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| J. Stanfa (L), S. Battaglia Press |
In May 1993 Sergio Battaglia was inducted into Philadelphia's Bruno Family by Boss John Stanfa.
Within a few days of being made he was invited to Stanfa's home, where the two held a discussion near the bocce court located behind the residence.
Battaglia later testified that during the talk Stanfa gave a summary of his own history in Philadelphia:
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Within a few days of being made he was invited to Stanfa's home, where the two held a discussion near the bocce court located behind the residence.
Battaglia later testified that during the talk Stanfa gave a summary of his own history in Philadelphia:
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Well, we started discussing about the family, the crime family. John Stanfa, you know, he was happy that I was a made member at such a young age. He had high expectations for me, maybe one day be a [Capo], underboss, maybe one day I'll have my own family. I don't know. He was happy, and he told me about how young he was when he was in Palermo, Italy, Sicily when he was made and how he became involved with the Philadelphia mob. He came over from Sicily to New York, and New York told him to work for Angelo Bruno, appointed Bruno to watch over him. Stanfa and his family is very -- has strong ties to the Sicilian mafia. His nephew over there is boss of [a] crime family, and his connections are very strong.
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| A. Bruno Press |
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When [Stanfa] came over here in 1969, I believe he said it was [then or] '66, he said he was working for Angelo Bruno. He was the boss of [the] crime family back then. He said he was a small contractor on the side, and he would do illegal activities with the [Bruno] crime family. He says Bruno was a good guy. He learned a lot from him, respected him like a father. And, he -- then it got into the night. He got killed. Stanfa was doing construction at Cous Little Italy that evening, and Tommy DelGiorno owned the place at that time. And, Stanfa went to go pick up a check for the work he did on the second floor of the restaurant. See, when he got there Tommy Del said to him, you know, Bruno's here, why don't you go say hello to him. I'm [not] really sure if he said John just came back from Italy or John said that Bruno just came back from Italy, and they haven't seen each other in a couple months. John walked over. They sat down. You know, how are you [doing].
[Bruno Associate] Mario Riccobene was there that evening [and he] was driving Bruno. And, he said, Mario, you drive my friend home. John you drive me home. We'll catch up on some talking. He said all right. John said he drove him home that evening. He said he pulled up to 10th & Snyder. He said they were bullshitting in front of the house. He said next to [Angelo] Bruno's house they were doing construction at a Wawa store, and he says there was a truck there, like a bread truck, and you couldn't see nothing, you know. So, while they were talking he says Bruno, you were smoking a cigar. He was, like, blowing smoke, and John was getting gagged. So, John said I just happened to roll down the window a crack to throw the cigar out. As soon as he threw the cigar out a man appeared with a shotgun and pointed it in the back of Bruno's head and blew his head off. He said his mouth opened up like a spigot. He said he got sprayed with the pellets on his arm, but he had a leather coat on. He said the sound was so loud he was deaf.
He said he jumped out of the car for cover. The guy was gone by the time he jumped out. And, he said Mrs. Bruno heard the -- [interrupted by prosecutor].
[Stanfa] said he jumped out of the car. He says by the time -- the sound was so loud, Mrs. Bruno -- Angelo Bruno's wife was at the door, and she came out, and she seen Angelo Bruno dead in the car, and she started panicking. John went up to her and comforted her and brought her back in the house.
So then after that he was taken to the hospital for the wounds that he received from the pellets. And, the feds were, like, all over him; who did it, you know. He didn't know nothing. He said they were breaking -- breaking them for him the following day. The following day he said he drove to New York to meet mob figures, and he said they were following him there, and they had a picture. And, two -- he got eight years for two questions. He lied. He perjured himself. He said two questions got me eight years.
[Bruno Associate] Mario Riccobene was there that evening [and he] was driving Bruno. And, he said, Mario, you drive my friend home. John you drive me home. We'll catch up on some talking. He said all right. John said he drove him home that evening. He said he pulled up to 10th & Snyder. He said they were bullshitting in front of the house. He said next to [Angelo] Bruno's house they were doing construction at a Wawa store, and he says there was a truck there, like a bread truck, and you couldn't see nothing, you know. So, while they were talking he says Bruno, you were smoking a cigar. He was, like, blowing smoke, and John was getting gagged. So, John said I just happened to roll down the window a crack to throw the cigar out. As soon as he threw the cigar out a man appeared with a shotgun and pointed it in the back of Bruno's head and blew his head off. He said his mouth opened up like a spigot. He said he got sprayed with the pellets on his arm, but he had a leather coat on. He said the sound was so loud he was deaf.
He said he jumped out of the car for cover. The guy was gone by the time he jumped out. And, he said Mrs. Bruno heard the -- [interrupted by prosecutor].
[Stanfa] said he jumped out of the car. He says by the time -- the sound was so loud, Mrs. Bruno -- Angelo Bruno's wife was at the door, and she came out, and she seen Angelo Bruno dead in the car, and she started panicking. John went up to her and comforted her and brought her back in the house.
So then after that he was taken to the hospital for the wounds that he received from the pellets. And, the feds were, like, all over him; who did it, you know. He didn't know nothing. He said they were breaking -- breaking them for him the following day. The following day he said he drove to New York to meet mob figures, and he said they were following him there, and they had a picture. And, two -- he got eight years for two questions. He lied. He perjured himself. He said two questions got me eight years.
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| J. Gotti (L), N. Scarfo Scarfo: Press |
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[Eight years] in the federal institution, jail. He said when he came out there was a contract on his life by Nicodemo Scarfo. He was the guy who took over Angelo Bruno's spot as boss. Everybody who had anything to do with Angelo Bruno's murder was killed. The only one who survived was John Stanfa. And, Nicodemo Scarfo believed that John had something to do with it. When John Stanfa came out Nicky Scarfo was in jail, him and his crew. So, John came out and went to New York to see his friends, the Gambinos. The Gambinos were -- were part of a John Gotti crew. John Gotti okayed for Stanfa to come back to Philadelphia, and nobody would be touched, and the contract would be lifted off him.
When he came back he was minding [his] business. He said, you know, he was working with his son. He opened [Stanfa] Construction. Him and his son Joseph started building homes, gutting out homes, making an honest living, but he still knew who figures were in South Philly's mob. It was in disarray. People were trying to make something out of it.
When he came back he was minding [his] business. He said, you know, he was working with his son. He opened [Stanfa] Construction. Him and his son Joseph started building homes, gutting out homes, making an honest living, but he still knew who figures were in South Philly's mob. It was in disarray. People were trying to make something out of it.
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| A. Piccolo |
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He said [Anthony] Piccolo was the -- at the time was the acting underboss. Nicky put him there because they were cousins. [Stanfa] says that one day [he] was walking across the street from his house. Went to 18th & Passyunk and he got approached by Salvatore Avena and Anthony Piccolo, also known as Tony Buck, and they asked him to become the mob boss, take over the Philly mob. He said Piccolo was not in the position. He was ill. He was under constant surveillance. He had gambling charges coming down or he did have gambling charges. He had house [arrest]. He was having problems. And, John -- Salvatore Avena said we'll talk to our friends, meaning the Gambinos, they'll back you and everything's going to be okay. John said, well, you know, arrange a meeting. Set up what you have to set up. I'll do my homework. I'll check it out my way and you check it out your way. And, he says, and here I am, mob boss. He says and -- problems after problems. I never had no good luck. Headache after headache every day.
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Early the following year Stanfa, Battaglia and twenty-two others were indicted on Federal racketeering charges.
Early the following year Stanfa, Battaglia and twenty-two others were indicted on Federal racketeering charges.
By the time of indictment Battaglia, feeling betrayed by the Boss, had entered into a conspiracy with several Family Associates to have Stanfa murdered.
Both Stanfa and Battaglia were convicted at trial in November 1995; two months later Battaglia became a cooperating witness.
In July 1996 Stanfa was sentenced to five consecutive life terms and, as of May 2026, is incarcerated at FCI Danbury, Connecticut.
In September 1997 Battaglia was given a ten year sentence and fined $2,000.
Both Stanfa and Battaglia were convicted at trial in November 1995; two months later Battaglia became a cooperating witness.
In July 1996 Stanfa was sentenced to five consecutive life terms and, as of May 2026, is incarcerated at FCI Danbury, Connecticut.
In September 1997 Battaglia was given a ten year sentence and fined $2,000.
