The Latest: NY trial opens for reputed Philadelphia mob boss

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 9:18 am, Tuesday, January 30, 2018



NEW YORK (AP) — The latest from the New York fraud trial of a reputed Philadelphia mob boss (all times local):

10:15 a.m.

A federal prosecutor in New York says a reputed Philadelphia mob boss was a "fixer" in a widespread scheme to collect insurance payments by bribing doctors to write bogus prescriptions for a pain cream.

Prosecutor Max Nicholas told jurors Tuesday that Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino "called the shots" as he and his cohorts "used the health care system as their personal money tree."

In his opening statements at the fraud trial, defense attorney Edwin Jacobs said his client was framed by cooperating criminals with incentive to lie to save their own skins.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/The-Latest-NY-trial-opens-for-reputed-12536374.php

[Merlot]

1. To be played by David Schwimmer in the made for tv movie

[MGKrebs]

2. Jeez, he might have been able to make as much money by

investing in the hair gel brand he uses.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Shame I knew who they were talking about before I scrolled down the OP

to see the name (being a Philly resident).

I thought he was in jail but he was apparently out on $5,000,000 bond from Florida pending the trial in the OP.

Reputed mob boss ‘Skinny Joey’ Merlino to be released on $5 million bond

Jane Musgrave Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

3:37 p.m Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 Palm Beach County Crime

WEST PALM BEACH - Reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino, who works as a maitre d’ at a Boca Raton restaurant that bears his name, is to be released from the Palm Beach County jail on Friday on a $5 million bond to await trial in New York on racketeering charges.

The bond deal was hammered out at a two-hour hearing before U.S. Magistrate William Matthewman. Once known as “Skinny Joey,” the flamboyant 54-year-old Boca Raton resident was among 46 men — with nicknames like “Tony the Cripple” and “Nicky the Wig” — who were arrested last week in a multi-state round up involving five organized crime families.

Noting Merlino’s previous 12-year sentence for racketeering and his subsequent return to prison for violating the terms of his probation for associating with known mobsters, Matthewman said he was reluctant to approve his release. “What I’m concerned about any condition I set is Mr. Merlino going to follow it or will he simply do as he pleases?” Matthewman asked.

West Palm Beach attorney David Roth, who represents Merlino, insisted his client’s “devotion” to his wife and two college-age daughters would keep him in check until he is tried on charges that could send him back to prison for as long as 20 years.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/reputed-mob-boss-skinny-joey-merlino-released-million-bond/TQlPjYVQgOgLJrMlf5Dr8L/