Of the 46 alleged mobsters and associates in last years, East Coast LCN Enterprise case only alleged Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino and New York Mafia captain Eugene “Rooster” Onofrio are going to trial.
The feds originally called the case a major blow to organized crime taking down an enterprise that combined members of various mafia families that had been in operation since 2010. But the case has been hampered by various problems including an internal investigation into the mishandling of a key witness believed to be John Rubeo and evidence he collected that includes tons of secretly recorded conversations leading to the disciplinary actions against two FBI agents. These developments rattled the feds leading prosecutors to offer some pretty sweet plea deals void of some of the more serious charges which all but the two aforementioned have accepted.
“Joseph Merlino”
The flamboyant Joey Merlino who is free on a $5 million dollar bond declined the feds offer to make a deal deciding to take his chances in court. The 55-year-old mobster has been able to dodge some legal bullets in the past including multiple murder charges although he hasn’t been completely bulletproof getting convicted on racketeering charges in 2001 leading to a 14-year sentence. Merlino has been charged with various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, health care fraud, and illegal gambling in the current case which could put him behind bars for more than 20 years if convicted. Merlino’s defense team tried to get the trial moved from New York to Philadelphia which could potentially be a more favorable atmosphere. In the City of Brotherly Love Joey is a more of a known commodity and somewhat of a celebrity gangster as head of the Philly mafia leading potential jurors to either be afraid of him or have a potentially positive opinion of him instead of New York where he is probably seen as just another criminal.
There was plenty of debate as to whether or not the feds really wanted to take this case all the way to trial considering the problems that have developed. But they have not backed down and have even made moves to potentially strengthen their case by bringing in NY mafia rat Peter Lovaglio a former capo in the Bonanno crime family to testify against the defendants. Lovaglio was not implicated in any of the crimes in this case but the feds claim he had interactions with both mobsters before he was busted. It seems like prosecutors may put him on the stand to testify about the defendant’s standings within Cosa Nostra. It wasn’t a surprise to most when Joey turned down his plea offer and decided to go to trial because it’s part of his personality and he doesn’t mind taking the gamble and certainly won’t shy away from the media attention it brings. He has survived multiple attempts on his life over the years and has denied any claims that he is involved in the mafia and has been quoted as saying he flat out refuses to plead guilty to any charges.
Both Merlino and Onofrio were set to tried at the same time but a judge recently ruled to postpone Onofrio’s trial indefinitely because of medical issues. So Skinny Joey will be the center of attention when he walks into the federal court in Manhattan in a couple of weeks with the feds once again trying to put him away. It’s no secret that ever since he was released from prison back in 2011 after finishing up his previous 14-year stretch that he was still on the feds radar and they would like nothing more than to have the flashy American Mafia boss become a guest of the government once again. You can find more information on the upcoming Joey Merlino trial and some of the evidence the feds have against him in some of our previous articles here and here.
This is definitely going to be interesting and may be the the best trial of the year from a mafia standpoint right off the jump. Feds are definitely going to take every angle possible here to get Joey and I am not shocked at all that Rooster isn’t being tried at the same time because they want Joey and getting anyone else in that “East Coast LCN Enterprise” case was just secondary for them I think. Can’t wait to get some parts and pieces of the recordings to see just how loose Joey may have been in those conversations, as the glimpse we have had already doesn’t look too good on him. How much does Rubio know and how credible will both her and Pug be to the jury are all big questions for the feds.
I know most people think Joey will beat this case and that is it a flawed mess but I am not so sure.
Will be interesting this and the luchese trial is also this year we should find out some very interesting informantion
Should be interesting to see what happens with this being tried in New York. Everyone on here seems to think it is a definite victory for Joey which i dont know if i agree with while i think he has a decent chance the evidence against him i dont think is as weak as is being suggested they would have dropped charges if they thought they were going to lose. The Rubeo tapes make it hard to not find him guilty at least on the gambling charges and they have like Peter Lovaglio did do business with merlino before he turned rat they were both associated with a guy in New Jeresy i think he became involved in merlinos florida crew cant remember the guys name but he was mentioned in a capeci article from awhile back. There is however plenty for the feds to attack FBIs mishandling, Rubeos actions while an informer and both him and Lovaglios history with domestic violence.
Another potential disadvantage for joey is that SP he is the john gotti everyone knows who he is been some people have positive opinions of or fear him in New York he is just another mobster he wont get any special treatment
That is what bothers me, trial in New York …only worse would have been trial in Florida…if trial was in Florida conviction most Likely….Trial in Philly would be keys best chance for innocent verdict or at least hung jury …..Joey and the Philly mob is major part of local history …Many friends and relatives pro south philly mobsters….trial in New York Joey is exactly what you said just another mobster…The major hope for Joey is Attorny Edwin Jaccobd is master mind destroying government witnesses and casting doubt and also setting up winning appeals…but I think joey gets convicted of lesser charges..THE PHILLY Mob will survive now that structure and ranks are in better shape than when joey went to Federal Penitentiary…2001
I think you are right being in NY more than likely has a negative effect.
To be honest Joey going inside will have little impact on that family Merlino when he got out in 2011 has spent nearly the whole time in Florida because of the parole. How much has joey really been controlling the day to day in SP is debatable guys like Ligambi, Mazzone, Lancelotti, johnny chang Borgesi etc seem to be the guys running the day to day and Joey has mainly been based in Florida running his crew out there. Apparently according to Scott Burnstein alot of guys in SP where suprised when they found out the extent to merlinos operations in Florida. This case is really Joeys greed coming back to haunt him.
They will be fine infact i bet there is a number of guys on the streets who would be secretly happy if he went away. Things will just carry on as they are ligambi steve borgesi will run the streets till merlino comes home. T
I’m in agreement with you…Philly mob is structurally solid and ranks at. Strength like 1980s ..if joey has to do stretch of time ….very minimal effect…
Yeah I don’t think Joey going away has any effect at all in Philly really except for some money maybe flowing in a different direction. Unless someone goes off the reservation from his camp but that just doesn’t seem likely today even in Philly.
I personally don’t like. George Borgesi..but his stock is rising and his chain of connections has grown ..So if joey goes away for long stretch with uncle joe getting older, Borgesi could emerge at higher position..many Philly wiseguys don’t want top spot because that’s where lightning strikes….and prefer nothing higher than CAPO. But George Borges in my opinion would definitely Desire the top echelon…just point to ponder….if joey goes to big House to do 10 -15 …I hope joey gets off. But I’m not as confident as I was couple months ago
Agreed i think Borgesi would want dont know how that would work out for that family with him in charge always been crazy that guy and he has a problem he cant help bring rats in all the time. Ligambi will step down soon at his age that does leave the spot open. I think the only potential contender could be mazzone but him and borgesi go way back so they would sort it out peacefully. There is literally no one else i can imagine going for the top spot in this scenario rhe others Narducci seems to have little to do with the family and has his own thing going on johnny chang dont think would have the backing or interest Lancolleti has never expressed any interest in being in charge and Stanio is in prison
I think Mazzone would certainly have the upper hand to take over short term but Goegie def has a growing power base and he could eventually emerge as the guy who is charge a few years down the line if he can stay on the streets.
I think if Joey goes away he keeps that “boss” title although if he gets a fairly harsh sentence and is gone for a solid stretch we could def see the Philly family move in a new direction and a guy like Georgie def has the personality and balls to make a play for that kind a spot although he could be just as happy being a step lower in the administration for now.
I was thinking same thing about guys being happy if he goes away. The government obviously has it out for him and he’s got to be drawing tons of heat on them.
This could either help or hurt merlino because what would have hurt or benefited Onofrio at trial would have probably affected merlino and that goes both ways. Onofrio had been trying to get severed from this trial for ages he has finally got his wish not the way he hoped because from what i heard he had a heart attack.
I don’t think Joey minds going at it alone but there could def be some drawbacks to it as well. I am def not sure he beats this one either and right now I think I would have to give the feds a slight edge in odds on getting a conviction here. Although I guess it could come down to him beating some of these charges and taking the rap on some of the lesser ones.
True Joey likes the idea that he has never made a plea he has gone alone before when he was facing that robbery charge in 1990. However there is serious risks with this the smarter decisions would have been taken that plea they were offering 18 months now if convicted he will be looking at 8 years.
Also very expensive going to trial with his lawyers jacobs would cost for an major mob case like this even if it is only meant to last 4 days around 500k+ and thats not even including other legal costs i heard (though not certain so dont take this as fact) he has carseni part of his defense team he was junior gottis lawyer in his trials in the 2000s so this is going to be very expensive for him. Then again merlino is probably not paying for any of this one of his hangerons like stein will pay for it i mean the guy already buys him a house, restaurant,flys him around in his private jet and “employs” him at several businesses. So i doubt with knowing who merlino is and his history with this sort of stuff he will pay for any of this
Hard to imagine letting your ego get in the way of doing an 18 month stretch over letting a jury in NY decide whether or not your going in for no telling how long. At some point you have to know when to cut your losses.
Problem with taking a plea is although he can’t be tried again, it is another predicate if he faces RICO charges down the road. Not sure if that was a factor with him not taking a plea because I agree he definitely seems to have quite the ego.
Yeah I think that def came into play too but even then that seems still like a better gamble then going in front of the jury here. But he still could beat this sooooo
Wow, 500k! That’s insane. No wonder I heard Joey was asking the Philly guys to set up a defense fund for him. Lol. Who is this Stein guy you mentioned haven’t heard of him?
Jacobs is one of the most expensive out there and these rico trials have high costs Junior Gotti had to spent millions on those trials in the 2000s.
Stanley Stein he is a multi-millionaire lives in Florida originally from SP old guy became friendly with merlino when he got out of prison he “employed him” rented him out his house and just buys him everything. When Merlino had to come back to SP for messing up his parole by meeting with johnny chang back in 2014 Stein flew him back in his private jet and by all accounts he allows merlino to use it everytime goes from Florida to SP.
I think he also helped bail Joey out when he got busted because there is no chance Joey had $5million to bail himself out not with his lifestyle and does not really have much in his name. His ex/wife also helped bail him out while Joey was away she became very rich because of the “legit” businesses she “ran” while he was away.
His “ex” – did they get divorced?
I put /ex because i dont know if they officially have been divorced or they are now back together but i know back when merlino was in prison she was sleeping around with alot of guys lol apparently one of the reasons johnny gongs got killed was that he was boasting to everyone on the streets that she was now with him he hated merlino when joey found out apparently he went berserk. He was also living on his own in Florida when got back out 2011 but i dont think they are officially divorced then again what the fuck do i know i dont them personally so not going to pretend to know there relationship
Go to gossipextra.com – a South Fla gossip website – they have photos from last year of the 2 of them at the beach together – and I’ve heard nothing about any divorce.
They are not divorced. You guys are pathetic gossiping like little girls and have no idea what you are talking about. Deb is very much his wife and her, Nicolette and Soph were up in NYC yesterday with him. And Stan has known Donnie Petullo and Joey forever, he didn’t just meet them when Joey got out.
GEORGE E DAVE …SKINNY JOEY NON HA INTENZIONE DI PROVARE DA SOLO COME DICE TU !DIO R CON LUI E VINCERA !!!AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE AND SKINNY JOE HIMSELF ….SKINNY JIEY JOEY IS NOT GOUNG TO TRIAL ALONE AS YOU SAY GOD IS WITH HIM AND HE WILL WIN!!!
Correction ..Dio e con lui e vincera!!!
Dont plead to nothin!!!I dont care how many lyin rat fed false witnesses come out of the woodwork!!Stand youre ground!!!!
Let me ask you geniuses this ..why would JOE EVER CONSIDER TAKING A PLEA WHEN HE IS NOT GUILTY OF ANYTHING???YOU WANT HIM TO PLEAD TO SOMETHING HE DIDNT DO??JUST BECAUSE SOME LYING ASS RAT FED WITNESSES GOT PAYED TO LIE ON THE STAND ??AND THE FEDS THEMSELVES ARE WORSE !!!!SHAME ON ALL YOU PEOPLE !!!JOE DIDNT DO NOTHIN WRONG!THATS WHY HES NOT PLEADING GUILTY !!I DONT KNOW WHAT LANGUAGE TO TELL U IN ..CANT U PEOPLE SEE THRU ALL THAT DRAMA THAT THE FEDS CREATED WITH THEIR LYING RAT FED WITNESSES ???AND GEORGE MAYBE NOT YOU DAVID ..BUT GEORGE OF ALL PEOPLE KNOWS BETTER!!
LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!
Thats what i thought !!But he will win anyway !!!
VIGLIACCHI!!
Dont listen to them Joe theyre just scared !!All this does is up the stakes of the game !!Its gonna make the feds look worse when they lose ..they diggin their own graves !!
Theyre makin you not breakin you !!
Haters!!Theyre jealous of you Joe !!!Theyre the bad guys!!!So they can go home and lie to theyre wives !!!!
Theyre problem is not with you Joe ..theyre problem is with themselves !!Cuz theyre all insecure ..and when they see a man of respect and integrity like youreself …AND COURAGE ..THEY WANNA BE LIKE YOU !!BUT THEY CANT !!SO THEY TRY TO DESTROY YOU WITH LIES !!BUT TRYING TO DIM YOURE STAR WONT MAKE THEIRS SHINE BRIGHTER!!!
ONE MAN WILL CHASE A THOUSAND AND TWO WILL PUT TEN THOUSAND TI FLIGHT !!!!!
WERE GONNA CHASE YOU OUT THERE YOURE ALL GONNA BE IN THE STREET WITHOUT JOBS!!
Theres no Phil Leonettis here!!!
At all costs
No matter what