Philly Prime Ep 103 Johnny “Gongs” Cassasanto Murder

Explicit content warning

10/09/23 • 29 min

The 20-year anniversary of the murder of Philly Mob Associate Johnny “Gongs” Casasanto is coming up next month with lots of questions still unanswered and no one charged with the gangland style killing. Casasanto was gunned down in his kitchen after sources say he let someone he knew and two others into his Durfor Street home in the early morning hours. This is one of half a dozen mob hits that have gone unsolved since Mob Boss Joey Merlino and Acting Boss “Uncle Joe” Ligambi began running the Philly Crime Family from the mid 90s. Crime scene expert John Taggart, who processed the Casasanto crime scene joins the show once again to talk about what many describe as a Mob murder committed for many reasons.

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Philly Prime Ep 102

Longtime Philly Mobster Raymond “Long John” Martorano was gunned down in a gangland style hit in January of 2002 in the Washington Square West section of Philadelphia. Two gunmen allegedly opened fire on Martorano’s Lincoln Towncar as he drove from his upscale home to a doctor’s appointment on Spruce Street. He had been out of prison less than three years. The unsolved murder made headlines for days. Martorano survived, but died several days later. There are multiple theories over the motive for the high profile murder. Retired, veteran Philly Crime Scene Investigator John Taggart processed the crime scene and the victim’s car. He joins Mob Talk Sitdown and The Philly Prime Podcast to discuss the murder.

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Philly Prime Ep 104 Gino Marconi Murder

On April 10,1999 little known mob associate Gino Marconi stepped out onto his front porch on 20th Street near Porter Street followed by a female friend and was promptly shot to death by an assassin using a rifle. His friend was seriously wounded. The daring Mob hit has never been solved, no one has been charged. Marconi’s murder is one of six the Philly Prime Podcast & Mobtalksitdown.com are delving into with veteran and retired Philly Crime Scene Unit investigator John Taggart who was involved in these cases. We will talk about the murder, the motive, the rifle that was recovered and the suspect’s van that was torched right in front of Marconi’s house seconds after the crime.