Philadelphia boss Skinny Joey Merlino sentenced to two years in prison

Philadelphia boss Skinny Joey Merlino sentenced to two years in prison

  October 23, 2018    Dapper_Don

---

The reputed head of the Philadelphia mob was slapped with a maximum sentence of two years for illegal gambling Wednesday during a raucous proceeding in which one of his supporters loudly called the judge “a rat bastard.”

Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino pleaded guilty in April to a single count of running an illegal gambling business after a jury deadlocked on more serious racketeering charges.

Judge Richard Sullivan said that after sitting through the trial he had no reservations giving Merlino the maximum sentence.

“I certainly would have given you more than 24 (months), this is not a bad deal,” Sullivan said, crediting Merlino’s attorneys.

But the sentence didn’t go well with one of Merlino’s supporters in the audience, who complained that Sullivan’s lengthy rundown of the accused mobster’s past was “all for show.”

“It’s all bullsh--,” the man said. “Rat bastard.”

Sullivan then spoke to the man directly.

“Do you want to take over? Is there something you want to say?” Sullivan said. “It’s unfortunate people here think they can take over the proceeding.”

The judge then asked his deputy to call the court marshals, but the man left before they arrived. He declined comment while smoking a cigarette outside the courthouse.

Merlino’s attorney, Edwin Jacobs, had argued that Merlino was roped into an alleged racket involving pain cream by a gangland snitch, John "Junior" Rubeo.

During the proceeding, Sullivan said the trial had showed that Merlino was “a player” — but had not shown that he was the head of the Philly mob.

As Merlino left the courthouse smoking a cigarette, another of his supporters called reporters “vultures” and told them to “get a real job.”

Prosecutors had alleged Merlino returned to his life of crime after he finished a prison sentence in 2011 for racketeering and moved to Boca Raton, Fla.

Merlino, meanwhile, said he agreed with the commander-in-chief’s attitude about cooperating witnesses.

“President Trump was right. They need to outlaw the flippers,” Merlino said with a chuckle.

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-metro-skinny-joey-sentencing-20181017-story.html