How do you know it was speculation on their part?? YOU DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE!! OR WHAT THEY KNOW! I find it hilarious that you try to say if it wasn't for the FBI we wouldn't know Merlino was the boss. Just becasue you and the FBI didn't say so until recently. You and the FBI got it wrong and now your making excuses. Your a walking contradiction.
It's common sense. Somebody who is so "hooked in" they they knew Merlino was the official boss - something the FBI didn't know - isn't going to be posting away on internet forums. Some people were throwing darts in the dark and one of them happened to hit. These guys get a million things wrong but never bring it up afterward. They get one thing right and they think it sets up their reputation for life here on the forums.
Interesting. So I wonder like in North Jersey how they split up the rackets between Philly, the NY families that have NJ crews (Genovese comes to mind) and the Decavalcantes.
The Philadelphia family's North Jersey crew is basically a gambling operation. Only a few soldiers still left. The DeCavalcantes have traditionally operated within their own narrow scope involving the Laborers Union and the construction industry. Pretty much everything else is the NY families, especially the Genovese family.
