I think they wanted a low key unknown to hang out with Merlino while he was in New York, it put a spotlight on Tuccio and LE made him a target. Now he is in prison. He was not a bodyguard but just a guide I believe, and someone they trusted not to start a fight in a place they went to, and to be dependable. I don't think they just met on social media, C'mon.
Tuccio was having an issue with the bonanno’s ( Ronnie G’ crew). They wanted to give him a beating. Tuccio ran to his uncle who is Joe “ cafeâ€, a Lucchese guy. Joe “ cafe†called John Pennisi since Pennisi knows Ronnie G and asked if Pennisi could take tuccio under his wing which he was hesitant to do but did step in for him.
Pennisi and some Lucchese’s, as we all know, were friends with Merlino and Merlino met with Pennisi in Queens for drinks. Over the course of the drinks pennisi and “joe cafe “brought up Tuccio and all the idiotic things he does. Merlino thought the “wanna be†Tuccio sounded hilarious and said “ I gotta meet this guyâ€. Pennisi sent a text to Tuccio and told him to come for drink. When he came to the bar, he saw Merlino and was obviously star struck and he sat down with all of them including Merlino. Merlino kind of took a liking to the kid. A few days later Tuccio reached out to him on instagram.. that is exactly how it went down.
Fyi, Pennisi met Merlino through Joe Perna.