Nicodemo Domenico "Little Nicky" Scarfo (March 8, 1929 – January 15, 2017) was an American organized crime figure who rose to head the Philadelphia crime family. He succeeded older leaders in a turbulent period and became widely associated with a sharp turn toward internal violence and aggressive enforcement of discipline. His life and reign are often cited in studies of the American Mafia and federal efforts to dismantle organized crime in the late 20th century.
Early life and rise
Scarfo was born in 1929 and began working in criminal circles in his youth. Over time he advanced through the ranks of the Philadelphia organization, building a reputation as a trusted enforcer and captain. He assumed formal leadership after the assassinations of previous bosses, taking control during a period of instability when rivals and internal factions competed for power.
Leadership style and activities
Under Scarfo's command the family operated in familiar organized-crime areas such as extortion, illegal gambling, loan sharking and labor rackets. His tenure is remembered for a willingness to use extreme violence to settle disputes and to maintain authority. Former associates and law enforcement described his approach as paranoid and short-tempered, and many accounts emphasize a low tolerance for perceived disrespect.
Prosecutions and imprisonment
Federal investigators used modern tools such as RICO statutes, witness testimony and surveillance to target Scarfo and his associates. Multiple trials and plea agreements followed, with several high-profile convictions that removed key figures from the street and curtailed the family's operations. Scarfo himself was convicted on charges that included racketeering and murder-related offenses and spent many years incarcerated until his death in 2017.
Legacy and public perception
Scarfo's leadership marked a distinct change in the Philadelphia family's public profile: where predecessors pursued a lower-profile, negotiated mode of conduct, his era was associated with internal purges, vendettas and an atmosphere of fear. That period became material for journalists, law-enforcement case studies and books examining how federal prosecutions affected organized crime networks.
Notable facts
- Nickname: commonly known as "Little Nicky".
- Succession: rose after the deaths of prior bosses, amid factional conflict.
- Criminal scope: involved in traditional Mafia enterprises such as extortion and gambling.
- Legal impact: convictions under federal organized-crime laws are often cited as examples of RICO-era enforcement.
Scarfo remains a prominent example in discussions about the evolution of organized crime leadership, the consequences of violent internal control, and the effectiveness of coordinated federal prosecution strategies against entrenched criminal organizations.