Gangster Claims Accused Philly Mobster Was An Instrumental Player Despite His Insistence He’s Left It Behind

The New York Daily News reports on the racketeering trial of reputed Philadelphia Cosa Nostra crime boss Joseph Merlino.

Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino’s courtroom claim that he gave up his role as Philly’s leading mob boss didn’t carry much weight with Wednesday’s witness.

John Rubeo, an admitted gangster who worked with the Genovese family, testified in Manhattan Federal Court that Merlino was always a major underworld player — despite his attorneys’ claims he’d left the game for good.

Federal authorities say that Merlino, 55, helped orchestrate a criminal enterprise that ran from Springfield, Mass. to South Florida.

The crime boss was arrested in August 2016 in a sweep that nabbed some four dozen alleged mobsters.

Merlino’s lawyers have sought to paint the reputed gangster as a man with a serious gambling problem who was only talking to Rubeo about borrowing cash.

After Merlino got out of federal lock up in 2011 — when he did time on different charges — he decamped to South Florida rather than return to Philadelphia, his lawyers said.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gangster-claims-accused-philly-mobster-instrumental-player-article-1.3791363 

Alleged Mobster In Racketeering Case Wants Separate Trial, Fears Crime Boss’ Rough Reputation Will Create Biased Jury

Victoria Bekiempis at the New York Daily News offers a piece on the federal trial of Joseph Merlino, the reputed Philadelphia Cosa Nostra organized crime family, and others.

Murder comes “easy” for accused Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino, prosecutors say.

And that is making it hard for his co-defendant to face trial with him.

Merlino, aka Skinny Joey, was among 46 alleged wiseguys hit with racketeering charges in August 2016.

The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office has claimed those charged — who allegedly hail from the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno and Philadelphia crime families — cooperated in a conspiracy ranging from South Florida to Springfield, Mass.

One co-defendant, Eugene (Rooster) Onofrio, wants to be tried separately from Merlino.

Onofrio, an alleged Genovese capo who runs crews on Little Italy’s Mulberry St. and in Springfield, Mass., fears Merlino’s alleged misconduct could prejudice the jury against him at trial, according to court papers.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/alleged-mobster-separate-trial-racketeering-case-article-1.3336622