Nicky Scarfo was born on March 8, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a family with ties to organized crime. In the 1950s, Scarfo became associated with the Philadelphia crime family, which was one of the “Five Families” of the American Mafia.
He was called “Little Nicky” because he was five feet tall and weighed around one-hundred and thirty pounds. We would have to assume that he didn’t care for that name, and who would? His father and three uncles, the Piccolos, were made men in the Genovese family.
He climbed the ladder of success because he had a reputation as a no-nonsense individual. In 1981 Nick became boss of the Philadelphia family, after the assassination of his predecessor, Philip Testa.
Scarfo’s leadership showed he was a powerful individual who ruled with an iron fist. He had a hair-trigger temper and wasn’t afraid to lay down the law.
Under his guidance, the Philadelphia family became a powerful organization which engaged in many lucrative businesses, including gambling, loans, extortion, and drug trafficking.
He had a knack for not trusting everyone around him, and who could blame him? Bosses get hit. He died at 87 in 1987 while incarcerated at FMC Butler, Bahama, N.C. If you enjoyed this, then you will love the book Secrets of the Mob.
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