One thing you have to admit its not like these were back room deals between lawyers and judges or whatever.Like Merlino did say himself he faced the jury on numerous occasions and one time would have been all it would have taken for them to say guilty instead of not-proven and then he would be away for life.When somebody said they would be away for life for committing a murder,that's probably because any witness would most likely have some sort of credibility but the witness's the feds are putting on the stand to testify to these murders are just not believeable according to the jury.Merlino has had guys like Ralph Natale and Tommy Scafidi.You remember the famous line when the judge asked Scafidi what year he graduated high school and he said ''my senior your honor.''That says it all.