Former Philly mafia boss Merlino eyes Philly from FloridaWith a tentative release date of March 15 approaching the former Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino is set to rejoin society. And everyone in Philly from the U.S. Attorneys office to the streets are wondering what will Joey do. Merlino has been in jail since 1999 as he spent two years in prison awaiting his racketeering trial in 2001 where he was convicted. Merlino has spent the last decade on a tour of various prison facilities including stops in Texas , Indiana, Illinois , and Kentucky. Now he is set to walk out of Terre Haute prison in Indiana a free man.
Attorney Edwin Jacobs who represented Merlino in his racketeering trial said about Merlino that ” He has held up absolutely magnificently” and ” Like all of us, he has aged a bit , but he is healthy as an ox and in good spirits and attitude”. But the major question is “What happens now” ? It is not likely that merlino will be making a play for control of the Philadelphia mafia family he once ran as it is now firmly in the hands of reputed boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi at least right away. Nor will Merlino be on the streets of Philly as he is set to spend at least the next six months in a half way house in Boca Raton , Florida as part of his release.
Merlino is believed to be willing to stay in Florida even after his six months are finished up at the half way house and some think he is expected to move to the Highland Beach area. Moving to Florida will allow Merlino a chance to go straight and avoid the criminal environment if he chooses to do so said David Fritchey the chief of the U.S. Organized Crime Strike Force in Philadelphia. But many prosecutors and investigators don’t believe Merlino will be going legit even though some say he should be given at least the slightest benefit of the doubt. Stephen Lapenta a retired organized crime investigator and Philly police lieutenant who ran informants and undercover agents against Merlino said “You’re telling me that a hyena is going to become a vegetarian”. LaPenta said he doesn’t doubt that Merlino plans to trade Philly for Florida but he doubts that he can stay away from the mafia lifestyle.
Some law enforcement officials believe that Merlino could be planning on working under the radar to set up shop in Florida possibly even with help of some Philly mobsters with ties to Florida. Merlino will be under supervised release for three years and will not be allowed to interact with any known felons. This would include two former close mob ties from Philly Marty Angelina and Steven Mazzone among others. But being in Florida Merlino will have some breathing room as his activities there will be monitored but by not by the Philadelphia based federal agents and cops that know him so well. This will likely mean that there will be a lot less eye’s on him in Florida then there would be in Philly.
The past decade has seen the Philly mob family run by reputed boss Joseph Ligambi who has been a low key figure unlike the brash Merlino. But many sources confirm that even the cautious low key Ligambi could be going away soon if a long running racketeering probe by the feds leads to an indictment. If or when Ligambi is convicted it could be a prime opening for Merlino to gather the mobsters still loyal to him and reclaim control of the Philadelphia mafia. Merlino still has allies in Philly and could be tempted to return and take control of the situation presents itself , although some people like LaPenta don’t think he is that dumb. Only time will tell what Merlino plans to do and if he will be able to stay clean and not be drawn back into the life.
http://themafiatoday.com/former-philly-mafia-boss-merlino-eyes-philly-from-florida
