Cipriano cut bucceroni from the book because he found him spectacularly unreliable and. But as byron pitts reported for 60 minutes, the contract killer and veteran of a mob war eventually turned and got out of the business. In the early 90s, john veasey was a man with an unusual occupation. Mafia hit list top philadelphia mob murders the gangster. Mar 03, 2012 after scarfo went to prison, john stanfa brought in guys like veasey to do his shooting. Former philly hitman turned government informant john veasey. John veasey talks about attacking a mobster with a power. Mar 14, 20 veasey story shouldnt be unfamiliar to philadelphians. He has been named a grand master of the mystery writers of america and is a fourtime winner of the prestigious edgar and shamus awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in france, germany, and japan.
Michael ciancaglinis brother john, who the fbi alleged was also a member of the philadelphia family was later charged with billy veaseys. Veasey easily transitions from small time hood to mafia hitman and quickly kills two rival. Cipriano also wrote about veasey s story for philadelphia magazine in 2010. Jan 18, 2018 veasey became an informer, and on the morning he was due to testify against john stanfa, who the fbi alleged was the boss of philadelphia in october, 1995, veaseys brother billy was gunned down. Paladin press owner peder lund claimed, in an interview with 60 minutes, that the book started life as a detailed crime novel written by a florida housewife, and that the format was later changed to appeal to paladins reader base accustomed to. Apr 07, 2015 ralph cipriano interviewed bucceroni for his book about philly mobster john veasey, the hit man. Hit manturnedgovernment informant john veasey, whose testimony helped bring down mob boss john stanfa and a dozen of his top associates in the 1990s, says hes on the road to redemption. It would fit right in at the magic gardens of crime. The book, the hit man, written by two philadelphia journalists. Government witness in late 1993, veasey at the urging of his brother billy, decided to leave the mob life and cooperate with the government, stanfa. Theres more to the goodfellas movie than meets the eye. John veasey was a mafia hit man during the john stanfa era 20 years ago. At its essence, this is the story of the junkie turned mafia hitman. Tommy devito, played by joe pesci, is not just a gangster character that was buried in a closed casket.
In a twisted tale of coldblooded mafia vengeance, fbi informants say reputed current philly mob capo john johnny chang ciancaglini was the triggerman in the billy veasey hit in an eerie brotherforabrother exchange john john veasey was the man who killed johnny changs baby brother mikey chang three years earlier. There is one man in charge of the philadelphia phillies these days. Lawrence block is a hard working pulp crime novelist, best known for his hardboiled detective matthew scudder, gentleman thief bernie rhodenbarr and hit man john keller. Johnjohn veasey guest lecturer at west chester university. As recently as 2008, he was arrested for smashing a glass through some poor guys face. A true story of murder, redemption and the melrose diner the epic saga of john veasey, a former mafia hit man who survived three gunshots in the head to become a federally protected witness who brought down the philly mob. Philly mob enforcer, john veasey was one of the most prominent hit man in the philly mob, he has over 50 arrests on his record. John veasey was a hitman and soldier in the philadelphia crime family, he was a close associate to john stanfa who was his mentor and boss in the philadelphia crime family. Just two years ago, a onetime rival and his wife say he was threatening them on the phone and.
Hit man is the first book in the keller series, combining a collection of short stories to develop this character. Hit manturnedgovernment informant john veasey, whose testimony helped bring down mob boss john stanfa and a dozen of his top. He was a paid baseball writer 201419, and has operated this home website since 2004. Veasey was a hit man in the philadelphia mafia and found himself smack in the middle of the bloodiest mob war in the citys history. Ralph cipriano interviewed bucceroni for his book about philly mobster john veasey, the hit man.
John veasey was a hit man for the philadelphia mob, but now he says hes found god. Tommy devito, played by joe pesci, is not just a gangster character that was buried in a. At we believe that every life has a story that deserves to be told and preserved is the online source for current local and national obituary news and a supportive community where friends and family can come together during times of loss and grieving to honor the memories of their loved ones with lasting personal tributes. Hit man turnedgovernment informant john veasey, whose testimony helped bring down mob boss john stanfa and a dozen of his top associates in the 1990s, says hes on the road to redemption. After they had listened attentively for 90 minutes, the college kids lined up to meet the. From the new york times bestselling author of blood and honor and the last gangsterone of the most respected crime reporters in the country 60 minutescomes the sure to be headlinemaking inside story of the gotti and gambino families, told from the unique viewpoint of notorious mob hitman john alite, a close associate of junior gotti who. Former mob hit man john veaseys biography details his work for one of the citys mob organizations, the hits he carried out, the attempt on his life, and more. Former philly hitman turned government informant john.
Read a transcript and watch excerpts including web extras on the cbs website here or watch the whole episode of 60 minutes here veasey was the subject of an ebook the hit man a true story of the mob, redemption and the melrose diner by ralph cipriano and dave schratwieser. The hit man and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. He was also a friend and associate to fellow hit man, and alleged lover, philip colletti. The book is based on the other al pennant won by the red sox during that 95year stretch. After scarfo went to prison, john stanfa brought in guys like veasey to do his shooting. A technical manual for independent contractors is a book written under the pseudonym rex feral and was published by paladin press in 1983. Famed boston baseball historian herb crehan has a fairly new book out, published by summer game books last year. Former mob hit man john veasey s biography details his work for one of the citys mob organizations, the hits he carried out, the attempt on his life, and more. He didnt express as much regret, however, about the two men he shot to death while working as stanfas hit man. Its credited to mosaic portrait artist, jason mecier. New book reveals philly hitman details five families of new. I never respected the mafia or what it stood for, veasey said in an interview with last week.
Mob hit man who also led boy scout troop now reformed and driving. Join facebook to connect with john veasey and others you may know. Veasey blamed stanfas associates for talking the mob boss into signing off on the plot to kill veasey. Mar 23, 20 read a transcript and watch excerpts including web extras on the cbs website here or watch the whole episode of 60 minutes here veasey was the subject of an e book the hit man a true story of the mob, redemption and the melrose diner by ralph cipriano and dave schratwieser. Former philly mob enforcer john veasey tells byron pitts that his mother sophia was the best woman in the world, and describes a memorable incident from hi. This composition would make an amazing outdoor installation, but i could understand neighborhood groups not wanting to glorify mafioso especially since the fascination has died down. John veasey was a hit man for the philadelphia mob, but now he says hes. Dave schratwieser how a poor kid from south philly became a mafia hit man, survived three gunshots to the head to become a federally protected witness who brought down the philly mob, and then reinvented himself as a. John veasey is a convicted mob hit man who led a boy scout troop while still a killer and now claims hes left his old life behind to serve god. The true story of murder, redemption and the melrose.
John and his brother william veasey were brothers who grew up in the rough and tumble streets of south philadelphia, and as young adults they followed the same track by working for the mafia. Matt veasey retired in 2018 from a threedecade career in law enforcement. Sep 26, 2016 an african american who grew up in a home that played and sang gospel music, he also developed an interest in rhythm and blues as a young man and was a huge fan of the singing cowboys in the movies, people like gene autry and especially tex ritter father of john ritter, who played jack tripper in the 1970s sitcom threes company. As an author, cipriano has written courtroom cowboy, a biography of trailblazing philadelphia lawyer jim beasley, and the hit man, which chronicled the life of former mobster turned government witness john veasey. His book on former mob hit man turned government witness john veasey was the basis for a 60 minutes profile of veasey in 20. John veasey is a drug addicted bully bouncing between prison and manual labor. Veasey became an informer, and on the morning he was due to testify against john stanfa, who the fbi alleged was the boss of philadelphia in october, 1995, veaseys brother billy was gunned down. One might say of a drunk, he had a little too much whohitjohn. And then it was time to sign autographs for the kids who bought the book veasey cowrote about his life. New book reveals philly hitman details five families of.
Mikey chang was killed by stanfa hit man john veasey, shooting from a passing car driven by his goombah buddy, phil coletti. I had seen special report on 60 minutes, so, i decided to hear the entire story. These days, he has relocated to suburban america, where he claims to have started a new life and found religion. Not too many years ago, john veasey was a professional hit man. Mar 17, 20 mob hit man who led boy scout troop while working as a contract killer says hes reformed and driving a church bus. His life was chronicled in an e book by former inquirer reporter ralph cipriano and fox 29s dave schratwieser, called the hit man.
It looks like we dont have any biography for john veasey yet be the first to contribute. Cipriano also wrote about veaseys story for philadelphia magazine in 2010. New details surface surrounding death of tommy desimone. The true story of murder, redemption and the melrose diner. That man decided that it was time to change managers again. John veasey is a drug addicted bully bouncing between prison and manual labor jobs when he is asked by frank martines to help kill rival gang members. The mob retaliated by murdering john veaseys older brother, billy, days before john veasey was scheduled to. The senator, a story about power and abuse of power, about the life of former pennsylvania power. Ralph cipriano is a former newspaper reporter for the. Mar 17, 20 former philly mob enforcer john veasey tells byron pitts that his mother sophia was the best woman in the world, and describes a memorable incident from hi.
A true story of murder, redemption and the melrose diner. Mar 14, 20 by ralph cipriano for on sunday night at 7 p. In the 1990s, john veasey was killing people for a living as a hit man in the philadelphia mob. As recently as 2008, he was arrested for smashing a. Veasey story shouldnt be unfamiliar to philadelphians. Jan 21, 1998 hit man is the first book in the keller series, combining a collection of short stories to develop this character. John veasey says hes seen the light and has no intentions of returning to his. Until the phone rings and he packs a suitcase, gets on a plane, flies halfway across the countryand kills somebody.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One of the veasey brothers named john veasey was made and became a hit man and capo in the stanfa faction. In 1993, an allout war broke out between stanfa and joseph merlino, who was eager to control the philadelphia crime family on his own. Lawrence block is one of the most widely recognized names in the mystery genre. It has been claimed that the book started life as a detailed crime novel written by somebody described as a florida housewife, and that the format was later changed to appeal to paladins reader base.
John veasey talks in court about the day he successfully completed a contracted hit on michael ciancaglini, and tried to finish off joey skinny merlino. Fox 29 in philadelphia offers a piece on the new book on former south philadelphia mob hit man john veasey by ralph cipriano and fox 29s dave schratwieser. John veaseys return after 15 years will he seek vengeance for his. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the biography submission guide. The origin of the term is unknown, but whohitjohn refers to liquor, beer or other intoxicating spiritsespecially the cheap kind. Eventually, veasey was caught and sentenced for his part in the hitand when he eventually made it out, everyone expected him to go back to his violent old ways. Feb 10, 2012 marnie hall interveiws john veasey, the subject of ralph cipriano dave schratwiesers new e book. It will be that man, john middleton, who will now have to answer to his fan base should his decision to keep this upper management team in place backfire. John veasey was a hitman and soldier in the philadelphia crime family, he was a close associate to john stanfa who was his mentor and boss in the philadelphia crime family john and his brother william veasey were brothers who grew up in the rough and tumble streets of south philadelphia, and as young adults they followed the same track by working for the mafia. Within the book, the author talks about a lot of locations within philadelphia. On tuesday, the latest attraction was a former mafia hit man. The epic saga of john veasey, a former mafia hit man who survived three gunshots in the head to become a federally protected witness who brought down the philly mob.
This is an interesting technique and blocks short story book one night stands and lost weekends remains one of my favourite crime collections. According to fox 29, the book offers some chilling details about veasey and organized crime in philadelphia. Did philadelphia hit man john veasey change his life. John veasey was a hitman and soldier in the philadelphia crime family, he was a close associate. The true story of murder, redemption and the melrose diner by ralph cipriano isbn.
Former mobster john veaseys life chronicled in new book. His life was chronicled in an ebook by former inquirer reporter ralph cipriano and fox 29s dave schratwieser, called the hit man. A true story of murder, redemption, and the melrose diner is a book written of the life of john john john veasey. The second philly mafia war became known as one of the most violent mob wars of the modern time. Marnie hall interveiws john veasey, the subject of ralph cipriano dave schratwiesers new ebook.