If the Feds must pay had to pay the plane tickets for Merlino and the wife,maybe Joey are little broke.

https://nypost.com/2018/01/31/fbi-spent-20k-on-fancy-italian-dinner-to-lure-mobsters-into-trap/

FBI spent $25K to lure mobsters into fancy Italian dinner trap
By Kevin Sheehan, Priscilla DeGregory and Bruce Golding
January 31, 2018 | 8:33pm | Updated

the feds even paid for him to fly up for it from Boca Raton, Fla. Inzerillo testified that the money for the party was given “directly” to mob rat John Rubeo “to give to Parrello,” and Rubeo also handed over FBI cash for Merlino’s airfare.

“We gave [Rubeo] $5,000 for the flight and transportation for [Merlino] and his wife,” he said.

At one point during the questioning, defense lawyer Edwin Jacobs Jr. asked why the feds agreed to underwrite the exorbitant cost of the “Cosa Nostra Christmas party.”

“We didn’t want to pay for it, but that was what [Rubeo] needed,” Inzerillo answered.

Jacobs — who in 2001 helped Merlino beat three murder raps — also asked why taxpayers footed the hefty bill for Merlino to attend.
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“He always said he was broke,” Inzerillo said.