By 1991, Gigante was indicted, Gravno flipped, Amuso and Casso were busy killing everyone in their own family, the Colombos were at war and the Bonannos weren't even on the commission and were just starting to rebuild under Massino.
I think Merlino predicted that the five families weren't in a position to intervene. The Geoveses were more concerned with Leonetti and Gravano than Merlino.
"I die outside; I die in jail. It don't matter to me," -John Franzese
