Welcome to episode 70 of FBI retired case file review Jerry Williams. I'm a retired agent writing crime fiction inspired by

true crime FBI cases. We get to speak to retired agent Mike Leiden who served 26 years with the FBI.

Leiden, who has a law degree from Villanova University, was assigned to the Jacksonville

Division, Pensacola Resident Agency, and the Detroit Division, where he worked

bank robberies, kidnappings, and fugitive matters.

Once transferred to the Philadelphia Division, Leiden helped set up and was the supervisor of the Special Operations Group,

SOG, which was based on a concept initially established in the Detroit Division.

He was later appointed as the supervisor of the New Town Square resident agency.

To avoid an unwanted transfer to FBI headquarters,

Leiden stepped down from his supervisory position

and was placed on the organized crime squad

to work cases targeting the Philly mob.

In this episode, Leiden reviews for us an extortion case that resulted in the conviction of Philly mob boss,

Nicki Scarfo Senior, Philadelphia City Councilman

Leland Beloff and Belloff's administrative assistant

Robert Rago for attempting to extort

one million dollars from Willard Rouse a Philadelphia developer.

During the investigation, two made men, Nicholas Karamandi and Thomas Del Jorneo became government

witnesses and their testimony eventually led to the indictment and conviction of the entire hierarchy of the Scarfo family.

After retirement, Michael Aidan became the vice president of corporate security and

surveillance for Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Currently, he still occasionally accepts private investigative assignments.

I was almost relieved to get this interview with Mike Leiden because the Philadelphia division is known for the great

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