Mafia activity in Pittsburgh (Erie, York: house, construction, budget)

[Benzman66]

Originally Posted by ExPit

John LaRocca

Now there's a name I remember quite well from years back!

That family pretty much ran things around here.

BTW, is the Rosa Villa Cafe still around on the North Side anymore?

[TheReason]

THis is very interesting! More info!

[By~Tor]

I wonder whatever happened to "Pittsburgh Phil".....

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by By~Tor

I wonder whatever happened to "Pittsburgh Phil".....

You mean Pittsburgh Phil Strauss? Murderer's Row, wasn't it? Gotta be long dead I would think but I guess I could be wrong.

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by Benzman66

Now there's a name I remember quite well from years back!

That family pretty much ran things around here.

BTW, is the Rosa Villa Cafe still around on the North Side anymore?

I live out of state, but I read on one of the threads here that the Rosa Villa is still standing but no longer in operation. By the way, one day my father who knew some of these guys took me there for lunch when I was a kid and the man, Johnny LaRocca was in there, his place I guess it was. He nodded to us and smiled, looked like, believe it or not, a real gentle soul, kind of along the style of Carlo Gambino.

[Benzman66]

Originally Posted by ExPit

Johnny LaRocca was in there, his place I guess it was. He nodded to us and smiled, looked like, believe it or not, a real gentle soul, kind of along the style of Carlo Gambino.

Agreed! Most of the "old regime" are that way, very kind hearted, but you definitely still don't want to mess/interfere with them or the "boys" in their operations, as that mood can change quickly.

I knew one of the "old regime" who use to go every Christmas Eve to a supermarket and buy a ton of groceries, then have the "boys" deliver them to folks who did not have food for Christmas. It was a yearly tradition till he passed away.

The "new" regime is no where close to how it use to be. Now it is all drugs, prostitution, money laundering, etc whereas the old days, it was the numbers mostly.

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by Benzman66

Agreed! Most of the "old regime" are that way, very kind hearted, but you definitely still don't want to mess/interfere with them or the "boys" in their operations, as that mood can change quickly.

I knew one of the "old regime" who use to go every Christmas Eve to a supermarket and buy a ton of groceries, then have the "boys" deliver them to folks who did not have food for Christmas. It was a yearly tradition till he passed away.

The "new" regime is no where close to how it use to be. Now it is all drugs, prostitution, money laundering, etc whereas the old days, it was the numbers mostly.

This is not that Goodfellas thing in Pgh? But anyway I agree, drugs changed everything. The stakes are higher, both the profit potential and the mandatory minimums they pass out like parking tickets. Who was it, Sammy Gravano in the "Gotti" movie, who said, "Nothin's worth doing a thousand years over."

[Chichappens]

Originally Posted by Benzman66

Agreed! Most of the "old regime" are that way, very kind hearted, but you definitely still don't want to mess/interfere with them or the "boys" in their operations, as that mood can change quickly.

I knew one of the "old regime" who use to go every Christmas Eve to a supermarket and buy a ton of groceries, then have the "boys" deliver them to folks who did not have food for Christmas. It was a yearly tradition till he passed away.

The "new" regime is no where close to how it use to be. Now it is all drugs, prostitution, money laundering, etc whereas the old days, it was the numbers mostly.

I beg to differ...... The Italian mob is not into prostitution or money laundering any longer...more on the lines of Pump an Dump Stocks, Bonds, Ponzi Scams..........It's all Wall Street Baby and Strip Clubs

[Sierra275]

Originally Posted by floridaorbust

Sharon Pa use to have a pretty good size mafia ring. Not sure what its like now.

It is still there it is just under wraps and the Youngstown Mob is quiet too. I guess when the old schoolers like Joey Naples were around it was bad but, now that a lot of them have gone legit or died it is quiet. And, since Traficant is in prison they are doing stuff like cybercrimes and know one knows. I grew up near Sharon and I know about all this stuff.

[TheReason]

More info! This is great stuff...

How far of a reach did the Pittsburgh crew have?

Steubenville Ohio?

Wheeling, wv?

I've heard that Steubenville Ohio, especially the its size, use to have a lot of activity that as it was a netural point between Youngstown and Pittsburgh.