The upcoming Netflix series ‘Mob War: Philadelphia vs. the Mafia,’ premiering on October 22, 2025, explores the violent and treacherous mob wars in Philadelphia during the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting the FBI’s extensive use of electronic surveillance to dismantle the crime family. The series focuses on the conflict between factions led by John Stanfa and Joseph ‘Skinny Joey’ Merlino, who fought over control of illegal activities such as gambling, drug dealing, and extortion. The investigation was notably aided by wiretaps, including court-approved bugging of attorney Salvatore Avena’s office, which yielded over 2,000 recorded conversations revealing mob plans, betrayals, and internal disputes. These recordings played a crucial role in successful racketeering trials that resulted in life sentences for Stanfa and lengthy imprisonments for Merlino’s associates. The series features interviews with former mobsters, law enforcement officials, and witnesses, including John Veasey, who expressed remorse for his crimes. The documentary underscores the brutality of mob violence, including murders caught on hidden cameras and wiretaps, illustrating the deadly consequences of organized crime. The series aims to provide a suspenseful, frightening insight into the life of Philadelphia’s mobsters, contrasting their nostalgic memories with the brutal reality of their violent lifestyle.