Philadelphia mafia boss Joey Merlino back in town meets with old crew

31 Comments

 

Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino was back on the streets of Philadelphia according to sources making rounds and meeting with members of his old mob crew over the weekend. Many including the FBI believe that Merlino is still the boss of the Philly mafia running things on streets through his long time friends and street boss Steven Mazzone. After completing a short prison sentence on a parole violation Merlino is no longer under any parole restrictions and is free to travel and meet with whoever he chooses. This recent weekend trip to the City of Brotherly Love is sure to fan the speculation that he is still in control of the Philly mob and was possibly there making sure things were in line.

 

joseph merlino back in Philadelphia

“Joey Merlino“

 

Merlino has been living down in Boca Raton since he was released from prison after being convicted on racketeering charges back in 2001. Merlino has since continued to deny he has any remaining ties to the mob life and has nothing more to do with the mafia in Philadelphia. Mazzone was believed to have taken over as acting boss shortly after former acting boss Joseph Ligambi was indicted in 2011 along with other high ranking members of the administration at that time.

Sources have speculated that now a power sharing situation may have developed with a ruling panel consisting of Steve Mazzone, Phil Narducci, and John Ciancaglini in control with Ligambi acting as a sort of consigliere although partially retired. Narducci is a well respected member of the mob and part of the old Scarfo era crew who have recently resurfaced in Philly after doing long prison terms. This new ruling panel could of been constructed to keep tensions down and things from turning violent between the rival crews now operating on streets.

Whether Mazzone still sits at the head of the hierarchy on the streets today or a ruling panel has been appointed it still leaves many wondering if Merlino is still pulling the strings from his new Florida home. Is Merlino planning to eventually move back to Philadelphia to regain his seat at the head of the mafia in Philly or does he simply remain in Florida and run things from afar. Perhaps Merlino has been true to his word and has left the life for good although knowing Joey’s history that seems like a less likely option. Oh as the world turns inside of today’s Philadelphia mafia.

31 Comments

  1. JohnGrant213

    Figured now that he is off of supervised release and has no parole restrictions it was only a matter of time before we seen him back in Philly. Question is was it business or pleasure ? Could Joey have been there to make sure things are staying in line ?

  2. The mafia

    everyone seems to have this idea that the scaro faction is one faction. There is two factions within the scarfo group one led by joey pung and the other b phil narduci. There is no sharing power set uo joey is in charge and has been since got out if you dont believe it you dont know this guy

    • JohnGrant213

      I agree its likely that Joey has never let go of the reigns its doesn’t seem like his style. But i also don’t doubt a panel and power sharing situation has been set up on streets in Philly to insure the peace even if Joey still has final call on most things from down in Florida. Just seems to make sense and yes there are 2 factions of the Scarfo era crew but i think Narducci is def the power with in that whole bunch and Joey Pung may be doing his own thing but i don’t see him having same influence over all as Narducci currently has.

      • The mafia

        i think phil has more guys with him. Joey still has a few guys.

        I dont know if this is true but i hear nicky whip was shelved by jjoe ligambi and then unshelved again for contacting gino milanio

        • JohnGrant213

          I think i remember seeing that mentioned somewhere that Nicky was shelved by Ligambi but i can’t recall where it was or what source it came from.

          • The mafia

            yearh i heard that nicky whip was still contacting his brother. I hear differant storys about the guy now some people have been saying he is in alantic city and his working for phil narduci others say he is not involved and others that he is a free agent.

            i dont really know i know ligambi was angry with the whip but joe is no longer boss so who knows what his postition in the mob is

    • Inc.

      Rumor has it Narduccis son still has an axe to grind with Joey Pung and the man that helped murder his father. People are saying Joey Pung could be in danger, as is he still treading-on-thin-ice George Borgesi, Skinny Joey’s former consigliere said to be getting on the bad side of a lot of different people these days.

      • The mafia

        yes i have spoken about this before you have got this from gangstereport right ?.

        Frank and phil narducci are very bitter about there father in particularly frank he is really troubled by what happened now they have a problem with joey pung but if they are smart they wont try because joey pung is a gangster and he will have no second thoughts about whacking them both but then again phil is a scary guy aswell.

        What you read about geogrie is OLD news that was just a beef with johnny chang and geogre that was it now joeys back in philly again things are ok geogre is being taken care of geogre is dumb though this whole beef started because geogre wanted his rackets quick but steve and johnny were saying calm down wait till your of parole and that created beef.

        i would not even be surprised if geogre switches over to one of the scarfo crews back in the 80s he was very close with them no one spent more time in scarfoinc than geogre

        joey is a worried man its why he is back in philly joey times are different its no longer you and twenty thugs but then again look at what happened in margate with sonny mazzone maybe they have not changed

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