George Borgesi, 50, is said to have taken the big seat, a source told Cosa Nostra News.

The family's former consiglieri, "Georgie is not liked on the street," said the source. He added that Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi, boss of the family who has been claiming he is retired, and Borgesi, who is Uncle Joe's nephew, don't get along.

"Since Georgie's been back he's had the Salvo brothers who are loyal to him grabbing everything back that was his before he went to jail.

"Uncle Joe's guys who collected [money for him], you could work with. Georgie is a stone-cold killer and it's only a matter of time before bodies start adding up. [Borgesi's] still on parole, I guess so he's limited as to what he can do [for now]."

Borgesi "pretty much put himself in that position when his uncle said he was retiring and going to Florida. Everybody is just waiting for the shoe to drop and see what's left."

"Nobody knows who to trust or who will step up when the dust clears. Scarfo Senior's guys are out but staying under the radar. It's gonna be interesting who steps to the plate."

In January 26, 2014, after 13 years in prison, Borgesi, the Philadelphia mob's former consigliere, walked away from the James A. Byrne federal courthouse holding hands with a woman he married while behind bars.

A jury had acquitted "Georgie Boy" on one count of racketeering conspiracy and said it was hopelessly deadlocked on three of four counts facing his uncle and codefendant, Ligambi. The jury cleared Ligambi of one witness-intimidation count and he was later let go as well when prosecutors decided not to put the boss of the Philly mob on trial for a third time.

Ligambi wasted no time in announcing his plans to retire from the mob, as we noted, in order to "summer in Longport and winter in Florida."

This has caused speculation about who would take over the mob. According to the source who contacted us, It seems Georgie Boy is making his move, which likely wouldn't happen unless Uncle Joe did indeed "retire."

But if George is taking the spot, a lot depends on who is backing him. If he's not well liked and still moving to reclaim territory lost during his dozen years of imprisonment, then the volatility for which the Philadelphia crime family was once well-known can return as swiftly as the time it takes to pull a trigger.

As we noted, among whatever other rivalries within the Philly mob family, the basic stage includes two generations historically at odds with each other, the old Scarfo gang and the Merlino young turks.

The ability to hold the two groups together was said to be largely due to the finesse of "Uncle Joe," who is credited for keeping the peace.

But with or without him, shifts in power are inevitable as the family's composition changes (with some members returning to the street, and others heading off to prison).

What is the world coming to?!?!? He's probably the only guy who wants the job anymore.

Not a chance on earth this is true , he will be a lightening rod nothing more

Its very believable to me and I actually heard it from another knowledgeable source about a week ago. It don't surprise me at all.

I thought he was despised on the street, why would Steve mazzone step aside for borgesi ? Doesn't make sense

Could be Borgesi as boss, Mazzone as under boss and Johnny Chang as consig... It makes sense to me.

I don't pretend to know a thing about Philly other than that they make a nice roast pork and broccoli rabe sandwich down there. But just as a casual observer, I find this very difficult to believe. But if it's true, I can't see how this guy doesn't end up back in jail.

Mazzone don't want all the heat that comes with being boss. Hes smart. He was just acting boss to make sure the family didn't crumble to pieces worse then it already has in the past. Now he can still make just as much money and not be so hot. And Borgesi, mazzone, and Merlino are the ones who fought to take over the family. I am sure they are still tight.

I can't see this being true , wot about the old scarfo guys, surely if a agreement has been reached one of those must have an administration spot

Yea its gonna be funny when Borgesi' parole officer reads the article and asks Georgie about it lol

Wonder where lucibello fits in wen he comes home ??

There's so many high ranking members, not enough administration spots.

Yeah I agree , the administration is a mystery at the minute , I suppose that's the wa it should be

It's called all chiefs, no Indians. And that's how every criminal organization, starting with the Roman Empire, fell apart.

Good Analogy and in the smaller families that's always a problem one word ..money

He's not despised on the street but I highly doubt he is the boss if anything he's stille the consigliere Stevie is the boss whether he is acting boss for Merlino or not idk but there's no way Georgie's the boss but I'm sure he is in the administration as consigliere, it's possible there using him as a lightening rod but I very highly doubt he's the real boss he's got the balls but not the brains, Stevie has both the balls and brain and Johnny Chang also has a lot or brains, so like I said before there's no way Georgie is the official boss if anything he's consigliere or maybe even underboss

I guess we will never know for sure until somebody gets caught on wiretap.

No chance, he's still on parole. He's a lightning rod if anything, Mazzone is the real power in the family, Borgesi is dumb enough to fall for this.

The only way this is true and Corky is in charge, is if Mazzone used his smarts and wanted to use the guy as a lightning rod

Borghesi is not boss material. Doesn't even look italian. lol

If true smart move on Joe and Steve, let him take the heat.

Steve Mazzone looks like Murmur out of The Sopranos.

At most Georgie will be the front boss, have to agree with the general consensus that he is not boss material.

IF and big IF its true...

My guess is that Mazzone and Chang really dont want the top spot because of heat and this is a political move by Merlino. I think Georgie is considered a guy who would like the name and stature, so Merlino appeases both Mazzone and Chang by letting them do there thing without the heat and hot head Georgie gets the title he wants and whatever else he is entitled to. He did do a lot of time which especially in Philly means alot.

This would mean that the Georgie bad blood with everyone rumor is probably overblown and the dust has settled.

Ligambi probably retired in prison a couple of years ago when realized how bad the feds wanted him even at his old age

I think the smart guys in philly want Chang as boss, but since he's smart he wont do that.... just my guess this could all be BS of course

What's the general consensus around here? Is Merlino still involved in the mob or not?

I'm not exactly an expert on the subject but my personal opinion is that Merlino is semi-retired, he may mediate between the rival factions but I don't think he is the secret boss. Then again I've never even been to Philly so what do I know!

Scotland's not in Pennsylvania?

It's believable that Borgesi is the new boss. Never underestimate the ego. That's what pushes these guys anyway. He just beat the government. He pounded his chest in private, now it's time to do it in public. Of course, I have zero information on this; total speculation.

Now, the original post says Georgie is volatile and has poor relationships on the street; and bodies may start dropping. I will say this: If the Scarfo guys are involved with the Philly Mob and Borgesi is a maniac, hes dead. No way they let another boss send them to jail. And, his friends Mazzone, Merlino(if involved), etc., won't hesitate to blast him either.

If he's boss, he's either in jail or dead in 2 years.

On a side note, the "other shoe" is gonna been when Nicodemo go back to trial/gets convicted/if he flips. All of these guys are on borrowed time.

i would say probably a 75% he is involved as an upper level guy and uses that guy wagner and sonny mazzone as his messengers.

i would say that Ligambi is retired as he's old and went to jail for 3 yrs- has a bunch of kids etc

If Borgesi is boss then it is not LCN. The guy is nothing but a dumb thug who coulden't run a basic bookmaking or shylocking operation. He and Merlino were the ones running around betting into books and not paying. Borgesi is just a thug who will try collect tax.

theyve been predicting bodies dropping for years now...george a and dave s are dying for something