New poster here, longtime South Philly LCN follower though, from the days we saw a lot of the current guys mentioned here in the clubs. Curious as to what the experts here think about what happens if Joey Merlino goes away for 5 or 10 years on his current charge. Here's some scenarios:

1. Joey keeps his crown and gets some money either through Uncle Joe (a little long in the tooth these days) or through Stevie Mazzone, who would probably be happy no one in LE targets him as boss; nothing else changes.

2. One of the others among the Merlino era guys, like Mickey Lance or George Borgesi, tries to take the top spot by combination of muscle and money--buying off guys like the Changs and the Mazzones. Maybe kicks up to Merlino, maybe not. And a guy like Borgesi probably doesn't give a shit if the feds think he's in charge. Lancelotti probably is too smart to screw up what seems to be the best career in all of LCN...

3. An old-school guy like Narducci or Joey Pung makes a move for the crown, either by whacking one or more of Merlino's allies or by refusing to kick up and seeing if there's any response--if not, then its effectively a free-for-all on the street in terms of who collects from whom; and plus maybe one of these guys makes an alliance with the Dominicans or the Russians or the South Asians, all of whom are making probably more money than they are, drugs-wise...

4. Merlino promotes some of the young guys--Baby Dom Grande, the younger brothers Mazzone and Borgesi, the younger Lancellotti to form a new buffer around him as guys like Uncle Joe and Mikey Lance and the Changs retire or go completely legit?

Merlino is going away, no doubt. I'd imagine he'll cop a plea.

Can't see anything changing. Merlino wants the crown and the boys should be happy that he's the lightning rod.
Why change that and become the focus for the Feds.

As far as #3 is concerned. That isn't going to happen. The days of mob wars and bodies in the streets is over.

Try telling that to Montreal.

I have absolutely zero info on Philly, I just read about it like everyone else. I don't pretend to know. That said, you have to think all the guys earning are happy with Joey taking all the heat off them. If I'm a guy in Philly like Pung, Narducci, Lance, etc... I'm happy to let Joey be the lightning rod.

If there was doing to be a modern day war anywhere, it would be Philly. Not right now though.

EDIT: double post

It is crazy to think that a lot of the murders could be happening due too payback from the Rizzuto's grabbing power 40-50 years ago.....Montreal doesn't seem to let anything slide.

In NY, witness protection doesn't even seem necessary anymore...Way too many guys have joined team America and have very little to worry about in 2016. (Ex: Montiglio)

I would love to hear the tapes Rubeo recorded with Joey and trying to bring up the question of hits. You know damn well Rubeo's handlers were pushing him to catch Joey talking about something more serious than fraud and gambling debts. Also interested to know how much Sirkin was kicking up to Joey to hang around him

I agree that the days of a Scarfo-style bloodletting are past, but it's hard to dismiss the money factor in all of this. Say you're a South Philly guy running a sports book. It's halfway through the football season and you're making bank--but you're taking a chunk of your weekly profit and sending it to a guy who might be in Lewisburg by next fall. Don't you start talking to your peers about a change in management? Or, if nothing else, aren't you tempted to stop kicking up? What if someone like Phil Narducci says "kick half as much up to me, its new management"?

@Giacomo

You understand how GANGSTERS think my man...

If someone were to try to do that they would be killed. That would prob be like the easiest way and quickest way to be killed honestly.

Seems like the genovese powers liked joey. And since there last capo in florida fliped and probaly destroy there crew down there why not let a boss of another family run it. They cutt him in on that medicare scam and released a earner to him. Think he'll do a few more years and keeep running threw his guys is the old man chang stil a presence in philly or is he down florida?

Chickie Chang is still here, supposedly as an honorary consigliere, I think he's pushing 80. And of course John Ciancaglini is around in South Philly. One of his relatives, Billy Chang--someone his grandfather or great-uncle adopted when the guy's own dad flipped--ran for political office a year or two ago, and Johnny Chang was in the paper saying the guy was in no way connected to his family. Though everyone recognizes the name obviously.

Merlino is just one person . He may be going to prison, but his entire crew is free and on the streets.

Think Chickie Chang is past 80. And what Pmac said seems pretty accurate to me. It seems like Joey definitely was liked by the NY families, at least that's the implication given the fact he's essentially the only Philly guy, and being the boss who seems to have been involved in that medicare scam and other shit in this recent indictment. I think Joey stays boss, simple as that, nothing is going to happen.

There is A reason your kicking up in the first place. YOUR SCARED or they put you in action. nobody worth there salt is going to just kick up of course they dont want to pay. Lets say you were paying Merlino and you know he is going away, someone is going to get that action for Merlino. why would Nardducci take half ? when you were paying full freight to MErlino wouldnt that be disrespect towards Narducci?

Given Joey's past I would think there is little to nothing of meat on those tapes besides chicken shit charges. Joey is shrewd and has been for a long time, even when Ron Previte was on tape Joey told him to stay away from drugs and barely talked about a hijacked trailer load of baby formula or ceiling fans. Even after he got out Gambino New Jersey made guy Nicky Skins tried to trap Joey on tape, but Joey said he wasn't in that life anymore and didn't get Joey saying shit, so it is hard for me to believe that a Genovese associate would get Joey on anything but a minor beef. Joey won't talk serious crime to a Gambino soldier. Joey doesn't care which 5 families you belong to much less his own Family. Only possible way you can catch Joey talking serious charges is if you get a long time Capo from Philly or the 5 Families that is wired up. Only way he will get caught. Joey knows the life, he is too smart in his 50 some odd years to get caught up any other way. That or 1 of his longtime inner circle flips. Only way to catch Skinny Joey.

Agreed he maybe able to do good in court according to the charges . That or cop a plea that isn't so bad.

Lets put it where its at... There are a lot of guys in Philly and NJ that are now out and most are off parole. There also have been a shot of some new blood. Most of these guys, except Scoops Licata of course, are keeping their heads down and being low key. A lot of them have either tied themselves to some legitimate business or job and still do their side stuff to maintain or justify their income. My bet is Georgie makes his move to take over and say what you will the guy is a true gangster and many people respect him for that. As far as their future you have to say they are the most put back together family right now. While some are up their in age I wouldn't count them as old and weak. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out but if Joey gets any kind of time his reign is over

That new blood you mention is to my guess mostly guys from SP who are the next generation of the existing families, related to the well-known guys who did long bids over the last two decades--sort of like when Merlino, Mikey Chang, etc came up in the 90s, kids of established street guys. So Baby Dom Grande's sister is I think married to Stevie Mazzone's brother, the Wagner brothers' mother is Gaeton Lucibello's sister, the Baldino kid's mother is Phil Narducci's sister, and on and on. SP is a small place, and there's plenty of folks who married someone they met at Neumann or Goretti...

What is the name of Daniel's steakhouse?

Talk of the Town.

Apples and oranges.

Skinny is going away and most likely for a long time ,he has way too many priors and is all over the media living like a millionaire , he is on video and most seen him driving expensive cars and living a lavish life .

The judge is going to throw the book at him and they most likely will use him as a lightning rod at the top

This becomes very interesting with Georgie out there and everyone looking at Stevie as boss but Georgie .

There are many that know George is a gangster and will be a little to wild so I am sure they will try to keep him down but there is going to be problems he has a large network and if he can get one other skipper behind him like Lance he will make moves cos I am pretty sure Lance does not want that title or the time that will come with .

May be very interesting days to come with just about everyone back on the street but Skinny !

Merlin has a long history of going to trial. He won't take a plea. Not his style.

If anyone was going to move aside Skinny Joey, they had plenty of chances while he was away for 14 years and none had the balls.

Someone might want to be acting boss. Probably George.

One thing you can give Skinny Joey and his inner circle, they are loyal to each other. They don't rat. And none have tried to dethrone Joey.

I totally agree , but if say Skinny get 15 that puts him at 70 back on the streets that he will not walk now .

Things are different and it will not be the same.

There probaly ironing out the global plea deal with everyone. I think cause its nyc and its basically merlino taking tribute from a guy running health scams a guy running a gambling ring he gets 4yrs another 3yrs of supervised release. Wonder if they got the genovese guys talkinh about joeys offiical position and if the genovese bosses recognize merlino as a equal. I word guess yes cause they were spliting bread together. He did 14yrs probaly made a few friends in the bigger nyc families.

Why he wasnt Indicted with all the hands on health care scammers in tampa shows its a weak case. Bet ny drops the health care scam and makes him take the gambling plea.