leonetti and other Scarfo family turncoats like Nick Caramandi, Tommy Delgiorno, and Yogi Merlino would permanently damage the Philadelphia mob. Neither can one forgot George Freselone, who was made a soldier and briefly capo after he wore a wire to what was perhaps the last induction ceremony of the Scarfo era, headed by acting boss and Leonetti/Scarfo relative Anthony "Tony Buck" Piccolo and Leonetti's replacement, underboss Patty Maritarano. That ceremony would be made null, however, after it became known that Freselone was an informant and that certain members, like Nicky Olivieri, in fact were associates of New York families. Freselone looked after Nicky Scarfo Jr., Leonetti's cousin, after the young Scarfo survived being riddled with bullets by eventual boss Joey Merlino, son of jailed former underboss Chuckie Merlino and deceased turncoat capo Yogi Merlino.