Nickname(s) In my opinion, to be 60 something and as infatuated with the mob as the most dimwitted kid in [insert trashy suburb somewhere in metro NYC or Philly here] is a fate far worse than death.Congratulations, Georgie Boy. What exactly 'Zee's' alleged role was was not made clear, but Rubeo said: 'Listen, he got caught sleeping with her.'. The Gambino family leaders arranged for Stanfa to work for Angelo Bruno, the boss of the Philadelphia crime family.[3]. [4] In 1970, Natale murdered conman George Feeney after he insulted Natale and Bruno. 230, we have the right to delete without warning any comments we believe are obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected. According to Philly Voice, the man known as "Skinny Joey" was once hailed "Philadelphia's only celebrity gangster." Philly Boss Joey Merlino in the late '90s. : r/Mafia - Reddit What a way to go out- he'd have been better off having been caught wearing a Liberace costume on his knees wrapped around Congressman Weiner's <-repeat word twice in an NYC hotel room than this small-time sh*t in Arizona: at least there'd have been a Hollywood ending. Convicted of multiple charges in 1995, Stanfa was sentenced to life in prison. After two weeks of testimony, the judge declared a mistrial, and to avoid being retried, Merlino struck a plea deal in April, pleading guilty to one count of illegal gambling, for which he was sentenced to a maximum of two years. But in his new book . Had the trial gone as the FBI hoped, Merlino, along with at least six of his associates, would never have seen the light of day again. Joey Merlino, wearing a suit and tie, leaves a federal courthouse in New York after pleading guilty to a gambling-related charge on April 27, 2018. Joey Merlino is the father of two daughters, Nicolette and Sophia Merlino, who are 24 and 23 years old, respectively. Merlino's wife doesn't testify after mistress revelation Documentary I just saw a photo of the Mom and Joey on some Florida Beach. Natale had five children with his wife Lucy Natale: three daughters and two sons. Joey "I'll make you for $100k" Merlino. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In 1964, at the age of 23, Stanfa immigrated to the United States, and listed his occupation as a bricklayer. Besides his engagement in the various actions of the underworld, he is a family man who is married to Deborah Merlino and has two daughters, Nicollete and Sophia Merlino. While an acquittal is slightly different from a not guilty verdict, the end result is pretty much the same in terms of sentencing. The real-life Philadelphia gangsters who inspired 'The Irishman' The Prodigal Son Returns: Skinny Joey Back In South Philly For First Time In Half Decade, Mob Gossip Mill Ablaze 2 years ago Scott Burnstein . Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. Joey Merlino came of age in an era where the Mafia in Philadelphia was decimated, taking full advantage of the power vacuum to assume control of the family. Ralph Natale had been indicted for financing drug deals the year before and was still bitter over Merlino having cut him off, so he became the first American Mafia boss to become a government witness, testifying how he and Merlino conspired to take over the family in the early 1990s. A slew of criminal charges and convictions would soon follow. [25] On December 3, 2001, Merlino was however convicted of racketeering charges and given a 14-year prison sentence. We always read about what others have to say or report concerning guys like scarfo or gigante (i.e., guys who haven't and never will switch teams), but we never get to read or watch interviews about what they have to say or their feelings on LCN.. "thank god for the american jury system", notwithstanding. How Joey Merlino Became The John Gotti Of Philadelphia And Why Many Believe He Still Is. He has an 'established trust' with a serial killer. If so, how was it? Drug Gangs This is the wild story of Joey Merlinos rise and fall. "Recalling A Bloody Hit". Dropped Armed Carjacking Charges Against Him, P.C. Thoughtful commentary welcome. Merlinos associates, and boyhood friends, Michael Ciancaglini, Steven Mazzone, George Borgesi, Gaetano Tommy Horsehead Scafidi, and Martin Angelina would take on the Stanfa faction for control of the family, and if they succeeded, Natale would be the boss with Merlino as his underboss. 2022 might be another tough year for the local wise guys. Crime boss Joseph Merlino, 55, is on trial for . So to read about his discussions with a gambino soldier over coffee and sour cream donuts is fascinating. Stu Bykofsky shares a few things about the reputed Philly mob boss you may not have known. Joey Merlinos father Salvatore Merlino (left), and mobster Nicky Scarfo, after being arrested in 1963 on murder charges. Their side of the trial dragged on for months and included 50 witnesses, some of whom were turncoats. Reality isnt that different from the cinematic portrayal of the gangsters and one of the individuals who lives up to those expectations would be the infamous American mobster, Joey Merlino, or Skinny Joey, as hes more well-known. Another noteworthy turncoat witness was Ronald Previte, whose ability to infiltrate the Philly mob family whilst wearing a wire and recording hundreds of sinister conversations earned him half a million dollars. Merlino pleaded guilty to a criminal charge for the first time last week. The American mafia was complete with its own code of conduct, its own businesses and politicians, and its own complex code language, meaning that even tapped phone calls would need to be deciphered, and long-term undercover investigations were necessary (via FBI). Mob informant who boasted about destroying evidence avoids jail time John Stanfa (right), seen speaking with associate Tommy Horsehead Scafidi in an FBI surveillance photo. Joey Merlino with family. Charlotte is daddy's double! thanks for doing your job George. In Pennsylvanias McKean Correctional Institution, Merlino met Ralph Natale, a long-standing Philadelphia mob associate, currently serving a 16-year sentence. According to the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission, Frederick T. Martens, "Stanfa brought in people, like the Veasey brothers, who had no background in the mob but who were willing to break legs and pull a trigger".[14]. that didn't take long. While he was leaving the parking lot of a Los Angeles airport, he was pulling out passenger side to the tune of "Philadelphia Freedom," which appears to be the one thing he simply cannot obtain. Nicolette Merlino Student at Immaculata University . Joseph Salvatore Merlino As part of the investigation, FBI agents had informants organize a 'last supper' for all of the men charged where they paid for them to gorge on pasta and wine and secretly record the event. Philadelphia crime family World's oldest mob wannabe. The couple are pictured leaving Manhattan Federal Court on January 31. Has he established trust with child molesters, rapists, terrorists, and others in the same moral universe as 'Joey'?The problem with guys like George Anastasia is that they can't write about these vermin without salivating over them. Occupation Her son, Marcangelo, now 44, lives with her much of the time. California residents do not sell my data request. Career information His father was Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino, the underboss of the Philadelphia crime family under Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo. Get a life. [16] Ralph Natale took over as boss, but Merlino was the real power in the family, allowing Natale to become boss to direct law enforcement attention away from himself. [8] He was also known for assisting the Philadelphia mob in taking over casinos in Atlantic City during the late 1970s. Merlino had support in the family through the older Joe Ligambi, who was recently out of prison. Of course, there is no way to ascertain the veracity of the statement. Better than the death penalty.. You the man George! THis News is Old. Merlino in 1997. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. He and informants Ron Previte, Peter Caprio and Gaetano Scafidi testified against Merlino and his associates during his trial in 1999. Ligambi, a protg of Merlinos father Chuckie, had in turn become an uncle figure to Merlino, and an important ally. [30][31] On January 22, 2022, Ralph Natale died at the age of 86.[32]. But when a reporter sits down with one who hasn't??? Stanfa escaped uninjured and his son survived a shot to the jaw. Meeting was 2011. How else was he gonna pay those college tuition bills? It involved the sale of a pain relieving which prosecutors claim he facilitated by bribing doctors to get the prescriptions necessary for it. I read four of your books (Blood and Honor, Mobfiles, Goodfella Tapes, and The Last Gangster) and loved all of them. In the age of facebook and twitter, he's probably been schooled up on how to stay really discreet, unlike the 1980's heydays. At their request, he recorded hundreds of hours of conversations he had with the mob boss. Continue Reading . Merlino separated himself from other mob bosses in that he wasn't interested in keeping a low profile, interacting with the media regularly and presenting himself as a neighborhood hero. Who care's how they got to meet. Joey Merlino was born into a mob household on March 13, 1962, with his father, Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino, once underboss for the notoriously violent boss Nicky Scarfo, and his uncle Lawrence "Yogi" Merlino, a capo under Scarfo in the 1980s.. Good for him also. Sports Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino current Philadelphia Family boss Seeing pics of mafia bosses of our era is like looking at photos of those ww2 Japanese soldiers who hid in the jungle until 1970 thinking the war was still going in. How did you get this guy to meet with you in FL? Merlino, 55, denies the charges. Joey Merlino stood Bruno's old . I own all your books in print form but I'm in the process of going all digital and those are 2 of my favorites. With many conflicting and scattered stories being told on the stand, the drawn-out murder trial ended in an acquittal. With the Stanfa faction off the street and Merlino and Natale released from prison, they seized control of the Philadelphia family as they had planned. Joey da man. One such member of the notorious criminal underworld was none other than Joseph Merlino, more frequently referred to by his alias "Skinny Joe." Forget this stronzo. I wonder if shes going to work as a lawyer.. He was released in May 2011 and entered the witness protection program. Merlino led an internal rebellion against boss John Stanfa in the 1990s, and after Stanfa's arrest in 1994, took over the Philadelphia Mafia. On August 31, 1993, Merlinos faction retaliated with their own infamous drive-by shooting on Stanfa and his son while they were driving on the Schuylkill Expressway in Philadelphia rush hour traffic. There is a special place in hell for people like 'Joey' - AND Georgie. Merlino and the new wave of South Philly mobsters dubbed Young Turks by the media believed Stanfa had no place on the Philadelphia throne and that they could do better. ABC News reports that Merlino, as well as three alleged mafia associates, evaded life imprisonment and were . To get him out, Deborah pledged a $575,000 house which she owns in Philadelphia. As of today, the FBI believes that Joey Merlino still runs Philadelphias crime family from afar through a series of intermediaries and street bosses. He rose to power in the mid-1990s, allegedly after waging war for control of . Forgot Password. Gary Joseph, where the f#@k do you get the right to sand blast a well respected reporter like Mr. Im a Merlino fan n I approve this message. I personally think it is great that mafiosos occasionally have such good relationships with their families and especially their daughters. While the prosecution claimed that Jersey mobster Joseph Sodano (aka "Capo") was murdered when he refused to meet with Philly-based mafia leaders, witnesses for the defense shot back with an entirely different story one where Sodano died as the result of an armed robbery. Wife of Philadelphia crime boss 'Skinny Joey' Merlino doesn't testify in his defense after being left stunned by revelation he had a mistress. In the young and charismatic Merlino, Natale, nearing 60, recognized a golden opportunity, and the pair started plotting to take over the Philadelphia family from incumbent boss John Stanfa. Befuddling the FBI, despite having presented the court with three months' worth of testimonies and nearly 1,000 pieces of evidence, Joey Merlino was still acquitted on all three counts of murder. George you are an incredible writer! He was released on a $5 million bond, and later went to trial in January 2018. Joey's just excited to be free. Prior to achieving the position of authority in the crime world, Merlino engaged in illegal activities, which led to his imprisonment. Reputed mob boss Joey Merlino roped into bizarre Philly - PhillyVoice Mafia informant who boasted on podcast about destroying evidence in prosecution of Philadelphia mob boss 'Skinny Joey' Merlino and claimed he committed 'more crimes while working for the FBI than . Keep digging sir, we appreciate it. Prosecutorssay he is responsible for heading up the largest crime syndicate in the area from his Boca Raton, Florida, home. [19] His last confirmed involvement in murder was with 61-year old Anthony Turra in March 1998, who was found shot to death in front of his home before he could come to trial for plotting to murder Merlino. Looking forward to it (hypothetically, of course) Happy Holidays George and thank you for all the many hours of entertainment you've provided over the years. I worked in a halfway house not far from Terra Haute In. Befuddling the FBI, despite having presented the court with three months' worth of testimonies and nearly 1,000 pieces of evidence, Joey Merlino was still acquitted on all three counts of murder. Full name Stefanelli had come recommended from a defense attorney in Newark who had . Merlino was arrested in August 2016 along with dozens of other well-groomed mobsters they say are involved. from your fans in ohio. Stanfa testified before a grand jury about the killing, and disappeared shortly after. The son of South Philadelphia rose to head of the city's crime family following a bloody mid-'90s internal . That would be "wrapped" right? Tags: Members Only. Merlino has reportedly been active in some criminal activities such as gambling, illegal drug trafficking, and extortion to name a few. Consistent with 47 U.S.C. He had another daughter with a previous girlfriend; she disowned her father. Does George Anastasia say anything to dissuade the impression that he admires these scumbags? The Met Gala's heavenly bodies! I think it's pathetic the way the mob groupies post here trying to sound like they're 'mobbed up' (e.g. cartel [5] Natale ran the Bartenders Union Local 170, running it on behalf of Angelo Bruno. King Charles' Coronation LIVE: Anne dismisses 'slimmed down monarchy' and poll shows rock solid support for DR MARTIN SCURR: Why have I always had a runny nose for 30 years - and what can I do to make it stop? I agree with you. The user stated that the information was disclosed in one of the daughters stories. Mob boss 'Skinny Joey' Merlino pictured arriving at Manhattan's Federal Courthouse for his racketeering trial on February 1, Merlino's wife Deborah (seen in August 2016, after his arrest) was reportedly stunned by the claim about her husband's infidelity. [2][3] Natale helped sentence Joey Merlino to a 14-year sentence in 2001, but in January 2005, was also sentenced for racketeering, receiving a 13-year sentence. The tit-for-tat killings continued with Merlino escaping death, as a remote-controlled bomb under his car failed to go off several times. While city streets glistened with neon styles and hip hop went from underground to mainstream, something much more sinister was also taking place behind the scenes: organized crime. Merlino said he'd use his mother's recipes in the Florida restaurant, which closed in 2016. Their sentiment strengthened when unpopular Sicilian-born boss John Stanfa was put in place by the Five Families in New York. 'Joey' is a murderous psychopath for crisakes, not a rock star. "Mob Boss Natale Tells of 'Descent Into Hell'. Salvatore Merlino (father)Rita Giordano (mother)Lawrence Merlino (paternal uncle)Maria Moss (sister)Natalie Merlino (sister)Deborah Merlino (wife)Nicolette Merlino (daughter)Sophia Merlino (daughter)Michael Merlino (nephew) It took place at a restaurant in The Bronx in 2015 and was masqueraded as a 'Cosa Nosa' Christmas party. Call this healthy? He served one year in prison and another in a halfway house in Boca Raton, before being freed of all restrictions in July 2021. Natale had a brother who was a music conductor as of 2001 at a casino based in Atlantic City. Before Feds Got Hip To Alleged Dope Biz, Sources Say. I'm a big fan, keep up the great work! Chicago wars over, you lost. Thanks in advance. On August 5, 1993, Merlino survived a drive-by assassination attempt taking four bullets in the leg and buttocks, on a South Philadelphia Street corner, while Ciancaglini died from a shot to the chest. He don't want no throne, he he he.