This episode of Mob Talk with George Anastasia and Dave Schratwieser takes a closer look at the Merlino trial and a potential plea offer that remains on the table.
The Joey Merlino trial has been delayed until Jan. 29 after the 55-year-old mobster was hospitalized with a heart issue as detailed here. The guys give us one last look at the evidence against the alleged Philadelphia mafia boss which includes over 800 hours of tapes and recordings and at least three cooperators waiting to take the stand. But Merlino still remains defiant and alleges that he didn’t do anything wrong and is still on track to roll the dice and take his chances in court. George and Dave make some great points about the risk involved in going to trial even if the fed’s case may have some flaws.
The flamboyant Cosa Nostra bosses trial will definitely be one of the more interesting ones of the year. The guys also have some information on Philly mafia soldier Gaeton Lucibello and a recent parole violation that could send him back to prison. According to the report, Lucibello violated his supervised release restrictions by meeting with fellow wiseguy Salvatore “Sonny” Mazzone. Sonny is the brother of high ranking Philly mobster Steven Mazzone. Lucibello a one time captain in the organized crime family reportedly met Sonny during a brief encounter at a bocce ball game in South Philly. His supervised release was set to end on Feb 1st. As always no one covers the mafia in Philadelphia any better than George and Dave and hopefully, they will be keeping close tabs on the Joey Merlino trial.
Hmm okay I know this case def has its shaky aspects and Joey could very well beat the feds which he would absolutely love to do. But 800 hours of tapes, 3 cooperators it seems, now health problems ….
Does anyone here think Joey shouldn’t have just taken one of those fairly sweet plea deals?
mob talk really good this week we now know the third witness this is not looking good for merlino
you know my feelings on it john he should have taken that plea they were offering him 18 months inside if hes convicted they will hammer him even if hes only convicted on the gambling charges he will get maximum sentence not the smartest decision to take this to trial and geogre A is right about the medical fraud that evidence looks strong they have paperwork that will be very hard for even jacobs to defend plus tapes and that witness looks alot more credible than rubeo and lovagio if he can back it up with the tapes.
My prediction for the trial he will be convicted on some charges acquitted on others end up getting 8 9 years in prison. Like they said in mob talk this week joey will be more concerned about what happens next because that second indictment targeting joey and the leadership is coming and this time they wont be playing about they wont allow another embarrassment like ligambi and the trial in 01
i did not thobut hes made his decision now we will see what happens at trial should be interesting
Yep I also thought passing on 18 months was a bit too crazy even for Joey. I think he could end up getting convicted of health care fraud at a minimum as the guys mentioned there is prob a paper trial there that he may not be able to get away from. If so I think he could be look at anywhere from 10-15 years which would be a disaster up against those little 18 months.
I was wondering how what comes next played into his decision as well. Makes me wonder if he was just taking as much freedom as he can upfront while on bail.
Hell no Johnny Boy!!!Hes gonna win !!!Hes not guilty of anything he didnt do nothin wrong !!!Atta boy Joe !!!Stand youre ground !!!YOU ARE NOT ALONE GOD IS WITH YOU !!!
I still think he has a chance to beat it although I will admit I am getting a little less confident in the odds being in his favor. The feds case will def have some holes for Jacobs to attack but they may actually have some solid enough evidence to make a jury say hmmm well then. You just never know how a jury reacts to things and gotta say it seems like a bigger gamble now than it did a few months ago with addition of a 3rd cooperator now etc.
I think he should have taken the 18 months, but we dont know what Jacobs is telling him. They have the discovery and maybe Jacobs feels confident he can win the case. They know shit we don’t know. It’s still big gamble though…
Your def right his lawyer knows a whole lot more than we do and would have to think he figures they have a good chance. I mean Jacobs is top shelf. Just always such a crap shoot with a jury as the oddest thing can sometimes sway them one way or another as a group and it’s not like Joey has a sterling rep and image esp outside of Philly where there is a better chance jurors just see him as a random thug and not a “celebrity” per say.
STAND YOURE GROUND JOE !!!!I DONT SAY YOU ARE A DON ….BUT IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING WHICH THERE AINT ONLY IN THE MOVIES ..RALPH NATALE WOULD BE WRONG !!!HE WAS NOT THE LAST DON STANDING !!!THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO SUCH A THING WOULD BE YOU !!!GOD BLESS YKU JIEY !!!BALS OF BRASS !!YOU GONNA WIN BABE !!EVERYONE IS PRAYING FOR U !!!
BE STRONG IN THE LORD JOE AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT !!!THE LORD STRENGHEN YOURE HEART SON!!
Joey HAVE FAITH IN GOD SON !!!PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURE FAMILY !!!STAND YOURE GROUND !!YOU DIDNT DO NOTHIN WRONG !!!!YOURE NOT ALONE SON !!YOURE NOT ALONE !!STAND TILL AND SEE THE DALVATION OF GOD ..BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD SAITH THE LORD #!LET THE PEOPLE TALK …GO ON SON !!GOD BLESS!!BE STRONG MY SON !!!!!THE LORD STRENGHTHEN YOURE HEART AND GIVE YOU GRACE TO STAND AGAINST PHAROAS ARMY !!THE RED SEA IS GETTING READY TO PART AGAIN ….YOU KNOW THE STORY ??LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL PHAROS MEN!!ONLY MOSES ALONE !!!!AND HIS PEOPLE WALKED ON DRY GROUND TO SAFETY TO THE OTHER SIDE !!!GO JOE !!YOU AND GOD ALONE TO THE OTHER SIDE FOR SAFETY SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND MY SWEET FRIEND CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR !!!LET THE UNBELIEVERS LAUGH AND MAKE FUN !!THE LORD GIVE YOU THE VICTORY MY SON !!PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU ..THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU YOURE COMING IN AND GOING OUT FROM THIS TIME EVERMORE !!YOU AND YOURE FAMILY !#AMEN AMEN AND AMEN
ALL YOU PEOPLE LEAVE HIM AND HIS FAMILY ALONE !!I COMMAND EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD …AND BECAUSE HES HERE THE HOLY SPIRIT I TAKE EVERY ONE OF YOURE SPIRITS UNDER MY CONTROL IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR GODS GLORY …..LEAVE HIM ALONE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD …YOURE WITNESSES ARE LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE AND YOURE AGENTS HAVE NO POWER …THE FBI AND ALL WHO COME AGAINST THAT INNOCENT MAN HAVE BEEN BROUGHT LOW AND YOURE CASES AND TESTIMONIES HAVE BEEN MADE OF NONE EFFECT IN THE NAME OF THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB THE GOD OF ISRAEL OF WILLIAM MARRION BRANHAM AND ROBERT LEE LAMBERT YOU COME TO US GOLIATH OF THE PHILISTINES WITH YOURE SIZE AND YOURE STAVES AND SWORDS AND LYING WITNESSES YOU BULLUES ..BUT I COME AGAINST YOU FOR THE WORLD TO SEE TO LAUGH AND SNEAR LIKE THEY DID TO KING DAVID OF OLD CUZ HE WAS ONE MAN “ALONE “AGAINST A THOUSAND BUT THRU FAITH GOD GAVE HIM THE VICTORY ..CALL ME CRAZY CALL ME NAMES ..I WANT YOU TO!!!THERES A JESUS SOMEWHERE AND I TELL YOU ONCE AGAIN HERE AND NOW GEORGE AND ALL YOU HATERS ..THE BIBLE DECLARES ..NOT THE CHURCH ..THE BIBLE ..”THAT ONE WILL CHASE A THOUSAND AND TWO WILL PUT TEN THOUSAND TO FLIGHT “!!!!AND I PUT YOU ALL TO FLIGHT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST !!!!BE GONE FROM THE MAN AND HIS FAMILY !!!REPENT EVERYONE OF YOUS AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LIRD JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF YOURE SINS !!!I TELL YOU CHRIST HAS STOOD HIS JUDGEMENT ….LEAVE HIM ALONE !!!!
Im tired of you people picking on him !!!Cant you see he didnt do anything wrong ??Hes not guilty of anything !!The cops and politicians are worse than the people they put in jail ..but youre sins will find you out !!!Shame on you picking on a man with a heart condition ..you oughta be ashamed of youreself ….judas !!!Vengence is mine saith the Lord i will repay !!!!RISE UP JOEY ..RISE UP OUT OF THAT BED AND HAVE FAITH IN GOD !!PRAY SON !!!YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURESELF ..LYIN WITNESSES. TO SAVE THEIR OWN ASS …INFORMANTS ..MISCREANTS !!!REPENT !!#TURN AROUD AND GO THE OTHER WAY !!!ONE MAN STANDIN ALONE AND EVERYBODY PICKIN ON HIM AND HES STILL “A MANS MAN”!!!!!!WHOS THE REAL MAN LADIES AND GENTLEMAN I ASK YOU ????ONE MAN ALONE STANDIN WITH GOD AS HIS SAVIOUR !!!!HE HAS A GOOD ATTORNEY TRUE ..BUT HE HAS A BETTER ONE IN HEAVEN ..THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO BOUGHT AND PAID FOR HIM AND HAS KEPT HIM HUS WHOLE LIFE !!!TO COME AGAINST HIM IS TO COME AGAINST GOD ..CUZ WE ARE CLAIMING HIM!!!FOR THE KINGDOM !!!
Spiritual warfare !I bind you i bind youre witnesses !!i bind youre cases i bind youre office !!i bind you all up in the name of Jesus Christ !!!Come to youre knees before me because you have challenged me!!Who i am ??Anybody i can get away ewith being !!Youre case has come to nought …and there will be no more brought !!!He is free he is free he is free!!In the name of Jesus Christ Amen!
The devil is a liar !!!
Footprints on the sands of time of time Joe read it !!!
We walk by FAITH not by SIGHT!!!
When did we all start using the term Cooperators.? .I these just rats .
Im more concerned about the 800 hours.If they got him talking on those tapes
Not sure of what deal he has been offered but it sounds like that is might be best