Nicodemo Scarfo

Reputed mob boss Nicodemo Scarfo was charged Friday with murder for the second time in two days, a move that federal and state prosecutors said would weaken organized crime. "This is an historic occasion," U.S. Atty. Edward Dennis Jr. said at a news conference. Scarfo and nine of his associates were charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime and conspiracy in the 1984 slaying of Salvatore Testa, once one of Scarfo's close associates.

The son of Philadelphia's former mob boss pleaded guilty to bookmaking charges Thursday in a landmark case in which FBI agents tapped into his computer with a surveillance system that has national security uses. Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., 36, relented after losing court battles to suppress the gambling records that the FBI secretly obtained from his computer through the "key-logger" system. The case attracted attention from privacy advocates, who said the system could be used to spy on computer users.

The son of Philadelphia's former mob boss pleaded guilty to bookmaking charges Thursday in a landmark case in which FBI agents tapped into his computer with a surveillance system that has national security uses. Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., 36, relented after losing court battles to suppress the gambling records that the FBI secretly obtained from his computer through the "key-logger" system. The case attracted attention from privacy advocates, who said the system could be used to spy on computer users.

Joe Salerno's first enemy was his imagination. The second was Nicky Scarfo. "He told me one time he'd like to take a guy and cut his guts out and fry them in a pan," Salerno says. The words are quite flat. But then Salerno has imagined his disembowelment almost daily and even full horror wears thin after 10 years. "I felt the knife in my dreams many times. That's stuff you don't forget. "Yeah, I think if Nicky ever had a chance to get a hold of me himself, he would make me die a slow death.

Joe Salerno's first enemy was his imagination. The second was Nicky Scarfo. "He told me one time he'd like to take a guy and cut his guts out and fry them in a pan," Salerno says. The words are quite flat. But then Salerno has imagined his disembowelment almost daily and even full horror wears thin after 10 years. "I felt the knife in my dreams many times. That's stuff you don't forget. "Yeah, I think if Nicky ever had a chance to get a hold of me himself, he would make me die a slow death.

Seventeen defendants headed by reputed mob boss Nicodemo (Little Nicky) Scarfo were convicted in Philadelphia of a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, extortion, drug dealing and other crimes. The government contended the 17 defendants are members of organized crime who conspired to participate in nine murders, four attempted murders, extortions, drug dealing, loan sharking and illegal gambling. They each face up to 20 years in prison. U.S.

An associate of imprisoned crime boss Nicodemo Scarfo was shot to death early Thursday while parking his car near his home, police said. Louis (Irish Louie) DeLuca, 51, was shot four times, a police captain said. No suspects were in custody.

A gunman wearing a yellow mask shot the son of Philadelphia's imprisoned mob boss as he was dining at an Italian restaurant, police said. Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., 24, was in stable condition late Tuesday, a hospital spokesman said. Doctors determined that he was shot at least four times: once in the neck and the left arm and in each side of his chest, the spokesman said. Officers said they found a semiautomatic gun outside the restaurant. The elder Scarfo is serving a 69-year term for racketeering.

Reputed Philadelphia Mafia boss Nicodemo Scarfo and 27 other organized crime figures were indicted for allegedly running a drug ring involved in the distribution of methamphetamines, the Justice Department said today. Among those charged in a 46-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed in Philadelphia were Scarfo's under boss, Philip Leonetti, and Salvatore Merlino, identified as another top figure in the Mafia in the city.

Mob boss Nicodemo (Little Nicky) Scarfo and seven associates were convicted in Philadelphia on first-degree murder charges in the 1985 slaying of another gangster and could face the electric chair. Jurors deliberated about three hours before returning the verdict on all counts in the slaying of Frank (Frankie Flowers) D'Alfonso in July, 1985. The jury will begin consideration today on whether the defendants should face death in the electric chair.

Reputed mob boss Nicodemo Scarfo was charged Friday with murder for the second time in two days, a move that federal and state prosecutors said would weaken organized crime. "This is an historic occasion," U.S. Atty. Edward Dennis Jr. said at a news conference. Scarfo and nine of his associates were charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime and conspiracy in the 1984 slaying of Salvatore Testa, once one of Scarfo's close associates.