Merlino Trial Delayed

[dack2001]

NY Daily News

Philadelphia wiseguy’s racketeering trial postponed due to health issues

 Accused mob boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlin's racketeering trial has been postponed after suffering from “chest pains and coronary spasms and shortness of breath,” one of his lawyers said.
Accused mob boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlin's racketeering trial has been postponed after suffering from “chest pains and coronary spasms and shortness of breath,” one of his lawyers said. (Alec Tabak/for New York Daily News)

BY
Victoria Bekiempis

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS


Friday, January 12, 2018, 12:22 AM


A reputed Philadelphia mobster’s racketeering trial has been postponed at least a week because of a medical issue, according to court documents.

Accused mob boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino — whose trial was slated to start on Jan. 16 in Manhattan Federal Court — is in Florida recuperating from a heart ailment.

Merlino went to the Bacon Raton Regional Hospital emergency room on Tuesday, suffering from “chest pains and coronary spasms and shortness of breath,” one of his lawyers said Thursday.

Merlino, 55, has reportedly survived more than 25 attempted hits and beat three murder raps.

Hospital tests had “abnormal” results and “revealed two ‘significant’ blockages,” said Merlino’s attorney Edwin Jacobs.

The alleged gangster’s doctor said Merlino is on medication and needs to be under “close observation for adjustment of medication,” according to a letter submitted to the court.

As a result, the note explains, Merlino can't fly or travel for at least two weeks.

The trial has been postponed until Jan. 22.

Merlino was supposed to be tried with suspected Genovese capo Eugene (Rooster) Onofrio, who has also got a health related delay.

Last month, the presiding judge separated the cases because of Onofrio’s “need for medical treatment.”

The trial of 75-year-old Onofrio is now “adjourned indefinitely,” court papers say.

Onofrio's lawyers must check in with the judge by Jan. 26 and every month after that, to provide updates on his health and see if he is fit to stand trial.

[aleksandrored]

This is very bad for Skinny Joey, even more at that age, but considering the problems he had in life it is understandable to be weak, but this case still promises to be very interesting, and some time ago I had read an article saying that could be the "end" of Merlino as Boss in case he misses, now is expected to see.

[Rocco]

Merlino needs to lay of the cigs and the steroids. Both do damage to your artery walls. But hey dying of a heart attack at home is better then dying in prison of old age......

[NJShore4Life]

He doesn't look like he does steroids, its the cigs and the coke.

I'm pretty confident he doesn't do steroids, he would be huge with a much different build. He's just cut from the gym, that's not the steroids look. I weight lift in Jersey so its safe to say that I know the steroid look when I see one.

[Pogo The Clown]

Looks like he might have been on roids in that prison picture years back where he looked really jacked.


Pogo

[santos]

is it legit? looks like perfect timing..too good to be true

[Chucky]

is it legit? looks like perfect timing..too good to be true

Delaying a trial for a couple weeks due to health problems is not uncommon

[SonnyBlackstein]

is it legit? looks like perfect timing..too good to be true

Pretty daft if it wasn’t. It’s only pushed it back by two weeks.

[Rocco]

He doesn't look like he does steroids, its the cigs and the coke.

I'm pretty confident he doesn't do steroids, he would be huge with a much different build. He's just cut from the gym, that's not the steroids look. I weight lift in Jersey so its safe to say that I know the steroid look when I see one.

Not true at all. You are thinking of the juice from the 1980s and early 90s where you get totally bloated with water weight. Today you have juice for the guys in their 50s etc lol All kinds of goodies and various types of Testosterone to increase your metabolism, muscle recovery and to basically get ripped at 50 60 yrs old. Shit is all over S FL. Doesn't make you huge and bloated with massive weight gain. Its just the opposite makes you lean and ripped. Trust me he is on it. nutritionist down in South FL hand it out like candy. My buddy is on it down there. He got ripped. He has the metabolism of a 25yr old lol Downside its linked to cancer. etc.

[Rocco]

Looks like he might have been on roids in that prison picture years back where he looked really jacked.


Pogo

Its just Testosterone treatments that make you ripped and increase your metabolism that that of a 20yr old. Shit is all over South FL . nutritionist hand it out like candy down there to guys at the gym in their 50s and 60s.

[Stroccos]

He doesn't look like he does steroids, its the cigs and the coke.

I'm pretty confident he doesn't do steroids, he would be huge with a much different build. He's just cut from the gym, that's not the steroids look. I weight lift in Jersey so its safe to say that I know the steroid look when I see one.

Not true at all. You are thinking of the juice from the 1980s and early 90s where you get totally bloated with water weight. Today you have juice for the guys in their 50s etc lol All kinds of goodies and various types of Testosterone to increase your metabolism, muscle recovery and to basically get ripped at 50 60 yrs old. Shit is all over S FL. Doesn't make you huge and bloated with massive weight gain. Its just the opposite makes you lean and ripped. Trust me he is on it. nutritionist down in South FL hand it out like candy. My buddy is on it down there. He got ripped. He has the metabolism of a 25yr old lol Downside its linked to cancer. etc.

Would fasting be part of that ? In the merlino wiretaps it talks about Merlino fasting

[Stroccos]

This is very bad for Skinny Joey, even more at that age, but considering the problems he had in life it is understandable to be weak, but this case still promises to be very interesting, and some time ago I had read an article saying that could be the "end" of Merlino as Boss in case he misses, now is expected to see.

Imagine the weight of a federal trial at his age , you lose you might get 20 , should be interesting to see how the jury reacts to the misconduct

[bobbybats]

Sounds like he is buying more time for his attorney to work out a plea deal. The delay puts more pressure on the gov because it gives an opportunity for more problems to surface before trial

[SonnyBlackstein]

Sounds like he is buying more time for his attorney to work out a plea deal. The delay puts more pressure on the gov because it gives an opportunity for more problems to surface before trial

Seriously?

He faked at heart attack for an extra two weeks, in case something might come up?

[Curiosity]

Just curious... how do we know that Joey has used cocaine? Not that I doubt it but I've never read that.