13 Arrests In Major Philly Mob Takedown

PHILADELPHIA - A big takedown in the underworld Monday morning led to the arrests of 13 alleged mobsters, including Philadelphia's reputed mob boss and underboss.

Slideshow: Indicted Philly 'Mobsters'

The FBI swooped into South Philadelphia and South Jersey early Monday morning, Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser reported. Authorities said the alleged mobsters were rounded up around daybreak.

"Today's arrests and charges are the largest enforcement action in a decade against La Cosa Nostra in Philadelphia," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "We have pried loose La Cosa Nostra's grip on power and influence in the United States. But there is still work to be done. We will continue use all the tools at our disposal - including wiretaps, undercover operations and consensual recordings - to build cases against these individuals, and to bring them to justice."

Court documents show the arrests include alleged Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi, 72, and underboss Anthony "Ant" Staino Jr., 53.

Also arrested were: Joseph "Mousie" Massamino,61; George "Georgie" Borgesi, 47; Martin "Marty" Angelina, 48; Gaeton "The Big Guy" Lucibello, 58; and Lou "Bent Finger Lou" Monticello, 44.

Court Documents: Defendant List | Complete Indictment

The charges on the 50-count indictment include racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion, gambling and tampering with witnesses.

"This is that long-awaited mob indictment that George Anastasia and I have been talking about on 'Mob Talk' for probably three or four years, at least," Schratwieser told "Good Day" on Monday morning.

At least two of the individuals arrested in the sweep were already in prison, sources told Schratwieser, who anticipated that the arrests were tied to video poker machines seized during a raid last year.

"Those machines generate a ton of money. Some folks have estimated that each machine generates about $1,000 a week," Schratwieser reported. "There are at least, expected to be, probably 50 or 60 bars in South Philadelphia that have those machines, so we believe they can generate anywhere from $2 (million) to $3 million a year in revenue."

Ligambi has been the alleged mob boss in Philadelphia for 11 years, since Joey Merlino went to prison.

"We have long expected this to happen, but if this is the whole group at the top, this could be, you could be witnessing sometime later today in court not the end of the Philly mob but – very carefully worded – a decimation of the family," Schratwieser said.

Each charge of racketeering conspiracy, collection of unlawful debt, collection of extensions of credit through extortionate means, making extortionate extensions of credit, financing extortionate extensions of credit and witness tampering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The illegal gambling charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A press conference was being held late Monday morning on the eighth floor of the federal building in Philadelphia. Schratwieser was there and will have more on this mob shakeup on the Fox 29 News at 5 and 6.