Joey Merlino is back in town

[SonnyBlackstein]

If other bosses are reaching out and telling members to not do business with Philly then this is proof Joey is still the boss.

Why would they care about Philly as a family if Joeys out of the game and not talking LCN?

WHY would Joey fight a war and do 15 years for control of Philly to go.... Im out and going to do Pods for Peanuts. You believe that? Fought a trial with a life sentance to walk away to do Pods for $500 a month. Okay.

[100100]

Lol he's doing an interview with Vlad that's out Thursday. I highly doubt he's doing that if "New York" is saying podcasts are a no go. Seems like just the regular bs mafia gossip rumors. If you don't think he has money in legitimate businesses after all these years, don't know what to tell ya.

[Ivan]

Not sure where else to put this, but is there anything to the claim that Joey Merlino personally pulled the trigger in the Mikey Ice Brennan hit? People on another site are claiming that. He made his bones by taking part in an earlier hit under Stanfa right? What hit was that? Also why was Mikey Ice killed?

[CornerBoy]

Lol he's doing an interview with Vlad that's out Thursday. I highly doubt he's doing that if "New York" is saying podcasts are a no go. Seems like just the regular bs mafia gossip rumors. If you don't think he has money in legitimate businesses after all these years, don't know what to tell ya.

i dont think he has any equity in any business

i think he just leeches off of obsequious hangers on.

gets a rich guy that likes being around mobsters, like that guy who owned merlinos in FLA , and gets them to lease cars for him, pay his mortgage etc. takes 70 k loans and not pay them back. im sure he gambles any money kicked up away.

onee thing im sure of is he asks for all podcast money upfront w no risk otherwise he not doing it.

[TommyGambino]

Lol he's doing an interview with Vlad that's out Thursday. I highly doubt he's doing that if "New York" is saying podcasts are a no go. Seems like just the regular bs mafia gossip rumors. If you don't think he has money in legitimate businesses after all these years, don't know what to tell ya.

That Vlad tv guy is a fucking moron. Worst channel on youtube, got loads of subcribers though, Joey clearly not happy with his patreon money

[Pmac2]

Vlad i think the most he pays for interviews is 10k. Thats kinda shocking hes doing vlad. Hes ask good questions im sure merlino told him he wont incriminate himself or others. It will be 60min of him bashing rats

[Tasker]

If other bosses are reaching out and telling members to not do business with Philly then this is proof Joey is still the boss.

Why would they care about Philly as a family if Joeys out of the game and not talking LCN?

WHY would Joey fight a war and do 15 years for control of Philly to go.... Im out and going to do Pods for Peanuts. You believe that? Fought a trial with a life sentance to walk away to do Pods for $500 a month. Okay.

Besides the gangster report, is anyone else reporting that NY is reaching out like that? I agree that it would substantiate Joey still being active, but I’m not convinced that’s actually happening.

Also, and I could be wrong about this, you could be overestimating the $ in Philly LCN in 2024 and underestimating what Joey *thinks* a successful podcast would bring in. And without the legal headaches..

[Pmac2]

I think joeys smart anuff to step down as boss. Hes still respected in his family just not official boss. Theres been a few. Sam decavalcante went to florida. Catena retired to florida. They still held power but just not in a official position. This is what i think happened. He named his replacement whoever it is

[dave]

Vlad i think the most he pays for interviews is 10k. Thats kinda shocking hes doing vlad. Hes ask good questions im sure merlino told him he wont incriminate himself or others. It will be 60min of him bashing rats

In this clip, VladTV mentions 100K for some interviews. Depends on the guest:
https://youtu.be/G2tBBeVwLsc?si=Hl0qi3GuTIEnvNXJ

[chin_gigante]

Not sure where else to put this, but is there anything to the claim that Joey Merlino personally pulled the trigger in the Mikey Ice Brennan hit? People on another site are claiming that. He made his bones by taking part in an earlier hit under Stanfa right? What hit was that? Also why was Mikey Ice killed?

This is what I have in my notes based on Philadelphia Inquirer articles by George Anastasia from the 1990s:

- Michael Brennan was found murdered 6 December 1994 by a walker in a wooded area in Cramer Hill, Camden
- Brennan was shot in the neck, chest, and side, and wrapped in a white sheet
- Brennan was described as a hanger-on and a wannabe
- Brennan and Vincent Iannece were arrested in November 1994 after getting into a brawl with another man in a bar in Philadelphia
- Brennan and Iannece were released on $2,500 bail
- Some law enforcement sources said Brennan and Iannece were “underlings” of Merlino
- Investigators were looking into claims that Brennan was dating the sister of a “high-ranking member of the Merlino family”
- Rosario Bellocchi told investigators that Brennan was an associate of Gaeton Lucibello and had attended at least one meeting in 1993 where the Stanfa faction discussed attempts to murder the Merlino faction (this appears to be before Lucibello joined the Merlino faction)

I haven't come across anything in my research identifying Merlino as being a direct participant in the murder. He had only just got out of prison when it occurred; the same period where Merlino inducted Ralph Natale and installed him as boss.

Here's what I have on pieces of work that Merlino was alleged to have personally participated in:

1989 - attempted murder of Nicodemo Scarfo Jr
(Merlino served as shooter)

1993 - attempted murder of Joseph Ciancaglini Jr
(Merlino served as a driver)

1993 - shooting of Joseph Stanfa/ attempted murders of John Stanfa, his son, and Fred Aldrich
(Merlino served as a driver)

1996 - attempted murder of Anthony Milicia
(Merlino served as a driver)

From the above list, Merlino was only alleged to have pulled the trigger in the Scarfo Jr attempt. The Milicia hit was the only one that was sanctioned by the then-leadership of the family, with Merlino also being the official underboss at the time of his involvement.

As far as I can tell, Merlino never did any work for Stanfa prior to getting his button in September 1992. Stanfa made him and Michael Ciancaglini to try and keep them close so they'd be easier to murder.

He has, of course, also been identified as a conspirator in several other murders.

[Ivan]

Really went above and beyond with this answer, Chin. Thanks a lot!

[ShotgunTheRifle]

Really went above and beyond with this answer, Chin. Thanks a lot!

I saw the same post and was wondering if it held any weight.

Here's an article of his murder

Michael 'mikey ice' Brennan article.jpg

[Teflon Dom]

Not sure where else to put this, but is there anything to the claim that Joey Merlino personally pulled the trigger in the Mikey Ice Brennan hit? People on another site are claiming that. He made his bones by taking part in an earlier hit under Stanfa right? What hit was that? Also why was Mikey Ice killed?

This is what I have in my notes based on Philadelphia Inquirer articles by George Anastasia from the 1990s:

- Michael Brennan was found murdered 6 December 1994 by a walker in a wooded area in Cramer Hill, Camden
- Brennan was shot in the neck, chest, and side, and wrapped in a white sheet
- Brennan was described as a hanger-on and a wannabe
- Brennan and Vincent Iannece were arrested in November 1994 after getting into a brawl with another man in a bar in Philadelphia
- Brennan and Iannece were released on $2,500 bail
- Some law enforcement sources said Brennan and Iannece were “underlings” of Merlino
- Investigators were looking into claims that Brennan was dating the sister of a “high-ranking member of the Merlino family”
- Rosario Bellocchi told investigators that Brennan was an associate of Gaeton Lucibello and had attended at least one meeting in 1993 where the Stanfa faction discussed attempts to murder the Merlino faction (this appears to be before Lucibello joined the Merlino faction)

I haven't come across anything in my research identifying Merlino as being a direct participant in the murder. He had only just got out of prison when it occurred; the same period where Merlino inducted Ralph Natale and installed him as boss.

Here's what I have on pieces of work that Merlino was alleged to have personally participated in:

1989 - attempted murder of Nicodemo Scarfo Jr
(Merlino served as shooter)

1993 - attempted murder of Joseph Ciancaglini Jr
(Merlino served as a driver)

1993 - shooting of Joseph Stanfa/ attempted murders of John Stanfa, his son, and Fred Aldrich
(Merlino served as a driver)

1996 - attempted murder of Anthony Milicia
(Merlino served as a driver)

From the above list, Merlino was only alleged to have pulled the trigger in the Scarfo Jr attempt. The Milicia hit was the only one that was sanctioned by the then-leadership of the family, with Merlino also being the official underboss at the time of his involvement.

As far as I can tell, Merlino never did any work for Stanfa prior to getting his button in September 1992. Stanfa made him and Michael Ciancaglini to try and keep them close so they'd be easier to murder.

He has, of course, also been identified as a conspirator in several other murders.

Great post, very informative!

[moneyman]

The blue chew advertisement they read in the latest episode is hilarious.. Merlino is in an ad for dick pills saying you will walk around like a flagpole.. never thought I’d see the day

[Snakes]

The blue chew advertisement they read in the latest episode is hilarious.. Merlino is in an ad for dick pills saying you will walk around like a flagpole.. never thought I’d see the day

They advertised that a lot on Talking Sopranos, too.