Brief descriptions, in chronological order, of Bruno Family induction ceremonies held during John Stanfa's reign in the early 1990s.
The majority of this information was obtained from the Bruno CWs of the 1990s.
Dates given are approximate.
===
November 1991
The majority of this information was obtained from the Bruno CWs of the 1990s.
Dates given are approximate.
===
November 1991
 |
| L to R: Ciancaglini Jr., Tripodi, Turchi Tripodi: Press |
- Joseph Ciancaglini Jr. (33y) [Disabled 1993]
Luigi 'Gino' Tripodi (53y) and Ronald Turchi (53y) were also believed to have been made around this time, possibly in the same ceremony as Ciancaglini Jr.
Tripodi could have been inducted before Ciancaglini Jr.; Stanfa told CW Battaglia that Tripodi was his first choice as Underboss but, due to the need for a 'bridge' between Stanfa and the younger members, Ciancaglini Jr. was given the position. Battaglia: "[Gino] stepped back and John made him a soldier."
===
September 1992
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (51y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Others
 |
| L to R: Ciancaglini, Lucibello, Massimino, Merlino |
Members Inducted:
- Biagio Adornetto (24y) [Flipped 1993]
- Michael 'Mikey Chang' Ciancaglini (29y) [Murdered 1993]
- Gaeton Lucibello (39y)
- Joseph 'Mousie' Massimino (42y)
- Joseph 'Skinny Joey' Merlino (30y)
===
c. May 1993
Location: Apartment / Condo (Gibbstown, New Jersey)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Biagio Adornetto (24y) [Flipped 1993]
- Michael 'Mikey Chang' Ciancaglini (29y) [Murdered 1993]
- Gaeton Lucibello (39y)
- Joseph 'Mousie' Massimino (42y)
- Joseph 'Skinny Joey' Merlino (30y)
===
c. May 1993
Location: Apartment / Condo (Gibbstown, New Jersey)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
 |
| L to R: Battaglia, Esposito, Martines Martines: Press |
Members Inducted:
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) [Flipped 1996]
- Raymond Esposito (50y) [Died 1999]
- Frank Martines (38y) [IPL 1996]
Battaglia:
"
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) [Flipped 1996]
- Raymond Esposito (50y) [Died 1999]
- Frank Martines (38y) [IPL 1996]
Battaglia:
"
[On that day] I picked up Frank Martines and John Stanfa in Medford, New Jersey...Frankie told me and John told me that, you know, we were going to be straightened out, we were going to be made that [day].
...[When] I picked them up, we headed southbound on 295. We went to the Dutch Inn near Raymond Esposito's house. I pulled into the Dutch Inn. We met Raymond Esposito there. I parked my car in the Dutch Inn. And, Raymond was driving a Cougar, a two-door, like a light tan Cougar. Me, Raymond, John Stanfa and Frank Martines got in the car and we drove out to -- not that far away from the Dutch Inn was Raymond Esposito's daughter's condo or apartment. We went in there and that's where the ceremony was conducted.
...When we got there, John started explaining the rules, why we were there. You know, he was starting a new family. He was restructuring the whole family. He told us that he made Michael Ciancaglini, Gaeton Lucibello, Joseph Merlino, Biagio Adornetto and Joseph Massimino in September of '92.
He says, they're no longer recognized as a made member. Each individual is marked for death. When we get a chance, we're going to kill them. It could be a day, it could be a month, it could be a year. When the opportunity occurs, we're killing them. He says, I already talked to the other members of the families. They are not recognized and they are marked for death. I said, all right.
He told us the rules of the family. No prostitution, no drugs, no counterfeit money. He says -- let's see, -- [interrupted by prosecutor].
...I was sitting closest to John. And, you know, he said to me, you know why you're here? I said, no. You're supposed to say that. If you say you know why you're there, you get killed. So, you say, no, I don't know why I'm here. But, you know because you were told before you were getting straightened out.
He says -- there was a gun and knife on the table. He says, would you use this [for] anybody in the family? I said, yes. He says, you got a pin? Hit my finger -- my trigger finger, blood came out. Got a saint and wiped it. I [cupped] my hands, put the saint and lit it. He said, repeat after me. He says, if you betray anybody in the family with me, you burn like the saint in your hand. I did the same -- what he told me, I repeated after him. I put it out. He kissed me and wished me luck. After he finished with me, he got Frankie Martines. After Frankie, it was Raymond Esposito's turn.
...[When] I picked them up, we headed southbound on 295. We went to the Dutch Inn near Raymond Esposito's house. I pulled into the Dutch Inn. We met Raymond Esposito there. I parked my car in the Dutch Inn. And, Raymond was driving a Cougar, a two-door, like a light tan Cougar. Me, Raymond, John Stanfa and Frank Martines got in the car and we drove out to -- not that far away from the Dutch Inn was Raymond Esposito's daughter's condo or apartment. We went in there and that's where the ceremony was conducted.
...When we got there, John started explaining the rules, why we were there. You know, he was starting a new family. He was restructuring the whole family. He told us that he made Michael Ciancaglini, Gaeton Lucibello, Joseph Merlino, Biagio Adornetto and Joseph Massimino in September of '92.
He says, they're no longer recognized as a made member. Each individual is marked for death. When we get a chance, we're going to kill them. It could be a day, it could be a month, it could be a year. When the opportunity occurs, we're killing them. He says, I already talked to the other members of the families. They are not recognized and they are marked for death. I said, all right.
He told us the rules of the family. No prostitution, no drugs, no counterfeit money. He says -- let's see, -- [interrupted by prosecutor].
...I was sitting closest to John. And, you know, he said to me, you know why you're here? I said, no. You're supposed to say that. If you say you know why you're there, you get killed. So, you say, no, I don't know why I'm here. But, you know because you were told before you were getting straightened out.
He says -- there was a gun and knife on the table. He says, would you use this [for] anybody in the family? I said, yes. He says, you got a pin? Hit my finger -- my trigger finger, blood came out. Got a saint and wiped it. I [cupped] my hands, put the saint and lit it. He said, repeat after me. He says, if you betray anybody in the family with me, you burn like the saint in your hand. I did the same -- what he told me, I repeated after him. I put it out. He kissed me and wished me luck. After he finished with me, he got Frankie Martines. After Frankie, it was Raymond Esposito's turn.
"
Stanfa presided over the ceremony alone: "John Stanfa said that he -- Biagio Adornetto went bad, cooperated with the Government, and told them [who] was made at a ceremony. And, he had [shown] agents who were made members [and] who were players in the mob. He identified people. And, [Stanfa] didn't want to do that no more. He says, look, whenever I make somebody, it's going to be a couple guys. So, if somebody goes, it's his word against everybody else's and there's not going to [be] a lot of people. You know, I thought it made sense because after Biagio went, he implicated five guys being made that day with him, you know, and he exposed a lot of people."
Immediately after being made Frank Martines was appointed Acting Underboss: "[Stanfa] welcomed me for, like, being loyal, generating money, doing whatever had to be done for the family, and that's why I was being made. Frankie Martines was being made for the murder of Rod Colombo. And, Raymond Esposito was being congratulated and being made for [murder of] Mario Riccobene. At this meeting there was [restructuring] of the family. Me and Raymond Esposito would be soldiers. Frankie Martines would be acting [Underboss]. [If] Joseph Ciancaglini would get healthier and better and capable of maintaining his position [as official Underboss]. He would -- Frankie would step down and be a [Captain] of the family."
Stanfa presided over the ceremony alone: "John Stanfa said that he -- Biagio Adornetto went bad, cooperated with the Government, and told them [who] was made at a ceremony. And, he had [shown] agents who were made members [and] who were players in the mob. He identified people. And, [Stanfa] didn't want to do that no more. He says, look, whenever I make somebody, it's going to be a couple guys. So, if somebody goes, it's his word against everybody else's and there's not going to [be] a lot of people. You know, I thought it made sense because after Biagio went, he implicated five guys being made that day with him, you know, and he exposed a lot of people."
Immediately after being made Frank Martines was appointed Acting Underboss: "[Stanfa] welcomed me for, like, being loyal, generating money, doing whatever had to be done for the family, and that's why I was being made. Frankie Martines was being made for the murder of Rod Colombo. And, Raymond Esposito was being congratulated and being made for [murder of] Mario Riccobene. At this meeting there was [restructuring] of the family. Me and Raymond Esposito would be soldiers. Frankie Martines would be acting [Underboss]. [If] Joseph Ciancaglini would get healthier and better and capable of maintaining his position [as official Underboss]. He would -- Frankie would step down and be a [Captain] of the family."
 |
| A. Piccolo |
Shortly after being inducted Stanfa introduced Battaglia to Consigliere Anthony 'Tony Buck' Piccolo at Attorney Salvatore Avena's office in Camden, New Jersey: "When we walked in Anthony Piccolo was talking to Nicky Scarfo, Jr. John Stanfa walked over to Tony; can I talk to you for a minute. He excused himself. We walked into [a] rear bathroom. Mr, Stanfa and Piccolo went in there. Stanfa turned on the water [to] break up the sound, and he introduced me to Tony Piccolo as a friend of ours. Tony kissed me and wished me luck. John told us that, Sergio, you can learn a lot from this man. He's been around a long time. He's the consigliere of the family. Any advice we get from him is okay."
===
c. Mid-to-Late September 1993
Location: Basement of John Stanfa Residence (Medford, NJ)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) (Soldier) [Flipped 1996]
===
c. Mid-to-Late September 1993
Location: Basement of John Stanfa Residence (Medford, NJ)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) (Soldier) [Flipped 1996]
 |
| Pagano (L) and Stanfa (R) Press |
Members Inducted:
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Joseph Stanfa (23y)
Battaglia:
"
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Joseph Stanfa (23y)
Battaglia:
"
Me, Frankie [Martines] and John Stanfa, we met over at John Stanfa's residence [on] Church Street, Medford, New Jersey. And we told Al [Pagano] to come over at 8:00 later that night. We discussed that we were going to make Al Pagano first, induct him into the family, and we were going to do it in John Stanfa's house, in his basement, because his house was gutted and he [had] swept for bugs and it was clean. There was no bugs, he felt safe downstairs. It was all opened up. So we went downstairs when Al got there, and we inducted him. After we inducted Al, we called Joe Stanfa down.
...[We] told Al the rules, you know, basically the same thing that was told to me. Then we called Joe down, and the reason why we didn't make him at the same time, have them both in the same room is because we wanted to make everybody believe that Al was a member long before anybody else being that he was older, making like -- he's a made member the same day as Joe Stanfa? So we made it look like he was a made member before Joe. We called Joe Stanfa down, and we did the same thing, and the reason why he was inducted, John Stanfa feared if he ever got locked up, he could communicate with other members through his son. So we inducted Joe Stanfa into La Cosa Nostra.
...[We] told Al the rules, you know, basically the same thing that was told to me. Then we called Joe down, and the reason why we didn't make him at the same time, have them both in the same room is because we wanted to make everybody believe that Al was a member long before anybody else being that he was older, making like -- he's a made member the same day as Joe Stanfa? So we made it look like he was a made member before Joe. We called Joe Stanfa down, and we did the same thing, and the reason why he was inducted, John Stanfa feared if he ever got locked up, he could communicate with other members through his son. So we inducted Joe Stanfa into La Cosa Nostra.
"
The ceremony followed the traditional blood and fire method using a saint's card.
===
c. Late September - October 1993
Location: Penn Tower Hotel (West Philadelphia)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) (Captain?) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) (Soldier) [Flipped 1996]
The ceremony followed the traditional blood and fire method using a saint's card.
===
c. Late September - October 1993
Location: Penn Tower Hotel (West Philadelphia)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) (Captain?) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Sergio Battaglia (26y) (Soldier) [Flipped 1996]
 |
| Filipelli (L) and Veasey (R) Press |
Members Inducted:
- Vincent 'Big Vince' Filipelli (40y)
- John Veasey (26y) [Flipped 1994]
Veasey:
"
- Vincent 'Big Vince' Filipelli (40y)
- John Veasey (26y) [Flipped 1994]
Veasey:
"
I was picked up in the morning about 8:00, 8:30 from Sergio Battaglia at my house. I was driven to the Northeast to a place called Spinelli's [and] I met a few different people there. I met John Stanfa there, [Bufalino Boss] Billy D'Elia, Alphonse Pajamas [Pagano], Vince Filipelli, Frank Martines, Sergio was with me, a few guys named Frank, Billy's driver.
...We're at Spinelli's. We're all sitting around and, you know, we're talking. John [Stanfa]'s gotta climb over a fence to leave out the back [and the meeting broke up because] cops was supposed to be there and some FBI agents.
...[John] Stanfa and Sergio Battaglia went over a fence in the back. We went out the front door, me, Martines and Vincent Filipelli, and we went [south] on 95. We stopped, we bought some wine. And then we had to stop and get a corkscrew. Then we went to a hotel room across the street from the University of Pennsylvania [Penn Tower].
...[I] met John Stanfa, Sergio Battaglia and Al Pajamas in the room...At that time the rules -- he asked me if I knew why I was there and things like that. And then the rules were explained to me of the family.
...I had a piece of paper put in my hand and asked like if I [would] burn like this piece of paper before I betray this family...They used toilet paper right off the roll.
...[Frank Martines pricked my finger after] about seven or eight tries. I don't know how many tries. He was poking away then finally I squeezed it and got some blood into the front and then he poked it again.
...We're at Spinelli's. We're all sitting around and, you know, we're talking. John [Stanfa]'s gotta climb over a fence to leave out the back [and the meeting broke up because] cops was supposed to be there and some FBI agents.
...[John] Stanfa and Sergio Battaglia went over a fence in the back. We went out the front door, me, Martines and Vincent Filipelli, and we went [south] on 95. We stopped, we bought some wine. And then we had to stop and get a corkscrew. Then we went to a hotel room across the street from the University of Pennsylvania [Penn Tower].
...[I] met John Stanfa, Sergio Battaglia and Al Pajamas in the room...At that time the rules -- he asked me if I knew why I was there and things like that. And then the rules were explained to me of the family.
...I had a piece of paper put in my hand and asked like if I [would] burn like this piece of paper before I betray this family...They used toilet paper right off the roll.
...[Frank Martines pricked my finger after] about seven or eight tries. I don't know how many tries. He was poking away then finally I squeezed it and got some blood into the front and then he poked it again.
"
Afterwards Stanfa explained the rules:
"
Afterwards Stanfa explained the rules:
"
Well, rule number one was stay away from his daughter, which is Sarah. That was a off the limit situation. And after that was, you know, you can't fight with nobody that's made. You can't fight with other made guys. You will be introduced only through another made guy to another made guy as a friend of ours, not a friend of mine. So if I was to go out with [prosecutor] or something and meet youse and say he's a friend of mine, that would mean, you know, he's just my friend, he's not a member of La Cosa Nostra. If I say he's a friend of ours, it's like a international thing, then he would be a friend of La Cosa Nostra, meaning he would be a made member.
...[The] money situation was to give it all to the boss and, you know, he was buying weapons for the war [with Merlino faction], and we would give him all the money, he would pay us $300 a week. At that time I was getting 500 a week.
...[Regarding structure] Joseph Ciancaglini was shot sometime in March...He was the underboss and he couldn't lose that position because he was shot. So Frank Martines was the acting underboss but he couldn't fulfill that position either unless, you know, Joey stepped down or whatever. And [Stanfa] was the boss, you know, things like that.
...[The] money situation was to give it all to the boss and, you know, he was buying weapons for the war [with Merlino faction], and we would give him all the money, he would pay us $300 a week. At that time I was getting 500 a week.
...[Regarding structure] Joseph Ciancaglini was shot sometime in March...He was the underboss and he couldn't lose that position because he was shot. So Frank Martines was the acting underboss but he couldn't fulfill that position either unless, you know, Joey stepped down or whatever. And [Stanfa] was the boss, you know, things like that.
"
Veasey placed the ceremony a 'few weeks' after the September 17 murder of Frank Baldino.
Battaglia: "It was right after the Frank Baldino murder. Joe Stanfa went for a checkup [re August 31 shooting injury]. While he was getting checked up, we went across the street and inducted the two other individuals." (Battaglia also specified that Veasey's ceremony was the second of the last three ceremonies conducted by Stanfa, all of which occurred after Baldino was killed.)
Battaglia's account of the ceremony: "I picked up John Veasey at his house and told him today was his day; today he was going to be inducted into the mob. I drove over to Penn Towers where Al Pagano had a room arranged, and John Stanfa, Frank Martines, and Vince Filipelli were already upstairs. I met Al in the lobby. Me, John Veasey and Al Pagano went upstairs and met the other individuals. When we got up there, John Stanfa told John Veasey and Vince Filipelli the rules of the family just like he did at my ceremony and Al Pagano's ceremony, told them who -- what was Frankie's position, what was Al's position, the rules, would he use a gun or not for anybody in the family. And then after that, we proceeded with the ceremonies."
According to Battaglia, Veasey was already marked for death at the time of his induction: "We were going to make Veasey do all the work still, use him like a prostitute, and get him closer, make him feel happy because at this time, he's like, I made my bones; why ain't I being made? So we said we're going to make him, and once we made him, we were going to get [Associate Philip] Colletti and say, look, you made your bones too; we're going to make you; and have them both in the ceremony and [kill] both individuals."
That December Veasey, not yet facing charges, was convinced by his brother William to reach out to the FBI.
He initially remained on the street as a wired source and recorded two conversations before, on January 14, he was lured to a South Philadelphia numbers spot and shot by Frank Martines, with Vincent Pagano present. Veasey fought off his attackers and was taken into Federal custody.
Three months later Associate Philip Colletti also defected.
In early October 1995, shortly before John Veasey testified against Stanfa, his brother William was shot to death in South Philly.
===
c. November 1993
Location: Royce Hotel (near Langhorne in Middletown Township, PA)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) (Captain) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Luigi 'Gino' Tripodi (Captain?) (55y)
Veasey placed the ceremony a 'few weeks' after the September 17 murder of Frank Baldino.
Battaglia: "It was right after the Frank Baldino murder. Joe Stanfa went for a checkup [re August 31 shooting injury]. While he was getting checked up, we went across the street and inducted the two other individuals." (Battaglia also specified that Veasey's ceremony was the second of the last three ceremonies conducted by Stanfa, all of which occurred after Baldino was killed.)
Battaglia's account of the ceremony: "I picked up John Veasey at his house and told him today was his day; today he was going to be inducted into the mob. I drove over to Penn Towers where Al Pagano had a room arranged, and John Stanfa, Frank Martines, and Vince Filipelli were already upstairs. I met Al in the lobby. Me, John Veasey and Al Pagano went upstairs and met the other individuals. When we got up there, John Stanfa told John Veasey and Vince Filipelli the rules of the family just like he did at my ceremony and Al Pagano's ceremony, told them who -- what was Frankie's position, what was Al's position, the rules, would he use a gun or not for anybody in the family. And then after that, we proceeded with the ceremonies."
According to Battaglia, Veasey was already marked for death at the time of his induction: "We were going to make Veasey do all the work still, use him like a prostitute, and get him closer, make him feel happy because at this time, he's like, I made my bones; why ain't I being made? So we said we're going to make him, and once we made him, we were going to get [Associate Philip] Colletti and say, look, you made your bones too; we're going to make you; and have them both in the ceremony and [kill] both individuals."
That December Veasey, not yet facing charges, was convinced by his brother William to reach out to the FBI.
He initially remained on the street as a wired source and recorded two conversations before, on January 14, he was lured to a South Philadelphia numbers spot and shot by Frank Martines, with Vincent Pagano present. Veasey fought off his attackers and was taken into Federal custody.
Three months later Associate Philip Colletti also defected.
In early October 1995, shortly before John Veasey testified against Stanfa, his brother William was shot to death in South Philly.
===
c. November 1993
Location: Royce Hotel (near Langhorne in Middletown Township, PA)
Attendees:
- John Stanfa (52y) (Boss) [IPL 1996]
- Frank Martines (39y) (Acting Underboss) [IPL 1996]
- Vincent 'Al Pajamas' Pagano (63y) (Captain) [IPL 1996] [Died 2019]
- Luigi 'Gino' Tripodi (Captain?) (55y)
 |
| Scafidi |
Members Inducted:
- Giuseppe Gallara (25y) [IPL 1996]
- Gaetano 'Tommy Horsehead' Scafidi (29y) [Flipped 2000]
Gallara, who also went by Joe Stanfa, was Boss John Stanfa's nephew.
Battaglia: "[Stanfa] said, the reason we're making Giuseppe Gallara, because [he's] loyal to us, the work, and for the murder of Frank Baldino. Tommy Scafidi, for the murder of Louie Irish." (Louis 'Louie Irish' DeLuca was shot to death May 24, 1990 in South Philly.)
Veasey testified that he was unhappy with the decision to make Scafidi, who was until recently a member of the rival Merlino faction:
"
- Giuseppe Gallara (25y) [IPL 1996]
- Gaetano 'Tommy Horsehead' Scafidi (29y) [Flipped 2000]
Gallara, who also went by Joe Stanfa, was Boss John Stanfa's nephew.
Battaglia: "[Stanfa] said, the reason we're making Giuseppe Gallara, because [he's] loyal to us, the work, and for the murder of Frank Baldino. Tommy Scafidi, for the murder of Louie Irish." (Louis 'Louie Irish' DeLuca was shot to death May 24, 1990 in South Philly.)
Veasey testified that he was unhappy with the decision to make Scafidi, who was until recently a member of the rival Merlino faction:
"
John Stanfa called me and Sergio Battaglia, Frank Martines, Al Pajamas and Vince Filipelli...We went down to Continental Food Express. We were downstairs. It's like a warehouse area. And he said do you know why we're here? We're gonna make this -- you know, the kid, meaning Giuseppe Gallara, and the other kid was Tommy Horsehead, and he asked if anybody had objections to it, you know, speak your mind. Nobody said nothing because he was the boss, you don't second-guess him. I [said] something to Martines about it, but it was on the side.
...[I told Martines] I was kind of shocked that they were making Horsehead because he was on the other side trying to kill us just a few weeks prior to that and now here we go, we're gonna make this guy on, you know, our side of the family. I didn't understand that..,I didn't tell it to Stanfa. Not at that time anyway.
...[I told Martines] I was kind of shocked that they were making Horsehead because he was on the other side trying to kill us just a few weeks prior to that and now here we go, we're gonna make this guy on, you know, our side of the family. I didn't understand that..,I didn't tell it to Stanfa. Not at that time anyway.
"
Rather than the Royce Inn, Veasey recalled the location of the ceremony as being the Sheraton Inn in Northeast Philadelphia.
Battaglia and Veasey didn't attend but were instead parked outside the hotel as lookouts.
Battaglia: "John Stanfa wanted me and Veasey outside because he thought the law was following, and I had a car phone, and they had a room upstairs. If the law was in the area, I was supposed to beep Frank Martines, and they would depart the ceremony."
Veasey: "I [didn't attend] just brought the wine."
Afterward the group had dinner at Sal & Gerry's pizzeria in or near Newtown, PA, where the new inductees were formally introduced.
Those present included Boss John Stanfa, Acting Underboss Frank Martines, Captain Vincent Pagano, Captain (?) Luigi Tripodi, Soldiers Sergio Battaglia, Raymond Esposito, Vincent Filipelli, John Veasey and an Unsub described by Veasey as: "[An] unidentified Italian male. I don't know, he spoke Italian."
Battaglia recalled an 'individual named Nino' being present at the dinner; this was probably the same person as the Unsub noted by Veasey, and may have been Bruno Soldier Antonino 'Nino' Sciglitano (1927-2005).
Veasey: "[John Stanfa introduced Gallara as] a friend of ours and then he proceeded to walk around the table getting hugs and kisses from the people that were there...[Scafidi was introduced the same and he] came around to hug and kiss everybody. I didn't hug and kiss him, I just shook his hand. There was a argument between, you know, John [Stanfa] said hug the guy. I said I'm not gonna hug him, you know, and I just shook his hand."
This was the last known ceremony conducted by Stanfa. He and most of his supporters were indicted on Federal racketeering charges in March 1994. Stanfa was ultimately convicted and given multiple life sentences.
Rather than the Royce Inn, Veasey recalled the location of the ceremony as being the Sheraton Inn in Northeast Philadelphia.
Battaglia and Veasey didn't attend but were instead parked outside the hotel as lookouts.
Battaglia: "John Stanfa wanted me and Veasey outside because he thought the law was following, and I had a car phone, and they had a room upstairs. If the law was in the area, I was supposed to beep Frank Martines, and they would depart the ceremony."
Veasey: "I [didn't attend] just brought the wine."
Afterward the group had dinner at Sal & Gerry's pizzeria in or near Newtown, PA, where the new inductees were formally introduced.
Those present included Boss John Stanfa, Acting Underboss Frank Martines, Captain Vincent Pagano, Captain (?) Luigi Tripodi, Soldiers Sergio Battaglia, Raymond Esposito, Vincent Filipelli, John Veasey and an Unsub described by Veasey as: "[An] unidentified Italian male. I don't know, he spoke Italian."
Battaglia recalled an 'individual named Nino' being present at the dinner; this was probably the same person as the Unsub noted by Veasey, and may have been Bruno Soldier Antonino 'Nino' Sciglitano (1927-2005).
Veasey: "[John Stanfa introduced Gallara as] a friend of ours and then he proceeded to walk around the table getting hugs and kisses from the people that were there...[Scafidi was introduced the same and he] came around to hug and kiss everybody. I didn't hug and kiss him, I just shook his hand. There was a argument between, you know, John [Stanfa] said hug the guy. I said I'm not gonna hug him, you know, and I just shook his hand."
This was the last known ceremony conducted by Stanfa. He and most of his supporters were indicted on Federal racketeering charges in March 1994. Stanfa was ultimately convicted and given multiple life sentences.
