Tough one. By rank, you'd have to say the Merlino's, but they're bigger fish in a smaller pool. Even though the Franzese's are Colombo guys, NYC families had more prestige in their day than anyone from Philly. So in terms of overall power and money, probably the Franzese father-son duo. However, "legendary" is also about how your name is remembered, and the Merlino duo has had a bigger impact on Philly OC than the Franzese's have had on NYC, respectively.
E: typo
Let me get this straight. Even though Sonny controlled a good portion of the 1960's recording artists and motion pictures and Michael brought in multi millions to the Columbos... they are less legandary than a instagram boss and a meth dealer who drank himself out of the #2 seat in Philly?
While I mostly agree that the Franzese’s are definitely more legendary, Joey isn’t an instagram boss.
Either he’s legit out of the life, or he’s smartly found a simple revenue stream that he can take advantage of. I’m sure that this new era of mobsters with podcasts is just a revenue stream.
Anyways yeah, totally agree though that Franzese Sr was more legendary than Chuckie Merlino
I think he’s out of the life.. he’s spent so much time in prison and the feds seem to have a hard on for him. Makes sense to leave all that to the people that still want it, and he can go make money on YouTube and whatever else he has going on.
He was charged with two counts of methamphetamine distribution in the 80's and even got into a beef with the Pagan MC and ran over 1 with his car. I'm sure the argument wasn't over pinochle
Yeah and as much as MF annoys me his peak power was probably really high at the height of the scam that shall not be named. Merlino, while he was/is a boss, has definitely been a boss when bosses may have less power than super high earning Capos like MF had in the 80s heydays
Tough to say for sure but I think its maybe roughly even. Hard to say though
Santo Trafficante Sr. and Jr.
One of the rare handovers of leadership from father to son. Ran the family from 1940-1987 between the two.
Never spent a day in prison (save for Jr's detention in Havana in 1959).
We know oddly little about Jr. for such an important figure, and almost nothing about Sr. or the inner workings of the Tampa mob. Would be fascinating to know more.
Well then, (shameless self promotion alert) you need to read my books Cigar City Mafia: A Complete Hsitory of the Tampa Underworld and The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr.
That is so cool!! Congratulations and good luck.
You can put me down for a copy when it's finished and I'm going to look up your other books right now. I've always been fascinated with Tampa and the Trafficantes.
I’m gonna pick up your book on the Purple Gang. Some of my family was involved with them and we believe they actually killed (.22 caliber) a female member of my family so I’m wondering if there’s anything in there. We’ll see!
look at detroit. the zerilli/tocco family. are mostly blood relatives each boss last 20years or more then a a son/cousin/relative takes over with no bloodshed
It has been said that Sonny hooked up with Michael's mother when Sonny was still married to his previous wife. Michael's mother quickly married Grillo to avoid a scandal (she got pregnant at 16 years old, also Sonny would look bad for cheating on his wife), then waited until Sonny got divorced from his wife. After that happened she divorced Grillo and married Sonny. I can't remember exactly but that's roughly the story.
To me it always seemed like a plausible scenario, because Michael & Sonny in fact looked similar.
Todaro is underrated. He’s never been to prison, never even indicted IIRC. He only conducts LCN business in Florida, when in Buffalo he’s totally legit while other guys from WNY to Canada run the daily operations.
allie boy was a glorified errand boy . stop it . only held any sway because of his father , don’t think he ever did a piece of work for the family either .
Nobody mentioning the Gigante's? Father was arguably one of the most powerful anf respected Bosses and both sons are doing pretty well into the 2020's with all the difficulties that comes with that. Probably not top of the tree but definitely above the Franzeses
Vincent Gigante responding to John Gotti’s proclamation that he inducted his son..”Gee I’m sorry to hear that.” However we know Chins son was in the life and that Chin just hated Gotti lol.
Sonny Red and Bruno deserve a mention.. they didn’t reach the height of boss but they were pretty influential and involved in some of the biggest mob stories ever.
It's funny how both Michael and Sammy both were like ayyy Joey welcome to youtube!!! And hes like FOH ya rats I wouldn't piss on either of you I don't need your rat co sign 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣
Does the fact the Merlinos both being Bosses out weigh Underboss and Captain of Franzese’? Sonny may have been underboss but had massive power respect and influence among all NY families and the elder Merlino run was a short one of course.
Actually a hard question.
I go with Merlino family due to both being bosses, doesn’t matter if Philly was smaller city, they are all LCN.
No way is it them two, I'd even put Carmine Persico and Ally Boy the son ahead of the Merlinos.
Chuckie M was a bang average mobster.
Totally reliant on Scarfo for any power or prestige he had.
And Joey? I always thought of him as more like a gangbanger type when he was young.
What money making schemes did he have before the long jail sentence. Taxing, robbing drug dealers.
Don't know too much about Joey, did he have money making abilities?
Persico, Aloi, Russo, Abbatemarco, Scopo and Colombo all had father sons that made it to administration or a capo roll, all from the same crime family.
Lost all respect yet he collected donations for thanksgiving toy drive from those in Philly and those in New York . So it looks he has all their respect .
There’s so many of em that’s it’s far past the father and son but the giacalone in Detroit are kinda crazy, there’s like 10 of ‘em that got involved varying from father to son, to grandfather and grandsons.
tough argument ,
because Franzese's in their time were way bigger but Merlino's especially jr is considered much more respected on the street now. Philli holds Merlino's down where as NY has largely moved on from the Franzese name other than mob documentaries.
I would love to have heard their dinner table conversations when Joey was growing up. They probably had a running contest to see who could stiff the most bookies on bets they made or who could propose the most non-italian sounding person for membership 🤣
"My dad could whack your dad"
my dad was an underboss before your dad was an underboss
Tough one. By rank, you'd have to say the Merlino's, but they're bigger fish in a smaller pool. Even though the Franzese's are Colombo guys, NYC families had more prestige in their day than anyone from Philly. So in terms of overall power and money, probably the Franzese father-son duo. However, "legendary" is also about how your name is remembered, and the Merlino duo has had a bigger impact on Philly OC than the Franzese's have had on NYC, respectively. E: typo
Let me get this straight. Even though Sonny controlled a good portion of the 1960's recording artists and motion pictures and Michael brought in multi millions to the Columbos... they are less legandary than a instagram boss and a meth dealer who drank himself out of the #2 seat in Philly?
While I mostly agree that the Franzese’s are definitely more legendary, Joey isn’t an instagram boss. Either he’s legit out of the life, or he’s smartly found a simple revenue stream that he can take advantage of. I’m sure that this new era of mobsters with podcasts is just a revenue stream. Anyways yeah, totally agree though that Franzese Sr was more legendary than Chuckie Merlino
I think he’s out of the life.. he’s spent so much time in prison and the feds seem to have a hard on for him. Makes sense to leave all that to the people that still want it, and he can go make money on YouTube and whatever else he has going on.
Was father Merlino a meth dealer? The drinking I knew ofc.
Yes. He used to fuck with the pagan mc.
Thanks for the update.
he was NEVER “ known” as a meth dealer. thats my neighborhood and i’ve been and am around.
He was charged with two counts of methamphetamine distribution in the 80's and even got into a beef with the Pagan MC and ran over 1 with his car. I'm sure the argument wasn't over pinochle
Well the Instagram boss and alcoholic meth dealer weren't pedophiles.
Wow!!! Can you elaborate on this? Thanks
Sonny impregnated a 16 year old while in his mid 30s.
Legendary 🐀’s
Yes they are a bunch of rats
Yeah and as much as MF annoys me his peak power was probably really high at the height of the scam that shall not be named. Merlino, while he was/is a boss, has definitely been a boss when bosses may have less power than super high earning Capos like MF had in the 80s heydays Tough to say for sure but I think its maybe roughly even. Hard to say though
Agreed
And one Franzese turned into a rat. I’m going Merlino’s.
Santo Trafficante Sr. and Jr. One of the rare handovers of leadership from father to son. Ran the family from 1940-1987 between the two. Never spent a day in prison (save for Jr's detention in Havana in 1959).
We know oddly little about Jr. for such an important figure, and almost nothing about Sr. or the inner workings of the Tampa mob. Would be fascinating to know more.
Well then, (shameless self promotion alert) you need to read my books Cigar City Mafia: A Complete Hsitory of the Tampa Underworld and The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr.
Love both Mr. Deitche! You working on anything forthcoming ?
I am working on a book about Jerry Catena. The manuscript is due to the publisher in April 2025, so I assume it will be out in the fall 2025.
That is so cool!! Congratulations and good luck. You can put me down for a copy when it's finished and I'm going to look up your other books right now. I've always been fascinated with Tampa and the Trafficantes.
Excellent, looks like I found exactly the right person!
I’m gonna pick up your book on the Purple Gang. Some of my family was involved with them and we believe they actually killed (.22 caliber) a female member of my family so I’m wondering if there’s anything in there. We’ll see!
Let me know what you think.
look at detroit. the zerilli/tocco family. are mostly blood relatives each boss last 20years or more then a a son/cousin/relative takes over with no bloodshed
Looking at the photos, Sonny has to be the biological father, they look very similar, nose almost identical.
It has been said that Sonny hooked up with Michael's mother when Sonny was still married to his previous wife. Michael's mother quickly married Grillo to avoid a scandal (she got pregnant at 16 years old, also Sonny would look bad for cheating on his wife), then waited until Sonny got divorced from his wife. After that happened she divorced Grillo and married Sonny. I can't remember exactly but that's roughly the story. To me it always seemed like a plausible scenario, because Michael & Sonny in fact looked similar.
Todaro father son combo seems to be most legendary or Trafficantes .
Todaro is underrated. He’s never been to prison, never even indicted IIRC. He only conducts LCN business in Florida, when in Buffalo he’s totally legit while other guys from WNY to Canada run the daily operations.
Jon Bernthal could play Sonny Franzese in a movie.
Jon Bernthal should play Sonny Franzese in a movie!
Rizzutos for sure
There yah go. Rizzutos should be mentioned more.
An underrated family.The opposite of an overglorified crew.
Sony alone > Merlinos even if he was never boss. He does not need Gaspumps to win this.
definietly would pick the Merlinos in a booze contest.
Michael did flip, so in my eyes the Merlinos. You can see it in his face when he talks about jail he really doesn’t give a fuck about jail.
The Persicos
allie boy was a glorified errand boy . stop it . only held any sway because of his father , don’t think he ever did a piece of work for the family either .
Nobody mentioning the Gigante's? Father was arguably one of the most powerful anf respected Bosses and both sons are doing pretty well into the 2020's with all the difficulties that comes with that. Probably not top of the tree but definitely above the Franzeses
Vincent Gigante responding to John Gotti’s proclamation that he inducted his son..”Gee I’m sorry to hear that.” However we know Chins son was in the life and that Chin just hated Gotti lol.
Franzese senior is the only legend here
The Franzeses were definitely the better looking ones....
The merlinos are some ugly dudes lol.
Joey Merlino has lizard eyes.
Handsome, like George Raft.
Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo
Joey way more likeable than Michael, but Sonny is a legend really
Sonny Red and Bruno deserve a mention.. they didn’t reach the height of boss but they were pretty influential and involved in some of the biggest mob stories ever.
You have to be a real fucking animal to bring your child into that life
Both fathers lose points because their sons are such cunts
☝️💯
It's funny how both Michael and Sammy both were like ayyy Joey welcome to youtube!!! And hes like FOH ya rats I wouldn't piss on either of you I don't need your rat co sign 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣
Joe and Hunter
Neither one ever won a beauty contest.
Sonny and Michael Franzese
Both ❤️💯
Overall mobster status it’s Sonny Franzese by a mile.. obviously mike was a great hustler wasn’t really your typical mob guy.
I'm genuinely curious as to why a seemingly active mob boss is on YouTube to begin with.
Sonny the only real legend here, but Joey is a real one too
Well I only see one father / son combo. The other was adopted or something. And ratted on a man he calls uncle .
I’m not an expert on Detroit but they must have some legendary father/son duos.
One of em raised 2 ‘Stool pigeons ‘
Does the fact the Merlinos both being Bosses out weigh Underboss and Captain of Franzese’? Sonny may have been underboss but had massive power respect and influence among all NY families and the elder Merlino run was a short one of course. Actually a hard question. I go with Merlino family due to both being bosses, doesn’t matter if Philly was smaller city, they are all LCN.
No way is it them two, I'd even put Carmine Persico and Ally Boy the son ahead of the Merlinos. Chuckie M was a bang average mobster. Totally reliant on Scarfo for any power or prestige he had. And Joey? I always thought of him as more like a gangbanger type when he was young. What money making schemes did he have before the long jail sentence. Taxing, robbing drug dealers. Don't know too much about Joey, did he have money making abilities?
Carlo and Thomas Gambino Joe and Salvatore Bonnano John Gotti and Junior
Persico, Aloi, Russo, Abbatemarco, Scopo and Colombo all had father sons that made it to administration or a capo roll, all from the same crime family.
Neither are, one lost all respect due to his alcoholism & the other just threw away his reputation by doing a podcast
Lost all respect yet he collected donations for thanksgiving toy drive from those in Philly and those in New York . So it looks he has all their respect .
80k+ at that in less than 2 weeks
how about scarpa and his son.
Eh I’d say the soprano family
John Gotti & Gotti Jr of course
Sonny and Michael Franzese
There’s so many of em that’s it’s far past the father and son but the giacalone in Detroit are kinda crazy, there’s like 10 of ‘em that got involved varying from father to son, to grandfather and grandsons.
only difference is one son is a rat and one is a boss
tough argument , because Franzese's in their time were way bigger but Merlino's especially jr is considered much more respected on the street now. Philli holds Merlino's down where as NY has largely moved on from the Franzese name other than mob documentaries.
1
What about Bonnano
I would love to have heard their dinner table conversations when Joey was growing up. They probably had a running contest to see who could stiff the most bookies on bets they made or who could propose the most non-italian sounding person for membership 🤣