Philly Mob Boss Joey Merlino returned to his old stomping grounds in South Philadelphia this week, leaving mob watchers wondering if he’s just touching base with his old friends and law enforcement trying to determine if something else is going on here.
The 59 year old Merlino, who multiple sources say made the rounds all weekend plus a stop on Tuesday at the local Mob clubhouse at 9th and Christian, is remaining in town through the weekend, according to insiders.
Sources also say Merlino just returned from a quick stay in Las Vegas prior to his trip here to Philadelphia.
Merlino’s weekend started early with primo seats along the first base line at Thursday night’s Phillies game against the Colorado Rockies and he followed up Friday night with field level seats on the third base side. Mob watchers and Mobtalksitdown.com fans were clicking away, taking pictures of Merlino as he took in the game with some friends and family members.
Sources tell Mobtalksitdown.com Merlino also made his way to Rouge in Rittenhouse Square Friday night with some pals where he was observed by the weekend crowd now back in the city after a summer at the Jersey Shore.
Sunday, sources and observers say Merlino and several of his associates took in the Eagles/Falcons postgame festivities at a popular South Philly sports bar where “Skinny Joey” sat with friends. He was repeatedly approached by Eagles fans and friends welcoming him back to Philly after being on trial in New York, behind bars in Florida and on supervised release over the past five years.
Merlino, a huge Eagles fan, appeared to be enjoying his visit to the postgame festivities. There were several Philadelphia television stations present who dropped by after the game to get fan reaction about the Eagles big opening day win Sunday afternoon.
Sources also tell Mobtalk Sitdown.com that Merlino and several other made guys made a road trip to New York on Saturday to an undisclosed location to visit a close friend. Details of that trip are still developing. Stay tuned.
Tuesday afternoon, Merlino visited the local Mob clubhouse at 9th and Christian under the watchful eye of law enforcement. Sources say several top level Philly wiseguys were also in attendance at the club house, which was shuttered for months during the Covid19 pandemic.
Merlino’s latest trip back to the area comes almost three weeks after he returned to the Jersey Shore in early August catching up with friends and dining out with some of his Mob pals.
This time around, there was no Joey Merlino behind the wheel of a white Rolls Royce like there was in 2016, no cameras, no fanfare and as one mob watcher told Mobtalksitdown.com, it was “no big deal.”
After a year in prison, a year on house arrest and a year of supervised release, the 59 year old Merlino was able to make the trip because he’s finally free of all federal restrictions and is permitted to associate with all his pals.
Merlino ended his supervised release July 27th, a year after he was released from house arrest on federal gambling charges. He was prohibited from associating with mobsters, known Mob associates and convicted felons during his supervised release.
Multiple sources tell Mobtalksitdown.com Merlino arrived in Philly for 10 days and headed right to the Jersey Shore. Sources say Merlino and a number of his fellow wiseguys and associates gathered to break bread on several nights at several popular Shore nightspots over his stay, as the summertime Shore crowd looked on.
He reportedly stayed with friends during his brief visit.
Mob watchers say known wiseguys, who live at the shore, and others who traveled to the shore, spent time with Merlino throughout his visit.
Mob Captain George Borgesi, known soldiers Anthony Accardo, Vince Filipelli and Marty Angelina, along with others, were in town during Merlino’s vacation here.
Missing from the shore get togethers this time around were former Mob Street Boss Steven Mazzone, his brother Sonny and Mob Captain Domenic Grande. They’re all under federal indictment and under house arrest in South Philadelphia, unable to travel to the Shore.
Insiders would not say if Merlino met with local attorneys to discuss the FBI’s ongoing federal investigation of the Philly Mob and the current racketeering conspiracy indictments against Mazzone and Grande.
Sources say he wrapped up his visit with a Monday night stop at one of his favorite local restaurants, The Saloon in South Philly, where he dined with friends.
The flashy, media savvy mobster has been cooling his heels in Boca Raton and Del Rey, Florida for the past year since being released from a federal prison in Florida following his New York guilty plea on gambling charges back in 2019.
Insiders say Merlino has been maintaining a low profile and keeping everything “legit”, hoping to complete his supervised release and return to a normal lifestyle with his family down in South Florida. He was barred from associating with fellow wise guys and convicted felons during his supervised release.
Local mobsters and lawyers have been tightlipped about what Merlino has been up to in terms of employment and what his future plans are after he cleared that July 27th deadline.
Several sources indicated that Merlino is still peddling plans for a new podcast, but he wants major money for his services.
The last time Merlino graced the Jersey Shore was in 2016 where he was videotaped by Mobtalksitdown.com riding around the streets in a white Rolls Royce belonging to a close friend. He also downed some cocktails at a popular oceanfront eatery with some friends.
Merlino has made no public comments since his release from federal prison in Florida to house arrest a year ago. No new pictures of the man they call “Skinny Joey” have surfaced since his release. While several friends have traveled south to visit, few details of his life in South Florida have surfaced.
While Merlino chilled in Florida, several of his top lieutenants got jammed up in a wide sweeping federal racketeering indictment back in November. One time Acting Street Boss Steven Mazzone and up and coming Mob star Domenic Grande now face racketeering conspiracy and other charges that could result in double digit jail sentences if they’re convicted.
No date for a trial has been set at this time, but a status hearing in their case has been delayed until September in a Philadelphia court room.
Mazzone, his brother Sonny and Grande, frequent visitors to the Jersey Shore in summers past, won’t be making any appearances there this year as they await trial on house arrest. They were recently allowed to leave their homes for work and other activities with strict guidelines on when they must be back at home.
The case is highlighted by a secret tape recording of a Mob Induction ceremony in 2015. Multiple sources say the recording was made by government cooperator and made guy Anthony Persiano, who wore a wire for the feds for several years, producing hundreds of hours of secretly recorded tapes.
Sources say Mazzone, Grande, retired Mob Boss Joe Ligambi and acting street boss Michael Lancelotti along with top ranking capos George Borgesi and John Ciancaglini were also in attendance, according to sources. Mazzone and Grande were captured on tape as was Lancelotti as he allegedly administered the mob’s sacred oath to several mob inductees.
That tape is expected to be played for a jury whenever the case goes to trial and could come back to haunt all those present at the ceremony, which took place at a home in South Philadelphia, sources say.
Merlino was not present at the ceremony and that was in fact duly noted by several attendees who were caught on tape.
Sources say Mazzone was caught on tape giving marching orders to the newly inducted mobsters and insisting the organization was ready to take back illegal gambling and loansharking operations the Atlantic City area. His comments are expected to be the center piece of the case against him when this goes to trial.
Merlino’s return to the Jersey Shore had Mob circles buzzing this month.
Federal and state authorities have been conducting several other related investigations during the past five years, but to date no details have been made public.
There have been several publicized raids over the past year related to those investigations, but federal investigators have refused comment except to acknowledge “court authorized law enforcement activity” at several of the locations. Sources say those raids have been related to gambling, loansharking and other crimes.
One of those raids was at the South Philly home of the father of Philly Mob Captain Anthony Nicodemo, who is currently serving 25-30 years in state prison for the murder of Gino DiPietro back in December 2012. Nicodemo still has more than 15 years remaining on his sentence.
Sources say that investigation and the raid are allegedly tied to gambling and loansharking operations in Philly and South Jersey. No charges have been filed.
