According to recently filed court documents, a mafia informant erased approximately a year’s worth of evidence against alleged Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino.
The unidentified informant (believed to be John Rubio) supplied the feds with audio and video recordings along with texts that prosecutors planned to use against the flamboyant Cosa Nostra leader. But the informant in question deleted the evidence by resetting the cell phone he used to collect it making it impossible to authenticate any of it and to determine exactly how much material existed according to Merlino’s lawyers. This move has clearly undermined the feds racketeering case against the reputed Philly mafia boss.
“Joseph Merlino”
With this large amount of evidence seemingly compromised it’s unclear as to just how strong the feds case against Joey Merlino is currently. The 55-year-old mobster refused to agree to a plea deal which would have allowed him to plead guilty to lesser crimes avoiding the more serious racketeering charge. His defense team has recently filed various motions one of which would have all charges against him dropped and another requesting the trial be moved to Philadelphia if it were to take place. According to the feds, Merlino was a leader of an organized crime group they labeled as the East Coast LCN Enterprise and was working to rebuild the mafia in Philadelphia.
Perhaps the upcoming hearing which has been scheduled for June 30 will supply some clarity and answer some of the questions as to how this case will proceed if at all.
The more information that comes out the bigger mess it seems like the feds made out of this thing. It is hard to imagine that their case against Merlino is any where near rock solid now and most likely is barely being held together. No wonder why Merlino and his defense team seems bold and even somewhat confident.
And the plot thickens!! Man what a total clusterfuck of a case!! Now I wonder if future informants will attempt to sabotage their recording devices in similar fashion haha especially if one of them happened to be somewhat tech savvy…The Feds should literally just walk away from this one and count it out as a loss..I can only see this case getting worse for them from here..
the “unidentified informer” was john rubeo according to capeci he reported this a couple weeks ago some feds lost there jobs over it the guy deleted phone calls and texts no idea why he was probably trying to cover up something he did while as an informer but it is embarrassing for the feds they let this happen
All of the Evidence lacks adequate Foundation. Therfore, the evidence is insufficient and inadmissible. The sufficiency of the Prosecutions Chain of Evidence is inadequate to support admissibility of any of the evidence. Case dismissed.
Joey merlino will be sipping a cocktail ???? at Memories Lounge in Margate New jersey before the summer months end……Now the question is how much freedom Skinny Joey has before next indictment….6 month’s or year or two…..Guaranteed Joey will make the most of his freedom and Live Large as long as he can….The current case is dying a slow death….