Joey Merlino
| Joseph Merlino | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 16, 1962 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Status | Alive |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Head of the Philadelphia crime family |
| Spouse(s) | Deborah Merlino |
| Parent(s) | Rita Merlino (mother) Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino (father) |
Joseph Salvatore "Skinny Joey" Merlino (born March 16, 1962) is an American mobster believed to be the boss of the Philadelphia crime family despite the appearance of having various legitimate business fronts as well as accounts from acting bosses; led it primarily in loan sharking, gambling and extortion. During the 1990s, Merlino began a mob war within the crime family and survived numerous assassination attempts. By 1995 he was the effective leader of the Philadelphia crime family. Unlike most mobsters who shunned the limelight, Merlino always enjoyed the publicity from the media and the public. He is the son of deceased Scarfo crime family Underboss Chuckie Merlino.
In 2001, he was convicted of several RICO charges including racketeering, illegal gambling and extortion. Merlino was sentenced to 14 years in prison and was released on parole in 2011. From accounts of crime and mob experts, Merlino is believed to currently be directly involved in organized crime and the Philadelphia Mafia. Merlino himself completely disagrees, claiming he retired from a life of crime. As of 2015, Merlino splits his time between Florida and Philadelphia.
Joseph Salvatore Merlino is the son of Italian-American parents Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino (1939-2012) and Rita (born 1942). Joey was raised in South Philadelphia and Ventnor City, New Jersey. He is also the nephew of deceased former alleged Philadelphia crime family mobster Lawrence "Yogi" Merlino.
He had been friends with future made man in the Philadelphia crime family Michael "Mikey Chang" Ciancaglini and his brother Joseph "Joey Chang" Ciancaglini since attending St. Thomas Aquinas grade school in Point Breeze, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the 1970s Salvatore owned and operated the 9M Bar at 9th Street and Moyamensing Avenue in Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that Nicky Scarfo used as his criminal headquarters during his attempt to become the new boss of the Philadelphia crime family. The 9M Bar would later be renamed Anthony's Bar.
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