Philadelphia mob associate William (Billy Bones) DePena was stabbed in the chest Wednesday night around the intersection of 11th and Oregon and has refused police requests to identify his attacker, who fled before authorities were called to the scene, per sources on the street in South Philly. The stabbing was first reported by FoxPhilly29 television’s Dave Schratwieser, one of the area’s top mobologists for over two decades, on his Twitter account. It is unknown if the incident was mob-related, a personal beef or a random assault. The 48-year old DePena is in stable condition at the hospital. He was indicted in New Jersey in 2007 alongside prominent Philly mob figures Michael (Mikey Lance) Lancellotti, Anthony (Tony Nicks) Nicodemo, Dominic (Baby Dom) Grande, among others, in a state racketeering case dubbed Operation High Roller, which dismantled a multi-million dollar bookmaking ring being run out of the poker room and spa at Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel and Casino. Lancellotti is allegedly the Philadelphia mafia’s street boss today – the charges against him in the Operation High Roller case were eventually dropped. Nicodemo used to be a driver and bodyguard for don Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino, based in Florida, under indictment for racketeering out of New York and reportedly making the rounds in South Philly this last week, according to multiple sources. Per two sources, DePena was aligned closely with Nicodemo before Nicodemo went to prison for being the getaway driver in the December 2012 gangland slaying of convicted South Philly drug dealer Gino DiPietro. One source places DePena “under” Grande, the suspected triggerman in the DiPietro hit, according to state prosecutor, these days. DiPietro and Nicodemo feuded over slights at a card game Nicodemo ran, according to more than one source in a Gangster Report exclusive from 2016. Operation High Roller was solidified when New Jersey State Police sent an undercover cop into the Borgata to place bets directly with the operation’s on-sight overseer Andrew (Mountain Dew) Micali, who worked under the auspice of Bruno-Scarfo syndicate sports gambling specialist, Jack Buscemi. Micali, 42, is a well-connected young wiseguy, having alleged ties to both Skinny Joey Merlino in Florida and reputed street faction leader Phil Narducci in South Philly, per sources and court filings in the Operation High Roller case.
