The latest target of federal indictments against the mafia is an alleged mob network being called the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” by the feds.
According to the feds, the Cosa Nostra network controlled a multitude of criminal activities spanning from Florida to New York. Prosecutors claim it included members of the major New York mafia families Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, and Lucchese along with an offshoot of Philadelphia mafia including alleged boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino. Merlino along with Genovese family captains Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio were leaders of the mob network according to the indictment.
“Joey Merlino”
But is the idea of this kind of Cosa Nostra enterprise at odds with American mafia protocol and mafia history? According to the court filing, John Meringolo a lawyer for alleged mobster John “The Tugboat” Tognino the idea of five east coast mafia families working together in this capacity is farfetched. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office said the enterprise worked together on a multitude of criminal activities including racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering, illegal gambling, dealing untaxed cigarettes, and even healthcare fraud.
But according to Meringolo the feds manufactured the whole enterprise saying “Despite the various dealings between families, it has been well established that each is its own distinct entity.” In his court filing, he pointed to testimony from Colombo family mobster Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico that outlined stringent mafia family protocols that showed how families kept their distance from one another. He documented in his court documents that “Members and associates of a family were not allowed to speak to members of other crime families or to higher-ranking members of their own family without a formal introduction.”
According to Meringolo, the five families of the New York mafia have historically been treated as separate enterprises for racketeering and racketeering conspiracy indictments in federal court cases. But the charges in this new indictment doesn’t definitely prove the existence of an enterprise or allege an enterprise in terms of any specific organized crime family. He called the alleged East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise an over-encompassing term that is not distinct at all and can not itself constitute a racketeering enterprise. The indictment instead attempts to “melds various organized crime groups — with their own sets of distinct rules and hierarchies — into one overly broad entity, concocted for the sole purpose of connecting these otherwise separate and independent units together.”
This indictment shows a complete failure by prosecutors to understand how mafia politics work says Meringolo. Tognino is facing one count of racketeering conspiracy related to his work as a bookie but is not being tied to any one crime family in the indictment which his lawyers says means he is being hit with overly general charges which should be dismissed. Could the various crime families today cooperate enough to maintain this type of criminal conspiracy? The 46 alleged mobsters and associates charged in the indictment will be hoping the feds can’t prove it!
Hmmm this seems like a long shot but it may be one of the few angles the defense could take and wouldn’t be shocked to hear lawyers for Merlino and others taking somewhat of this same approach.
It’s racketeering either way. But, it is interesting approach. Makes me think of commission trial, when initially Rastelli was indicted. Then his defense argued Bonanno’s had been banned from commission and he was dropped from case.
Right, not sure that it will get anyone indicted out of the conspiracy charge but never the less its a very interesting angle to take. Doubt a Judge buys it and throws the case out over it though but at this point not sure they many other legs to stand on.
Makes me thing if these guys could ever get the whole commision back and operating in an organized fashion i feel like every family is stable enough besides the Colombos. Crea, Bellimo, Cali & Joey C along with Merlino, Carmine from NE & Solly D / Albert Vena? If all those guys could co exist, imagine what a powerhouse that would be $ wise, politically wise and just respect and power wise? I guess it cant be kept hush hush, would tnings usually cant, it just brings way to much heat.
Things have really stabilized for quite a few families but with the state of the mob today and the amount of rats etc they continue to deal with I doubt we ever see a commission again. Just doesn’t seem like that powerbase still exist to be worth the heat a meeting like that could bring.
I’m from NY but I have tell you I’m quite fascinated by the small outfit in Detroit… Mostly Sicilians and all of them have intermarried…. All the button men are somehow connected to marriage! They keep the crews small and profits high… Not bad.
They have been one of the lower key families for years and its definitely worked to their advantage. Many people seem to over look them when talking about established and effective families outside of NY.
Lol man that video was pretty fun. Definitely Italians with the Irish blood in them but man did they sound piss off somebody is giving up those leads. Well I still think there is a straight Sicilian or straight neopolitiano or straight Italian running around lead some of these family’s I think the Feds are catching on merlino straight Italian. I think they went back to the 88-100 Italian,Sicilian,neo bloods but only time will tell.
That was a great video lol
Someone 2-3 wks ago said Feds had such a “hard on” for Merlino that “strange” charge might be tried. Is this it? Don’t know,but he’s just getting his leadership straight in Philly so how can he be a leader of this “ECLCN”? Oh well, some Lawyers will make some money on this case.
Honesty it’s a bit silly. If the Feds want to go after real crooks, start with Cheney. He made billions from Iraq war. Merino is small potatoes compared to politicians. I’m convinced John jr corporated, Feds have left him alone. It’s clear they target certain people. I guess the flamboyant ones.
merlino is gotti cloned… Feds love chasing gangsters like these two…
The Wole case is VOID for VAGUENESS.