George Anastasia

Veteran Philadelphia journalist George Anastasia has written about organized and disorganized crime for decades, covering casino gambling in Atlantic City and mob hits in Philadelphia. A Philadelphia Inquirer reporter from 1974 through 2012, he is currently a freelance writer and author specializing in crime reporting. His books include Blood and Honor, The Last Gangster, The Summer Wind and Gotti’s Rules. He writes a column, Mob Scene, for JerseyMan/PhillyMan magazine, is a regular contributor to BigTrial.net and co-hosts Mob Talk Sitdown, an internet video report on organized crime.

March 9, 2020

Organized Crime

Mob Talk: Alleged loan shark Frank Scarpato arrested in Delco

by George Anastasia

In Mob Talk Sitdown, Philly mob experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser discuss the arrest of Frank Scarpato for allegedly running a loan-sharking operation in Philadelphia and Delaware County. Scarapato, of South Philly, was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police in February after cops allegedly found $10,000 cash, guns and handwritten ledgers inside a safe in his house. Investigators claim Scarapato was charging 56% interest on a 26-week loan. He is charged with running a corrupt organization, making terroristic threats and extortion.

January 20, 2020

Organized Crime

Mob Talk: Did Frank Sheeran actually kill Jimmy Hoffa?

by George Anastasia

In the latest episode of Mob Talk Sitdown, Philly mob experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser highlight the 10 Oscar nominations received by 'The Irishman,' the Martin Scorsese-directed Netflix film about Frank Sheeran's relationship to Jimmy Hoffa.

November 27, 2019

Organized Crime

Mob Talk on Scorsese's 'The Irishman': There's a difference between cinema and reality

by George Anastasia

In Mob Talk Sitdown, Philly mob experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser look at the murder of Jimmy Hoffa as portrayed in Netflix's "The Irishman," directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino. Anastasia has doubts about the validity of the claim by Sheeran (played by De Niro in the movie) that he killed Hoffa. After a run in theaters, "The Irishman" became available to stream on Netflix on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

November 1, 2019

Organized Crime

Mob Talk: Remembering the attempted hit on Nicky Scarfo Jr. on Halloween 1989

by George Anastasia

October marked the 20-year anniversary of the 1999 murder of Philly Mob soldier Ron Turchi. And it has been 30 years since the brazen attempted hit on mob boss Nicky Scarfo's son, Nicky Scarfo Jr. on Halloween night 1989. It happened inside Dante & Luigi's restaurant in South Philly. Anastasia says the attempted killing of Scarfo represented a power shift in the Philly Mob.

October 9, 2019

Organized Crime

Mob Talk: Examining the Philly links to 'Operation New Connection'

by George Anastasia

Mob experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser detail the Philadelphia connection to the so-called "Operation New Connection," an international takedown of 18 alleged Mafia figures in Sicily in July. The investigation, which generated headlines across the world, involved the Inzerillo and Gambino factions of La Cosa Nostra.

September 20, 2019

Organized Crime

Mob Talk: A look inside the Philly Mob's secret initiation ceremonies

by George Anastasia

Mob experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser go inside Philly Mob making ceremonies — a new twist on the old-school secret ceremonies. Learn how new-era wise guys are trying to keep those ceremonies secret from investigators. Anastasia and Schratwieser also have that and the latest on Scarfo-era mobster Phillip Narducci's year-and-a-day sentence. Plus, a Merlino crew capo gets a new subpoena to state grand jury.

August 9, 2019

Organized Crime