Prosecutor rips Skinny Joey Merlino in closing arguments
A prosecutor spent two hours Tuesday trashing reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino as a greedy gangster who skimmed profits from fraudulent prescriptions for $1,500-a-tube pain cream.
During closing arguments at Merlino’s federal racketeering trial, Manhattan Assistant US Attorney Lauren Schorr said “the evidence is clear” that Merlino belonged to an “organized crime enterprise” that schemed with crooked patients, doctors and pharmaceutical sales workers.
But she didn’t mention the sales rep that a mob rat testified had an affair with Merlino during the alleged scam.
Defense lawyer Edwin Jacobs Jr. attacked the credibility of three gangland snitches who testified against Merlino, including former Genovese crime-family associate John “Junior” Rubeo.
Last week, Rubeo stunned courtroom spectators — including Merlino’s wife, Deborah — with his unexpected allegation of Joey’s infidelity. “They do things you would not consider doing in your wildest dreams. They lack conscience,” Jacobs said of the cooperating witnesses. “To them, the oath is a meaningless jingle.”
The jury is scheduled to begin deliberations on Wednesday.
https://nypost.com/2018/02/13/prosecutor-rips-reputed-mobster-apart-in-closing-arguments/
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