Philly Prime Podcast

New Jersey Investigators take a fresh look at the Mob in 2026 during a recent hearing that drew top law enforcement officials from across the state. The State Commission of Investigation is probing organized crime across the Garden State, looking into illegal gambling, mob violence, racketeering, union corruption, the waste hauling business and Mob connected businesses. Mob expert George Anastasia...

This week, Inside the still unsolved half billion dollar Gardner Art Museum Robbery back in the early 90s with Former Boston FBI Agent Geoff Kelly, the lead investigator on the case for 20 years. He has a new book out called 13 Perfect Fugitives. Join me and George Anastasia as we discuss the Philly connection to this infamous case. Special thanks to The Isabella Gardner Museum

This week we unpack the growing troubles for the Perna wing of the Lucchese Organized Crime Family as criminal charges keep mounting for the New Jersey faction of the crime syndicate. New RICO/ Gambling/Money laundering charges against Mob Soldier “Little Joe” Perna and 13 others have been in the headlines for two weeks now. Those charged include multiple Perna family members. George Anastasia joi...

Mob Talk Sitdown and The Philly Prime Podcast join forces to discuss the new Netflix Documentary Series Mob War, Philadelphia vs The Mafia. Both George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser acted as consultant- producers on the series and were interviewed extensively for the project. Former Philly FBI Mob Squad Agent John Terry, who is also in the Netflix series, will join the podcast to discuss the Mob...

A Blast From The Past: The FBI and Philadelphia’s Cold Case Homicide Detectives sent shock waves across the city with the takedown last week of drug dealer Richard Leidy in the previously unsolved assassination of rival drug dealer Gino Marconi in April 1999. The 26 year old gangland style killing rocked South Philly and is one of half a dozen cold case murders federal organized crime investigator...

Who’s really the Boss of the Philly Mob? Is Joey Merlino Out? If so, who’s running the show? A not-so-new leader has emerged. Is It Mike Lancelotti, George Borgesi or Steve Mazzone? We’ll break down why these boyhood friends appear to be jockeying for position. Who’s now running the day to day operations? Recent meetings and Mob get togethers are painting a new picture for the Philly Mob. George A...

A sweeping raid by NJ State Police across North & Central Jersey snares four top Lucchese Crime Family members, including two ranking leaders in a widespread, multi-million dollar gambling & racketeering operation. Mob expert George Anastasia joins the podcast as we break down the 39-defendant investigation, where else it could lead and the possible ramifications for the wiseguys caught up in the...

A busy week in the Philly Mob World. The former Underboss returns, The Feds execute search warrants in South Philly in an ongoing investigation and a Gambino Crime Family Soldier gets sentenced in a huge Philadelphia based fraud case. Plus Johnny Alite gets a new, controversial title. Mob expert and author George Anastasia joins the podcast to break it all down

We’ll take a look at the highlights and the low lights for the Philly Mob this year, the ins and outs of 2024 as well as who’s up and who’s down in the local LCN. From the latest escapades of former Mob Boss Joey Merlino to the latest rankings for the Philly Crime Family. George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser break it all down and look ahead to 2025. Who might go the jail, who might be getting ou...

Former President Donald J. Trump sweeps his way back into the White House with a nationwide comeback victory over Kamala Harris spurred on by a victory in Pennsylvania. FOX29 Political Analyst Bruce Gordon joins the podcast to break it all down. We’ll discuss Trump’s Pennsylvania triumph, how he won here and across the country and where he takes the Nation next.

With just a couple of weeks to go, Trump vs Harris, Casey vs McCormick. Two huge races attracting lots of national and local attention in the red hot state of Pennsylvania. FOX29 veteran political expert Bruce Gordon joins the podcast to break it all down. The races, the TV ads and the candidates. Please Join us

A political bombshell this week. South Jersey Democratic Political Powerbroker George Norcross and 5 others are indicted by a state grand jury on racketeering charges stemming from an alleged multi-million dollar tax credit scheme involving properties on the Camden Waterfront. The 13 count, 111-page indictment outlines the serious charges in this huge political corruption case. The former Camden m...

Jailed Lucchese Crime Family Captain Martin Taccetta finally gets his day in court and presents evidence as he looks for a new trial or his release from prison after 28 years. The day long hearing featured a showdown between the prosecutor who handled the case in 1993 and the defense team that claims the state withheld evidence that could have helped the defense and destroyed the credibility of tw...

Gun violence across our region is being fueled by illegal weapons on the streets and so called “Ghost Guns”. They’re untraceable and dangerous. Now there’s trafficking in “ switches” than can make semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons. Edwin Torres from the NJ State Commission of Investigation joins the show to discuss how easy it is the get these guns and switches. He takes us inside t...

The 3-decade old judicial saga for jailed Lucchese Crime Family Captain Martin Taccetta takes a turn and support for his bid to be set free gains support from non other than one time reputed Mob Boss, turned podcaster Joey Merlino. Plus the Feds go digging for bodies again in upstate New York at two sites linked to the Gambino Crime Family. And a key figure in the Par Funding half-billion dollar a...

Federal authorities in Philadelphia dropped a massive 60-count Racketeering indictment on Brothers Joseph and James LaForte this week after hundreds of investors and clients were allegedly defrauded to the tune of $550 Million. One of the brothers in the “LaForte Enterprise” has been publicly identified as a soldier in New York’s Gambino Crime Family. Author and Mob expert George Anastasia joins t...

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is drawing lots of attention for his new PA state budget, quick repairs to I-95 and all sorts of other key issues facing Pennsylvania. He’s even getting some mention as a potential Presidential candidate. FOX29 Political analyst Bruce Gordon joins the podcast to break it all down and share his opinion on Shapiro’s political future in 2024 and beyond.

A New Jersey judge this week ordered a full blown hearing into defense claims that dental records that could have provided an alibi for Lucchese Crime Family leader Martin Taccetta were tampered with in a 1984 murder case and a report saying so was withheld from the defense. Lawyers say the doctored documents and questionable testimony from 2 government cooperators could help set the 72-year old T...

Eagles, Eagles, Eagles. Love em or hate em, they are the talk of the town this week. A bad run of losses and an upcoming playoff game vs. The Tampa Bay Bucs has everybody tossing around opinions. Bill Colarulo Jr., Host of The Legalhandstotheface podcast and Philly Sports Power Hour, joins the show to chat it up on the ugly loss to the Giants and The Birds chances against the Buccaneers. Please jo...

A Changing of the Guard At Philadelphia City Hall. Mayor Jim Kenney in his final weeks in office as Cherelle Parker gets ready to take control of the city. A new Police Commissioner and promises to crack down on gun violence top the new mayoral agenda. FOX29 Political Analyst Bruce Gordon joins the Philly Prime Podcast to take a look at the old and the new. What’s Jim Kenney’s future and how will...

In an amazing twist of fate and some great detective work, Philadelphia Police now believe they have the alleged Fairmount Park rapist in custody, 20 years after he first struck. Elias Diaz was arrested for a series of slashing incidents over the weekend in Pennypack Park. Investigators say DNA tests and other long sought evidence now has detectives convinced they have their man in a series of rap...

The Feds swoop in and bust Bloods Street Gang 5-Star General Edwin Spears with 500lbs of pot, 28lbs of Coke and 1,000 cartridges of THC. Arrested boarding a chartered jet to London. What lead to the arrest, where did the drugs come from and where could this arrest lead. Plus a look back at Spears ties to the Lucchese Crime Family. Mob/Crime Expert Geirge Anastasia joins the podcast to break it dow...

Philadelphia has a new Mayor-Elect. Cherelle Parker, who this week won election to replace Jim Kenney. Fox29’s Jeff Cole’s been covering the campaign and has interviewed Parker on a multitude of topics. He joins us to talk politics, Parker’s crime/gun violence plan and her other top challenges. Cole also brings us up to date on the corruption trial of embattled and convicted Labor Leader John “ Jo...

It was a Mob hit that rocked Philadelphia. A daring, rush hour drive by shooting on the infamous Schuykill Expressway. The target was Mob Boss John Stanfa. The shooters, allegedly his rivals from the Merlino Mob faction. Now 30 years later, one of the cops assigned to the case delivers new details and Mob expert George Anastasia,who was on the scene that day in 1993, opens up about the Mob hit hea...

On April 10,1999 little known mob associate Gino Marconi stepped out onto his front porch on 20th Street near Porter Street followed by a female friend and was promptly shot to death by an assassin using a rifle. His friend was seriously wounded. The daring Mob hit has never been solved, no one has been charged. Marconi’s murder is one of six the Philly Prime Podcast & Mobtalksitdown.com are delvi...