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Steven Mazzone, 59-year-old "underboss" of the Philly mafia, previously pleaded guilty in September to racketeering, loansharking, and gambling charges, said US Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero.
His sentencing on Thursday, Dec. 15 follows a yearslong investigation that prosecutors say revealed a thriving and ambitious enterprise that crossed state lines.
As "underboss," investigators say Mazzone enjoyed a position of influence within Philly's mob world, setting rules for other members and collecting profits from the gang's gambling and loansharking businesses.
One smoking gun for prosecutors came in the form of a 2015 wiretap from a mafia induction ceremony, where Mazzone was heard coaching new members on their intimidation tactics and encouraging them to grow the business.
"We got to get a hold back on Atlantic City, buddy! That’s what I want," Mazzone said at the secretly-recorded meeting. "We have to get that back. [...] I want you to do something.”
Mazzone, who was previously sentenced to nine years for a similar conviction in 2000, will spend another five in federal prison.
“Even though the Philadelphia mob has been weakened over the decades due in large part to persistent law enforcement efforts, the La Cosa Nostra and its criminal activities are still very much a problem and are damaging the communities in which it operates,” said US Attorney Romero.
"We will not rest until the mob is nothing but a memory that lives on in movies.”
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