Philly Prime Podcast

Gun violence across our region is being fueled by illegal weapons on the streets and so called “Ghost Guns”. They’re untraceable and dangerous. Now there’s trafficking in “ switches” than can make semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons. Edwin Torres from the NJ State Commission of Investigation joins the show to discuss how easy it is the get these guns and switches. He takes us inside the SCI investigation of the problem following a recent SCI public hearing on the issue. Please join us.

The 3-decade old judicial saga for jailed Lucchese Crime Family Captain Martin Taccetta takes a turn and support for his bid to be set free gains support from non other than one time reputed Mob Boss, turned podcaster Joey Merlino. Plus the Feds go digging for bodies again in upstate New York at two sites linked to the Gambino Crime Family. And a key figure in the Par Funding half-billion dollar alleged fraud case in Philly is set to plead guilty to federal charges. Mob expert George Anastasia joins the show with new details you don’t want to miss.

Federal authorities in Philadelphia dropped a massive 60-count Racketeering indictment on Brothers Joseph and James LaForte this week after hundreds of investors and clients were allegedly defrauded to the tune of $550 Million. One of the brothers in the “LaForte Enterprise” has been publicly identified as a soldier in New York’s Gambino Crime Family. Author and Mob expert George Anastasia joins the podcast to discuss the indictment, the ramifications in Philly & New York and what’s next. We’ll also take a deep dive into the life and times of government informant Anthony Persiano, who recorded a Philly Mob Making Ceremony on tape for the FBI. Please join us. Contributors:

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is drawing lots of attention for his new PA state budget, quick repairs to I-95 and all sorts of other key issues facing Pennsylvania. He’s even getting some mention as a potential Presidential candidate. FOX29 Political analyst Bruce Gordon joins the podcast to break it all down and share his opinion on Shapiro’s political future in 2024 and beyond.

A New Jersey judge this week ordered a full blown hearing into defense claims that dental records that could have provided an alibi for Lucchese Crime Family leader Martin Taccetta were tampered with in a 1984 murder case and a report saying so was withheld from the defense. Lawyers say the doctored documents and questionable testimony from 2 government cooperators could help set the 72-year old Taccetta free from his 30- year sentence. Mob expert and author George Anastasia joins the show to break it all down.

Eagles, Eagles, Eagles. Love em or hate em, they are the talk of the town this week. A bad run of losses and an upcoming playoff game vs.The Tampa Bay Bucs has everybody tossing around opinions. Bill Colarulo Jr., Host of The Legalhandstotheface podcast and Philly Sports Power Hour, joins the show to chat it up on the ugly loss to the Giants and The Birds chances against the Buccaneers. Please join us.

A Changing of the Guard At Philadelphia City Hall. Mayor Jim Kenney in his final weeks in office as Cherelle Parker gets ready to take control of the city. A new Police Commissioner and promises to crack down on gun violence top the new mayoral agenda. FOX29 Political Analyst Bruce Gordon joins the Philly Prime Podcast to take a look at the old and the new. What’s Jim Kenney’s future and how will Cherelle Parker come out of the gate as the city’s first female mayor, She’s facing some major issues right from the start.

In an amazing twist of fate and some great detective work, Philadelphia Police now believe they have the alleged Fairmount Park rapist in custody, 20 years after he first struck. Elias Diaz was arrested for a series of slashing incidents over the weekend in Pennypack Park. Investigators say DNA tests and other long sought evidence now has detectives convinced they have their man in a series of rapes and the strangulation murder of Rebecca Park. Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore breaks down the arrest and the evidence.

The Feds swoop in and bust Bloods Street Gang 5-Star General Edwin Spears with 500lbs of pot, 28lbs of Coke and 1,000 cartridges of THC. Arrested boarding a chartered jet to London. What lead to the arrest, where did the drugs come from and where could this arrest lead. Plus a look back at Spears ties to the Lucchese Crime Family. Mob/Crime Expert Geirge Anastasia joins the podcast to break it down.

Philadelphia has a new Mayor-Elect. Cherelle Parker, who this week won election to replace Jim Kenney. Fox29’s Jeff Cole’s been covering the campaign and has interviewed Parker on a multitude of topics. He joins us to talk politics, Parker’s crime/gun violence plan and her other top challenges. Cole also brings us up to date on the corruption trial of embattled and convicted Labor Leader John “ Johnny Doc” Dougherty. His federal trial started this week

It was a Mob hit that rocked Philadelphia. A daring, rush hour drive by shooting on the infamous Schuykill Expressway. The target was Mob Boss John Stanfa. The shooters, allegedly his rivals from the Merlino Mob faction. Now 30 years later, one of the cops assigned to the case delivers new details and Mob expert George Anastasia,who was on the scene that day in 1993, opens up about the Mob hit heard round the nation.

On April 10,1999 little known mob associate Gino Marconi stepped out onto his front porch on 20th Street near Porter Street followed by a female friend and was promptly shot to death by an assassin using a rifle. His friend was seriously wounded. The daring Mob hit has never been solved, no one has been charged. Marconi’s murder is one of six the Philly Prime Podcast & Mobtalksitdown.com are delving into with veteran and retired Philly Crime Scene Unit investigator John Taggart who was involved in these cases. We will talk about the murder, the motive, the rifle that was recovered and the suspect’s van that was torched right in front of Marconi’s house seconds after the crime.

The 20-year anniversary of the murder of Philly Mob Associate Johnny “Gongs” Casasanto is coming up next month with lots of questions still unanswered and no one charged with the gangland style killing. Casasanto was gunned down in his kitchen after sources say he let someone he knew and two others into his Durfor Street home in the early morning hours. This is one of half a dozen mob hits that have gone unsolved since Mob Boss Joey Merlino and Acting Boss “Uncle Joe” Ligambi began running the Philly Crime Family from the mid 90s. Crime scene expert John Taggart, who processed the Casasanto crime scene joins the show once again to talk about what many describe as a Mob murder committed for many reasons.

Longtime Philly Mobster Raymond “Long John” Martorano was gunned down in a gangland style hit in January of 2002 in the Washington Square West section of Philadelphia. Two gunmen allegedly opened fire on Martorano’s Lincoln Towncar as he drove from his upscale home to a doctor’s appointment on Spruce Street. He had been out of prison less than three years. The unsolved murder made headlines for days. Martorano survived, but died several days later. There are multiple theories over the motive for the high profile murder. Retired, veteran Philly Crime Scene Investigator John Taggart processed the crime scene and the victim’s car. He joins Mob Talk Sitdown and The Philly Prime Podcast to discuss the murder.

Mobster Ronald Turchi was murdered in late October 1999 after what many believed was a falling out with the Philadelphia Crime Family. Turchi was shot to death, hog tied and left naked in the trunk of a car in South Philly. His murder is still unsolved 24 years later. Retired, veteran Crime Scene Investigator John Taggart processed the car Turchi was found in as part of the investigation. He joins Mob Talk Sitdown & The Philly Prime Podcast to discussed the case and why so many Mob murders go unsolved.

The Philly Prime Podcast meets MobTalk Sitdown.com this week. Mob expert George Anastasia joins the show to talk about Philly Mob Boss Joey Merlino’s new podcast, website and Instagram page dubbed “The Skinny with Joey Merlino”. We’ll break it all down on this gambling centric venture. Since Joey is stepping into the odds making spotlight again, we’ll take a look at the Philly Mob. Who’s in. Who’s out. And who’s running the show. Join us as we launch our 100th Philly Prime Podcast. Back where it all started with George Anastasia.

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Veteran Philly Anti-Violence advocate Bilal Qayyum joins the show with some interesting new information on the violence problem in Philly. He will discuss new programs to help at risk teens and what’s ahead for stemming the shootings and murders in Philadelphia.

This week on the Philly Prime Podcast we will dig deep into last week’s mass shooting in Philadelphia that left 5 people dead and 2 others wounded. Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore, a 30 + year veteran of the force, joins us the discuss this horrific crime, the suspect and the “ghost guns” used to carried out the shootings. Please join us as we breaking all down.

Dangerous Drifting, drag racing and massive crowds jamming Philly Highways. One incident actually shutdown I-95 and lead to a fatal police involved shooting. Philadelphia, Delaware and PA State Troopers are investigations and cracking down. Veteran Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith of the Major Crimes Unit joins the podcast to break it all down. Please join us on The Philly Prime Podcast.