The latest episode of Mob Talk Sitdown featuring mafia experts George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser takes a closer look at the evidence against Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph Merlino.
The guys discuss the evidence and how it could effect Joey not only in this East Coast LCN Enterprise case but also any future indictments that could develop in Philly. Prosecutors recently released transcripts of a secretly recorded conversation by mob rat John Rubio between Joey Merlino and New York mafia capo Eugene Onofrio where Joey brags about how easy it is to kill someone. There are no murder charges in the current indictment but these tapes could certainly damage the character of Merlino at trial.
“Joey Merlino”
Prosecutors released the transcripts as a response to motions filed by the defense to have the charges against Merlino dropped. According to Anastasia and Schratwieser, there could be something brewing by the feds in Philadelphia and this tape could be even more damaging to Joey in a trial that included charges tied to some of the still unsolved mafia murders. At this point, the current NY case involves no violent crimes but the feds in Philadelphia would certainly like to build a larger case against the flamboyant Cosa Nostra boss. If a case is being built in Philly it could include not only Joey but also other members of the organized crime family there. In the NY indictments, the feds claimed that Merlino was actively working to rebuild the Philly mafia.
The East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise case of which Merlino is a part of was severely weakened by an internal probe into the potential mishandling of a mob informant and key evidence leading to sweet plea deals for most of the defendants. Merlino decided to take the fight to the feds and refused to agree to any plea offers potentially forcing the feds to drop the charges. It now seems like the feds are willing and ready to take their shot at Joey in the court room regardless of the previous problems and their case could be bolstered if they have even more evidence contained in the remaining conversations recorded by Rubio which have yet to be released. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for the end of August for pre-trial motions and the actual trial has been moved to January of 2018.
Well it looks like Joey’s effort to play back at the feds in hopes of avoiding a trial have not really paid off. The feds case still seems like somewhat of a mess but with stuff like that ” It is easy to kill someone” tape you just never know how a jury will respond and Joey could still be very much in hot water. Plus who knows what else is on some of those other tapes that could even further influence a Jury even if the actual evidence is a bit weak. It should only get more and more interesting once this trial actually starts and if the feds in Philly are working on something then Joey may be jumping from one indictment into another even if he does win this time around.
Common sense tells me that a candid statement like the one made between 2 men, isn’t sufficient enough to bring homicide charges about. And to whom were these transcripts released too? (Paragraph 3) With articles like this floating about the Internet how would Joseph receive a fair trial? I’m sure I’m not the only one with a lot of questions.
I don’t think NY prosecutors had any intention to use it to try and bring homicide charges but more so to damage any credibility he may have at trial and to challenge his character. Now as they mentioned if he were to get in hot water in Philly and the feds there made a case then this could def be used again to perhaps make a case with homicides in it more appealing. Also he wasn’t going to ever get a “fair” trial regardless of those transcripts but hey that is a part of his high profile nature and his flamboyant approach so it just is what it is. The old line “It’s Joey being Joey” kind of says it all and I think he knows that full well and doesn’t mind it. Its the lifestyle he seems to enjoy.
Attorney Jacobs will destroy the validity of the tapes….Many men boast and brag and Joey was trying to impress Rooster Onofrio being Made New York La cosa nostra …..Feds are trying to paint a picture of Joey as cold blooded killer but Ed Jacobs will wash that away…murders of Ron Turchi….Johnny Gongs….Long John Matarano ….happened when Joey was in prison…so Joe Ligambi wad running the show on the streets….But Philly Feds are also looking at Dutchi Avacoli …Louie Irish …the shooting at Dante Louigis of Nicky Scarfo Jr…..And possibly more….Correction Ron turchi hit Joey may have been still in Philly…..So The New York case Joey skates away but the upcoming Philly federal case is major concerns about possibilities of murder charges…..Looms on the horizon…..Attorney Jaccobs is Joey’s best weapon now
I think your right on as to Jacobs and his ability to get through the bull which will accompany this case. I just always sit back and say to myself when human nature is concerned it can certainly be influenced at times and that is what makes trial so risky, esp if these recordings get much worse character wise. So I think Joey has to at least be somewhat worried here if indeed this makes it into a court room.
I know that this isn’t the most popular opinion but I don’t find Joseph Merlino and his shenanigans that interesting. To me he’s just a goofball showoff, he’s not a gangster in the sense of Steven Crea or Eugene O’Nofrio or some of these other wiseguys in the news lately. What’s interesting to me are gangsters who come off as being humble to the media but deadly in the shadows. Not to say he’s not deadly, he’s just too flamboyant. The news only refers to him as a Mafia boss for the sensationalism. No one knows for sure who, if anyone, is running the show in Philadelphia. It’s such a mess hopefully they find a strong leader who commands respect from everyone rather than just one clique. I will add though if he beats the feds good for him.