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5 chilling details about the Stanfa-Merlino fight shown in Netflix’s Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia

**Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia Puts the Stanfa-Merlino Fight Front and Center**

*Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia* is a gripping docuseries that tracks a violent contest for control of the Philadelphia mob. From brazen street attacks to taped meetings that reportedly pulled the war out of the shadows, the series lays out who rose, who fell, and why the bloodshed spread — all across three intense episodes.

Through interviews, surveillance footage, and courtroom outcomes, *Mob War* builds a tight timeline, following the story scene by scene with chilling detail.

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### Case Background for *Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia*

After Nicky Scarfo’s 1987 arrest, a power vacuum formed in the Philadelphia mob. In 1991, John Stanfa, a Sicilian-born figure known for his old-school methods, took the reins. His side leaned on tradition and quiet money.

Opposing Stanfa was a younger crew led by Joey Merlino, who pushed back with flashy styles and, reportedly, a disregard for the old rules. By 1992 and 1993, tit-for-tat shootings began shaking South Philadelphia.

The series highlights investigators’ efforts to infiltrate this violent turf war using wires, cameras, and informants. As both camps plotted hits, recruited allies, and fought to control lucrative money routes, arrests, trials, and lengthy sentences followed.

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### 5 Chilling Details in *Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia*

**1) The August 1993 Street Ambush That Killed Michael Ciancaglini**

On August 5, 1993, gunmen opened fire on a South Philadelphia block, killing Michael Ciancaglini and wounding Joey Merlino. The series uses period footage and firsthand recollections to show how this attack marked a hard turn in the war.

Talk of retaliation surged, and daily life around local clubhouses and diners grew tense as both sides braced for more gunfire.

**2) A Law Office Bug That Caught “Cosa Nostra” on Tape**

The FBI planted listening devices in the office of attorney Salvatore Avena, with judicial approval. On these recordings, Stanfa reportedly mentioned “Cosa Nostra,” a phrase traditionally denied by mob figures.

According to *The New York Times*, agents arrested Stanfa and others after building their case with covert audio and informant testimony. The series frames this tape as a key link between whispered plans and courtroom proof.

**3) A Drive-by Shooting That Targeted Stanfa and Left His Son Gravely Hurt**

Weeks after the Ciancaglini shooting, a drive-by attack targeted the Stanfa faction. While Stanfa survived, his son was seriously wounded. Sources in the series describe this brutal message: no one was safe — whether sitting in traffic or entering a corner café.

Both factions reportedly rearmed and shuffled routines to avoid the next burst of violence.

**4) John Veasey’s Flip After a Failed Butcher-Shop Hit**

Enforcer John Veasey appears in the series recounting contracts, near misses, and a shooting inside an apartment above a butcher shop. Though shot at close range, Veasey fought back and survived.

Following an attack that targeted his family, Veasey chose to cooperate with authorities. His testimony proved a turning point, connecting shootings to high-level orders and providing prosecutors with names, dates, and locations.

**5) Racketeering Verdicts That Closed the Book on This War**

The series concludes with courtroom outcomes. In 1995, a jury found Stanfa guilty on racketeering charges including murder and attempted murder. According to *The New York Times*, he received a life sentence.

Years later, Merlino was convicted on racketeering charges and sentenced to 14 years. With the mob war’s leaders behind bars and street violence cooling, the ripples of this conflict continued to be felt.

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*Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia* presents these events through interviews, surveillance clips, wiretap audio, and reenactments, offering a detailed and compelling look at one of Philadelphia’s most violent mob wars.

The series is currently streaming on Netflix.

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**Also read:** [The Boston Strangler: Unheard Confession (documentary) release date, where to watch, and everything you need to know]
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/5-chilling-details-stanfa-merlino-fight-shown-netflix-s-mob-war-philadelphia-vs-the-mafia

DNA testing shows police found remains connected to Kada Scott: Sources

**Body Found in Germantown Linked to Missing Philadelphia Woman Kada Scott**

*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania* — Law enforcement sources have confirmed to Action News that initial DNA testing suggests the body found Saturday behind a vacant school near Awbury Arboretum in Germantown is connected to the parents of missing woman Kada Scott. This area was the focus of an intensive search conducted on Wednesday.

First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford detailed that a “very specific” anonymous tip was received overnight, prompting officers to return to the scene around 10 a.m. Sources also revealed that surveillance video evidence related to the case was obtained from a nearby Recreation Center.

The remains, which appeared to be those of a female according to Stanford, were discovered in a shallow grave within a heavily wooded area. They were removed from the site by late afternoon and are now in the custody of the medical examiner’s office, which will oversee the identification process.

Stanford stated that investigators have been in contact with Scott’s family throughout the process. “We have been in communication with her family as to this process and in the fact that we have recovered a human being,” he said.

Authorities are urging the public to continue providing any information related to the case by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477).

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**Evidence Found During Search**

During Wednesday’s search, police recovered physical evidence including Scott’s debit card and a phone case. Tips dramatically increased following the announcement of the arrest of 21-year-old Keon King from Southwest Philadelphia, who authorities say was the last person known to be in contact with Scott.

King has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and additional offenses connected to Scott’s disappearance.

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**Details of the Case**

Police are still investigating how King and Scott knew each other but believe they came into contact in the days preceding her disappearance. Before going missing, Scott reportedly told people she was being harassed, although it remains unclear if King was involved in the alleged harassment.

Scott vanished the night of Saturday, October 4, after leaving her workplace—an assisted living facility in Chestnut Hill. King is currently held on $2.5 million bail.

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**Related Charges and Previous Case**

King also faces charges in a similar case from earlier this year, involving a woman who was allegedly kidnapped and strangled but survived. These charges were initially dropped when the accuser failed to appear in court but will now be refiled, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

In that earlier case, prosecutors say King kidnapped a woman from in front of her home, forced her into a car, assaulted her, and then released her. The incident was partially captured in a viral video showing King peering into and knocking on windows while a person inside yelled for him to leave and for someone to call the police.

District Attorney Larry Krasner addressed the case during a Friday news conference, acknowledging his office could have handled it better. “A really sophisticated approach to the case would have been to try to put it all in with video evidence,” he said.

Krasner explained that King being out on bail was a factor in the victim’s reluctance to appear in court. “The reason they had to worry he was going to come out of the same door they went in the courthouse right after they testified against him is because he was on bail,” Krasner said.

King was initially able to post 10% of $200,000 bail in his first kidnapping arrest. When asked why the DA’s office did not request a higher bail, Krasner described it as a strategic decision.

“You have the option of trying to do what is often a midnight or three o’clock in the morning telephonic appeal to a municipal court judge,” he explained. “The unfortunate reality of this is that some, but not all of these judges, don’t want you calling them in the middle of the night. And if you do, they lower the bail. They don’t raise it, they don’t leave it. They lower it. So it is always a complex, strategic decision.”

Marty O’Rourke, a spokesperson for the courts, provided a response to these comments.

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*For ongoing updates on this case and to submit tips, please contact the Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).*
https://abc7ny.com/post/dna-testing-shows-police-found-remains-connected-kada-scott-sources/18040938/

Santa Clara Co. DA gun task force dismantles ‘ghost gun factory’ in Campbell

CAMPBELL, Calif. (KGO) — The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Gun Violence Task Force is celebrating the dismantling of what they call a ghost gun factory in Campbell. A 28-year-old man is now facing more than 30 felonies for possessing and creating ghost guns, as well as devices designed to make standard weapons even more deadly.

3D printers have revolutionized manufacturing, but when they’re used to produce unregistered weapons—known as ghost guns—law enforcement says they present a significant threat to the community.

During a routine domestic violence probation check-in, investigators uncovered an operation that was anything but normal. Campbell resident Alfred Amaya, 28, is at the center of the case after authorities found him actively manufacturing devices that convert rifles and handguns into automatic weapons using a 3D printer inside his bedroom closet.

“These 3D printers are items that are easily kept in a person’s home, and that is what makes them so challenging for law enforcement,” said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Mike Vidmar. “Whether he was possessing for sales or simply as a possession item, these are public safety risks.”

Amaya, who is already on probation for domestic violence charges, is now facing more than 30 felony charges and is being held on a $1.75 million bail.

The devices Amaya was allegedly 3D printing include “switches” that turn firearms into machine guns—items recently made illegal under a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. This law prohibits the sale of firearms easily transformed into automatic weapons with the use of such switches.

Residents expressed concern over the presence of unregulated ghost guns in the community. “If the people owning guns, they’re regulated and they have to register,” said local resident Phuong Pham. “But these people, they can print it at home and there’s no regulation and no one can stop them from doing bad things.”

Alongside the 30 switches, two ghost guns and ammunition were found in an area accessible to two children, leading to additional child endangerment charges.

Amaya’s mother told ABC7 News that her son is not a violent person and called the charges and accusations “shocking.”

Deputy District Attorney Vidmar praised the gun violence task force for their work. “Any time we can remove these items from persons who have the ability to carry them into the public setting, our community is a safer place,” he said.

Alfred Amaya is scheduled to return to court for his plea hearing on the morning of November 19.

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**Related:**

– [How Santa Clara County authorities are utilizing red flag laws to combat gun violence](#)
– [Judge upholds San Jose’s ordinance requiring gun owners to have liability insurance](#)
– [Supreme Court upholds federal regulations on ghost gun kits](#)
https://abc7news.com/post/santa-clara-county-da-gun-task-force-dismantles-ghost-factory-campbell/18028685/

Two Arrested for Tracking Women by GPS and Forcing Into Prostitution

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Suzuki and fellow staff member Aya Tano forced a woman to live inside the bar’s premises. During this time, they subjected her to verbal abuse, including remarks such as “Your appearance is bad, that’s why sales are low” and “Go stand on the street.” Additionally, they compelled her to solicit clients around Okubo Park in Shinjuku.

Investigators believe the suspects coerced the woman into having sex with approximately 400 customers. It is alleged that they pocketed about 6 million yen in earnings from these encounters.

The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the operation and to identify possible additional victims.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147289.php

‘No One Will Forget, Ever’: Israeli Archaeologists Become Oct. 7 Crime Scene Investigators

CITY OF DAVID, Jerusalem

From the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Pool of Siloam, modern Israel is renowned for its ancient wonders. For 61 years, the Israel Antiquities Authority has been at the forefront of uncovering and preserving these historical treasures.

Reflecting on recent events, Gabay expressed a deep and poignant sentiment: “October, and I hope it will help everyone to understand what happened on the 7th of October — like a knife in the heart. To see, to understand, and to never forget.”

With determination, Gabay added, “This is what I wanted. No one will forget. Ever.”

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2025/october/no-one-will-forget-ever-israeli-archaeologists-become-oct-7-crime-scene-investigators