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Today in Fresh Air History

The Man Who Took Down the Philadelphia Mob.

Former mafia member Joseph Salerno. Salerno's damming court testimony was the lynchpin that brought down Philadelphia mafia don Nicodemo "little Nicky" Scarfo. Salerno was drawn into the Cosa Nostra in 1976. After taking part in a mob hit in 1979, Salerno decided to testify against Scarfo. That led to a 200-thousand dollar contract against Salerno and his fleeing into the witness protection program and assuming a new identity. With Stephen J. Rivele, Joseph Salerno has written an account of his mafia life, called "The Plumber: The True Story of How One Good Man Helped Destroy the Entire Philadelphia Mafia." (Knightsbridge Publishing).

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